[Don Greening]

[Chris Babbitt] “I have selected Pro=Res 422, square pixels, Field Dominance/None, but I am befuddled as to what to choose for Frame Size / Aspect ratio. NTSC 4:3 or CCIR 601 NTSC, Etc., Etc?”

If you want to make a 4:3 version of your HD project select the following preset parameters:

Apple ProRes 422 NTSC 48 kHz
Sequence Frame Size: 720×480 plus change aspect ratio to: NTSC DV (3:2)
Pixel aspect ratio should be: NTSC – CCIR 601/DV (720×480) anamorphic unchecked
Field Dominance – none
Editing timebase – 29.97
Compressor – Apple ProRes

Create the sequence and drop your EX stuff right in. Just say “no” to the dialogue ‘match sequence setting to the EX clips’. Since your sequence is 4:3 your 16:9 clips will automatically be centre-punched to create your 4:3 version.

Edit, render and export using “current” settings.

– Don

[Don Greening]

[Jim McNally] “When I have my EX3 setup in 1080/30p mode the YPbPr/SDI out is showing 1080/60i. “

On my EX3 in the VIDEO SET menu the YPbPr/SDI Out Select can only be set to HD or SD. Jim are you talking about seeing the 1080/60i description somewhere on the EX3 or on the MXO? Because if it’s the MXO then you just need to make sure that end of it is set up for 1080//30p. Even if you can’t change that I’m pretty sure it will still be recorded as 1080/30p and not 60i. Try recording a couple seconds and bring the result into your NLE. Check the field order description and that it says “none”.

For Greg: As Craig has stated the SxS cards record in the 4:2:0 colour space. There’s a pretty big difference between 4:2:0 and 4:0:0. Personally, I’m waiting to win the lottery so I can get my F35 that records in the 4:4:4 colour space.

– Don

[Don Greening]

[Kent Beeson] “If so should I buy this nearly $1000 item instead of SXS 32GB cards? Is this hard drive reliable and high quality for use with the new SONY EX1R? “

I would assume so. A friend of mine rents one from time to time for his EX1 and has no trouble with it. Its limitation is that you can’t record overcrank to it because of the USB interface (like SDHC 3rd party cards).
Using the PHU-120 with the EX1R would be exactly the same as with the EX1. Maybe rent one and try it out first before you buy and see if the unit will indeed fill your needs.

– Don

[Don Greening]

Gerry, here’s a frame grab courtesy of Michael Palmer which demonstrates the difference between the EX codec at 35 Mbps 4:2:0 as opposed to the Nano version at 100 Mbps 4:2:2.

The caption that accompanies the picture is as follows:

“73. How does this compression compare to the native Sony EX1/EX3 CODEC?
Compare the two images below, the left image is from the native XDCam EX is 4:2:0 at 35 Mbps, while the right image was recorded on the nanoFlash (via the HD-SDI out of the EX1) using the XDCAM 422 at 100 Mbps. Note this is an extreme pan and rotation test and not indicative of the normal quality from the EX1.”

Thanks for the email, Michael.

– Don

[Don Greening]

Okay, thanks Michael. Do know if any of your compadres at CD have any side by each video comparisons on the web?

– Don

[Don Greening]

Michael,

You already have that article up on the tutorials section of the COW. Do you mean you’re adding to the existing article with frame grabs or are you talking about a different article that’s pending?

– Don

[Don Greening]

The Convergent Design website has lots of samples but no side by side comparison shots, which is what you’re after, right?

there’s this that has one small comparo shot:

https://library.creativecow.net/articles/palmer_michael/nano_and_EX3.php

Failing that you might want to contact Michael Palmer (click on his head at the top for contact info) because I know he has some personal comparison shots. At least he did several months ago when he sent me some. No, I don’t have them anymore.

– Don

[Don Greening]

[kathleen lingo] “how do you reformat your cards? “

With the camera. Menu > OTHERS > Format Media (at the bottom).

The Reset command is also in the ‘Others’ menu.

– Don

[Don Greening]

Hi Kathleen,

By the way, welcome to Creative COW. I’ll try to address your concerns. Firstly, you didn’t mention what model of EX camera you have or how old it is, which would actually help. I used to have an early EX1 and it had issues where the iris ring would lock without warning. There was no fix other than to turn the camera off and reboot it. It eventually went back to Sony for good because of that and other issues. I’ve never had an EX camera hiccup in the way you’ve described, although I don’t doubt for a moment that it happened to you.

My current EX1 has also had file naming issues, where a bunch of clips were given numerical filenames out of sequence and they ended up at the head of the numerical “line” even though they were shot later in the day. I am currently unaware of any quick fix for your 2 issues, mostly because I haven’t had the time to research or run any tests to see if the problems are repeatable or in the case of camera hiccups can be forced to re-occur. I’ve never had file naming issues with my EX3.

In the meantime, try the “Reset All” command in the menu, and after that, turn the camera off and pull the memory battery for 5 minutes. If you have any custom picture profiles write down the settings first before the reset or you’ll lose them. Also reformat your Kensington cards.

If I come up with any solutions in the future I’ll post them here.

– Don

[Don Greening]

[Craig Seeman] “Welcome back Don! “

Thanks. I’m still quite ill and am not able to help out full time until the new year.