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Mixing HD & SD
I’m editing a magazine program where the host intros are shot with an EX1 (1080i60) and the story segments are SD 4:3 (captured at ProRes 422 with Kona 3). The edited master will be SD 16:9 (with graphic panels to fill the pillar box columns on the 4:3 stuff).
My question is what sequence settings (and clip settings/format) will give me the best SD quality? I tried editing a show on an uncompressed timeline and wasn’t happy with how the XDCAM footage looked. Currently I’ve recompressed all my XDCAM stuff to ProRes to match my SD clips and am working on a ProRes timeline with playback set to 525i 29.97 10 bit. This looks OK, but I’m wondering if there isn’t a better solution.
We’re just getting our feet wet in the HD swamp and the gazillion options are making my brain itch.
Thanks for your input!
Kip Cole
WKNO-TV
Memphis -
5 Replies
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It makes sense to edit in a seq set to your delivery format. It sounds like you’re on the right track. How did you recompress your XDCAM footage? It might make sense to re-capture or re-transfer the XDCAM to ProRes, as recompression can affect quality.
John
MacPro 8-core 2.8GHz 8 GB RAM OS 10.5.5 QT7.5.5 Kona 3 Dual Cinema 23 ATI Radeon HD 3870
ATTO ExpressSAS R380 RAID Adapter, PDE Enclosure with 8-drive 6TB RAID 5
24″ TV-Logic Monitor
Final Cut Studio 2 (up to date)Pro Tools HD w SYNC IO, Yamaha DM1000, Millennia Media HV-3C, Neumann U87, Schoeps Mk41 mics, Genelec Monitors, PrimaLT ISDN
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I used Media Manager in FCP to recompress the XDCAM files. Is there a way to use Log & Transfer on the XDCAM files? I tried, but FCP wouldn’t recognize the MP4 files.
Thanks!
Kip Cole
WKNO-TV
Memphis -
Read the following thread. I think it has some answers. https://forums.creativecow.net/thread/8/1037915#1037919
John
MacPro 8-core 2.8GHz 8 GB RAM OS 10.5.5 QT7.5.5 Kona 3 Dual Cinema 23 ATI Radeon HD 3870
ATTO ExpressSAS R380 RAID Adapter, PDE Enclosure with 8-drive 6TB RAID 5
24″ TV-Logic Monitor
Final Cut Studio 2 (up to date)Pro Tools HD w SYNC IO, Yamaha DM1000, Millennia Media HV-3C, Neumann U87, Schoeps Mk41 mics, Genelec Monitors, PrimaLT ISDN
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Thanks John.
In the midst of our posts I actually installed the XDCAM Log & Transfer plugin for FCP (we had the Import plugin, but not L&T). I can now see & transfer the XDCAM clips into FCP using L&T, but it will not let me convert to ProRes (or other formats) on Transfer (it does allow you to convert P2 & AVC files to ProRes).
I did lose quality when I recompressed using Media Mgr., so I would like to find another option. Can’t purchase the other transfer software that was mentioned at this point.
Thanks again for your help.
Kip Cole
WKNO-TV
Memphis -
Again, I’m unfamiliar with XDCAM. However, if you must transcode with software use Compressor. Make sure to turn Frame Controls on in the Frame Controls tab of the Inspector. Then choose Best for the 3 quality settings you’ll find there. Compressor will take a long while (probably) to do the cross-conversion, but the quality will be very good. Try a short clip to judge for yourself. It may also be possible to simply drag the clip into your ProRes seq and render there (again, with the highest quality settings in Seq Settings>Render Control). Search for transcoding, and other advice will probably pop up.
John
MacPro 8-core 2.8GHz 8 GB RAM OS 10.5.5 QT7.5.5 Kona 3 Dual Cinema 23 ATI Radeon HD 3870
ATTO ExpressSAS R380 RAID Adapter, PDE Enclosure with 8-drive 6TB RAID 5
24″ TV-Logic Monitor
Final Cut Studio 2 (up to date)Pro Tools HD w SYNC IO, Yamaha DM1000, Millennia Media HV-3C, Neumann U87, Schoeps Mk41 mics, Genelec Monitors, PrimaLT ISDN
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