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process of downconverting HDV(1080i from sony’s HC3) to SD in FCP
I am shooting in HD 1080i using Sony’s HC3 and will not be delivering the material as HD but as a DVD (mpeg2 files exported using compressor).
Since that is the case i would rather not edit in HD since it is much slower than SD editing on my MacBook Pro (1.5g RAM).
I don’t know what it means to down-convert from HD to SD exactly but if it means that my footage will still be 16×9 and the quality will not have been lost too much then i would like to do that so that i can EDIT IN SD which will be much easier and faster for me.
How do i do this down-conversion?
Is the process strictly on the FCP application side (settings and etc) as I import?
Do i need to set the camera to anything particular (if it has the ability at all)?
Do i need other hardware for down-conversion?
How much noticeable quality is lost to the average viewer?desperately need to understand this topic already!
thanks in advance for all the advice –p.s. will more RAM make a big difference in editing in HD – say i go from my current 1.5 to 3gigs of RAM?
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3 Replies
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Aviv,
You should be able to put your HD clips in a SD timeline, FCP will scale it and letterbox it. Or you can make it anamorphic. No special settings in the camera, FCP will put the shift fields filter on it. It wili look great if your footage is shot properly.
To see it on a monitor you may want to look at an MXO and a 23″ Cinema Display, but you also can send it to one via DVI, however the MXO will allow you to calibrate it properly.
Have a wonderful day.
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Great thanks!!
I just opened FCP 6 and am looking at the quick settings. For my HDV 1080i footage (from the hc3) would you recommend the DV-NTSC easy setup or the DV-NTSC Anamorphic?This is what is called downconverting? now my footage is SD and I can edit in SD which will be faster?
Since i am delivering the final product on dvd to those who are not watching in HD is this the way you would recommend? or should i suffer the HD editing and then the downconversion can be when i export in compressor?Thanks for the lighting response!
just great! I love technology (thanks Al Gore for the internet LOL)Aviv
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No, this is not downconverting, this is merely scaling. For downconvert you need hardware such as a Kona card, or software, like Compressor.
Or I believe you can downconvert it with the Media Manager.
You can go anamorphic if that’s what you like.
The cool thing about scaling is that you can move itt around (pan and scan) or zoom in on it. I recently did a 720p project with 1080 footage, pan and scan was very handy and cool, smoother than most camera moves.
Have a wonderful day.
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