HDV to HD Cam Workflow using Kona LH card

AJA Video Systems

HDV to HD Cam Workflow using Kona LH card

Posted by Bill Campbell on September 9, 2006 at 11:28 pm

I have just installed my new Kona LH and was wondering if someone has experience with the best workflow to go from HDV (Sony Z1U) to HD Cam delivery using FCP HD.
There seems to be so many possible routes to follow that it is frankly overwhelming.

I have already done a draft edit by capturing into FCP via firewire (pre-Kona card) using the HDV – 1080i60 setting.

At this point I don’t know if I should convert to a 10 bit format inside of FCP or recapture my footage through the Kona LH card.

Naturally to add to my challenge, the short film I am making (about 12 minutes) has lots of action and pan motion in it.

Also I don’t have a sony deck, I capture from my Z1U.

Any and all thoughts welcome on this puzzle.

Thanks Bill

Phil Erney replied 19 years, 8 months ago 3 Members · 5 Replies
5 Replies

Phil Erney
September 11, 2006 at 3:37 am

We like to convert HDV to HD-SDI with the miranda box. By working in uncompressed you can mix source with HDCam and keep your graphics in 10bit. Really nice workflow, no time consuming software conversion and rendering. The quality looks better then HDV rendered in a 10bit timeline. If you have heavy graphics it really pays off.

Offline in HDV—Conform or render HDV in a 10bit Seq for better graphics — Output to HDCAM

If you do go the HDV timeline route and want to get it back out to HDCam tape with timecode, you can add tc in the sdi stream on the Kona Control Panel. Still a crash control but it will have accurate TC.

Phil
Cubist Post and Effects
Bill Campbell
September 11, 2006 at 7:11 pm

Thanks Phil for the input. I have heard similar workflows from others, so it helps me with a consensus. I guess 10 bit is the only choice if going to HD Cam quality, anything less would be a waste right.

Cheers Bill
Jeremy Garchow
September 11, 2006 at 8:37 pm

You might want to read this:

https://www.aja.com/pdf/support/AJA_whitepaper_HDV.pdf

Jeremy
Bill Campbell
September 11, 2006 at 9:54 pm

Thanks Jeremy, I have that and it is excellent but it skips some critical steps. I am dealing with AJA on some of the missing links now.
Cheers Bill
Phil Erney
September 11, 2006 at 11:06 pm

HD Cam as a format is really 8-bit but it helps your graphics to work 10-bit. You can also push the color of a 10-bit capture of HDCam better then a 8-bit capture.

Truth be told I tend to do long format HD from HD Cam source in 8-bit and short form and graphic heavy work in 10-bit.

Phil-

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