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HD H.264 import to SD project
Hi,
We are working with AVID MC2.6.4 Adrenaline and are about to shoot a project using the Canon 5d which creates full native 1920x1080p files using the H.264 codec.
As far as I am aware I have 2 options in regards to my post workflow:
1)Import H.264 files as DNxHD 120 in a 1080p/25 project – cut in HD or flip between 1080p/25 and 25p (using 25p as a faster offline cut)
2)Import H.264 files into 25p project and allow AVID to downscale the image to SD on import and cut accordingly.
Thing is, we will actually only be able to deliver this project in SD format – could anyone help me by identifying which option would be best to go for? (I hear that option 1 may offer a better solution in terms of the downconvert process but will I still be able to operate an SD digital cut using what is originally HD material – should I transcode or use the real time downconvert on output). Also are there any problems working with either of these options?
Sorry if this is a bit rambly….
Thanks a lot!
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2 Replies
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As you have an Adrenaline system I would personally stay in HD until the last possible moment. It will use more space, obviously, but any resizing you do will be sharper and just generally DNxHD holds up better than DV420 once you start doing any effects and colour correction. I am trying to think whether if you switch the project to an SD format but leave the footage as is without transcoding, Avid still accesses the res of the HD file when resizing. Maybe someone else knows? If this is the case then you could just switch the project to SD, do a mixdown of the sequence and you’d be ready to play out. Otherwise, you might try exporting a QT Ref of your HD sequence, then switching to SD and importing the QT Ref.
Andy
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As you have an Adrenaline system I would personally stay in HD until the last possible moment. It will use more space, obviously, but any resizing you do will be sharper and just generally DNxHD holds up better than DV420 once you start doing any effects and colour correction. I am trying to think whether if you switch the project to an SD format but leave the footage as is without transcoding, Avid still accesses the res of the HD file when resizing. Maybe someone else knows? If this is the case then you could just switch the project to SD, do a mixdown of the sequence and you’d be ready to play out. Otherwise, you might try exporting a QT Ref of your HD sequence, then switching to SD and importing the QT Ref.
Andy
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