New Varicam ‘H’ owner, Settings questions

[Chris Tompkins]

BMD Decklink card has analog,HDMI, SDI i/o

Chris Tompkins
Video Atlanta LLC

[Patrick Forestell]

If I wanted to edit solely on a 29.97p timeline; how best can I convert my Varicam 59.94p video to 29.97p ?

I can capture from the Varicam using it’s SDI output to DeckLink or I can capture out of the Varicam H using the Panasonic Model 10 SDI recorder that uses AVChd codec.

Some times I have multi cam shoots and use several SPX800 DVCpro50 cams along with the single Varicam and two small consumer (Panasonic) HD cams that shoot at 1080p

All those videos are to be editing on a 29.97p timeline for mostly use on web with DVD versions as well. The DVDs will be burned at 720/480p and the web versions are uploaded at 1280/720p

What I end up with after the shoot will be lost of P2 at DVCpro50, some 1080p shot with small consumer HD cams, and the Varicam H DVCproHD via it’s tape or it’s companion Model 10 AVChd Recorder.

Thanks for any helpful input you guys might have,

Patrick

[Tim Roane]

Hello HDC27H onwers/operators,
Can someone please provide us with definite experience/accounts/footage of anybody using a HDC27H with a Sound Devices PIX240, or similar device.
I am curious about the PIX240, primarily as I hope that its Up/Down/Cross Conversion functions will enable the camera to be used in more standard composite IMAG situations, and also when a plain old SD-SDI feed is required on multi-cam corporate gigs.

My main question is: Can a PIX 240 connected to HDC27H record 720/60P ProRes HQ data, and then will I be able to conform this back to 24P / 25P without any issues, using Cinema Tools or similar.

I don’t know of any reasons NOT just to edit at 60P , on a 720/60P timeline. And then unless I need slomo,
I can just output it to the desired frame rate once all the editing etc is done.

Please chop me to bits if I am over-simplifying things. I have edited a ton of HDSLR footage, and AVC-Intra and Redcode RAW over the years, so by all means, be brutal if I deserve it!!!!
many thanks,
Tim R (Down Under …it’s warm and wet!!!)

[Bruce Greene]

I don’t think you want to shoot at 60fps and then convert to 24fps. There will be un-even movement/cadence during playback.

You’ll want to shoot at 24p. I don’t know if the PIX240 can record the 24p from the 60p HDSDI that comes out of the Varicam. (It’s 24fps + duplicate frame/pulldown to make 60fps). The real frames are flagged, and the AJA Ki-pro products and the AJA I/O products can read these frames and lay down only the “real” frames to a digital PROres file. The Ki-pro products can only do this at 24, 25, 30, and 60 fps I believe. Other frame rates are not compatible with the Ki-pro and you’ll need to record to tape and extract the real frames later, or use the AJA I/O connected to a computer and HD.

There is the NanoFlash recorder that works, I believe, at more (or maybe all) frame rates, but you can’t play back footage in the NanoFlash itself that hasn’t been captured at 60fps. And I don’t think it records the flags for later frame extraction. The NanoFlash cards can be played back at 24p via a computer though, but you’ll need to remove the CF cards from the device and plug them into the computer.

There is a Panasonic P2 recorder that records at 60fps only, but does record the flags for later 24p frame extraction. I would however remove the duplicate frames before editing using the panasonic frame rate converter that used to come with Final Cut Pro 7. So hold on to your old FCP for this workflow 🙂 Perhaps the P2 recorder itself connects to your computer via firewire and you can capture the 24p from the 60p files that way as well.

Edit at 24p for 24p footage. You can add pulldown to make a 60p output at the end of the process if necessary for broadcast.

The 27H is a very good camera that makes beautiful images. Enjoy your new camera!

Varicam/Steadicam Owner
Los Angeles, CA
http://www.brucealangreene.com

[Tim Roane]

Thank you Bruce! This was ohly my second ever post on the Cow, and I am stoked to get such a quick response.
I am now suspecting that I simply “don’t get it” as far as flagged frames is concerned.
Here is my hope, (perhaps you can tell me if I am misinformed):
The PIX 240 is said to record 720/60P.
I can simply edit this footage on a matching timeline. At the end, output a 25P version.
If I want to use some of this 60P footage as slomo (over cranked), I can take the clips I need slowed, and run them thru Cinema Tools,to conform them to 25P slomo.

Is the issue to do with “flagged frames”? I have never encountered this, and terms such as cadence makes my head hurt. Its just one of those things my ‘art-brain’ likes to make me struggle with.

Is the Varicam H version of 720/60P different to the 720/60P one might achieve with say and EX-3, or even a Canon 7D ?
Is that what this “flagged” business is referring to? What is the point then of the extra frames?
Arggh!!! Public admission of ignorance!!! Will my ego allow me to post this……