[Max Kaiser]

Billy,

I tried you method and it worked amazingly. When I outputted that version to quicktime via export>quicktime>make movie self-contained, and compared it against the HDV to DV version I’d created by going HDV to Camera and back via camera downconvert it looked MUCH better on the computer screen. I was just amazed at how much clearer the graphics were, the colors, everything. I thought I’d done it. It was what I’d hoped the difference would be.

Then, I wrote both out to DVDSP via compressor using the BESTDVD 90minute 2pass setting and being careful to make sure my fields stayed lower. The resulting DVD didn’t look so hot on TV. The HDV-DV version looked pretty good as it usually does, but the Uncompressed 4:2:2 looked stuttery, but only very slightly.

Also, when I watch the HDV-DV in my firewire connected television monitor it looks pretty good, but the Uncompressed 4:2:2 version again looks like the image timing is just off. Is this because I really shouldn’t be looking at uncompressed video via a firewire television monitor connection? Still, how do I explain the stuttery DVD. I’ve checked my fields repeatedly and can’t seem to find the mismatch. I know HDV is upper dominant, and DV is lower, but I wasn’t sure which way to play Uncompressed, so I went with lower since this is what the FCP preset has.

Jim, when I tried your method, again, it worked fine on the computer monitor, but when I watch it on the firewire connected (as opposed to a kona card or such) monitor it looked very, very stuttery. Ditto when I wrote it out to compressor and DVD.

Basically, I can get the image to look great on the computer, but can’t seem to get the settings right to make it look good on the TV.

Any ideas? Sorry to belabor this, but I really need a great solution for working with HDV in a 4:3 letterbox timeline so I can add text, etc. to the bottom bars – preferably without going back to tape which so far is the only way that has yielded acceptable results.

Max

BTW, I’m using 1080i60 HDV captured via firewire from an FX1/

[Max Kaiser]

Thanks John,

The thing is, they’re fine with it being letterboxed, and that is what it really must be, not full-frame, pan and scan, 4:3. They just need it in 720×486 overall. Is the solution then to pull and push it into place using motion – that seems pretty hard on the video.
Thanks!
Max

[Max Kaiser]

Thanks. I still get jitters when I do this. I tried exporting the HDV via Quicktime Movie… selection and I tried making it into a self-contained movie as well. Both times we got the jitters. I don’t know what I’m doing differently? The footage looks just grand when I do the out to camera and back work around.

Any ideas?

Thanks!
Max

[Max Kaiser]

Hi,

I’m looking to do the same thing as you, sort of skate the xserve issue. Did you have any luck with the system you proposed? Did you do it via gigE or fibrechannel?

Thanks in advance for any response!

Max

[Max Kaiser]

I’m using 5, and an FX1. But I don’t see why it wouldn’t work with 4.5. Also, I am not capturing it 16×9, but 4×3, since that is how most people will be seeing my DVD.

Max

Max Kaiser
Hand Crank Films
http://www.handcrankfilms.com

Dual G5, 4.5 GB
FCP 4.5
OS 10.4

[Max Kaiser]

Haha! Thanks, that is quite a bit easier. It took me all morning to figure out the camera downconvert – who knew I had “i.link”? Anyhow, works great now, thanks very much!

Max

Max Kaiser
Hand Crank Films
http://www.handcrankfilms.com

Dual G5, 4.5 GB
FCP 4.5
OS 10.4

[Max Kaiser]

Greg, I’m just getting started with HDV, too. All of the stuff I do will show in regular NTSC, not HD – what should I transcode to right away? DV25? And what is the best way of doing this?

Thanks!
Max

Max Kaiser
Hand Crank Films
http://www.handcrankfilms.com

Dual G5, 4.5 GB
FCP 4.5
OS 10.4

[Max Kaiser]

Thanks for all the confirmations. Looks like I’ll be getting the 9200 PCI card!

Max Kaiser
Hand Crank Films
http://www.handcrankfilms.com

Dual G5, 1.5 GB
FCP 4.1, w/Render Plug-in
10.3.1