View Full Version : xl h1 > DVCPROHD > 10 bit > Why?


Andy Lunn
April 5th, 2007, 12:57 PM
Once i shoot my 24f or 30f footage on with a Canon XL h1. I was told i should use fcp to capture as DVCPROHD, can somebody tell me why I should do this? whats wrong with just plain old fcp > Capture and the basic settings? whats the benfit of using the DVCPROHD?

Secondly why would you convert the footage then to 10 bit uncompressed? what advantage is there to doing this? what bit rate is the norm? If you want to do colour correction or add filters is it best to use this format?

How do you convert it to 10bit?

So basically my questions are:
Why DVCPROHD?
Why convert to uncompressed 10 bit? uses?

cheers.

Will Griffith
April 5th, 2007, 01:57 PM
>>Why DVCPROHD?
Renders faster. Has more color info. Easier to work with.
But....personally I do not capture as DVCPRO.
We either capture Uncompressed 10bit directly when recording,
or shoot and capture HDV.

**DO NOT CONVERT HDV TO DVCPRO DURING CAPTURE OR FROM A TIMELINE!!**

>>Why convert to uncompressed 10 bit?
Rerendering HDV as HDV or any other lossy format is not a good idea. Taking a cuts-only sequence or direct capture, converting to UC10bit, and working
from there lets you know for sure that it is as bad as it is going to get and will degrade very little. But... if you have already shot it in HDV, then there
is no difference in giving the colorist the raw HDV or a UC10bit file. It will be converted to the same thing either way if he is editing in 10bitUC.
I guess he just wants you to do the rendering!!

>>uses?
Anytime you capture direct to disk from HDSDI use 10Bit UC for the
best possible quality. File size is HUGE though. Takes a 4-5 disk array
to play back at least.

Andy Lunn
April 5th, 2007, 02:10 PM
Thanks for the response.

So if i shoot say 24f or 30f on a canon xlh1 and will record to TAPE, is this the best way?

Capture to fcp as hdv then use compressor and export as 10bit? (not sure how)

Bring that back in then do cc and editing? then export again with compressor to final destination?

Sorry if thats a daft question.

Will Griffith
April 5th, 2007, 02:15 PM
>>Capture to fcp as hdv then use compressor and export as 10bit? (not sure how)

Use the 24f or 30f easy setup like you said and then export a Quicktime Movie or use "advanced conversions" in Compressor. Just make sure and
select the final output you want as 1080p 10Bit Uncompressed (23.98).

Andy Lunn
April 5th, 2007, 02:19 PM
>>Capture to fcp as hdv then use compressor and export as 10bit? (not sure how)

Use the 24f or 30f easy setup like you said and then export a Quicktime Movie or use "advanced conversions" in Compressor. Just make sure and
select the final output you want as 1080p 10Bit Uncompressed (23.98).

Then do your editing and what have you after importing back?
Is there really any advantage to the general public by doing your editing this way to the footage and finally on HD DVD and down converted to SD DVD?

ps. thanks for your help.

Will Griffith
April 5th, 2007, 02:45 PM
Is there really any advantage to the general public by doing your editing this way to the footage and finally on HD DVD and down converted to SD DVD?

No. Your footage will not look any better than what it is shot on.
It is just important to not lose MORE picture quality by converting
over and over.

That is why I said we shoot on one or the other. If you want high
quality 10Bit thaen shoot it. If you want HDV... you get the picture.

It's the old garbage in - garbage out deal.

Andy Lunn
April 5th, 2007, 02:50 PM
Thanks for the advice.

Andy Lunn
May 3rd, 2007, 12:30 PM
Use the 24f or 30 easy setup like you said and then export a Quicktime Movie or use "advanced conversions" in Compressor. Just make sure and
select the final output you want as 1080p 10Bit Uncompressed (23.98).

so after you done the above what settings should you have to bring it back to timeline for editing? and what export settings for web .studio pro hd and sd?

Will Griffith
May 3rd, 2007, 12:39 PM
so after you done the above what settings should you have to bring it back to timeline for editing?
...1080p 10Bit Uncompressed (23.98). If you have a Decklink card
there should be a easy setup for it.

what export settings for web .studio pro hd and sd?
whatever you want I guess. use compressor's or create your own.