Smooth iMovie/FCP HD HDV Workflow

Christopher C. Murphy · February 15th, 2005, 05:04 PM

Hey guys, I've finally gotten around to getting some footage from my Z1 into my computer. I shot some footage in LA and also a marthon my girlfriend was in this past week.

First, I noticed that my dual G5 2.0 captures in "Real Time" - except when motion starts. Then it turns to something like this "Real Time 2/3" - it adjusts itself depending on the action in the footage. I haven't seen this posted yet, so I wanted to start contributing information! (I only have 1 gig of RAM, so if I had more it might stay real-time....also, I am using an external firewire 400 drive to capture)

Christopher C. Murphy · February 15th, 2005, 05:22 PM

Oh my God, this can't be happening....the breakup you guys have been talking about really sucks ass. I'm watching my export from iMovie and it's like stabbing me in the heart with scissors!!!!!!!!

Eric Bilodeau · February 17th, 2005, 04:11 PM

Chris,

I know EXACTLY what you mean...

BTW, capture is also RT for me on my dual 2G

I prefer getting the m2t files from DVHSCap and converting them to DC30 lossless 4:2:2.

Chris, could you do a test? MPEG streamclip seems to be able to create m2t files from quitime movies. I think it could be possible to export back to the camera using that method, thus avoiding completely the AIC nightmare. Could you check that? I don't have a camera to test it right now...

Christopher C. Murphy · February 18th, 2005, 06:58 AM

I'm going to try your method...DVHScap to DC30 lossless.

I'll try do that test for you asap, but I'm on a tight schedule to capture footage. How would I play it back to camera?? iMovie imports mt2?

Eric Bilodeau · February 18th, 2005, 11:45 AM

No, use DVHSCap to export back to the camera

Heath McKnight · February 18th, 2005, 04:36 PM

I'll give it a shot, too.

heath

Eric Bilodeau · February 18th, 2005, 07:17 PM

Can't wait to see if it works!

Frederic Lumiere · February 23rd, 2005, 11:08 PM

Lumiere HD now allows MPEG2 TS encoding for the Sony HDV devices.

http://www.lumierehd.com/beta_download.php

We are continuing our efforts to develop Lumiere HD because we are dissapointed by the quality AIC delivers.

Some might prefer not to go the AIC route and go from the TS directly to the codec of their choice. It's a longer process than iMovie but won't compromise image quality as much.

I really wish Apple would come up with a solid solution so we could all move on with our lives... In the meantime, we'll do our best to improve our app.

Frederic

Heath McKnight · February 23rd, 2005, 11:18 PM

Thanks, Frederic. I'm disappointed, but I don't want to go back to Lumiere HD--I've spent WAYYYY too much time with the film.

heath

Frederic Lumiere · February 23rd, 2005, 11:21 PM

Heath,

Well at least you can use the latest Lumiere HD beta to encode your final cut to TS that the Sony camera will read.

This will save you another AIC encode...

Frederic

Heath McKnight · February 23rd, 2005, 11:29 PM

Can you post up how to do that properly here so others (and me) can use it?

THANKS!

heath

Frederic Lumiere · February 23rd, 2005, 11:35 PM

Sure,

From your FCP timeline, export to one of the following:

- HD 10bit uncompressed
- Photo JPEG 100%
- DC30 4:2:2
- Anything else you are willing to use considering your HD space vs. quality

Use 1440 X 1080, 60i (29.97fps Upper Odd)

Feed this mov into Lumiere HD and use the Sony HDV 1080i preset in the 'Transport Stream' tab

Print the resulting .m2t to Sony HDV camera using Lumiere HD Print to Tape feature (1st tab).

Frederic

Eric Bilodeau · February 24th, 2005, 07:58 AM

Good news Frederic,

Once again you seem to be the first to provide a good alternative for mac users :)

Sergio Perez · March 1st, 2005, 07:33 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Frederic Haubrich : Sure,

From your FCP timeline, export to one of the following:

- HD 10bit uncompressed
- Photo JPEG 100%
- DC30 4:2:2
- Anything else you are willing to use considering your HD space vs. quality

Use 1440 X 1080, 60i (29.97fps Upper Odd)

Feed this mov into Lumiere HD and use the Sony HDV 1080i preset in the 'Transport Stream' tab

Print the resulting .m2t to Sony HDV camera using Lumiere HD Print to Tape feature (1st tab).

Frederic -->>>

Frederic, is a Powerbook g4 1.67ghz 2gig ram capable for your application and fcp to edit and export HDV?
I need this minfo since that's my current editing solution...

Sérgio

Kevin Shaw · March 2nd, 2005, 03:06 AM

<<<Don't get a PC! <g> I don't have issues like that on my single processor G5 1.6 ghz Power Mac, but it can be a bit of a pain in the neck. I'm starting to notice the artifacting, which really stinks.>>>

Yeah, heaven forbid you should buy an inexpensive computer which offers several options for solving the problems you're currently dealing with on Macs! I truly hope Apple has something better to show at NAB for dealing with HDV.

