Don't get a PC! <g> I don't have issues like that on my single processor G5 1.6 ghz Power Mac, but it can be a bit of a pain in the neck. I'm starting to notice the artifacting, which really stinks.

heath

Has anybody else had trouble with fcp freezing when playing back edits in an AIC timeline?
thanks,
Sam

No, but my copy of iMovie HD keeps having problems reading my HD10.

heath

<<<-- Originally posted by Sam Edwards : Has anybody else had trouble with fcp freezing when playing back edits in an AIC timeline?
thanks,
Sam -->>>

Sam,

If you look at my post in this tread, I mentioned that direct playing back with transitions would hang up FCPHD (rainbow wheels spinning forever).
Since current version of FCPHD is not officially supporting AIC at this point, we just have to wait until it gets supported.

Hi Kaku,
I guess I missed it in my frustration. Has anybody tried FCE-HD?
thanks,
Sam

<<<-- Originally posted by Sam Edwards : Hi Kaku,
I guess I missed it in my frustration. Has anybody tried FCE-HD?
thanks,
Sam -->>>

What you can do at this point is to use "media manager" and save the clips on a timeline as something works good (anamorphic DV or offline DV), do the edit and export back the timeline as AIC and show the original AIC clips.

<<<-- Originally posted by Kaku Ito : <<<-- Originally posted by Sam Edwards : Hi Kaku,
I guess I missed it in my frustration. Has anybody tried FCE-HD?
thanks,
Sam -->>>

What you can do at this point is to use "media manager" and save the clips on a timeline as something works good (anamorphic DV or offline DV), do the edit and export back the timeline as AIC and show the original AIC clips. -->>>

Exactly,

If you can deal with the AIC artifacts, you should edit AIC offline.

Both Kaku and I have mentioned this in this thread. It's not there yet.

HDV editing is experimental. That's just the way it is.

Frederic

Re: Smoth workflow?!
 

<<<-- Originally posted by Sam Edwards : With all due respect for the people who have generously given their time and expertise to this board - I would not call this a smooth workflow. A smooth workflow would be if Apple would not hold back features from their pro customers. What's worse is that I'm crashing just playing back footage in the timeline on a dual 2 ghz g5. It makes you want to get a pc!
Sam -->>>

Sam,

I don't think Apple is holding features back from us. When iMovie HD and FCE HD came out, I thought it was a little peculiar that they didn't include HDV support in FCP HD.

After analyzing AIC closer, it makes sense. AIC isn't a professional quality codec. Many are now noticing the artifacts it introduces. It's no big deal for consumers who edit their kids birthday party but it's not acceptable for a professional solution.

Apple isn't holding anything back, they just aren't ready yet with a robust professional HDV editing solution. Editing MPEG is tough.

Frederic

do not forget that NAB is very close, so guys from apple must have some aces there.

look what others are doing... same story.

filip

I'm starting to notice said artifacts, Frederic. Ugh...

heath

Is there any way to configure or hack iMovie into using another codec instead of the AIC? Pixlet, or direct to DVCPROHD?

Avoid Pixlet like the plague - it's a ghastly codec that's worse in all respects to PhotoJPEG100%. I have no idea why Apple wasted time and money on Pixlet at all, as it has no advantage over low compression JPEG technology. Indeed, Apple should open up PhotoJPEG so that it works for RT at all settings of size and compression as it's a most awesomely good codec for most applications. I'm also told that JPEG2000 is good for compressing video.

Indeed, I don't know why they bothered inventing AIC at all, and would rather have had them just immediately transcode to high quality PhotoJPEG.

Graeme

I used Pixlet with no problems, but then again, I don't know if it is worse than the AIC. I'm very frustrated now...

heath

You don't get problems with Pixlet, but it's slower to compress / decompress than PhotoJPEG100%, and it has slightly lower quality for a larger file size. That's why I don't like it, because an old standard like PhotoJPEG beats it in all areas that count, and it is a standard codec everyone can use.

Graeme

I probably need some education here, but why not just use DVHSCap to capture the MT2 files and convert them to DVCPRO HD for editing?

Wouldn't this give you a better codec to edit in than AIC?

DVCproHD works well, but it is quite heavily compressed, and you loose some horizontal rez - down from 1440 to 1280 - however, I don't think visually this matters much as the camera might record 1440 pixels across, but I don't think the camera / lens / tape system resolves enough detail to warrant 1440 pixels.

Graeme

I just don't understand.

If space wasn't an issue, why isn't there just some kind of uncompressed format we could convert to?

Apple 8bit 4:2:2 uncompressed codec works great, but you need a very large and very fast drive for it. I'm using an Xserve RAID and it works very well with this kind of uncompressed HD.

Graeme

I don't like DVCPro HD at all--when trying to make DVDs, the image is squashed and actors look "wider."

To do a "Best" quality QT movie of the AIC, I had to do the 4:2:2 and for a 3 minute movie, it was 20 gb on my firewire drive (7200 rpm) and couldn't play at all! But I used QTPro to save it as the AIC Best.

heath

Try the DC30 lossless 4:2:2 codec, it is half the uncompressed from FCP and it works well even on slower machines.

