HDV Encoding in Streamclip at DVinfo.net

Sergio Barbosa · June 8th, 2006, 11:47 AM

Hello everyone.

I've been experimenting with streamclip and it seems to me that if I encode an .m2t file shot in 720p25 with the "Apple HDV 720p30" codec at 25fps, I can get better results, rather than if I do it with the DVCPro HD codec.
Is this a lossless operation? encoding with the Apple HDV codec...

Now...In editing on FCP, which codec will suit me best (for quality)? I hear that editing in "native" HDV may not work so well when I add filters or transitions. Is that true? Is anyone here experienced?

I don't intend to print to tape...just DVD.

>>> Correction>>> HDV codec is actually worse... I just found out.

Anyway, in order to bring my footage into Final Cut, which is the best codec?

Thanks,
Sergio.

Robert Bale · June 12th, 2006, 10:49 PM

This works for me

AIC
APPLE INTEERMEDIATE CODEC

Tim Dashwood · June 13th, 2006, 07:39 AM

We've discussed and compared the AIC codec in the FCP forum quite a few times. AIC is considered a "lossless" codec, but the results on progressive sources seems to be much better than interlaced sources. I find that it works very well with HD100 material.
Check out this thread:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=61472

Sergio Barbosa · June 13th, 2006, 09:27 AM

Thanks, I've searched, yet I haven't found this thread before.
It seems that AIC is very suitable for the job.

Steve Benner · June 13th, 2006, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sergio Barbosa

Thanks, I've searched, yet I haven't found this thread before.
It seems that AIC is very suitable for the job.

I used Native HDV, and Editing wise on a Powerbook G4 1.33 GHZ with 2 Gigs of RAM, it was great. The only time it slowed was rendering with transitions. Native HDV also takes up less space. Other than that, Native HDV has not bothered me.

Chad Terpstra · June 13th, 2006, 10:18 PM

In my tests I've found that AIC shows a TEENY TINY bit more macroblocking than DVCProHD/JPEG75%/Uncompressed 8bit codecs. If anyone's interested I could upload some frames, but it's more like looking at the footage through a microscope and that's not really practical. I now use AIC as apposed to DVCPRoHD for two reasons:

1.) It takes up less space by around 70% (roughly)
2.) It maintains the full frame of 1280x720 instead of pixel shifting.

When closely examining the footage, AIC is not my favorite, but it gets the job done very nicely in real life applications.

Final thought: Cineform for Mac where are you??

Paolo Ciccone · June 13th, 2006, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad Terpstra

Final thought: Cineform for Mac where are you??

It's been rumored to be in the works for some time now.

June 8th, 2006, 11:47 AM	#1
Sergio Barbosa Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Portugal Posts: 140	HDV Encoding in Streamclip Hello everyone. I've been experimenting with streamclip and it seems to me that if I encode an .m2t file shot in 720p25 with the "Apple HDV 720p30" codec at 25fps, I can get better results, rather than if I do it with the DVCPro HD codec. Is this a lossless operation? encoding with the Apple HDV codec... Now...In editing on FCP, which codec will suit me best (for quality)? I hear that editing in "native" HDV may not work so well when I add filters or transitions. Is that true? Is anyone here experienced? I don't intend to print to tape...just DVD. >>> Correction>>> HDV codec is actually worse... I just found out. Anyway, in order to bring my footage into Final Cut, which is the best codec? Thanks, Sergio. Last edited by Sergio Barbosa; June 8th, 2006 at 01:05 PM.

June 12th, 2006, 10:49 PM	#2
Robert Bale Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: australia Posts: 407	This works for me AIC APPLE INTEERMEDIATE CODEC __________________ Rob. www.rpbproductions.com robert@rpbproductions.com HD101/G5 Mac/4gig Ram/1TB HDD/30" Cinema Display/FCP.

June 13th, 2006, 07:39 AM	#3
Tim Dashwood Wrangler Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 3,637	We've discussed and compared the AIC codec in the FCP forum quite a few times. AIC is considered a "lossless" codec, but the results on progressive sources seems to be much better than interlaced sources. I find that it works very well with HD100 material. Check out this thread: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=61472 __________________ Tim Dashwood

June 13th, 2006, 09:27 AM	#4
Sergio Barbosa Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Portugal Posts: 140	Thanks Thanks, I've searched, yet I haven't found this thread before. It seems that AIC is very suitable for the job.

June 13th, 2006, 10:18 PM	#6
Chad Terpstra Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 320	In my tests I've found that AIC shows a TEENY TINY bit more macroblocking than DVCProHD/JPEG75%/Uncompressed 8bit codecs. If anyone's interested I could upload some frames, but it's more like looking at the footage through a microscope and that's not really practical. I now use AIC as apposed to DVCPRoHD for two reasons: 1.) It takes up less space by around 70% (roughly) 2.) It maintains the full frame of 1280x720 instead of pixel shifting. When closely examining the footage, AIC is not my favorite, but it gets the job done very nicely in real life applications. Final thought: Cineform for Mac where are you??