[Scott Brown]

Hi Jason

You’re absolutely correct, my mistake, the Infinity camera uses JPEG2000 not DNxHD. I sat through the demo at IBC recently and the camera looks really interesting.

Lance, thanks for the feedback on both the AVID and Cineform codecs – I plan to fully test them both out shortly.

Best wishes

Scott

[Scott Brown]

Hi Michael

That’s really interesting, I had no idea that Apple had shown any interest in DNxHD. The thought of this codec possibly appearing in FCP is very appealing indeed.

Thanks for your input here.

Best wishes

Scott

[Scott Brown]

Hi Guys

Thanks for the input – Sean I wasn’t aware of the Apple politics re. the enabling of RT effects in FCP.

I have taken the simplistic perhaps naive approach of seeking out the codec that offers the best quality, with the most realtime functionality and the lowest datarate.

In my quest for a better understanding of codecs, I stumbled across a really useful site: https://codecs.onerivermedia.com/

Nothing listed on AVID’s DNxHD codec, however there is a very good review of the PhotoJPEG codec which as Graeme points out is quite superb.

Interestingly, I note that Ikegami and Grass Valley have integrated the AVID codec into two of their latest HD cameras.

I guess, it is now over to Apple to deliver the goods, however it would be a shame to have to wait until 2007 when this could be enabled now.

Best wishes

Scott

[Scott Brown]

Hi Guys

I’m not mixed up at all (I hope!). I’m fully aware that DVC PRO HD is a Panasonic codec; my point here is that while Apple & BMD’s 10 bit UC codecs offer superb quality, they offer little or no realtime capability and are only suitable for a final online edit.

There are two ways to handle the realtime HD battle – the hardware route and the software route.

AVID have opted to focus initially on the software route with great success. The DNxHD codec offers the best of both worlds i.e. great quality along with the ability to edit several streams of 10 bit HD footage in realtime, without the requirement for a final online stage.

DVC PRO HD is fine for an offline edit, however experience has shown it seriously lacking when it comes to multi generation work.

In short, we need a codec that will knock DNxHD off its perch – perhaps if BMD could enable realtime effects on the SheerVideo codec from BitJazz then we would have something quite special indeed!!!

Best wishes

Scott

[Scott Brown]

Matt

Many thanks for your feedback and clarification on the Decklink PCI Express situation.

Rumours abound about the launch of a G5 with PCI Express / Dual Core processors and lots of other goodies, however I guess until rumour becomes reality, I’ll run with the Decklink HD Pro.

Best wishes

Scott

[Scott Brown]

Thanks for the feedback

I do understand that PCI Express is faster than PCI-X, however I’m just curious to find out how this extra performance will affect what can be done using the Decklink HD card with FCP i.e. will this allow us to work with more streams of HD in realtime?

It also appears, just to add even further confusion, that PCI-X is being upgraded to version 2.0 which should offer speeds in excess of 500 Mhz.

I guess this is a question that only the team at Blackmagic Design can truly answer as I’m sure they are carrying out these tests as we speak.

Care to comment guys?

Best wishes

Scott