Directly capturing HDV footage as DV using FX1's down-conversion at DVinfo.net

Kaku Ito · October 29th, 2004, 08:57 AM

Few people asked here, so I'm providing the report.

I'm connecting FX1 to G5 directly via firewire cable. Booted up Final Cut Pro HD, open the capture window, software recognize FX1 as video device no problem and capture in real time or with the in/out & clip function no problem. The footage is shot with HDV format. I will provide HDV/DV format comparison as soon as I can.

I will also test DV shooting with FX1 since that is one of the way I want to use this cam since I shoot downhill mountainbike races and riders go really fast!

John C. Chu · October 29th, 2004, 10:07 AM

Thank you!

This is great news.

As a lot of folks on this board say...downsampled/down rezzed HD is gonna look awesome since we are starting from a higher res source...

Anamorphic DVD's are going to be wonderful....

This is a great way for beginners/people to start using the camera--without having to worry about editing HDV just yet...

Thank you so much for finally answering this question.

Now, I just need an extra four thousand bucks....

Kaku Ito · October 29th, 2004, 10:31 AM

John,

Good. I lost track with where your request was, but I figured this should be a speparate thread anyway and glad you found it.

Edwin Hernandez · October 30th, 2004, 05:50 AM

KAKU:

What about the video quality of the downcoverted HD to DV? When shooting HD and downcoverting to DV, does it definitely look better than any other mini DV camera ?

Can you capture the cineframe 24 or cineframe 30 over firewire?

Kaku Ito · October 30th, 2004, 09:10 AM

I will do "HDV to DV" and DV comparison tomorrow.

Donal Briard · November 1st, 2004, 08:31 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by John C. Chu : Thank you!

This is great news.

As a lot of folks on this board say...downsampled/down rezzed HD is gonna look awesome since we are starting from a higher res source...

Anamorphic DVD's are going to be wonderful....

This is a great way for beginners/people to start using the camera--without having to worry about editing HDV just yet...

Thank you so much for finally answering this question.

Now, I just need an extra four thousand bucks.... -->>>

Completely false. On SD DVD, whether you shoot FX1 in HDV or DV mode, or use the AGDVX or XL2 etc will produce just about the same result. You will end up with the exact same resolution, and in all cases, the exact same color space.

People are confused with film or CineAlta-like footage which is great, has a wonderful color palette, shallow DOF etc. When down size to DVD, they still retain all those qualities. It is like DV VS DV shot with a 35mm to DV adapter.

John C. Chu · November 1st, 2004, 08:49 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Donal Briard :

Completely false. On SD DVD, whether you shoot FX1 in HDV or DV mode, or use the AGDVX or XL2 etc will produce just about the same result. You will end up with the exact same resolution, and in all cases, the exact same color space.

People are confused with film or CineAlta-like footage which is great, has a wonderful color palette, shallow DOF etc. When down size to DVD, they still retain all those qualities. It is like DV VS DV shot with a 35mm to DV adapter. -->>>

You are saying that the viewer is not going to be aware that footage originated from a camera with higher detail in this case when downrezzed to SD??

I, for one, will wait to hear from Kaku on this..

Mark Kubat · November 1st, 2004, 07:45 PM

John, rest assured - I've done the tests.

You would have to have a visual impairment to not see that FX1 to SD DVD is obviously superior to XL2 to DVD...

We've sold off our XL2's at the t.v. station where I work because of this development... we broadcast out in Mpeg2 on digital satellite and we've run tests - the FX1 is clear winner - hmmm.

How can I put it in terms we can all understand?

XL2 is New York Yankees.

FX1 is the BoSox.

I don't know what steps Donal has taken in his tests - but ours were very thorough and we can all sleep better knowing the HDV to SD DVD is a great way to go!

Mark Kubat · November 1st, 2004, 07:47 PM

oh, just to clarify - I'm talking about the down-convert...

FX1 DV certainly would be expected to be on par with XL2... but FX1 HDV > NTSC SD DVD is a grand-slam home run, to continue the baseball analogy...

Kevin Dooley · November 2nd, 2004, 06:22 AM

That makes sense Mark--I mean, if nothing else you're starting with a higher rez source that can actually shoot a decent wide shot...Yes, it may end up at the same resolution and colorspace, but it starts with much greater detail...it just makes good sense...