:-)

February 15th, 2005, 05:04 PM	#106
Christopher C. Murphy Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,707	Hey guys, I've finally gotten around to getting some footage from my Z1 into my computer. I shot some footage in LA and also a marthon my girlfriend was in this past week. First, I noticed that my dual G5 2.0 captures in "Real Time" - except when motion starts. Then it turns to something like this "Real Time 2/3" - it adjusts itself depending on the action in the footage. I haven't seen this posted yet, so I wanted to start contributing information! (I only have 1 gig of RAM, so if I had more it might stay real-time....also, I am using an external firewire 400 drive to capture) __________________ Christopher C. Murphy Director, Producer, Writer

February 15th, 2005, 05:22 PM	#107
Christopher C. Murphy Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,707	Oh my God, this can't be happening....the breakup you guys have been talking about really sucks ass. I'm watching my export from iMovie and it's like stabbing me in the heart with scissors!!!!!!!! __________________ Christopher C. Murphy Director, Producer, Writer

February 17th, 2005, 04:11 PM	#108
Eric Bilodeau Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Chicoutimi, Canada Posts: 334	Chris, I know EXACTLY what you mean... BTW, capture is also RT for me on my dual 2G I prefer getting the m2t files from DVHSCap and converting them to DC30 lossless 4:2:2. Chris, could you do a test? MPEG streamclip seems to be able to create m2t files from quitime movies. I think it could be possible to export back to the camera using that method, thus avoiding completely the AIC nightmare. Could you check that? I don't have a camera to test it right now... __________________ Eric Bilodeau video SFX,DOP ___________________ http://www.fictis.net info@fictis.net

February 18th, 2005, 06:58 AM	#109
Christopher C. Murphy Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,707	I'm going to try your method...DVHScap to DC30 lossless. I'll try do that test for you asap, but I'm on a tight schedule to capture footage. How would I play it back to camera?? iMovie imports mt2? __________________ Christopher C. Murphy Director, Producer, Writer

February 18th, 2005, 11:45 AM	#110
Eric Bilodeau Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Chicoutimi, Canada Posts: 334	No, use DVHSCap to export back to the camera __________________ Eric Bilodeau video SFX,DOP ___________________ http://www.fictis.net info@fictis.net

February 18th, 2005, 04:36 PM	#111
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	I'll give it a shot, too. heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

February 18th, 2005, 07:17 PM	#112
Eric Bilodeau Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Chicoutimi, Canada Posts: 334	Can't wait to see if it works! __________________ Eric Bilodeau video SFX,DOP ___________________ http://www.fictis.net info@fictis.net

February 23rd, 2005, 11:08 PM	#113
Frederic Lumiere Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Point Pleasant, NJ Posts: 437	Lumiere HD now allows MPEG2 TS encoding for the Sony HDV devices. http://www.lumierehd.com/beta_download.php We are continuing our efforts to develop Lumiere HD because we are dissapointed by the quality AIC delivers. Some might prefer not to go the AIC route and go from the TS directly to the codec of their choice. It's a longer process than iMovie but won't compromise image quality as much. I really wish Apple would come up with a solid solution so we could all move on with our lives... In the meantime, we'll do our best to improve our app. Frederic

February 23rd, 2005, 11:18 PM	#114
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Thanks, Frederic. I'm disappointed, but I don't want to go back to Lumiere HD--I've spent WAYYYY too much time with the film. heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

February 23rd, 2005, 11:21 PM	#115
Frederic Lumiere Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Point Pleasant, NJ Posts: 437	Heath, Well at least you can use the latest Lumiere HD beta to encode your final cut to TS that the Sony camera will read. This will save you another AIC encode... Frederic

February 23rd, 2005, 11:29 PM	#116
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Can you post up how to do that properly here so others (and me) can use it? THANKS! heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

February 23rd, 2005, 11:35 PM	#117
Frederic Lumiere Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Point Pleasant, NJ Posts: 437	Sure, From your FCP timeline, export to one of the following: - HD 10bit uncompressed - Photo JPEG 100% - DC30 4:2:2 - Anything else you are willing to use considering your HD space vs. quality Use 1440 X 1080, 60i (29.97fps Upper Odd) Feed this mov into Lumiere HD and use the Sony HDV 1080i preset in the 'Transport Stream' tab Print the resulting .m2t to Sony HDV camera using Lumiere HD Print to Tape feature (1st tab). Frederic

February 24th, 2005, 07:58 AM	#118
Eric Bilodeau Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Chicoutimi, Canada Posts: 334	Good news Frederic, Once again you seem to be the first to provide a good alternative for mac users :) __________________ Eric Bilodeau video SFX,DOP ___________________ http://www.fictis.net info@fictis.net

March 1st, 2005, 07:33 PM	#119
Sergio Perez Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Macau Posts: 331	<<<-- Originally posted by Frederic Haubrich : Sure, From your FCP timeline, export to one of the following: - HD 10bit uncompressed - Photo JPEG 100% - DC30 4:2:2 - Anything else you are willing to use considering your HD space vs. quality Use 1440 X 1080, 60i (29.97fps Upper Odd) Feed this mov into Lumiere HD and use the Sony HDV 1080i preset in the 'Transport Stream' tab Print the resulting .m2t to Sony HDV camera using Lumiere HD Print to Tape feature (1st tab). Frederic -->>> Frederic, is a Powerbook g4 1.67ghz 2gig ram capable for your application and fcp to edit and export HDV? I need this minfo since that's my current editing solution... Sérgio __________________ If you don't believe in your film, no one else will.

March 2nd, 2005, 03:06 AM	#120
Kevin Shaw Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,488	<<<Don't get a PC! <g> I don't have issues like that on my single processor G5 1.6 ghz Power Mac, but it can be a bit of a pain in the neck. I'm starting to notice the artifacting, which really stinks.>>> Yeah, heaven forbid you should buy an inexpensive computer which offers several options for solving the problems you're currently dealing with on Macs! I truly hope Apple has something better to show at NAB for dealing with HDV. :-)