HDV Capture and sequence codecs

[Paul Provost]

hey
we just started with hdv too and have a similar setup. from what i’ve found, do not use the “apple intermediate hdv” easy setup. this recompresses the video to all i frames, so you loose a generation. (it was a stopgap until native hdv was added to fcp 5 – from what i gather) just use the hdv 1080i 60 or whatever you need.
also it seems you have to disable the decklink video desktop in the system settings, or you don’t get capture window preview on capture. it does capture, but you don’t see it. i’ll try that tomorrow. we found the decklink hdv easy setup does a realtime downconvert to sd for output, so that’s pretty cool to monitor on your sd monitor.
fyi i’m new at this format, so i really don’t know what the h i’m talking about.
oh yeah, also on your captures it will break the video into multiple clips unless you uncheck the “shot/take” box on in the capture window. this makes a new clip every time the camera was stopped/started.

[Luke Maslen]

Hi Lee,

If you want to capture in HD from the HDV camera via Firewire, the only option available to you will be to use an Apple or Blackmagic HDV easy setup. When you then play out via the DeckLink Extreme card, it will automatically down convert the output to NTSC or PAL. Please also see the support note HDV capture preview missing in Final Cut Pro HD 5.0.

If you want to capture in SD from the HDV camera via Firewire, the only option available to you will be to use the Apple DV easy setup and you will also need to configure your camera to output DV rather HDV. You can then use a Blackmagic DV easy setup to output via the DeckLink Extreme.

Regards,

Luke Maslen
Blackmagic Design

[Robin]

Whatever you do don’t use the Apple intermediate codec. it stinks.

I’m cutting HDV right now. If you’re sticking with HDV all the way through don’t worry too much about it. Just capture in as HDV (using the HDV native codec) cut on HDV and then output back via firewire. Keep it all in the family.

[Lee Burrows]

Hey! Paul your advice was dead on. You answered all my questions and then some!!! Unfortunately I had to return the HDV deck last night but am lookig forward to getting it back in a few weeks. I did however already try disabling decklink desktop setting and it seems like it will work as I got a black monitor window to appear in my log & capture window.

Lukr your advice was great too! I haven’t read the support article yet but plan to. The HDV easy setup is great!!! I am able to drop my clips in their sequences and see them on my canvas/sequence monitor. I wonder if there is way to see my HDV sequences on my NTSC SD monitor?

HDV is great! It is amazing how much more crisper native HDV looks with the picture having much more info than SD. I’m looking forward to working in HDV!

Thanks

Lee