Mixing formats at DVinfo.net

Martin Kornfeld · August 22nd, 2009, 08:50 AM

I may be in a situation where I have to edit with footage from 2 different sources.
1. Sony HDcam already captured as DVCPro HD.
2. JVC GY-HD200U Camera (possibly recorded to Focus Enhancements drive and tape).
Edit system is latest FCP on a quad core tower.
Questions: Am I headed for trouble trying to match these?
Should I capture the JVC footage as DVCPro HD as well? And I may have option of using Sony EX3. Am I much better off going with the Sony and not the JVC?

Thanks in advance.

Christopher Drews · August 22nd, 2009, 09:48 AM

It is always good practice to edit in the same format. Your DVCPRO-HD stuff shouldn't be a problem. It when you start mixing formats such as H.264 or AVC that things start getting rough. If it were me, I'd convert everything to ProRes or change my sequence setting and re-render.

Your other option is to cut into DVCPRO-HD but this isn't the best because of spacial resolution- although it is a 10-bit codec like ProRes (thus conserving your color space).
For the EX1/3 you already have an 8-bit color codec so you won't preserve any headroom.

Hope this helps,
-C

Martin Kornfeld · August 22nd, 2009, 11:16 AM

It would be great to capture the new JVC footage as prores and convert the HDCam to prores as well.
But since the HDCam footage is already captured as DVCProHD will it take a bad hit by converting it to prores?

August 22nd, 2009, 08:50 AM	#1
Martin Kornfeld Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Santa Rosa, CA Posts: 49	Mixing formats I may be in a situation where I have to edit with footage from 2 different sources. 1. Sony HDcam already captured as DVCPro HD. 2. JVC GY-HD200U Camera (possibly recorded to Focus Enhancements drive and tape). Edit system is latest FCP on a quad core tower. Questions: Am I headed for trouble trying to match these? Should I capture the JVC footage as DVCPro HD as well? And I may have option of using Sony EX3. Am I much better off going with the Sony and not the JVC? Thanks in advance.

August 22nd, 2009, 09:48 AM	#2
Christopher Drews Major Player Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 628	It is always good practice to edit in the same format. Your DVCPRO-HD stuff shouldn't be a problem. It when you start mixing formats such as H.264 or AVC that things start getting rough. If it were me, I'd convert everything to ProRes or change my sequence setting and re-render. Your other option is to cut into DVCPRO-HD but this isn't the best because of spacial resolution- although it is a 10-bit codec like ProRes (thus conserving your color space). For the EX1/3 you already have an 8-bit color codec so you won't preserve any headroom. Hope this helps, -C

August 22nd, 2009, 11:16 AM	#3
Martin Kornfeld Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Santa Rosa, CA Posts: 49	It would be great to capture the new JVC footage as prores and convert the HDCam to prores as well. But since the HDCam footage is already captured as DVCProHD will it take a bad hit by converting it to prores?