HD in FCP to Beta SP - Please Help !!

[Darin Clifton]

If there are posts on this issue - please point me in the right direction. I am trying to help our producer solve a problem.

We are shooting HDV on the Canon XH-A1 , capture to FCP in HD , edit in HD. Then is where the issues may start.

We are producing a show for broadcast TV which requires the footage be submitted in Beta SP. We don't have a Beta deck in-house. We are exporting the footage as a stand-alone movie to a dual layer DVD which we take to a local TV station & transfer to Beta SP.

That being said - when the network broadcasts the footage - there has been a severe issue with a trailing image when there is movement of the camera, subject or graphics. I am not sure what format was sent to DVD on these episodes. The last show that aired was sent to DVD as an HD file. The trailing image issue was corrected - but the footage still doesn't seem quite right.

Given the procedure we have to work with ( HDV-FCP->DVD >Beta SP ) , What settings would you recommend for producing the best quality result ??

Thanks in advance for your expert assistance.

[Christopher Drews]

Realize first that down-conversion from HDV to 60i NTSC will require some knowledge of final outcome on your part.

First is aspect ratio - You must decide which is best:

1) Convert HDV to 16:9 Anamorphic SD
2) Convert HDV to 16:9 Letterbox SD
3) Convert HDV to 16:9 Center Cut Extract SD

This should be based on what the network wants your format to be.
Second, most post houses will want a format they can use.
I assume you are talking about a dual layer data DVD and creating a QuickTime or other format.

I'd recommend calling the post house / network and asking for a spec sheet.

This will be something like this:
FORMAT: QuickTime Pro-Res 422, 29.97 NTSC, Self Contained.
ASPECT RATIO: 4x3
TITLES: TEXTLESS at end of sequence

This info will be important to know what you'll have to deliver.
Hope this helps,
-C