I will post an example of the AIC destruction in nthe post I started regarding AIC compression soon.

Eric,

Where do you find the DC30 codec?

I don't yet have iLife '05 so if it's an iMove HD thing, then I understand why I can't find it.

In FCP I can see a DC50 option, but no DC30.

http://www.alfanet.it/squared5

Download the DC30 drivers (even if you don't have a DC30+ card :) and you will have their codecs.

They also do the MPEG streamclip application witch can convert m2t to Quicktime and quicktime to m2t.

Thanks!

I've been using Streamclip to do my coversions from MT2.

Eric,

Got the codec, do you edit in FCP with this?

I looked at the new DC30 presets in FCP and they were all SD. Do you make a custom 1080 one or what?

Thanks!

custom 1080i, 1440X1080 squared pixel anamorphic 16:9 upper field first, 29.97. Using DC30 lossless 4:2:2.

Hey guys, I've finally gotten around to getting some footage from my Z1 into my computer. I shot some footage in LA and also a marthon my girlfriend was in this past week.

First, I noticed that my dual G5 2.0 captures in "Real Time" - except when motion starts. Then it turns to something like this "Real Time 2/3" - it adjusts itself depending on the action in the footage. I haven't seen this posted yet, so I wanted to start contributing information! (I only have 1 gig of RAM, so if I had more it might stay real-time....also, I am using an external firewire 400 drive to capture)

Oh my God, this can't be happening....the breakup you guys have been talking about really sucks ass. I'm watching my export from iMovie and it's like stabbing me in the heart with scissors!!!!!!!!

Chris,

I know EXACTLY what you mean...

BTW, capture is also RT for me on my dual 2G

I prefer getting the m2t files from DVHSCap and converting them to DC30 lossless 4:2:2.

Chris, could you do a test? MPEG streamclip seems to be able to create m2t files from quitime movies. I think it could be possible to export back to the camera using that method, thus avoiding completely the AIC nightmare. Could you check that? I don't have a camera to test it right now...

I'm going to try your method...DVHScap to DC30 lossless.

I'll try do that test for you asap, but I'm on a tight schedule to capture footage. How would I play it back to camera?? iMovie imports mt2?

No, use DVHSCap to export back to the camera

I'll give it a shot, too.

heath

Can't wait to see if it works!

Lumiere HD now allows MPEG2 TS encoding for the Sony HDV devices.

http://www.lumierehd.com/beta_download.php

We are continuing our efforts to develop Lumiere HD because we are dissapointed by the quality AIC delivers.

Some might prefer not to go the AIC route and go from the TS directly to the codec of their choice. It's a longer process than iMovie but won't compromise image quality as much.

I really wish Apple would come up with a solid solution so we could all move on with our lives... In the meantime, we'll do our best to improve our app.

Frederic

Thanks, Frederic. I'm disappointed, but I don't want to go back to Lumiere HD--I've spent WAYYYY too much time with the film.

heath

Heath,

Well at least you can use the latest Lumiere HD beta to encode your final cut to TS that the Sony camera will read.

This will save you another AIC encode...

Frederic

Can you post up how to do that properly here so others (and me) can use it?

THANKS!

heath

Sure,

From your FCP timeline, export to one of the following:

- HD 10bit uncompressed
- Photo JPEG 100%
- DC30 4:2:2
- Anything else you are willing to use considering your HD space vs. quality

Use 1440 X 1080, 60i (29.97fps Upper Odd)

Feed this mov into Lumiere HD and use the Sony HDV 1080i preset in the 'Transport Stream' tab

Print the resulting .m2t to Sony HDV camera using Lumiere HD Print to Tape feature (1st tab).

Frederic

Good news Frederic,

Once again you seem to be the first to provide a good alternative for mac users :)

<<<-- Originally posted by Frederic Haubrich : Sure,

From your FCP timeline, export to one of the following:

- HD 10bit uncompressed
- Photo JPEG 100%
- DC30 4:2:2
- Anything else you are willing to use considering your HD space vs. quality

Use 1440 X 1080, 60i (29.97fps Upper Odd)

Feed this mov into Lumiere HD and use the Sony HDV 1080i preset in the 'Transport Stream' tab

Print the resulting .m2t to Sony HDV camera using Lumiere HD Print to Tape feature (1st tab).

Frederic -->>>

Frederic, is a Powerbook g4 1.67ghz 2gig ram capable for your application and fcp to edit and export HDV?
I need this minfo since that's my current editing solution...

Sérgio

<<<Don't get a PC! <g> I don't have issues like that on my single processor G5 1.6 ghz Power Mac, but it can be a bit of a pain in the neck. I'm starting to notice the artifacting, which really stinks.>>>

Yeah, heaven forbid you should buy an inexpensive computer which offers several options for solving the problems you're currently dealing with on Macs! I truly hope Apple has something better to show at NAB for dealing with HDV.

:-)