Editing HDV using Sony Z1 and FCP 5 at DVinfo.net

Karl Ellison · September 26th, 2006, 03:16 AM

We're having probs using FCP5 to edit HDV footage shot on a Z1. Someone mentioned that it might be possible to import as DVCAM and then put out the footage as HDV - has anyone tried this and - if so - how did you do it? All advice gratefully received.....

Martin Mayer · September 26th, 2006, 05:44 AM

If you use the camera to downconvert to DVCAM and capture that: then that's STANDARD DEFINITION - and you've lost your HD resolution - and you can't get it back on output.

What is the problem you're having with capturing/editing HDV? How new/fast is your Mac?

(Maybe the "someone" who mentioned it, was getting things backwards: you can import HDV, and output that as standard definition - such as DVCAM? - but not the other way round.)

Boyd Ostroff · September 26th, 2006, 07:20 AM

Martin is right, DVCAM is strictly a standard definition format. But you shouldn't be having problems with the Z1 and FCP5, I use both. For starters, make sure your camera is set to record HDV 1080i and that you don't have i.Link convert turned on. Then make sure you are using the HDV 1080i easy setup. Also make sure that you have both FCP and the camera set for the same frame rate, since both the Z1 and FCP can work with either 50i or 60i.

Karl Ellison · September 27th, 2006, 12:32 AM

Thanks Martin, Thanks Boyd

Your advice makes sense. This transfer to HD is causing me a few problems. Perhaps I don't understand it fully yet. I am running a 1Ghz Powerbook G4. So I am even having to render a simple drag and drop from the viewer to the timeline. I'm sure it shouldnt be doing this.

Is there a site that can explain it all in a simple manner for somebody like myself who has been doing fine in SD, but is finding the whole HDV thing a bit of a pain.

But perhaps it's not as difficult as I think it is.

Thanks again all.
Karl.

Jim OQuinn · September 27th, 2006, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karl Ellison

Thanks Martin, Thanks Boyd

Your advice makes sense. This transfer to HD is causing me a few problems. Perhaps I don't understand it fully yet. I am running a 1Ghz Powerbook G4. So I am even having to render a simple drag and drop from the viewer to the timeline. I'm sure it shouldnt be doing this.

Is there a site that can explain it all in a simple manner for somebody like myself who has been doing fine in SD, but is finding the whole HDV thing a bit of a pain.

But perhaps it's not as difficult as I think it is.

Thanks again all.
Karl.

I'm not an expert, but I think if you have to render when you drop footage on the timeline, then your timeline isn't matching your footage. Do as Boyd says and match the footage to an "easy setup" option in FCP.

Stu Holmes · September 27th, 2006, 09:08 PM

surely this is posted in the wrong forum??

Dylan Pank · September 28th, 2006, 03:08 AM

I think this should be moved to the FCP forum and renamed, but I think the problem is that Karl is running a machine too slow for editing HDV. I have managed to edit HDV without render on a 1.42Ghz eMac, but got the feeling that it was right on the edge of it's capability.

I think a 1Ghz G4 is too slow for HDV. I would recommend editing using AIC if realtime is that important, or editing as DV using downconvert, and then later batch capturing and conforming as HDV.

I don;t knowe if you want a site - hitting Amazon - I can recommend the "Final Cut Pro for Dummies" though am not sure if there is a version for FCP 5 yet (mine was for 4).

Heath McKnight · September 28th, 2006, 09:25 PM

FCP 5.1.2 already edits 1080p24 HDV (likely because of the Sony F350/XDCam HD), and I'm thinking no worries with this unit.

hwm

September 26th, 2006, 03:16 AM	#1
Karl Ellison Tourist Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Oxford Posts: 4	Editing HDV using Sony Z1 and FCP 5 We're having probs using FCP5 to edit HDV footage shot on a Z1. Someone mentioned that it might be possible to import as DVCAM and then put out the footage as HDV - has anyone tried this and - if so - how did you do it? All advice gratefully received.....

September 26th, 2006, 05:44 AM	#2
Martin Mayer Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Oxfordshire, UK Posts: 416	If you use the camera to downconvert to DVCAM and capture that: then that's STANDARD DEFINITION - and you've lost your HD resolution - and you can't get it back on output. What is the problem you're having with capturing/editing HDV? How new/fast is your Mac? (Maybe the "someone" who mentioned it, was getting things backwards: you can import HDV, and output that as standard definition - such as DVCAM? - but not the other way round.) __________________ Martin at HeadSpin HD on Blu-ray

September 28th, 2006, 09:25 PM	#8
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	FCP 5.1.2 already edits 1080p24 HDV (likely because of the Sony F350/XDCam HD), and I'm thinking no worries with this unit. hwm __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

September 26th, 2006, 07:20 AM	#3
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	Martin is right, DVCAM is strictly a standard definition format. But you shouldn't be having problems with the Z1 and FCP5, I use both. For starters, make sure your camera is set to record HDV 1080i and that you don't have i.Link convert turned on. Then make sure you are using the HDV 1080i easy setup. Also make sure that you have both FCP and the camera set for the same frame rate, since both the Z1 and FCP can work with either 50i or 60i.

September 27th, 2006, 12:32 AM	#4
Karl Ellison Tourist Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Oxford Posts: 4	Thanks Martin, Thanks Boyd Your advice makes sense. This transfer to HD is causing me a few problems. Perhaps I don't understand it fully yet. I am running a 1Ghz Powerbook G4. So I am even having to render a simple drag and drop from the viewer to the timeline. I'm sure it shouldnt be doing this. Is there a site that can explain it all in a simple manner for somebody like myself who has been doing fine in SD, but is finding the whole HDV thing a bit of a pain. But perhaps it's not as difficult as I think it is. Thanks again all. Karl.

September 27th, 2006, 09:08 PM	#6
Stu Holmes Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Europe Posts: 844	surely this is posted in the wrong forum??

September 28th, 2006, 03:08 AM	#7
Dylan Pank Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Portsmouth, UK Posts: 611	I think this should be moved to the FCP forum and renamed, but I think the problem is that Karl is running a machine too slow for editing HDV. I have managed to edit HDV without render on a 1.42Ghz eMac, but got the feeling that it was right on the edge of it's capability. I think a 1Ghz G4 is too slow for HDV. I would recommend editing using AIC if realtime is that important, or editing as DV using downconvert, and then later batch capturing and conforming as HDV. I don;t knowe if you want a site - hitting Amazon - I can recommend the "Final Cut Pro for Dummies" though am not sure if there is a version for FCP 5 yet (mine was for 4).