CineForm and Sony XDCAM EX

James Huenergardt · September 7th, 2007, 09:41 AM

I'm assuming this should work.

HD SDI out on the new Sony XDCam EX to a Black Magic HDLink, then HDMI out to Intensity Pro and capture with Prospect HD at full 1920 x 1080 4:2:2 to edit in Adobe CS3 software.

Planning on using a capture box like this: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...ight=Intensity

David Newman · September 7th, 2007, 10:53 AM

No problems, that will work fine.

James Huenergardt · October 21st, 2007, 03:12 PM

Thinking about purchasing this camera and wondering if Prospect HD will work with the new XDCam EX file format?

Since the HQ files are native 1920 x 1080, will that change anything since the current XDCam files are 1440x1080?

I'm assuming I can use HDLink to batch downcovert to SD if I wanted to do that.

Using Premiere Pro/After Effects CS3, what type of workflow would I be looking at?

Do the Cineform encoded files end up smaller or larger than the native XDCam files?

Thanks,

Jim

David Newman · October 21st, 2007, 04:02 PM

We will be supporting XDCAM-EX ASAP, but it is not be same format as today's XDCAM-HD, so we will be rev'ing (free update) Prospect HD/2K for this camera. The CineForm files will be about 3 times large, and about 30 times more useful :), just as do with HDV, remember XDCAM-HD/EX is like professional HDV, higher bit-rate long GOP MPEG-2. Also initially none of the native MPEG NLE will support the HQ modes, so CineForm Prpspect HD is going to be popular with this camera.

James Huenergardt · October 21st, 2007, 10:06 PM

Thank goodness for Cineform. You guys make a LOT of things much easier that would be pretty much impossible.

Looking forward to using Prospect with the EX, whenever I pick one up.

Craig Irving · October 22nd, 2007, 10:49 AM

Will Aspect HD support the XDCam EX at 8-bit 1440x1080?

David Newman · October 22nd, 2007, 10:57 AM

Yes at that resolution. HQ 1920x1080 images will need to be scaled down to 1440x1080 under Aspect HD. I think Prospect HD will be the sweet spot of XDCAM-EX users.

Craig Irving · October 22nd, 2007, 11:05 AM

I definetely agree. I suppose it would be a good investment anyway for me to get 4:2:2 and 1920x1080 out of my V1U then as well (via HDMI).

I'm glad Cineform has upgrade options to go from Aspect HD to Prospect HD :)

John Hewat · October 22nd, 2007, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Newman

We will be supporting XDCAM-EX ASAP

Can you tell us how the process will work?

I understand that with a tape based workflow, as you capture you can transcode and produce a Cineform AVI, but with a file based workflow, I assume the drag-and-drop functionality of the camera is preserved, so how does the transcoding process occur? Or is there one? Do we end up with Cineform AVIs still? And my final question (so far) isdo you have any indication as to how long the transcoding process will take?

Thanks for your help!

-- John.

David Newman · October 22nd, 2007, 07:29 PM

Use the convert tabs of HDlink, just as you would for P2 media, XDCAM-HD and AVCHD files. Conversion is as fast as you PC allows, whereas with tape transfer you are always limited by the tape speed.

John Hewat · October 22nd, 2007, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Newman

Use the convert tabs of HDlink, just as you would for P2 media, XDCAM-HD and AVCHD files.

HDLink? Sorry for my ignorance. Isn't that a hardware device for capturing? Or is it a program that I would need on top of CS3?

David Newman · October 22nd, 2007, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Hewat

HDLink? Sorry for my ignorance. Isn't that a hardware device for capturing? Or is it a program that I would need on top of CS3?

We had the name first. HDLink is a software utility that comes with all CineForm products -- it supports capture and conversion from a large range of sources.

John Hewat · October 22nd, 2007, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Newman

We had the name first. HDLink is a software utility that comes with all CineForm products -- it supports capture and conversion from a large range of sources.

Fantastic! Thanks for the info and especially for the incredibly fast responses! I can't wait for this camera and an excuse to buy Prospect finally after months and months of procrastinating.

Marty Baggen · October 23rd, 2007, 08:53 AM

When using this camera in HQ capture, is there any remaining advantage of utilizing the HDMI interface for transfer to NLE?

I'm presuming that the SDI is primarily an asset for interface between other broadcast gear and/or live feed from the camera as opposed to providing a superior means of transfer of recorded data?

Carl Middleton · October 23rd, 2007, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty Baggen

When using this camera in HQ capture, is there any remaining advantage of utilizing the HDMI interface for transfer to NLE?

