330 First Steps
 

In a couple of weeks, I'll take ownership of a 330 (w/ a 2" viewfinder), just before a major shoot.

I may be shooting in 24p.

Three Questions:

1. Are there setup modifications I need to make before I shart shooting? Gamma? Knee? Anything else?

2. Final output for shoot, for now, will be SD DVD. Is 24 best for DVD? or should I shoot 30p?

3. Shall I edit in HD? Or digitize in DVCam?

Grasshopper awaits your wisdom.

I'm not an owner of a XDCAM HD (yet). However as far as the DVD is concerned. You can create a 24p MPEG file, however your editing program has to edit the program as 24p and not 30i with 3:2 pulldown. If you have a pulldown in your final piece it will not compress efficiently. So if you're not sure how to handle the 24p in your editing program, you're better off going 30p.

I would also shoot in HD and edit in DVCAM since the editing solutions right now for XDCAM HD are iffy at best right now. You'd loose some color resolution going to 4:1:1. But it should be a real clean image. Just don't go down a second generation of DVCAM in your editing and you'll be fine.

My .02

Depends what you're trying to achieve. The out-of-box setup is a little short on latitude. The Cine gammas do a lot of wok to keep highlights under control, if you're looking for more dynamic range.

Both will go to DVD without problem, but you need to know how to do it. How you do it depends on your NLE. In the end it should be an aesthetic choice, not technical one.

Again, depends on your NLE. Final Cut handles almost all modes of the camera with ease, so shooting and posting HD with it is pretty much a breeze. I hear Vegas 7 is also up to speed.

I have finished a multi camera concert in 1080p24 in Final Cut, and it was a pleasure. Highly recommended.