Capturing HDV and downconverting

Taky Cheung · August 3rd, 2007, 09:59 AM

I shot this video in HDV format using HV20. Captured both in DV-Lock within the camera, and, HDV then downsize to DV in Premiere Pro. Check out the difference yourself.

Jase Tanner · August 15th, 2007, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Pryor

I'm using FCP, and if I drop HDV clips into a 4:3 timeline, they automatically come in in the correct aspect ratio, but letterboxed. It's quick and easy to resize them and then apply that to all the clips. I'd assume most NLEs would have something similar.

Bill

I'm also using FCP. Just getting my feet wet in HDV with an XH A1. Just tried down rezing some 60i footage using Quicktime conversion. Looked pretty awful. I'm assuming Compressor will do a better job but being unfamiliar with the program I thought I would check around and see what the best approach would be.

Can't say I've found anything yet that is clear and concise. (Any links much appreciated)

Are you saying that you simply drop the hdv footage into a 4:3 timeline, render, and presto you've got letterboxed 16:9 SD or is there more to it than that, as in what process of resizing do you apply as you refer to above.

Thanks for any help

Jase

Bill Pryor · August 16th, 2007, 09:23 AM

You drop it into a 4:3 timeline and it sizes to the correct aspect ratio, but you have to then use the motion tab to blow it up and move around to resize properly to fill the screen. I just did that one time to see what would happen; usually I go the other way, from SD to HDV. I'll check it out again and be more precise in the procedure but can't do that for a day or so. For exports, I export as a regular QT, then go from that to whatever is needed in Compressor or Sorensen 3.

Jase Tanner · August 16th, 2007, 09:55 AM

Thanks Bill.

I'll look forward to hearing more. I initially tried exporting to Quicktime (thinking I wouldn't need to go to Compressor or Sorensen) and that didn't seem to work, always got a vertically stretched image.

I'm going to try compressor today, but wondering why you first go to Quicktime export and then Compressor when it seems you can go directly to it.

Another question. When I send my this HDV footage converted to letterboxed 4:3, out to my 4:3 TV the size etc looks correct, just letterboxed. I also have an older Sony broadcast monitor that is aspect ratio switchable. If I have it on 4:3, it looks correct. If I set it to 16:9 it looks squashed. This makes sense, I think?

My question. When I burn a DVD from this timeline it should look correct on on a 4:3 TV. But will a 16:9 TV handle it correctly or treat it as my switchable monitor. I guess it comes down to such a TV being able to sense the aspect ratio of the DVD and adjust itself accordingly. Do they do that?

Thanks

Bill Pryor · August 16th, 2007, 10:20 AM

I went through the same thing with Compresson. You need to make the regular QT first. It's very good--when you see it you'll like it, especially if you shot 24p, no deinterlace artifacts; it'll be an HD type QT and will spread across both your monitors (go up and click "fill screen" to view it smaller on one monitor).

Re: Letterboxed and squished. Yeah, if you make a 4:3 letterbox version, it will look stretched on a 16:9 TV. What you do is when you author your DVD, just do a normal 16:9 version, making sure the settings are correct (I'm not sure what they are off the top of my head) and the DVD player will detect whether it's hooked to a 4:3 or 16:9 TV and will automatically output letterboxed if it's a 4:3 TV. Although, there are some video projectors and some older DVD players, I understand, that have to be set for that. So far it's worked right for me; maybe somebody else can shed some more light on that.

Douglas Villalba · August 16th, 2007, 10:34 AM

If the final output is to DVD you don't have to downconvert. All you have to do is create an SD DVD. That way you can see it in letterbox on 4:3 tvs and full screen on 16:9 tvs.

Bill Pryor · August 16th, 2007, 10:52 AM

This is true--once you've exported the full res QT, DVD Studio pro will import it and convert it to the m2t file automatically, but I think you do have to have the setting right for wide screen and all.

Douglas Villalba · August 16th, 2007, 11:37 AM

All you have to do is setup your track to either Pan & Scan for a side trimmed full 4:3 or letterbox for the black top & bottom lines.

Bill Pryor · August 16th, 2007, 11:42 AM

Yeah, that's the setting I was referring to--couldn't think of it offhand. I leave it in letterbox.

Amie Spiridigliozzi · August 17th, 2007, 03:21 PM

I own New Tek's VT 4 and do not yet have the VT5 ungrade with Speed Edit.

Question. If I shoot in HD how do I down convert correctly to SD 4:3 (no letterbox) Is that possible? Basically, I heard from the WEVA convention that I should never shoot in SD with my HD camera. But my problem is, most of my clients don't want to watch their video on a normal SD TV with black bars on the top and bottom.

Is it possible to shoot in HD and down convert to SD and burn a DVD without the black bars?

Amie Spiridigliozzi · August 17th, 2007, 03:23 PM

I own New Tek's VT 4 and do not yet have the VT5 ungrade with Speed Edit.

Question. If I shoot in HD how do I down convert correctly to SD 4:3 (no letterbox) Is that possible? Basically, I heard from the WEVA convention that I should never shoot in SD with my HD camera. But my problem is, most of my clients don't want to watch their video on a normal SD TV with black bars on the top and bottom.

