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Foolproof downconversion method for Premiere PC users
Hello,
Just thought I’d share a really good software downconversion method with the masses. By the way, this method works better than any hardware downconversions I’ve attempted with my Blackmagic Multibridge Pro.
Anyway, I shoot XDCAM with a Sony EX1 as my primary camera. But, this method works no matter which HD format you’re shooting with, and no matter what your HD sequence settings are within Premiere.
Downconverting has always been a tricky venture, especially for Premiere Pro PC users (since Premiere can’t natively export XDCAM with the native XDCAM file structure). Now, this method is probably for those of you who are willing to spend money to make money. You’ll need to purchase and download Mainconcept’s Total Source with the Broadcast ad-on (totaling around $800) to make this work.
https://www.mainconcept.com/products/apps-plug-ins/plug-ins-for-adobe/totalcode-cs-5-6.html1. Import and edit your HD footage in the appropriate timeline.
2. Use TotalCode to export the sequence using the XDCAM preset. Be sure to preserve the XDCAM native file format structure. There is a checkbox for this. The resulting file should be in a “bpav” folder in whichever location you saved it to.
3. Make sure to download the free Sony Clip Browser software v2.6.
4. Within the Clip Browsing software, locate the bpav folder that you built. The clip(s) should show up in the Clip Browser preview.
5. Highlight and right-click whichever clip(s) that you want to downconvert. Select “AVI DV”.
6. In the AVI DV window, you can click the “details” button to adjust the downconversion type. For Widescreen SD, select “4×3 Squeeze”. For letterbox 4×3 (which results in a black bar at the top and bottom of a 4×3 screen) select “4×3 Letterbox”. For edge crop (which will result in the edges of your 16×9 source HD material to be cut off) select “4×3 Edge Crop”.
7. Just click “execute” once you have the settings you want, and away we go.I have yet to find software that does a better job than this simple free application. I don’t know what Sony did when the developed the downconverting mechanism within Clip Browser, but they got it right.
I don’t use the TotalCode software for anything other than exporting Premiere HD sequences as XDCAM.
For those of you who own an Sony XDCAM camera, but don’t want to spend the $800 on TotalCode, there is a work-around. Output your HD sequence back to your camera as HDV via a firewire cable. Once the sequence is recorded back to the camera’s memory card, simply use ClipBrowser to downconvert the file directly from your camera. I am guessing there is some quality loss when using this method. I can’t really see a difference with my naked eye, but I’m sure there are those of you who can.
Anyway, that downconversion method works best for me.
Cheers!
Aaron
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2 Replies
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You’ve compared your method to just exporting from Premiere Pro and making an SD file your target? I’ve been supplying broadcast content for years and never had a quality concern…and it’s a couple clicks vs the added steps in your process…
TimK,
Director, Consultant
Kolb Productions,Adobe Certified Instructor
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Tim,
I have the most problems downconverting HD for an SD DVD. I have yet to find an acceptable formula for exporting an HD timeline from Premiere to use on a DVD.
What do you find is the best method when using Premiere only?
Thanks,
Aaron
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