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Indy insight on using HDV in FCP
Tisch grad here trying to get back into the game after 10 year corporate hiatus. Just purchased the following:
Sony HDR-FX1 – wanted HDV for max resolution. I know it doesn’t have highly indy-sought 24p. Was this a mistake if/when I’m so lucky enough to need to blow it up to 35mm? Or will the move to HDV payoff for making my first indy by having the latest format going, and will festivals accept video (non-film) submissions? Was told that I should’ve sprung the extra 1300 to get the Z1U as this offers HDCAM recording feature. Is this far superior to what my FX1 can do? Worth 1300 (I did take care of the XLR input shortfall already, which I’m told is the only other difference)?
Apple G5 FCP Studio system – don’t currently have a mini-DV VTR. was told by someone at B&H Photo/Video that its a wasted effort to master record on the camera itself as opposed to buying separate VTR to record to. To be honest, I was planning on not only recording on the FX1 (it is a camcorder…), but also use the FX1 to play / capture on the G5. How much will I compromise the finished product by recording on the FX1? Does it compress too much when recording onboard the actual camera as opposed to linking the cam to an external high-end VTR?
Lastly, what is the best way to master-record HDV footage so it can be chopped up in FCP? Direct to hard drive? External VTR, if so which make/model is a good starting product?
Sorry for convoluted, long-winded post, so input on any of the above will be much appreciated.
Thansk, JB -
3 Replies
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Jon,
You’ll find a wealth of posts concerning your questions by using the Cow’s search page. I just tried a search for, simply, HDV. Check the “both” box to search posts and articles as there are some good articles on these topics on the Cow. I set the time frame to “all available posts” and got hundreds of hits.
Regards,
David -
Word from a nice man at Apple I spoke to recently was to up-convert on capture and edit in Final Cut at native HD. Otherwise FCP will constantly be having to re-encode the HDV video everytime you cut between a keyframe.
That takes a snazzy capture card, eg: Decklink HD by Black Magic Design, and oodles of raid configured HDD. For which you get a happy processor (and happy H.264 should you ever choose to mature beyond 35mm and join the rest of us on the Internet).
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Thruflo:
Thanks for the reply. When you say “upconvert upon capture”, do you mean that FCP comes equipped with this ability, or is it stricty based on the capture card? I don’t own any of the mentioned cards on my new system. What options do I have if I want to work in the highest quality HDV available?
Note that I don’t own an HDV deck, and plan on capturing direct from my HDR-FX1 camera. I know this isn’t recommended but I ran out of dough.
Will the image quality still be decent to work with in FCP?I think I need to read a book (or three) on the basics of DV, DVCAM, HDV, HD, and how it all links together (or not) in the NLE world. Any suggestions?
Thanks again,
JB
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