Brett Howe
Forum Replies Created
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Curious, as this is not greyed out in the 32 bit version. Also, there is a reference timing slider now.
We have had the same issues with DVCpro
There a few ideas. Normally we loop one of the outputs back into the sync cource BNC on the back of the Tape deck. That has worked in the past.
The other, and this will get a few laughs….and possibly erode my credibility…is we have used an old XBOX 1 as a sync source for everything. Yes, that’s right, the Xbox way lying around, so we gave it a go, and it worked fine. So fine in fact, before we moved last Nov, it was the sync source for almost 4 years. And XBOX 1’s are much cheaper than a blackburst generator, plus they have other uses…unlike a blackburst generator.
For those of you contemplating this idea..don’t bother with a gamecube…they don’t work….why….no idea…and we didn’t try the PS2.
Brett Howe
Creative Director / Producer
Brave Vision Pty Ltd -
Blackmagic has some nformation on their website regarding Raids and bitrates for HD video. It’s worth a look there.
What I would say is it shouldn’t be all bundled together.
Keep your Audio Files and Graphic elements etc on a seperate drive.
If you have lots of assets on the same drive, in different locations, the heads spend half the time (I exagerate) seeking out the assets, and you loose your sustained data rate speed.
as for the first question. Once the vision goes to tape on a Z1, it is compressed to MPEG2 25 (50i). There is definately no point in capturing this uncompressed, unless you are looking to avoid that seemingly unnavoidable lag that comes with long format Native HDV edits. The upside is it is no harder on your drive speed than DV! As long as you have plenty of RAM and CPU to handle the decoding, I’d go with native.
I have just completed a DOCO shot on Z1’s. Captured as native, there were about 16 hours or so of footage, that took up almost 200 gig on my raid.
I cut the job in a BM project, and imported the mpeg footage. It worked brilliantly, and I still had a BM HD preview. Although on fast movement the Z1’s are prone to SOFTEN somewhat, the footage was generally excellent, and the client was very happy with the finished piece for broadcast.
Brett Howe
Creative Director / Producer
Brave Vision Pty Ltd -
CS4 was released late September 08 if I remember correctly.
Here we are, nearly at the end of Feb, almost 5 months, and there is no joy! I know the hardware developers have their hands tied to some extent, thanks to the massive overhaul under the hood of premiere, but…
…my worry is just when it all gets sorted…CS5 will be on the doorstep, as companies like Adobe, are landing new releases yearly, to justify subscription programs and upgrade profits.
I know, I’m cynical, but I’ve been working with this stuff long enough to remember when new releases were milestones…and updates were bug fixes and small feature enhancements. And the new releases were half as often.
We can only hope everybody has learnt something from this debacle, and the end user won’t be landed in the same situation again, especially regarding the poor information management, with Adobe advertising these third party hardware options even before release.
I just feel for the guys who bought a whole new system, say from HP, who sold bundles. These would have never worked as promised for 5 months.
So we wait some more, and as we do, editors are switching over to final cut pro. Exactly what Adobe are trying to avoid.
Aghh, the irony.
Brett Howe
Creative Director / Producer
Brave Vision Pty Ltd -
Yep
This has been the case for a while now, and we are all a little more than frustrated.
OK, for the guys who still have CS3, but for those of you who have entered the market at CS4, it’s a little frustrating.
What I can tell you is the current drivers do still work with After Effects, and Photoshop CS4.
So at a pinch, you can use Media Express to capture vision, that you can still use in premiere CS4, just don’t try to use the Blackmagic Presets…they will not work, and crash you out more often than not.
We will wait anxiously for Adobe to deliver this well overdue update, that does exist…and is being Beta tested currently.
Then BM can release to us some code to bring the boards to life.
Brett Howe
Creative Director / Producer
Brave Vision Pty Ltd -
You can do this and there are some advantages…and disadvantages.
Firstly, you will be going analouge to the BM card, so you will loose a little quality there…but most could live with it. The component out of the Z1’s is quite good, even if the connections are more consumer than a big mac!
You did mention 1080p though. There is a problem with that. The Z1’s only shoot 1080i, and a pretend 1080p…where they just chuck out every second field, resulting in considerable quality loss.
As for uncompressed…yes, you will need a fast raid, no way around it. The MJPEG codec is good as a second choice, again, it’s all about your final destination.
For progressive, we have always cut Native 1080i HDV in premiere, and ourput the MASTER to progressive, de-interlacing on the way out. The quality is much higher, there is less messing around, the footage takes up less room and doesn’t have to live on a raid, and you keep your generations to a minimum.
I have toyed with many workflows…and my conclusion….I with the Z1 had SDI out!
Cheers
Brett
Brett Howe
Creative Director / Producer
Brave Vision Pty Ltd -
Yes you can.
HD 1080p – Uncompressed 10-bit YUV
Cheers
Brett
Brett Howe
Creative Director / Producer
Brave Vision Pty Ltd -
carefull Aristides….Bill will call you a lemming 🙂
It’s all down to adobe at this stage. Update due out at the end of the month…which is about now! Lets cross the fingers.
Brett Howe
Creative Director / Producer
Brave Vision Pty Ltd -
Lucky Matrox owners.
Although as I understand it, the drivers were only released early this week…it’s the press release that was out in December.
I think we’ve made plenty of noise, and the BM guys have been in touch.
I think we should have them soon
Brett Howe
Creative Director / Producer
Brave Vision Pty Ltd -
The unnofficial word is it will be available before the end of the month.
Shouldn’t have to wait too long, all going to plan.
Brett Howe
Creative Director / Producer
Brave Vision Pty Ltd -
I’d maybe approach this a little differently, and of course it all depends on the level of tracking required.
Yes the CS production suite is where you should head in my opinion, but you should shoot first…then animate, and track within MAX. Then, render out you animation in RLA, RPF, or at the least, a TGA stream, and composit the shots together in after effects.
Keep these things in mind. It is time consuming no matter how you do it. If you want a good job, it will take man hours.
Also, when you shoot, (and I don’t know your subject, so I’m talking generally here) use a stabalized camera…at least a tripod. Trying to match every little movement on a handheld camera will bring you nothing but greif on your first efforts.
If you can be aware of tracking points in you shot, or even add tracking markers, you should have no problems camera matching in 3dsMax. (there a good tutorials on this in help)
As for a camera, we use Z1’s, whitch should be pretty affordable now, or go one of the new HD cams that record in progressive formats. Taking fields out of the equation makes life simple too.
Good luck.
Brett Howe
Creative Director / Producer
Brave Vision Pty Ltd