October 29th, 2004, 08:57 AM	#1
Kaku Ito Trustee Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Posts: 1,382	Directly capturing HDV footage as DV using FX1's down-conversion Few people asked here, so I'm providing the report. I'm connecting FX1 to G5 directly via firewire cable. Booted up Final Cut Pro HD, open the capture window, software recognize FX1 as video device no problem and capture in real time or with the in/out & clip function no problem. The footage is shot with HDV format. I will provide HDV/DV format comparison as soon as I can. I will also test DV shooting with FX1 since that is one of the way I want to use this cam since I shoot downhill mountainbike races and riders go really fast!

November 1st, 2004, 07:45 PM	#8
Mark Kubat Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 375	FX1 to DVD beats XL2 hands down... John, rest assured - I've done the tests. You would have to have a visual impairment to not see that FX1 to SD DVD is obviously superior to XL2 to DVD... We've sold off our XL2's at the t.v. station where I work because of this development... we broadcast out in Mpeg2 on digital satellite and we've run tests - the FX1 is clear winner - hmmm. How can I put it in terms we can all understand? XL2 is New York Yankees. FX1 is the BoSox. I don't know what steps Donal has taken in his tests - but ours were very thorough and we can all sleep better knowing the HDV to SD DVD is a great way to go!

November 1st, 2004, 07:47 PM	#9
Mark Kubat Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 375	I'm talking about FX1 HDV downconvert to SD DVD, btw oh, just to clarify - I'm talking about the down-convert... FX1 DV certainly would be expected to be on par with XL2... but FX1 HDV > NTSC SD DVD is a grand-slam home run, to continue the baseball analogy...

November 2nd, 2004, 06:22 AM	#10
Kevin Dooley Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 414	That seems obvious That makes sense Mark--I mean, if nothing else you're starting with a higher rez source that can actually shoot a decent wide shot...Yes, it may end up at the same resolution and colorspace, but it starts with much greater detail...it just makes good sense...

October 29th, 2004, 10:07 AM	#2
John C. Chu Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Rego Park , NYC Posts: 665	Thank you! This is great news. As a lot of folks on this board say...downsampled/down rezzed HD is gonna look awesome since we are starting from a higher res source... Anamorphic DVD's are going to be wonderful.... This is a great way for beginners/people to start using the camera--without having to worry about editing HDV just yet... Thank you so much for finally answering this question. Now, I just need an extra four thousand bucks....

October 29th, 2004, 10:31 AM	#3
Kaku Ito Trustee Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Posts: 1,382	John, Good. I lost track with where your request was, but I figured this should be a speparate thread anyway and glad you found it.

October 30th, 2004, 05:50 AM	#4
Edwin Hernandez Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Panama City, Panama Posts: 162	KAKU: What about the video quality of the downcoverted HD to DV? When shooting HD and downcoverting to DV, does it definitely look better than any other mini DV camera ? Can you capture the cineframe 24 or cineframe 30 over firewire?

October 30th, 2004, 09:10 AM	#5
Kaku Ito Trustee Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Posts: 1,382	I will do "HDV to DV" and DV comparison tomorrow.

November 1st, 2004, 08:31 AM	#6
Donal Briard Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 43	<<<-- Originally posted by John C. Chu : Thank you! This is great news. As a lot of folks on this board say...downsampled/down rezzed HD is gonna look awesome since we are starting from a higher res source... Anamorphic DVD's are going to be wonderful.... This is a great way for beginners/people to start using the camera--without having to worry about editing HDV just yet... Thank you so much for finally answering this question. Now, I just need an extra four thousand bucks.... -->>> Completely false. On SD DVD, whether you shoot FX1 in HDV or DV mode, or use the AGDVX or XL2 etc will produce just about the same result. You will end up with the exact same resolution, and in all cases, the exact same color space. People are confused with film or CineAlta-like footage which is great, has a wonderful color palette, shallow DOF etc. When down size to DVD, they still retain all those qualities. It is like DV VS DV shot with a 35mm to DV adapter.

November 1st, 2004, 08:49 AM	#7
John C. Chu Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Rego Park , NYC Posts: 665	<<<-- Originally posted by Donal Briard : Completely false. On SD DVD, whether you shoot FX1 in HDV or DV mode, or use the AGDVX or XL2 etc will produce just about the same result. You will end up with the exact same resolution, and in all cases, the exact same color space. People are confused with film or CineAlta-like footage which is great, has a wonderful color palette, shallow DOF etc. When down size to DVD, they still retain all those qualities. It is like DV VS DV shot with a 35mm to DV adapter. -->>> You are saying that the viewer is not going to be aware that footage originated from a camera with higher detail in this case when downrezzed to SD?? I, for one, will wait to hear from Kaku on this..