FCP Digibeta project going to 16×9 DVD

[Rafael Amador]

Hi Kano,
If you want to make a SD DVD I don’t see the point of resizing your footage to 1080.
Just capture your footage with any of the video cards mentioned. To capture SD 10b Unc your internal drivers will be fast enough. Capture ProRess HQ is also a very interesting option mostly if you have to deal with a lot of footage.
Edit in a 16×9 sequence. Off course your 4×3 picture will be cropped on top and down.
If you go the way of the 1080, your footage will need to be cropped both sides. This way you won’t be able to capture 10b Unc with your internal drivers. You will need to go ProRes but is an incredibly good codec and you won’t loose any quality while files are like three times smaller than Uncompress..
Cheers,
rafael

http://www.nagavideo.com

[Stuart Simpson]

Why not just stay 4×3? If you want 16×9 why didn’t you shoot 16×9?

-Simmie
5 MacPros – Kona 3 & Kona LH
2 G5s – Kona LH
xbox360, Wii, PSP, PS2
https://www.speak.co.uk

[Peter Wiggins]

Hang on, you want the best quality?

Capture & edit in 4:3, make a 4:3 asset in DVDSP

You can edit in 16:9, so capture in 4:3, edit in a 16:9 timeline and readjust the clips so you don’t cut anybodys head off etc. Then make the exported movie of this timeline a 16:9 asset in DVDSP

Now the problem is that if somebody watches in 4:3 they will be looking at a cutout of a cutout and the picture quality won’t be that great 🙂

[Ben Holmes]

On DVDSP, you can set the disk so that if someone has a 4:3 TV, the image is kept letterboxed into the 4:3 frame. On the disk properties, set it to “16:9 letterbox” – that way if it’s a 16:9 TV, it’s a 16:9 image – if it’s a 4:3 TV, its a letterboxed image, not a crop of the 16:9 version.

If you really have a G5 (and not an Intel Mac Pro) you can’t use ProRes to capture – otherwise, use ProRes, it’s great for space and quality. If you DO have a PowerPC G5 machine, capture in 10-Bit Uncompressed 4:3 (you will need an array of internal drives for this, not just one – or an external FW800 drive). Edit in 16:9 as Peter says, adjusting the framing up and down as required to avoid cutting off heads.

You can either create an MPEG-2 QT using compressor, or just import your 16:9 sequence as an uncompressed QT into DVDSP and let it encode it itself – depending on your level of skill with DVDSP.

To answer your other questions, you will need to rent a deck (J series SDI deck is cheapest) and use an SDI capture card like the AJA or decklink. The best thing you can do to improve your final DVD is to capture via SDI in a decent codec – believe me it will make a difference even on crappy ol’ DVD.

Ben

Edit Out Ltd
—————————-
FCP Editor/Trainer/System Consultant
EVS/VT Supervisor for live broadcast
RED camera transfer/post
Independent Director/Producer

[Kai Tanno]

Hi Rafael,

Firstly, thank you for your time.

To confirm. Capture SD via SDI at 10bit uncompressed using the ProRess HQ codec . The internal drives on the G5 (dual core) will handle the data. Edit in a 16×9 time line, cropping top and bottom.

If I up res to 1080, will need to use an external raid. Edit in a 16×9 time line, cropping top, bottom and sides, and capturing with the ProRes codec. Would need at MacPro.

Is my this understanding correct?

Thanks again. Kai

[Kai Tanno]

Hi Stuart

I shot using the full 35mm frame for a number reasons.

• Originally the film was going to DI
• Cost savings on set / location (no FP etc)
• Experienced enough (well 93% of the time) to frame in camera
• Even carrying a stripped back 35mm BL3/4 Arriflex for hours on end chasing actors through busy Tokyo subways is hard enough physically (for old guys like me), without adding a MB, Filters, FF etc etc.
• I like Mr. Kubrick, full frames and the ability to move those images up and down the letter box in post.

Cheers Kai

[Kai Tanno]

Hi Ben

Many thanks for your response.

To confirm, my understanding is correct.

1: MacPro and BM card —- input data from digibeta via SDI using ProRes codec —- edit

In the above scenario will the internal drives on a MacPro handle this data?

2: G5 Dual Core and BM card —- input data from digibeta via SDI Uncompressed 10bit codec —- edit

Use fast firewire 800 drives.

Am I right to assume that scenario 1 will produce the better end result?

With regard to the DVD aspect, I just plan to get it into FCP, edit it and look to colour grade it (probably titles and subtitles as well) at a proper post house. Hopefully the distributors will handle / cover the DVD authoring side. Under my supervision of course. Well plan A.

[Rafael Amador]

[Kai Tanno] “Many thanks for your response.

To confirm, my understanding is correct.
1: MacPro and BM card —- input data from digibeta via SDI using ProRes codec —- edit
In the above scenario will the internal drives on a MacPro handle this data?

2: G5 Dual Core and BM card —- input data from digibeta via SDI Uncompressed 10bit codec —- edit
Use fast firewire 800 drives.
Am I right to assume that scenario 1 will produce the better end result? “

Hi Kai,
You won’t see any difference with the two different scenarios.
I would recommend you working in ProRess. With this codec you will be able to play and capture in SD and also in HD with FW800 drives and with your internal HDs. For 10b Unc HD you would need a fast Raid for sure.
When you want to upsize your SD to 1080, print the SD to DigiBeta and capture again through HDI/SDI to ProRess. You will have no more cropping because your SD and the HD are both 16×9. The image will be just blw up.
Cheers,
rafael

http://www.nagavideo.com

[Ben Holmes]

Hi Kai

If you shot on film, why on earth would you use any of these workflows? Having a 4:3 transfer done then cropping in FCP to 16:9 is MADNESS – you are lowering the quality twice.

Have a 16:9 transfer done, or have the footage transferred at a higher quality, preferably HD so you can crop without a loss of quality.

Better still, use a proper film post workflow with DPX files or similar, using Cinema Tools.

Ben

Edit Out Ltd
—————————-
FCP Editor/Trainer/System Consultant
EVS/VT Supervisor for live broadcast
RED camera transfer/post
Independent Director/Producer

[Kai Tanno]

Thanks Rafael, appreciate your time