Starting out with HDV at DVinfo.net

Chris Harris · July 14th, 2006, 01:39 PM

So I'm planning on getting a Sony HC1 soon. I'm already set up and experienced with editing DV. My computer is only 2.26ghz and I've got 1gb of ram. I currently use PPro 2.0. What else do I need to edit HDV? Do I really need to buy an intermediary codec? I can't just select the Sony HDV profile in PP and start editing? I'm not expecting to be able to scrub through the footage as smooth as DV, but I'm patient, I'm just hoping it'll function. Will transitions and effects appear in real time? Thank you for your help.

K. Forman · July 14th, 2006, 02:14 PM

Another gig or 3 of ram would be a good start...

Bart Walczak · July 15th, 2006, 03:56 AM

1 GB of RAM would increase your performance, but I would personally highly recomment an intermediate Codec for such "slow" machine.

Pete Bauer · July 15th, 2006, 06:39 AM

Chris, your system is well below the specs for HDV in PPro and for the intermediate codec I'm most familiar with, Cineform's AspectHD. So I suspect that even with an intermediate codec, you'll find editing HD material painfully slow. You definitely won't see real-time scrubs and effects. If your system works properly with HDV in the first place, which it might but I sure wouldn't guarantee, you'll have to be a REALLY patient soul. Sorry to say, if you plan to edit HDV, I think you need to at least be prepared to get a new system.

When I first got Production Studio, I put it on my then-current system (P4 3.0GHz w/ 2GB DDR) and got Cineform's AspectHD and PPro performance was just what I'd call "acceptable." After Effects performance was unacceptably slow for me even with the intermediate codec, so I built a new system pretty quickly thereafter (specs in my profile).

Fortunately, with Intel's new Conroe processors due in just a couple more weeks and AMD planning deep price cuts in its current processors to counter Intel on the "price/performance" metric, August/September may be an outstanding time for a new HD-capable computer. If you have the cash, a blistering Conroe should give great performance, or a still fast AMD should be had for a really good price.

(Data point for those who might be interested: on the +4800 with Raptor x2 in RAID0, I can do a multicam of two native 40-minute HDV clips comfortably, and in another project, I'm doing an hour-twenty multicam timeline with 2 AspectHD plus 2 DV cameras with only minor timeline delays. In that project, there is about an hour of HD divided into two clips on each track, and the DV clips are continuous 1hr 20min clips each...those long clips on such a long sequence are a bit of a torture test for the system, but it does ok.

K. Forman · July 15th, 2006, 09:39 AM

His system and mine are close, except his processor is a bit larger. When Pete says "working with HDV will be painfully slow"... he ain't kidding!

Chris Harris · July 16th, 2006, 02:05 AM

A new computer sounds nice in a couple of months. I have an idea for a possible HDV workflow for my slower machine though.
First, capture native HDV to computer. Then downconvert HDV to 16:9 SD in Virtualdub. Edit in SD using PP2.0. When finished editing, re-link all SD references to their HDV counterparts. Then, render to whatever final HDV output codec is appropriate. Does anybody think this will this work for me?

July 14th, 2006, 01:39 PM	#1
Chris Harris Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 487	Starting out with HDV So I'm planning on getting a Sony HC1 soon. I'm already set up and experienced with editing DV. My computer is only 2.26ghz and I've got 1gb of ram. I currently use PPro 2.0. What else do I need to edit HDV? Do I really need to buy an intermediary codec? I can't just select the Sony HDV profile in PP and start editing? I'm not expecting to be able to scrub through the footage as smooth as DV, but I'm patient, I'm just hoping it'll function. Will transitions and effects appear in real time? Thank you for your help.

July 14th, 2006, 02:14 PM	#2
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	Another gig or 3 of ram would be a good start... __________________ www.SmokeWagonLeather.us

July 15th, 2006, 06:39 AM	#4
Pete Bauer Wrangler Join Date: May 2003 Location: Eagle River, AK Posts: 4,100	Chris, your system is well below the specs for HDV in PPro and for the intermediate codec I'm most familiar with, Cineform's AspectHD. So I suspect that even with an intermediate codec, you'll find editing HD material painfully slow. You definitely won't see real-time scrubs and effects. If your system works properly with HDV in the first place, which it might but I sure wouldn't guarantee, you'll have to be a REALLY patient soul. Sorry to say, if you plan to edit HDV, I think you need to at least be prepared to get a new system. When I first got Production Studio, I put it on my then-current system (P4 3.0GHz w/ 2GB DDR) and got Cineform's AspectHD and PPro performance was just what I'd call "acceptable." After Effects performance was unacceptably slow for me even with the intermediate codec, so I built a new system pretty quickly thereafter (specs in my profile). Fortunately, with Intel's new Conroe processors due in just a couple more weeks and AMD planning deep price cuts in its current processors to counter Intel on the "price/performance" metric, August/September may be an outstanding time for a new HD-capable computer. If you have the cash, a blistering Conroe should give great performance, or a still fast AMD should be had for a really good price. (Data point for those who might be interested: on the +4800 with Raptor x2 in RAID0, I can do a multicam of two native 40-minute HDV clips comfortably, and in another project, I'm doing an hour-twenty multicam timeline with 2 AspectHD plus 2 DV cameras with only minor timeline delays. In that project, there is about an hour of HD divided into two clips on each track, and the DV clips are continuous 1hr 20min clips each...those long clips on such a long sequence are a bit of a torture test for the system, but it does ok. __________________ Pete Bauer The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. Albert Einstein Trying to solve a DV mystery? You may find the answer behind the SEARCH function ... or be able to join a discussion already in progress!

July 15th, 2006, 09:39 AM	#5
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	His system and mine are close, except his processor is a bit larger. When Pete says "working with HDV will be painfully slow"... he ain't kidding! __________________ www.SmokeWagonLeather.us

July 15th, 2006, 03:56 AM	#3
Bart Walczak Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Warsaw/Poland Posts: 716	1 GB of RAM would increase your performance, but I would personally highly recomment an intermediate Codec for such "slow" machine.

July 16th, 2006, 02:05 AM	#6
Chris Harris Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 487	A new computer sounds nice in a couple of months. I have an idea for a possible HDV workflow for my slower machine though. First, capture native HDV to computer. Then downconvert HDV to 16:9 SD in Virtualdub. Edit in SD using PP2.0. When finished editing, re-link all SD references to their HDV counterparts. Then, render to whatever final HDV output codec is appropriate. Does anybody think this will this work for me?