MiniDV vs. DVCAM for broadcast purposes

[Edward Troxel]

Why don’t you just put it out to MiniDV, take your camera and tape to your friends house, and then dub it over to the DVCam if DVCam is required? You might check and see if the station would accept MiniDV. One local station here actually wanted a DVD.

Otherwise, how are you going to get it out of your computer? Do you have the proper hardware in your computer to go other than MiniDV? If not, it will still have to render to DV-AVI in order output over the firewire.

Edward Troxel

[Josh Meredith]

If I output to MiniDV for the purpose of transfering to DVCAM, wouldn’t that negate whatever bennefits provided by DVCAM? I assume DVCAM can handle higher resolution than MiniDV.

For an experiment, last night I rendered a 30 second uncompressed AVI file, which turned out to be over 1 gig in size. Then I rendered the same project as an NTSC DV Avi file, and it was under 200 MB. This tells me that NTSC DV standards are obviously lower than “full quality”.

Then I tried to transfer the uncompressed AVI back to my MiniDV camera, and it wouldn’t accept it, whereas it did accept the NTSC DV version. I’m wondering if I plugged the DVCAM deck into my computer, perhaps it would accept the transfer of the uncompressed AVI. In which case, I’d have to cede the TV station’s point that DVCAM provides higher quality.

But I still wonder if the difference is of any significance on broadcast TV.

[Edward Troxel]

[Vegas Video Editor Guy] “I assume DVCAM can handle higher resolution than MiniDV.”

Assuming is a dangerous thing.
https://www.adamwilt.com/DV-FAQ-tech.html#DVformats

[Vegas Video Editor Guy] “For an experiment, last night I rendered a 30 second uncompressed AVI file, which turned out to be over 1 gig in size. Then I rendered the same project as an NTSC DV Avi file, and it was under 200 MB. This tells me that NTSC DV standards are obviously lower than “full quality”.”

Yes. Uncompressed is MUCH larger. However, my first question would be: What did you start with? If you start with MiniDV and render to DV-AVI, you’ve lost NO quality. However, going to DVCam, you’re using DV quality anyway. Plus, going from DV to Uncompressed doesn’t *gain* quality. DV-AVI is compressed – uncompressed is not – so DV-AVI will be smaller.

[Vegas Video Editor Guy] “Then I tried to transfer the uncompressed AVI back to my MiniDV camera, and it wouldn’t accept it”

Correct. It has to render back to DV-AVI to go to a MiniDV camera.

[Vegas Video Editor Guy] “I’m wondering if I plugged the DVCAM deck into my computer, perhaps it would accept the transfer of the uncompressed AVI.”

Not via firewire. That’s why I asked if you had any of the other hardware options which, I’ll assume at this point, you do not.

Edward Troxel

[Don Bloom]

There is virtually NO difference between DV and DVCAM as far as quality. Not only have others tested it but I have run tests myself and found the only noticable difference is DVCAM runs thru tape faster than DV. I’ve done a number of TV spots on DV and have had it transfered over to either BETA SP or DVCPro depending on the stations needs. Instead of running DV to DVCAM why not just shoot DV and have it transferred over to BETASP. Any reputable dup house can do it and its not that exoensive -just build it into the cost.

Don

[Dan Achatz]

Don is right, DVCam and Mini DV are the same video spec.

The difference is in track width and that makes DVCam slightly more robust. It also allows the Audio and Video to be locked together. In Mini DV the video and audio are simply started and stopped at the same time and are not actually locked. All this might make a big diffence if you were able to record for several days on a single tape, but in a 30 second commercial, not so much.

[Dr. Dropout]

Every DVCAM deck will play back miniDV tapes. There is ZERO audio/video quality difference between DVCAM and mini DV- same exact video compression scenario, DV25; audio= PCM 16/48.

Rest assured plenty of Vegas users have delivered masters that were shot on, and delivered on, miniDV. If your master tape is clean (no dropouts) and your program is “broadcast legal” (checks out on the Vegas scopes; audio isn’t too hot/too low, program a/v matches up with Vegas bars/tone) you’ll be fine.

Dubbing to SP…you can do that if they make you…and it’ll look/sound worse than your all digital miniDV master.