Real world benefits of capturing direct to Prores with XFs? at DVinfo.net

Josh Dahlberg · April 13th, 2011, 04:17 PM

I was tempted by the Ki Pro Mini.... I'm now hugely tempted by the new Sound Devices Pix units that seem to have it all (I already have a 7 series audio device and love it!)

Of course the XF already has a decent codec, and I'm obtaining nice clean keys. I'm more interested the extent to which capturing direct to Prores HQ (it's 220mbps I believe) will allow for heavier grading - I find with my existing workflow (transcoding the XF's 50mbps 422 to Prores on ingest) I have to grade with a light touch to avoid introducing artifacts. And of course, whether there would be a noticeable detail gain.

Is anyone else looking at these units for the XF300/305? - does anyone have experience on how much is gained? For a camera like the XLH1 or EX1/3 I think it would be a no-brainer... for the XFs I have a feeling the gains may be marginal (I'm hoping to hear otherwise).

Thanks,

Josh

Tim Polster · April 13th, 2011, 04:58 PM

Josh, I don't have an XF but I do use NanoFlashes. 50mbps 4:2:2 is a good amount of information and the jump to 220mbps might need a lab coat to tell the difference.

Also, I don't know for sure but I would guess the Prores 220mbps is an intra-frame codec. If so then you can not directly compare the numbers of 50mbps long GOP and 220mbps intra as the long GOP is a lot more efficient.

I would say there might be better ways to direct your funds to improve your video image.

April 13th, 2011, 04:17 PM	#1
Josh Dahlberg Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 513	Real world benefits of capturing direct to Prores with XFs? I was tempted by the Ki Pro Mini.... I'm now hugely tempted by the new Sound Devices Pix units that seem to have it all (I already have a 7 series audio device and love it!) Of course the XF already has a decent codec, and I'm obtaining nice clean keys. I'm more interested the extent to which capturing direct to Prores HQ (it's 220mbps I believe) will allow for heavier grading - I find with my existing workflow (transcoding the XF's 50mbps 422 to Prores on ingest) I have to grade with a light touch to avoid introducing artifacts. And of course, whether there would be a noticeable detail gain. Is anyone else looking at these units for the XF300/305? - does anyone have experience on how much is gained? For a camera like the XLH1 or EX1/3 I think it would be a no-brainer... for the XFs I have a feeling the gains may be marginal (I'm hoping to hear otherwise). Thanks, Josh

April 13th, 2011, 04:58 PM	#2
Tim Polster Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 2,231	Re: Real world benefits of capturing direct to Prores with XFs? Josh, I don't have an XF but I do use NanoFlashes. 50mbps 4:2:2 is a good amount of information and the jump to 220mbps might need a lab coat to tell the difference. Also, I don't know for sure but I would guess the Prores 220mbps is an intra-frame codec. If so then you can not directly compare the numbers of 50mbps long GOP and 220mbps intra as the long GOP is a lot more efficient. I would say there might be better ways to direct your funds to improve your video image.