OT: XDCAM HD or DVC PRO HD

[Mark Maness]

Thanks for the clarification, Gary! It sounds like we are going to make you an honorary XDCAM HD guru… LOL

Now, you see there is an actual difference between XDCAM HD and HDV. Yes, the XDCAM HD cameras can record actual HDV but in the other modes, its a variant of HDV – Transport Stream vs. Elementary Stream. And that is the big difference that we as XDCAM HD folks like to get the word out and explain to everyone why XD HD and HDV are different but similar.

Thanks, Gary, for pointing out the FAQ on tapeonline! It says it all.

_______________________________

Wayne Carey
Schazam Productions
http://www.schazamproductions.com

[Gary Adcock]

[Wayne Carey] “Thanks for the clarification, Gary! It sounds like we are going to make you an honorary XDCAM HD guru… LOL”

Thanks again Wayne.

I’m really a post guy- so I see it all, the good and the bad and occasionally some really, really ugly stuff.

gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows
Chicago, IL

[Gary Adcock]

this was sent to me off list.

XDCAM HD has three selectable MPEG2 HD data rates
18 Mbps variable bit rate encoding
25 Mbps constant bit rate encoding
35 Mbps variable bit rate encoding

The first and third are variable bit rate (VBR), which non-linear
disc recording permits. Think of VBR as a sliding bit rate to
maintain constant quality, and constant bit rate (CBR) as a fixed bit
rate with variable quality (read as artifacting).

The second, 25 Mbps, is CBR because HDV is defined as tape-based, and
tape, which records at constant speed, requires a fixed bit rate. So
25 Mbps is CBR for compatibility with HDV recorders and HDV-capable
editing systems. What’s unclear to most folks, however, is that while
XDCAM HD encodes MPEG2 as Elementary Stream, HDV editing systems
expect Transport Stream.

gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows
Chicago, IL

[Mark Maness]

Exactly!

That’s where the need for other codecs come in handy, such as DVCPRO HD and Uncompressed. For most, DVCPRO HD is going to be the main choice because if the smaller file sizes and lower bitrates thus making it possible for just about anybody to edit DVCPRO HD.

The transport stream in editing is like using a Yugo in a French Rally Race…

_______________________________

Wayne Carey
Schazam Productions
http://www.schazamproductions.com

[Blub06]

Thanks for that excellent link, lots of info, but I still have questions

[Mark Maness]

I see that you are starting to see that even though XDCAM HD is similar to HDV and uses an HDV favor for one its shooting modes, its still not really HDV and that’s why you won’t see Sony comparing it to HDV.

The addtional card you spoke of… I’m not sure about the new HDV machines but in the XDCAM PDW-F70, there is an upgrade card that will allow to transfer HDV to XDCAM HD and back – its just a HDV I/O card that uses the firewire connection for transfer.

And as for any of the other issues… Its really hard to compare XDCAM HD and HDV. Its kinda like comparing BetaSX and XDCAM. Yeah, they are very similar but very different.

_______________________________

Wayne Carey
Schazam Productions
http://www.schazamproductions.com