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DVCProHD vs. ProRes Proxy Aspect Ratio
I have some DVCProHD footage I converted to ProPresProxy for offline editing. The original footage (when opened in finder) says aspect ratio is 1280×180, but actual pixel ratio is 1888×1062. When transcoded with MPEG Streamclip to Proxy, the footage is actual 1280×1080. I did another transcoded pass forcing the ratio to 1888×1062. In the end, when the edit is complete, I will reconnect the footage to the original DVCProHD for final render and export.
What’s the best way for handling this in FCP 7? Use the first pass of transcoded footage, or the footage forced to 1888×1062? Or is there something else I’m missing?
Ron Dawson
Executive Producer/President
Dare Dreamer MediaCreating films that inspire and encourage the human spirit.
*** Dream Out Loud ***
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6 Replies
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DOn’t do this. DVCPRO HD has a VERY low data rate…almost what ProRes Proxy is. So you are barely saving any space. And ProRes has a completely different aspect ratio than DVCPRO HD. Not to mention that doing the offline/online workflow using tools OUTSIDE of FCP makes this process very difficult, full of headache.
You said RECONNECT to the DVCPRO HD footage. Meaning you have it captured. Why not just edit that? That format never needed to be offlined/onlined. The data rate is so low.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
Thanks for the quick reply Shane. I should have clarified. It’s actually DVCProHD 50. The data rate (when opened in QuickTime) is over 110 mbits/sec.
I know I could edit natively with DVCProHD, but I thought editing might go faster if I offline it in Proxy. I’m editing on a 2.66 Ghz intel core i5 iMac.
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Close QuickTime player and stop overthinking this or you will make huge mistakes that will be difficult to fix.
Your computer is fast enough to edit all flavors of DVCPRO including DVCPRO HD. Hell, an old G4 could do it.
By the way…you need to figure out what you are editing.
DVCPRO is SD and 25mb/s
DVCPRO 50 is also SD and is 50mb/s
DVCPRO HD is 100mb/sThere is no DVCPRO 50 HD
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Hey John,
Thanks for the reply. As I wrote in the original post, it’s definitely DVCProHD. I didn’t think there was a DVCProHD 50 (I normally edit HD DSLR footage). But the guy at my church who gave me the footage called it DVCProHD 50. As quickly as technology changes, I just figured it was some kind of special in-between format they were using.
I’ll edit on the original footage and see how it goes.
Just for purposes of education and enlightenment though, what about my question of the different aspect ratios. If I did want to transcode to Proxy, would I just go with the original transcoded footage at 1280×1080?
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YOu would do that…but you can’t do that in FCP, as ProRes Proxy at 1280×1080 is VERY non-standard. ProRes..all flavors…is a FULL RASTER, full frame format. Even Proxy. You cannot use the Media manager to recompress to ProRes at 1280×1080. And really, the only way to do a GOOD offline/online is fully inside FCP using the Media Manager.
DVCPRO HD is THIN RASTER, or Anamorphic..and even moreso than normal. Normal anamorphic is 1440×1080. DVCPRO HD, to make it even lighter of a data rate, is 1280×1080.
Just edit the DVCPRO HD. As John said, it is VERY easy. I too did it on a G4 without any problems.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
Thanks Shane for the reply. Much appreciated. Always appreciate the responsiveness and helpfulness of the COWmunity. 🙂
Ron Dawson
Executive Producer/President
Dare Dreamer MediaCreating films that inspire and encourage the human spirit.
*** Dream Out Loud ***
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