XDCAM and Chroma key

[Tel Jaba]

is that the same with all formats?
we are going to be working 1080 25p
no difference between Interlace and Progressive?

[Bouke Vahl]

Tel,
Go do your homework.

MOST HD cams store the stuff in a HIGHLY compressed format.
The ‘broadcast’ cams do 35 mbit a second. That is about 1/3 of the datarate of a Digibetacam, and a digibeta only shoots 720 x 576.

IOW, they are trying to store 4 times MORE pixels in 1/3 of the space.
That cannot be without some loss, and exactly that loss will make chroma key HELL.

The HDcams that record less compressed are all very expensive.

So, pick your poison.

(and probably now you are going to tell us that the end product will be 320 x 240 Flash files…)

Bouke

https://www.videotoolshed.com/
smart tools for video pro’s

[Walter Biscardi]

[tel jaba] “is that the same with all formats? “

With XDCAM YES. No difference. If you insist on using XDCAM and insist on doing the Chroma Key shots you’re on your own.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.

Read my Blog!

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[Craig Seeman]

I’m not quire sure if others here have actually done chroma keying with XDCAM EX. I have.
It works VERY WELL.

If you shoot progressive the pixels are packed very close together. I used the XDCAM EX codec and shot chroma keys at 1080p. I’ve gotten very good results on my first click using Final Cut Pro’s built in Chroma Keyer.It really keys fine. I’m tempted to upload a source clip for you folks to play with. It really keys well (at least by my standards).

[Bouke Vahl]

Sure, make it show ‘n tell. Always fun.

And yes, i have done it, but not on material i’ve shot myself.
Love to see your clips.

Bouke

https://www.videotoolshed.com/
smart tools for video pro’s

[Craig Seeman]

Sendspace 43MB XDCAM EX MOV source file
If you all jump it may cut you off at some point as it’s only the live/free account.

[Chris Babbitt]

I’ll second that, even at 720p. Good lighting is the answer. Also, instead of using the FCP keyer, I use the vKey2f Keyer. It’s an fxPlug and costs about $60-$70 as I recall.

[Steve Connor]

I’ve also had great results keying 1080 25P material, I found the keying to be surprisingly easy.

Steve Connor
Adrenalin Television

Have you tried “Search Posts”? Enlightenment may be there.

[Mark Raudonis]

Every interview we shoot is greenscreen/XDCAM HD.

We use “Ultimatte: Advantage” and After Effects for our compositing. If you’ve lit it properly and
shot well, the results are acceptable. Otherwise, you’re in for a bag o hurt.

Mark

[Jeremy Doyle]

I’ve never had issues just using keylight in AE.