Olof Ekbergh
Forum Replies Created
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I use a AJA HDe card it down converts in real time, just play the clips. Set to letterbox or anamorphic.
I would just drop all the clips in a timeline (I use FCP or M100) and then play them to deck component or SDI.
If you want to use Firewire you have to render a timeline as HDV first. Time consuming and quality will be lost.
I also have a Matrox MX02 it does the same very high quality down convert in real time.
I archive all my XDcam footage on Bluray or 5/9 SD DVD’s and on 2 HD’s in different locations.
I use a Lacie FW Bluray burner, I just do data dvd’s in finder or using Toast. I am Mac based. If I only have a small amount to archive I use the single layer DVD up to 4.3GB, or double layer about 8GB. Blurays hold 23 or 45 GB’s.
I also have a Database set up that is searchable and has thumbnails with reference to the Drives and Bluray or DVD’s. I wish I ad done this back in the Beta days. It is so easy now with file based video, there is no longer any excuse, not to be organized.
If anyone is interested in trying the DB I have a Beta version that runs on Mac available, I plan to market it eventually.
I personally have stopped using SDHC cards, I still have some 16GB Sandisks, that work fine. But too many people seem to have problems with them for me to be comfortable using them. Most problems seem to be related to restarting recording in a second or two before data has been transfered from buffer to card or removing card too soon while activity light is red.
There are some solutions coming from Sony and others this fall that offload cards directly to a HD in the field at 10X speed. Seems like a very good solution:
Olof Ekbergh
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M100 v13.x with HDe AJA board does hardware down convert and it is very good.
I have 2 of the new MacPros (Intel) one is the brand new Nehalam 8 cores, one has the AJA board and the other MX02, they both do hardware down convert.
V14 or Suit version of M100 will support the MX02 witch also does up convert in hardware on the fly.
Bitvice down convert can never be as good as uncompressed hardware output. It is compressed to MPEG a very lossy but efficient codec. But it is about as good as MPEG for SD DVD compression gets.
Olof Ekbergh
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My Kona LHE has DH SDI.
Check AJA site:
https://www.aja.com/products/kona/kona-lhe-lh.php
I also have the MX02 and it is a fine solution, and I think it will be great when Suite comes out, any day now. But read up on your LHE, you will get a pleasant surprise. It uses the same two SDI ports for SD or HD.
Olof Ekbergh
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I often carry one cam in a Smuggler Portabrace bag. With all my MacBookPro bats mikes charger, as much of the really vital stuff as possible.
Then I check the other cam sticks lights etc in Pelican cases.
I always try to book direct flights, transfers are where most luggage is lost.
Make sure everything is insured. I also find out what rental houses are available where I am shooting, just in case.
If something gets lost, you may get it back in a few days so FEDEX overnight from a place like RULE, a great rental outfit, may be your best bet when trouble strikes, think and plan ahead. Show up a day or two in advance if possible. That is all you can do.
On your way out of the US you can have customs give you a form and verify all your equipment, or bring proof of ownership, so you don’t get in trouble with customs on return trip.
Olof Ekbergh
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I find that my AJA HDe and Matrox MX02 both do a great job.
I usually edit in M100 or FCP and I always monitor in both HD and SD on multiple monitors, Pro LCD and CRT and also a consumer LCD. You can letterbox or crop or pan and scan and see the results in real time. This way you know exactly how finished footage will look on any monitor.
So I do all my editing / grading in HD and then lay off to Beta or whatever as a last step.
We still do a lot of commercials in SD 4:3. We have no problems what so ever mixing old DSR500, BetaSP or even stock footage with EX3 footage.
Some footage needs to be softened to look better SD, I do that and my grading in Color, while monitoring SD and HD.
If project is for SD DVD then I still do all my edit / grading in HD and then use Bitvice to downconvert to mpeg, I have always been very happy with the results.
I have read some people like 720 better for down converting, I have not found this to be the case.
Olof Ekbergh
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Is it possible this clip spanned 2 cards?
If so copy both BPAV folders to your hard drive and then point Transfer app at both of them and transfer as usual.
Olof Ekbergh
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I have been using Bluray for a while now as storage medium. It works great.
This can be achieved just in Finder on a Mac (I have a LaCie FW BluRay burner).
If you wish to make BluRay Video Disks for Bluray set top (TV) players then you need Toast. You can also make Data Blurays with toast, but you don’t have to.
Olof Ekbergh
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30p is great, as long as you don’t need to go to PAL then it is not a good idea.
Olof Ekbergh
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The XDHD codecs come with FCP, I don’t know if you can get them anywhere else.
Download all the installers from Sony, SxS drivers, Clip Browser app and Transfer app.
Once they are installed see if you can play XD footage in QT player, transfer using the Transfer app.
Link:
https://www.sony.co.uk/biz/view/ShowSiteSection.action?sectiontype=BC%20Tools%20XDCAM&site=biz_en_GBI really do recommend the FCP suite it has a lot of great tools like Color for CC.
Olof Ekbergh
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I don’t agree with Jim’s views of M100.
As a matter of fact I have way more problems with my AJA HDe and Matrox MX02 in FCP than in M100.
However, he does have point, test to make sure AJA works in FCP. If not then uninstall and reinstall AJA drivers.
Did you do the AJA FirmWare update?
You may want to dump M100 prefs, something you have to do in FCP on a regular bases, but only rarely in M100.
Also I stayed with QT 7.6 it works great. Did you install the latest QT 7.6.2 (I think)?
Olof Ekbergh