Nattress filters for HDV?
 

This might be a bit premature, with FCP 5 coming and not sure what the HDV support is going to look like, but is there anything to know about using Nattress filters with HD material?

I've fallen in love with the filter set and was just curious if the filters I have will work with HDV in FCP whenever FCP supports HDV.

They are working great! I've converted HDV footage to both DVCproHD and Uncompressed 8bit 4:2:2 for editing, and applied the filters and the results are very nice indeed - so much better than the CF24 mode it's not funny. Basically, the only thing that upsets filters, I find, is MPEG2 type footage, which FCP just doesn't like. As long as the footage is in a nice, edit friendly codec, the filters just work great. Glad you're enjoying them,

Graeme

Graeme, anyway we can see some HDV footage converted using your filters? I'm definately interested in them.

Best thing to do is just download the demos and try it out for yourself. I don't have the bandwidth or my own copyright free HDV footage to demo on. I was very surprised with the results, and though they looked good - very 16mm film like to my eyes.

Graeme

Ok. thanks...

Graeme,

Sounds good. I'm glad to hear they will work with the material.

I'm sure I can find this info pretty quick, but are all HD formats (including HDV) the same field order? I thought I saw somewhere that DVCproHD was upper field and I didn't know if HDV was the same or not.

One of the things I love about your filters is that you can be an idiot to use them and get great results, or you can tweak them and get great results. I fall into the first category. So simple stuff like getting the field orders correct can trip me up.

HDV is upper field, DV, DVCpro50 and DVCproHD are lower I think. Once you've got the right settings in FCP, it's easy enough to make a custom "favourite" so that you don't have to worry about getting them right again.

Graeme

Graeme, my email crashed and I can't get back into it! I think the file(s) you sent are to big for my server. :(

Darn!

I'll sort it out and get back to you.

Graeme

My email server re-set itself...I got them. Thanks!!

Let me just put in my two cents about the glories of Nattress...One of the best deals in all of christendom. For $100, we've made some of the prettiest footage we've ever had. Can't wait to try it on the Z1 footage we're shooting this weekend.

Graeme, how did you get those codecs from the imported footage? We're using iMovie HD to capture, and I think it uses AIC...

I used LumiereHD and MPEGStreamclip to convert to uncompressed 8bit 4:2:2 codec, but there's no reason why the filters won't work on AIC - I just don't like the look of the results as much as uncompressed.

Thanks for the comments - very much appreciated.

Graeme

Graeme, what are your sequence settings in FCP using that footage...

Uncompressed? I just use the Decklink easy presets, as I'm using the Decklink Pro HD for output monitoring. I'm not currently "up" on the best settings for using AIC.

Graeme

<<<-- Originally posted by Graeme Nattress : They are working great! I've converted HDV footage to both DVCproHD and Uncompressed 8bit 4:2:2 for editing, and applied the filters and the results are very nice indeed - so much better than the CF24 mode it's not funny. Basically, the only thing that upsets filters, I find, is MPEG2 type footage, which FCP just doesn't like. As long as the footage is in a nice, edit friendly codec, the filters just work great. Glad you're enjoying them,

Graeme -->>>

I'm curious to know more about the filters. I was depressed when i found Final cut pro HD doesn't work for HDV formats. Please tell me how to convert HDV footage to DVcproHD and to apply filters. Is it worth investing in Final cut pro HD and mac because the editing options are very less this was my feeling when compared to other softwares which already support HDV formats.

As far as I can tell, HDV support is still sketchy, even in apps which "support" it. The only company that's on the ball with this seems to be, from their spec sheet and press at least, is Canopus. Everyone else is doing some kind of hack to make it work, it would seem. Apple has tried to make it work in iMovie, but what a pain. Same with FCE. We don't know what they're going to do in the future for FCP5 though - might be better.

However, I lay the blame squarely at JVC and Sony for not putting out a HDV deck with HD SDI inputs / outputs, or by making sure that the fabled firewire to HD SDI converter box was available. If they're done that, anyone could have easily edited HDV with any industry standard high def edit suite with no problems at all. Yes, this is not the cheapest of routes, but it has a solid workflow that's out there now, and every real pro HD editing suite can take HD SDI. This would have given time for the consumer level editors and firewire direct convenience to have been fully sorted out without leaving people high and dry.

Graeme

HDV- Film Effects-FCP 5 settings
 

Graeme,

Huge fan of your stuff. Been using it for DV footage for awhile with incredible results. Anyways, just bought an FX1 and was curious as to the workflow you would suggest? I have applied some of the Film Effects to soem HDV footage with less than desirable results.

Daniel, thanks! HDV is "upper" field, so that's the first setting you should change. After that, I'd have to see your footage to help you better. Email me off board if you want as I don't seem to be getting those handy emails when people reply to posts....

Graeme