Using a codec on a captured hdv file.

[Richard Harrington]

Use Compressor and convert the file.

If you captured via FireWire.. then it was just data transfer to begin with.

If you captured analog.. then quality may differ

Richard M. Harrington, PMP

Author: Video Made on a Mac, Photoshop for Video, Understanding Adobe Photoshop, Final Cut Studio On the Spot and ATS:iWork

[Zane Barker]

[Tamas Siry] “I have captured an hdv 1080i60 tape in my mac with basic settings using no codecs”

Sorry but there MUST be a codec. It is impossible to have a video file that does not have a codec.

How did you capture the video?

There are no “technical solutions” to your “artistic problems”.
Don’t let technology get in the way of your creativity!

[Tamas Siry]

Hi Zane,

I use a Sony HVR-M15A HDV Recorder to capture the tape. I capture via firewire.
In FCP I choose the following setup:
Format: HDV
Rate: 29,97 fps
Use: HDV-1080i60
Sequence Preset: HDV – 108060
Capture Preset: HDV
These are my setting in the Easy setup.

Thanks

[Tamas Siry]

Just another question. Is there a big difference capturing with no codec in hdv than compressing the finished material into apple ProRes 422 HQ with compressor, instead of capturing the tape from the beginning with apple ProRes 422 HQ codec? The reason why I am asking is because if I capture without codec I can save space on my hard drive, therefor converting the final project with the codec could be an issue if there is no loss of quality.

Thanks

[Zane Barker]

[Tamas Siry] “Just another question. Is there a big difference capturing with no codec in hdv than compressing the finished material into apple ProRes 422 HQ with compressor, instead of capturing the tape from the beginning with apple ProRes 422 HQ codec?”

Again I don’t know why you are not understanding this but there is absolutely no way you can capture video without using a codec. For a video file to exist on your computer it will have and must have a codec. No exceptions. None Nada, there is a codec used in every video capture.

[Tamas Siry] “In FCP I choose the following setup:
Format: HDV
Rate: 29,97 fps
Use: HDV-1080i60
Sequence Preset: HDV – 108060
Capture Preset: HDV “

Your capture preset determines your codec. You captured using FCPs native HDV codec. So YES you did capture with a codec.

To answer the first question that I have quoted from you on this response there is no difference in quality when capturing using FCPs native HDV codec like you did and capturing to ProRes 422 HQ. The reason people capture to codecs like ProRes instead of native HDV is because the native HDV codec is a pain to edit in. Editing ProRes is easier to edit.

[Tamas Siry] “The reason why I am asking is because if I capture without codec I can save space on my hard drive”

In response to that ProRes HQ is actually overkill if you are shooting HDV. I would recommend capturing plane ProRes NOT ProRes HQ. Doing that you will have smaller file sizes then ProRes HQ but it still gives you a better editing codec then native HDV.

There are no “technical solutions” to your “artistic problems”.
Don’t let technology get in the way of your creativity!

[Dennis Leppell]

Well, first let’s fix some of your preconceptions and terminology. First, HDV IS a codec. The footage was filmed in HDV, and you captured in HDV, its NATIVE format; thus a codec is attached to your footage.

Knowing that, there’s no need to drop the word ‘codec’ into your description of the problem. It’s common practice here to then talk about formats as the format themselves. Example: ‘I captured in ProRes because HDV is Satan’s format’. Not being a grammar nazi, just trying to flesh out your knowledge of the topic.

Now, the question at hand. Capture in HDV, then deliver in ProRes. Yes, if drive space is an issue, this is a way to go. If you captured via Firewire, you’ll be able to export your final video in ProRes using Compressor. But, this is not the way to go, and here’s why.

HDV is 4:2:0 color space (read more about color space here https://blog.dotlot.com/understanding-420-color-space-in-hdv/)
ProRes is 4:2:2 color space, 10bit. This means it holds up better to color grading, compositing, and graphics.
HDV also uses the Long-GOP, which is a rendering nightmare. Even regular scrubbing of the timeline, with no effects or filters, can choke your computer.

What’s really important there is the better colorspace in ProRes. If you do any sort of color correction to your HDV material, and then export to prores, it may or may not come out accurately. And once you’ve exported, going back to fix the issue can be very problematic, because the problem exists in the export process and not your timeline.

So I (and most everyone else here) would recommend capturing and editing in ProRes, the exporting in whatever format you need for final delivery.

[Chris Poisson]

This may be of some help to you:

https://library.creativecow.net/articles/poisson_chris/hdv-prores.php

[Tamas Siry]

Thank you all, really helped me a lot.
I have been asked to deliver a project using hdv 1080i60 (native codec), and I have noticed that there is a huge difference size wise, compared to prores 422 using compressor. Is that normal?

Thanks