[Dan Cooper]

The footage dubbed from beta to dvcam looks like crap (as discussed + there’s the whole timecode issue) so my thinking is to hit the studio with the following request (tell me if the tech specs work):

The studio digitises the footage from the beta tape with the original timecode using their facility (i think they use liquid blue). I then get the digital files/takes copied over to my external hardrive, bring it back to my setup and edit/key/animate using FCP and AE.

My query though is will the digital files/takes captured from their setup be compatible and better quality for chroma keying than the footage i already have on dvcam? I operate off of a 2.3 dual G5, video card specs are:ATI Radeon 9650, Chipset Model ATY,RV351.

Thanks for the support,
Dan

[Dan Cooper]

Thanks for all of the good advice, i will see what can be resolved.

For my own personal gratification and understanding… is there a major difference in quality between digitising directly from beta tape, or 1st dubbing from beta to dvcam and then digitising.

The footage is bluescreen and shot on SX Digital Betacam, so would there be less artifacting by not transferring to dvcam.

Thanks,
Dan

[Dan Cooper]

The recording studio’s response / recommendation was the following:

The DVCAM recorder does not have external timecode in so you need to
view VITS not longitudinal timecode to see the original ‘off tape’ timecode.
If not the NLE software you are using should be able to ripple timecode to
allow for the offset.

Does this make sense?

[Dan Cooper]

Good news on the video front… in the playback output settings i took off mirror on desktop checkbox, so now i can see and record video on the camera/tape.

The only problem now is that after it starts to record for awhile, it pauses and says it drops frames. I have a 2.3 duel G5 w/ 2gig ram, so that shouldn’t be the issue.

FCP specs are:

Output format = DV Tape

Sequence settings:
– frame size = 720 x 576 PAL CCIR601
– Quicktime compression = none

Playback settings are:
– unlimited RT
– Video Quality = Dynamic
– Pulldown Pattern 2:3:2:3
– Record Quality = Full

Any idea?

[Dan Cooper]

Hi Shane,

I have done all of the above, but there must be something not right because no image appears on the camcorder or deck when recorded (audio does however).

I can view the an image when i go View>External Video>Current frame, but not when I select >External Video>All Frames, or when i open the Edit to Tape window.

Thanks for the time, I really appreciate it

[Dan Cooper]

That answers another query not yet written. Cheers!

What i need to know though, is how to record/copy the video from my project onto DV Tape?

Thanks,
Dan

[Dan Cooper]

Yeah that does the trick for the quality. I like your style… however when i turn on the ‘sun’, the pre-comps that are in my timeline no longer respond the the camera which i have set up, and in the quality & motion blur switch columns a ‘ – ‘ appears. Also, on a couple of the layers the content has moved and scaled slightly.

Any answer to that riddle?

[Dan Cooper]

it’s basically 19hrs of lectures at a convention (something i am hanging out to film!), so i imagine very static shots (2 x camera – distant / close up), internal lighting, shot on Panasonic DVX100 (miniDV), edit on FCP, nothing out of the ordinary.

Thanks for your imput,
Dan

[Dan Cooper]

Thanks for the word of knowledge.

To maintain good quality video, how many dvd’s would be required – eg. would a 3 x dvd set be sufficient?

[Dan Cooper]

you guys are the coolest! thanks