OK. This may sound a bit convoluted so please bear with me...

Can I output from my Sony A1U via the component outputs to a component to HDMI adapter and run that through a Black Magic intensity card to avoid the problems associated with HD compression and long GOPs?

You shouldn't need a component to HDMI converter, you won't need it if you spend the extra $100 on the Intensity Pro.

Whether it looks any better is a different question, I haven't seen anyone do a comparison. Assuming that you are recording directly rather than playing it through tape, you would be trading your MPEG2 / long GOP issues with digital to analog to digital conversion losses. I really don't know which is the bigger bogeyman in this case.

Interesting point. I know the component out from the A1U looks great and doesn't have the artifacting issues, but I don't know anyone who has actually converted back to digital, so I was hopingsomeone might have had some experience with that.
I was unaware that the Intensity Pro has component inputs. Thanks!

BTW - Are you still making the shims to help with the bottom loading issue with the A1U?

I was unaware that the Intensity Pro has component inputs. Thanks!

I suppose that wasn't a major announcement, but it was introduced at this year's NAB expo.


BTW - Are you still making the shims to help with the bottom loading issue with the A1U?

Yes I am, among other things. If you are interested, please click my name to the left and click the third item down to "visit my home page". That will take you to my web store. Thank you.

Thanks Jeff. I have a feeling I will be sending off for one soon, since I'm getting near the end of my script (I hope).

Also, I found this thread talking about the Intensity using Cineform to keep things more manageable: http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=94079&page=3

So that thread appears to answers the question.

Here's a quote from a person who did some rather extensive testing using the Intensity with an HV20:
"The difference between NEOHD and NEOHDV at 10 feet away on any size home theater just isn't there, and NEOHDV kills HDV."