Recording format… at DVinfo.net

John McCully · December 19th, 2007, 11:30 PM

For an HD documentary type piece, mountains and people, what recording format should I choose in order to maximize my publishing options while maintaining maximum quality. I live and work in New Zealand, PAL, and Mexico, NTSC, and I might even, pigs might fly, print to film.

I edit using Vegas 8 Pro. Long render times are not problematic.

Thanks for comments.

John

Serena Steuart · December 20th, 2007, 12:13 AM

I think you've answered your question yourself. In HD there is no PAL/NTSC, although there is 50/60Hz. If you might go to film 1920x1080P 25/24fps looks like a good match. But if you're going to overcrank a lot (waterfall, skiers, birds) you might be thinking 1280 x 720.

John McCully · December 20th, 2007, 03:32 AM

[QUOTE=Serena Steuart;795691]I think you've answered your question yourself. QUOTE]

You mean, like, there is an answer! I understand there are options.

I want to set the camera in such a fashion that I capture the highest quality imagery that might be used to produce the media of my choice, including print to film and lowly plain old standard definition DVDs, and everything in-between.

OK, so I’ve selected HQ mode and 1920 x 1080 image resolution. For over cranking I should select 1280 x 720 but I don’t see much of that happening in this production. I’ll take a look while I’m up there for sure, thanks Serena, for the tip.

The questions remain:

Progressive or interlace, one or the other.

Frame rate: a choice among many.

The decisions regarding settings must be informed by the need to preserve high quality in collaboration with the widest range of end products be they print to film, HDTV, TV or DVD (your flavour), whatever...

Perhaps there is no definitive answer, yet. The camera is very new after all. Maybe I should just take the camera out of the box when it arrives, charge the battery, and shoot with the default settings, play around where necessary in post to get ‘that look’, and render off as needs be.

What a novel idea!

The camera might be almost that good. And we can focus on the story.

That would be cool.

Progressive or interlace, and frame rate…for going out to best quality whatever, is the question…por favor…what settings to acquire a ‘master copy’ for multiple uses?

Jim Montgomery · December 20th, 2007, 03:59 AM

Use HQ 1920 x 1080 progressive 24 frames per second with a 180 degree shutter. If there is no chance you will be going to film use the same settings except for 30 frames per second.

Graeme Fullick · December 20th, 2007, 04:04 AM

John,

Make that 1080P at 25 frames a second - Jim, we live in PAL land!

December 19th, 2007, 11:30 PM	#1
John McCully Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: South Island, New Zealand Posts: 609 Images: 2	Recording format… For an HD documentary type piece, mountains and people, what recording format should I choose in order to maximize my publishing options while maintaining maximum quality. I live and work in New Zealand, PAL, and Mexico, NTSC, and I might even, pigs might fly, print to film. I edit using Vegas 8 Pro. Long render times are not problematic. Thanks for comments. John

December 20th, 2007, 03:59 AM	#4
Jim Montgomery Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Vero Beach Posts: 392	Use HQ 1920 x 1080 progressive 24 frames per second with a 180 degree shutter. If there is no chance you will be going to film use the same settings except for 30 frames per second. __________________ http://www.billfishadventures.com \| http://www.sfgmedia.com \| http://vimeo.com/2015915

December 20th, 2007, 04:04 AM	#5
Graeme Fullick Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Newcastle, Australia Posts: 337	John, Make that 1080P at 25 frames a second - Jim, we live in PAL land! __________________ Graeme

December 20th, 2007, 12:13 AM	#2
Serena Steuart Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Studio Alnitak, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Posts: 640 Images: 3	I think you've answered your question yourself. In HD there is no PAL/NTSC, although there is 50/60Hz. If you might go to film 1920x1080P 25/24fps looks like a good match. But if you're going to overcrank a lot (waterfall, skiers, birds) you might be thinking 1280 x 720.

December 20th, 2007, 03:32 AM	#3
John McCully Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: South Island, New Zealand Posts: 609 Images: 2	[QUOTE=Serena Steuart;795691]I think you've answered your question yourself. QUOTE] You mean, like, there is an answer! I understand there are options. I want to set the camera in such a fashion that I capture the highest quality imagery that might be used to produce the media of my choice, including print to film and lowly plain old standard definition DVDs, and everything in-between. OK, so I’ve selected HQ mode and 1920 x 1080 image resolution. For over cranking I should select 1280 x 720 but I don’t see much of that happening in this production. I’ll take a look while I’m up there for sure, thanks Serena, for the tip. The questions remain: Progressive or interlace, one or the other. Frame rate: a choice among many. The decisions regarding settings must be informed by the need to preserve high quality in collaboration with the widest range of end products be they print to film, HDTV, TV or DVD (your flavour), whatever... Perhaps there is no definitive answer, yet. The camera is very new after all. Maybe I should just take the camera out of the box when it arrives, charge the battery, and shoot with the default settings, play around where necessary in post to get ‘that look’, and render off as needs be. What a novel idea! The camera might be almost that good. And we can focus on the story. That would be cool. Progressive or interlace, and frame rate…for going out to best quality whatever, is the question…por favor…what settings to acquire a ‘master copy’ for multiple uses?