I'm presuming that the SDI is primarily an asset for interface between other broadcast gear and/or live feed from the camera as opposed to providing a superior means of transfer of recorded data?

That'd be my *guess* anyways... If it's being recorded to the XDcam's file format, I would think it would be best just to grab the exact recorded file, and drop that into HDlink.

Unless the camera happens to be really good at certain realtime processes that you need to happen, as is the case a lot of times with people recording in HDV and capturing from the camera in SD... tho with this camera being native 1920x1080, and the color that the camera shoots out isn't going to be up-sampled above what it was originally stored at (as far as I know, I've been known to be wrong =D) I don't see any reason to not use a beautiful file-based workflow.

I'm eying this setup myself, actually!

C

September 7th, 2007, 09:41 AM	#16
James Huenergardt Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA Posts: 513	Sony XDCam EX / SDI-> HDLink->Intensity->Cineform I'm assuming this should work. HD SDI out on the new Sony XDCam EX to a Black Magic HDLink, then HDMI out to Intensity Pro and capture with Prospect HD at full 1920 x 1080 4:2:2 to edit in Adobe CS3 software. Planning on using a capture box like this: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...ight=Intensity

September 7th, 2007, 10:53 AM	#17
David Newman CTO, CineForm Inc. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California Posts: 8,095	No problems, that will work fine. __________________ David Newman -- web: www.gopro.com blog: cineform.blogspot.com -- twitter: twitter.com/David_Newman

October 21st, 2007, 03:12 PM	#18
James Huenergardt Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA Posts: 513	CineForm / Sony EX1 support questions Thinking about purchasing this camera and wondering if Prospect HD will work with the new XDCam EX file format? Since the HQ files are native 1920 x 1080, will that change anything since the current XDCam files are 1440x1080? I'm assuming I can use HDLink to batch downcovert to SD if I wanted to do that. Using Premiere Pro/After Effects CS3, what type of workflow would I be looking at? Do the Cineform encoded files end up smaller or larger than the native XDCam files? Thanks, Jim

October 21st, 2007, 04:02 PM	#19
David Newman CTO, CineForm Inc. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California Posts: 8,095	We will be supporting XDCAM-EX ASAP, but it is not be same format as today's XDCAM-HD, so we will be rev'ing (free update) Prospect HD/2K for this camera. The CineForm files will be about 3 times large, and about 30 times more useful :), just as do with HDV, remember XDCAM-HD/EX is like professional HDV, higher bit-rate long GOP MPEG-2. Also initially none of the native MPEG NLE will support the HQ modes, so CineForm Prpspect HD is going to be popular with this camera. __________________ David Newman -- web: www.gopro.com blog: cineform.blogspot.com -- twitter: twitter.com/David_Newman

October 22nd, 2007, 10:57 AM	#22
David Newman CTO, CineForm Inc. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California Posts: 8,095	Yes at that resolution. HQ 1920x1080 images will need to be scaled down to 1440x1080 under Aspect HD. I think Prospect HD will be the sweet spot of XDCAM-EX users. __________________ David Newman -- web: www.gopro.com blog: cineform.blogspot.com -- twitter: twitter.com/David_Newman

October 21st, 2007, 10:06 PM	#20
James Huenergardt Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA Posts: 513	Thank goodness for Cineform. You guys make a LOT of things much easier that would be pretty much impossible. Looking forward to using Prospect with the EX, whenever I pick one up.

October 22nd, 2007, 10:49 AM	#21
Craig Irving Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 539	Will Aspect HD support the XDCam EX at 8-bit 1440x1080?

October 22nd, 2007, 11:05 AM	#23
Craig Irving Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 539	I definetely agree. I suppose it would be a good investment anyway for me to get 4:2:2 and 1920x1080 out of my V1U then as well (via HDMI). I'm glad Cineform has upgrade options to go from Aspect HD to Prospect HD :)

October 22nd, 2007, 07:29 PM	#25
David Newman CTO, CineForm Inc. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California Posts: 8,095	Use the convert tabs of HDlink, just as you would for P2 media, XDCAM-HD and AVCHD files. Conversion is as fast as you PC allows, whereas with tape transfer you are always limited by the tape speed. __________________ David Newman -- web: www.gopro.com blog: cineform.blogspot.com -- twitter: twitter.com/David_Newman

October 23rd, 2007, 08:53 AM	#29
Marty Baggen Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: monroe, or Posts: 572	HQ output vs HDMI When using this camera in HQ capture, is there any remaining advantage of utilizing the HDMI interface for transfer to NLE? I'm presuming that the SDI is primarily an asset for interface between other broadcast gear and/or live feed from the camera as opposed to providing a superior means of transfer of recorded data?