[Graham Jones]

Hi,

whew, thanks so much! That’s great! I’m guessing that would apply also to a Studio and an Intensity in the same system?

Thanks,
Graham.

[Graham Jones]

Hi,

Hmmm… no way I’m going to spend over $1000 on the Softron one — spartan, clunky, and doesn’t work very well. I’d rather just put that $1,000 into a second Mac Pro.

Unless you have some answers to my other questions…?

Thanks,
Graham.

[Graham Jones]

Hi,

also, what about having a Decklink Studio and a Blackmagic Intensity in the same system — does that change the scenario at all? Could FCP record from the Decklink Studio and OnAir record from the Intensity at the same time?

Incidentally, I downloaded the trial of ScopeBox and it didn’t work very well. I’m downloading the demo of the Softron one now.

Thanks,
Graham.

[Graham Jones]

Hi,

Bummer. Can you please indulge me and let mw know what some of the other software options are? Softtron’s seem overly expensive for what they offer, and ScopeBox looks cool but it isn’t clear if they support capturing via HDMI at all.

Other than those two, a Google search on various related terms came up empty.

Thanks,
Graham.

[Graham Jones]

Hi,

thanks so much, that’s great news!

Do you know if any of the software that can capture two streams simultaneously is on Mac? Or could I just use two apps at the same time, like Final Cut and OnAir, or Final Cut and Premiere (each capturing one stream)?

Thanks,
Graham.

[Graham Jones]

Hi,

thanks for your input — good to know. Luckily I use the camcorder very sparingly, only from home, and always carefully. It was only used outside the home once last year, for example.

Thanks,
G.

[Graham Jones]

Hi,

Silly me… I just read further in the forums and realized that though the HG20 captures 30p as 1080i60, it really is sending progressive frames. So apparently you just set FCP’s sequence settings to fields “none” and it is progressive.

To my eye there’s very little difference between the 1080i60 and 1080p30, but we’ll see once I’m dealing with higher light levels,

Thanks,
G.

[Graham Jones]

Hi,

Silly me… I just read further in the forums and realized that though the HG20 captures 30p as 1080i60, it really is sending progressive frames. So apparently you just set FCP’s sequence settings to fields “none” and it is progressive.

To my eye there’s very little difference between the 1080i60 and 1080p30, but we’ll see once I’m dealing with higher light levels,

Thanks,
G.

[Graham Jones]

Hi,

Silly me… I just read further in the forums and realized that though the HG20 captures 30p as 1080i60, it really is sending progressive frames. So apparently you just set FCP’s sequence settings to fields “none” and it is progressive.

To my eye there’s very little difference between the 1080i60 and 1080p30, but we’ll see once I’m dealing with higher light levels,

Thanks,
G.

[Graham Jones]

Hmmm…

I decided to do a very quick down and dirty test — low lighting in my office to exaggerate the grain, tried capturing 1080p30, 1080p24, 1080i60 by HDMI (ProRes HQ), and recording at the same time to the camera at 24 Mbit AVCHD to import with Log and Transfer.

Notes:
– The camera appears to Final Cut as 1080i60 regardless of which internal mode the camera is set at, whether using HDMI or Log and Transfer. I notice the 24p-style motion when recorded in that mode, but not true progressive frames. Bummer. This may not be a FCP issue — when I check the HDMI Status in the camera menus, it says 1080i60 and has no other options.

– Though the HDMI-captured image does have significantly more colour and more detail in moving areas, it also has significantly more noise. This doesn’t make sense to me — unless it is an issue of the HDMI more accurately capturing the color noise of the grain.

– Because of this, in low light the non-HDMI actually looks better.

– That said, in my broadcast color grading experience I know that even very high end pro cameras look terrible when there is gain noise in low light. I am eager to see how these tests might differ in full studio light. If I don’t have to deal with the grain, I think the HDMI improvements will be worth it.

My light kit will ship in another week or two — I’ll report back when I have more tests to share.

Thanks,
G.