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Prores files to large
I’ve been capturing HDV material with the Blackmagic HDTV 1080i 59.94 Apple Prores (HQ) codec and have noticed that the file sizes are very large. We have a ton of footage and can’t keep importing footage like this without running out of room. Is there a better preset to use to import high quality HDV footage? or a way to compress the picture more with the Prores codec? Trying to capture 4 channels audio on a 1920X1080 timeline, trying to go with the best possible picture quality with limited space, any suggestions? have tried to import using HDV codec via firewire but can’t get 4 channels of audio. I have a new Sony M35U deck, connected to the Blackmagic HD Extreme card via HD-SDI
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4 Replies
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[Kevin Matluk] “Is there a better preset to use to import high quality HDV footage?”
You can try DVCPRO HD, but you lose some horizontal resolution. 1280×1080 instead of 1440×1080. But it still looks great…is easy to work with, and doesn’t take up that much space.
[Kevin Matluk] “or a way to compress the picture more with the Prores codec?”
Nope…there are two ProRes settings…ProRes 422 and ProRes 422 (HQ). The non-HQ version has the lowest data rate, so is the smallest ProRes preset you have.
[Kevin Matluk] “Trying to capture 4 channels audio on a 1920X1080 timeline, trying to go with the best possible picture quality with limited space, any suggestions?”
Either get more hard drive space (drives are cheap…even the larger raids like the EVO HD2…$6000 for 12TB!), or capture as DVCPRO HD. Or capture as HDV native. That is lossless, the only drawback being long render times and long conversion times due to the complexity of the format. But firewire capture is lossless.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
I’ve heard about the HDV conversion times, but never seen it myself. I’m continually loading in HDV native and using it in 720p or DV sequences just like any other footage. Renders just as quick as anything else. No conforming. Is the conforming thing just if you were to go back out HDV?
So I think you bring it in HDV, and drop it in a prores or DVCProHD sequence. You’ll have to render at some point, but it should play back just fine for editing purposes. You’ll save space because you’re only upconverting the material you use (when you render).
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Thanks Shane, I think I’ll try the DVCPRO HD Codec, what I’ve captured so far has been all PRORES (HQ) but has eaten up about 6 TB of storage, but thats 1920X1080 frame size. I would try importing HDV Native but as I mentioned I can’t get 4 channels of audio that way with my deck. Thanks again
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You imported as ProRes HQ, that is TWICE the size of regular ProRes, and Regular ProRes is fine for most stuff. I use that for our HDV shows that we make for Discovery. HQ is really overkill, especially for HDV.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def
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