technical ? for editing HDV on dinosaur G4 at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Apple / Mac Post Production Solutions > Final Cut Suite

Final Cut Suite
Discussing the editing of all formats with FCS, FCP, FCE

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old February 13th, 2008, 01:16 PM   #1
Major Player
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Toronto ON Canada
Posts: 731
technical ? for editing HDV on dinosaur G4

I have come on board as editor for a project very late in the game, just as they wrapped up their shooting. It is a low budget (read: no budget) short that was shot in HDV 1060/60i on a Sony Z1U. I'm taking it on because payed gigs are very slim at the moment, and the director is a nice guy with an interesting concept. So, I'm doing it for free.

Problem I am facing is that it is HDV. I have never touched anything outside of SD video, so I am venturing into new space. I am working with a dinosaur suite by today's standards: a dual-867 PowerMac G4 MDD. I'm running OS X 10.4.11 with FCP 5.1.4.

My current thinking is to capture HDV to an SD offline formate for the offline editing. Now, this project isn't going anywhere other than DVD... and I mean DVD (not HD-DVD or Blu-Ray). So, the full benefits of shooting in HDV are lost anyway. What I think I can get, if I am not mistaken, is very nice widescreen SD footage after down-converting from HDV. Would that not be the wisest approach for this situation? My machine will likely be sluggish to the point of frustration if i try to do the project in HDV, but it sings just fine for SD.

Does this sound like a good approach? If so, what would the recommended workflow be?
__________________
Mike Barber
"I'm laughing to stop myself from screaming."
Mike Barber is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 13th, 2008, 01:29 PM   #2
Major Player
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: London, England
Posts: 969
I've cut HDV on a powerbook so you should be okay...ish on a dual core!

If it's coughing and spluttering trying to do math in HDV, I'd have a go in a frame based codec; DVCPROHD or AIC. There's no piont chucking away all those pixels until you really need to.

Liam.
__________________
Writer-Director-DOP
www.liamhall.net
Liam Hall is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 13th, 2008, 01:41 PM   #3
Major Player
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Toronto ON Canada
Posts: 731
Quote:
Originally Posted by Liam Hall View Post
I've cut HDV on a powerbook so you should be okay...ish on a dual core!

If it's coughing and spluttering trying to do math in HDV, I'd have a go in a frame based codec; DVCPROHD or AIC. There's no piont chucking away all those pixels until you really need to.

Liam.
I know it can be done, but how sluggish did it get? Keep in mind, there's also the online editing (colour grading, effects, etc) that needs to be done. If I have to wait 10 minutes to render a simple transition with CC, I will go mad after an hour!
__________________
Mike Barber
"I'm laughing to stop myself from screaming."
Mike Barber is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 13th, 2008, 01:54 PM   #4
Major Player
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Lewisburg PA
Posts: 752
The PowerMac G4s were not core anything . . . I have an 867 G4 and I think you are going to find that the G4 chokes on HDV

Take a look at http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301599
Peter Wiley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 13th, 2008, 02:27 PM   #5
Major Player
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Toronto ON Canada
Posts: 731
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Wiley View Post
The PowerMac G4s were not core anything . . . I have an 867 G4 and I think you are going to find that the G4 chokes on HDV

Take a look at http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301599
That's exactly what I thought. And IIRC, processor speed is only one factor. RAM and bus speeds are also important for the bandwidth needed for HDV and even more so with HD.

But I digress...

What about the approach I outlined in my initial post? I think that is the best, if not only way to go. If so, how should i go about executing it?
__________________
Mike Barber
"I'm laughing to stop myself from screaming."
Mike Barber is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 13th, 2008, 03:13 PM   #6
Major Player
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: San Francisco, California
Posts: 487
If your computer is that slow, I'd just downconvert in the camera as you're capturing. You can always recapture that project later on down the road to HDV easily and painlessly.
Chris Harris is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 13th, 2008, 03:21 PM   #7
Contributor
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 4,449
I agree with that--do the downconvert when capturing.
Bill Pryor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 13th, 2008, 03:55 PM   #8
Major Player
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Toronto ON Canada
Posts: 731
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Harris View Post
If your computer is that slow, I'd just downconvert in the camera as you're capturing. You can always recapture that project later on down the road to HDV easily and painlessly.
I assume this would be done via my capture settings in FCP? If I want to get the best SD footage, what would you suggest for my settings? It was shot as 1080/60i.
__________________
Mike Barber
"I'm laughing to stop myself from screaming."

Last edited by Mike Barber; February 13th, 2008 at 04:11 PM. Reason: syntax
Mike Barber is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Apple / Mac Post Production Solutions > Final Cut Suite

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:21 PM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network