DVCProHD or AIC

[Tom Chaney]

Hi Gang,

As it appears that Apple is not going to release the update to allow us to edit our project in 24p natively, I was wondering if I could get some advise.

I want to deliver to a BluRay or HD DVD later this year.

After I transfer the files from the DR HD100 into a Firewire should I convert them to AIC or DVCProHD (via Lumiere).

If I convert to AIC, how do I go back to deliver my HD Master?

Any advise would be appreciated.

Sincerely,

Tom Chaney

www.tomchaney.com

[Andrew Young]

Hi Tom,

Many are having success with DVCProHD, but I personally prefer AIC because it is a similar compression ratio but maintains the full 720x1280 raster. DVCProHD will cut your horizontal resolution to 960.

To create your HDDVD, you should be able to encode it directly from your edited AIC master using compressor - at least I have done it that way to create an SD DVD.

[Tom Chaney]

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for the response.

Excuse my ignorance but I want to get this right before I start a long project and have to redo everything.

So the AIC would still be considered a HiDef image, even though it is an Intermediate format? And what do you do with the AIC in compressor?

I've read Tim Dashwood mention that the AIC is a lossless codec so is that my finished HD project or do I somehow, somewhere reference my edit back to my m2t files.

Thanks again,

Tom

[Steve Benner]

AIC keeps the full resolution of HDV so I would go with that if you are transcoding it.

[Andrew Young]

Originally Posted by Tom Chaney

So the AIC would still be considered a HiDef image, even though it is an Intermediate format?

It is just as much high def as the M2t original. Neither, however, are delivery formats. For that matter, DVCProHD is rarely considered a delivery format.

Originally Posted by Tom Chaney

And what do you do with the AIC in compressor?

Export the sequence to compressor and choose the correct HDDVD preset. Do a test first.

Originally Posted by Tom Chaney

I've read Tim Dashwood mention that the AIC is a lossless codec so is that my finished HD project or do I somehow, somewhere reference my edit back to my m2t files.

Once you transcode to AIC, that becomes your new master. You will never go back to those m2ts. Just be mindful of sync drift. I have had some issues with it in the transcoding stage. Good luck.

[Paolo Ciccone]

Originally Posted by Tom Chaney

So the AIC would still be considered a HiDef image, even though it is an Intermediate format? And what do you do with the AIC in compressor?

The High Def qualification is based on the ability of a given codec to support the correect resolution and colorspace. AIC doesn't pose any restrictions about this. The only issue here is the possible loss caused by transcoding. As Tim said, with progressive, images AIC does a good job. If you are concerned about small rounding caused by this transcoding you can use the "Uncompressed 4:2:2 10 bit" codec. Beware that the clip files will be huge.

I've read Tim Dashwood mention that the AIC is a lossless codec so is that my finished HD project or do I somehow, somewhere reference my edit back to my m2t files.

FCP can't see the m2t files, once you convert them from Lumiere you will be working with the transcoded clip.

After you're done with editing/compositing, export your sequence using FCP, select "Quicktime Movie", choose the first option from the drop-down box: current settings. Double check that audio and video are selected and export all the markers so that your DVD will have chapters. Be sure that "Make self contained movie" is unchecked. This will create a reference QT movie, basically a file that points to your rendered files on disk.
Drop that file into Compressor, select your compression system, create the master for DVD Studio.

That's it.

[Tim Gray]

I just wanted to add that I've been quite happy with AIC.

[Steve Benner]

I have been editing HDV Natively in FCP (30P) and was curious though about AIC. Is it 4:2:2 like Cineform or 4:2:0 (I think it is this).

[Tom Chaney]

Andrew, Paolo, Steve and Tim,

Thanks for the information.

I learned quite a bit here and I'm sure that some others did as well.

Tom

www.tomchaney.com

[Steve Benner]

No problem man!