Is it possible to convert HDV files into DVCPROHD and the other way around? Will the HVX200 have some kind of HD input?
-EDWIN

Hi Edwin, I'm pretty sure that HDV / DVCPRO HD transcoding will have to be done on the post-production side with an NLE that supports both formats. The HVX200 has component output, but not component input. You do have component input with the P2 deck, the model is the Panasonic AJ-SPD850.

I'm curious as to why you would want to?
Why shoot HDV and loose the luma resolution you have going to DVCPRO-HD?
Why shoot DVCPRO-HD and sacrafice chroma information going to HDV?
Why would you want to run through yet another lossy compression algorithm?

For editing purposes there are better options than DVCPRO-HD (like Cineform or uncompressed) if you're going to transcode for intermediate work.

-Steve

Steven:
I was just wondering in the case that someone needs to edit something, mixing source material coming from a Z1U and a HVX200.
-EDWIN

Edwin--If you want to mix these different HD standards in the project, you can with Avid Xpress Pro HD already--in it you can edit different HD standards in the same timeline with no transcoding needed. I imagine other NLE's (like FCP) offer this as well, though couldn't say for sure. I do know that the Avid does this, though. Hope that helps,

Peter

Peter: And what would be the final output?

That's a great question Edwin. Because I am on a Mac and Avid has not yet released Xpress Pro HD for the Mac, I couldn't tell you for sure (though I'm sure you could find it on their website). I do know that in one of these sequences you can export directly from the Avid in a number of encoded file formats (h.264, windows media 10 hi-def, mpeg-4 etc.). As far as laying off to tape, I'm not sure what your options are. Check out the Avid site and let us know what you find.

Peter