FCP Settings for capture. Need help PLEASE.

[Simon Denny]

I'm new to Final Cut Studio and need help setting up a working capture template and Audio Video settings. Also project settings.
Basically everything to get going.
I have a Sony Z1 with everything shot in Pal HDV 1440 x 1080i.
Final end product will be to DVD MPEG-2
I want to capture to the highest resoultion so should I use Prores? If so, this is where I need help getting set up.
Seems to be many ways to do things and now I'm lost.

Regards

[Mike Barber]

Originally Posted by Simon Ash

I have a Sony Z1 with everything shot in Pal HDV 1440 x 1080i.
[…]
I want to capture to the highest resoultion so should I use Prores?

D'oh… I just typed a long message and then clicked "Preview Post" and lost everything... cookie/login issue…

The long and short of it is this: no codec will add quality. What you want is maintain quality and make your workflow as easy as possible.

I suggest you go to the Apple Discussion board for FCP and search for "HDV ProRes" and read the many informative threads. In fact, here's the link. Regular poster 'Studio X' puts it simply: Capture HDV, set the sequence renderer to ProRes.

Another post I would like to quote is from Zak Ray:

ProRes does not make your HDV footage look any better than it if it was just HDV. The only advantages lie in ease of editing (Google "I-frames") and increased quality while color grading / adding graphics/ compositing. If you don't need these advantages, you don't need ProRes.

[Simon Denny]

Thanks Mike,
I was wondering can I capture through Firewire from camera straight to Prores as I dont seem to have this in my capture settings.
I have the sequence render settings as Prores though.

Something is up with the site today as i have posted also and nothing comes up.

Simon

[Mike Barber]

Originally Posted by Simon Ash

I was wondering can I capture through Firewire from camera straight to Prores

Well, according to this and this it is possible. Whether you can, I don't know; you didn't answer my question about technical specs. ;-)

[Simon Denny]

Thanks Mike,
I cant see your question about technical specs?
I use a MBP 17" 2.5 Ghz and looking at the Apple link you suppled the MBP cant do it.

Regards

[Mike Barber]

Originally Posted by Simon Ash

I cant see your question about technical specs?

D'oh, my bad… that was in the original message that didn't make it out. Sorry!

Originally Posted by Simon Ash

I use a MBP 17" 2.5 Ghz and looking at the Apple link you suppled the MBP cant do it.

That's a shame, but you can always capture native then batch export to ProRes and work with that media. Or just work native, but make the render sequence settings ProRes.

I don't work with HDV, so I'm not exactly the best person to give you advice, but saw no one else was chiming in… hope I am more help than harm.