Is it possible to shoot in HD and down convert to SD and burn a DVD without the black bars?

August 3rd, 2007, 09:59 AM	#31
Taky Cheung Inner Circle Join Date: May 2007 Location: Los Angeles, USA Posts: 2,114	I shot this video in HDV format using HV20. Captured both in DV-Lock within the camera, and, HDV then downsize to DV in Premiere Pro. Check out the difference yourself. Attached Thumbnails

August 16th, 2007, 10:34 AM	#36
Douglas Villalba Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Miami, Florida, USA Posts: 479	If the final output is to DVD you don't have to downconvert. All you have to do is create an SD DVD. That way you can see it in letterbox on 4:3 tvs and full screen on 16:9 tvs. __________________ Douglas Villalba - director/cinematographer/editor Miami, Florida, USA - www.DVtvPRODUCTIONS.com

August 16th, 2007, 11:37 AM	#38
Douglas Villalba Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Miami, Florida, USA Posts: 479	All you have to do is setup your track to either Pan & Scan for a side trimmed full 4:3 or letterbox for the black top & bottom lines. __________________ Douglas Villalba - director/cinematographer/editor Miami, Florida, USA - www.DVtvPRODUCTIONS.com

August 17th, 2007, 03:21 PM	#40
Amie Spiridigliozzi New Boot Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Danvers, MA Posts: 19	Shoot HD and Capture in SD I own New Tek's VT 4 and do not yet have the VT5 ungrade with Speed Edit. Question. If I shoot in HD how do I down convert correctly to SD 4:3 (no letterbox) Is that possible? Basically, I heard from the WEVA convention that I should never shoot in SD with my HD camera. But my problem is, most of my clients don't want to watch their video on a normal SD TV with black bars on the top and bottom. Is it possible to shoot in HD and down convert to SD and burn a DVD without the black bars?

August 17th, 2007, 03:23 PM	#41
Amie Spiridigliozzi New Boot Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Danvers, MA Posts: 19	HD to SD I own New Tek's VT 4 and do not yet have the VT5 ungrade with Speed Edit. Question. If I shoot in HD how do I down convert correctly to SD 4:3 (no letterbox) Is that possible? Basically, I heard from the WEVA convention that I should never shoot in SD with my HD camera. But my problem is, most of my clients don't want to watch their video on a normal SD TV with black bars on the top and bottom. Is it possible to shoot in HD and down convert to SD and burn a DVD without the black bars?

August 16th, 2007, 09:23 AM	#33
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	You drop it into a 4:3 timeline and it sizes to the correct aspect ratio, but you have to then use the motion tab to blow it up and move around to resize properly to fill the screen. I just did that one time to see what would happen; usually I go the other way, from SD to HDV. I'll check it out again and be more precise in the procedure but can't do that for a day or so. For exports, I export as a regular QT, then go from that to whatever is needed in Compressor or Sorensen 3.

August 16th, 2007, 09:55 AM	#34
Jase Tanner Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 346	Thanks Bill. I'll look forward to hearing more. I initially tried exporting to Quicktime (thinking I wouldn't need to go to Compressor or Sorensen) and that didn't seem to work, always got a vertically stretched image. I'm going to try compressor today, but wondering why you first go to Quicktime export and then Compressor when it seems you can go directly to it. Another question. When I send my this HDV footage converted to letterboxed 4:3, out to my 4:3 TV the size etc looks correct, just letterboxed. I also have an older Sony broadcast monitor that is aspect ratio switchable. If I have it on 4:3, it looks correct. If I set it to 16:9 it looks squashed. This makes sense, I think? My question. When I burn a DVD from this timeline it should look correct on on a 4:3 TV. But will a 16:9 TV handle it correctly or treat it as my switchable monitor. I guess it comes down to such a TV being able to sense the aspect ratio of the DVD and adjust itself accordingly. Do they do that? Thanks

August 16th, 2007, 10:20 AM	#35
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	I went through the same thing with Compresson. You need to make the regular QT first. It's very good--when you see it you'll like it, especially if you shot 24p, no deinterlace artifacts; it'll be an HD type QT and will spread across both your monitors (go up and click "fill screen" to view it smaller on one monitor). Re: Letterboxed and squished. Yeah, if you make a 4:3 letterbox version, it will look stretched on a 16:9 TV. What you do is when you author your DVD, just do a normal 16:9 version, making sure the settings are correct (I'm not sure what they are off the top of my head) and the DVD player will detect whether it's hooked to a 4:3 or 16:9 TV and will automatically output letterboxed if it's a 4:3 TV. Although, there are some video projectors and some older DVD players, I understand, that have to be set for that. So far it's worked right for me; maybe somebody else can shed some more light on that.

August 16th, 2007, 10:52 AM	#37
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	This is true--once you've exported the full res QT, DVD Studio pro will import it and convert it to the m2t file automatically, but I think you do have to have the setting right for wide screen and all.

August 16th, 2007, 11:42 AM	#39
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Yeah, that's the setting I was referring to--couldn't think of it offhand. I leave it in letterbox.