Ok,

Now that I have had time to play around with both camera and the software for capturing footage back to the hard drive I want to make sure I have the HDV software setup properly.

With the HV20 24P mode and XHA1 I am using 24F mode. I am then using the HV20 to capture footage from both cameras back to disk via a firewire cable and the HDLink software. The pref I have set are;

Capture Options
Automatically convert to Cineform Intermediate

Destination File Format for Capture and Conversion
AVI

CineForm Encoder Options
Quality High
Enable Smart Rendering checked ( I am using vegas 8 )
Frame format: Automatic

Frame Rate Change
Remove 3-2 Pulldown checked
Rate Change no change
Maintain Audio pitch ( checked )

Pre-Compression Filters

Resize Video ( none )
Keep source aspect ration ( checked )
Everything else unchecked.

Scene Detection
Split file on scene changes ( checked )

Does this look correct? Am I missing anything?

I am using the XHA1 as my main and the HV20 my B roll camera and playback unit.

In the XH I have not changed any of the settings under timecode and it is set to Frame Setting DROP, Frame Rate 24F , Signal HD

I just wanted to make sure everything was set right and that I had the Cineform software set correct.

Thanks again,

Kevin

I can't speak to the A1, but with respect to the HV20, your settings appear to match mine precisely when I capture/convert HV20 24p footage. I then bring the resulting 24p AVIs into a Vegas 24p timeline (using the "HDV 1080-24p (1440x1080, 23.976 fps)" template in the properties tab), and voila.

Hello Ian,

Thank you for the feedback. I have the XH set to the 24 mode and it seems to work fine also.

I tell you I am in love with Vegas, it is so powerful and an amazing tool.

Thanks again,

Kevin

For the A1 in 24F, you don't need 3-2 pull checked, as the frames are stored progressively on tape, whereas in the HV20 they are not.

Hello David,

Thanks! The thing is that with the A1 I am using the HV20 for playback, so I then I do not need to check the pull down right? I know it is probably a stupid question.

Thank you again,

Kevin

Kevin, I'm guessing no, because all you are doing at Capture is capturing a data stream. What David is saying is that for the A1, you already have a true 24p data stream, so pulldown removal is not required.

Chris is correct. It is the A1 source (whether played from HV20 or not) that is recorded as 24p, and doesn't require pulldown removal.

I had a similar question: I taped a concert with a Sony V1U and a Canon HV20. When I'm capturing the footage onto my computer, Cineform identifies whether the camcorder is the V1U or the HV20. Would it make a difference with Cineform (or Vegas capture for that matter) if I placed the tape recorded with the V1U into the HV20 while capturing? It seems like from the above responses that it wouldn't matter.

Doesn't matter, however you can't put a XL-H1 recorded in 24F in a Sony V1U -- most other combinations work.