Using HDV and DV Footage at DVinfo.net

David Dwyer · February 7th, 2006, 10:08 AM

Whats the best way to use both of these types footage in 1 movie? Or I am limited to the limit of DV res?

I was wanted to encode in HDTV res really but means I stretch the DV footage?

Kevin Shaw · February 7th, 2006, 02:08 PM

If your DV camera is primarily designed to shoot 4x3 footage then the best thing to do is crop your HDV footage to match and output the finished project as 4x3 SD. If your DV camera is designed to shoot true widesceen SD footage then you can mix and output as a widesceen SD video. If you mix DV footage with HDV and try to output at HD resolution, the difference in image quality between cameras will likely be distracting to the viewer. (If DV upsampled flawlessly to HD resolution, we wouldn't need HD cameras.)

Matt Vanecek · February 7th, 2006, 04:41 PM

You could embed the SD into the movie as kindof a picture-in-picture. Make it evident that the clip is different resolution, or whatever. That way, you can avoid the distractions Kevin mentions, because you're saying, "yeah, I know the res is different, and I'm arranging the clip a little different to show you that.." or something. Anyways, if you're creative and artistic, you can minimize the distraction, without trying to appear as if you're passing off SD as HD (i.e., denigrating the viewers' intelligence).

I guess it would depend on the movie's purpose and the footage you shot...this would be easier in a doco or interview, I imagine, or in event footage.

Be artistic, and assume the audience can tell the difference. Try to work that knowledge into the movie's flow.

ciao,
Matt

David Dwyer · February 7th, 2006, 05:19 PM

Movie is "Nürburgring in the snow" and the DV footage is outside car stuck using suction mounts on rear of the cars (dont trust my Z1 on there) So not sure how I can get around it. Nor decide on what res to use..

George Ellis · February 7th, 2006, 09:04 PM

Actually, the hardest part may be in post if you mix 4:3 and 16:9. Older versions of editors may not mix the formats, so you may have to reformat it, export, and then import into a new line. If you do 4:3 DV, you will clip some 16:9. If you go up to 16:9 with 4:3, you may lose quality.

Some editors support both (I know Avid Liquid 7 does). It depends on what you are using.

February 7th, 2006, 10:08 AM	#1
David Dwyer Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chester, North West Posts: 565	Using HDV and DV Footage Whats the best way to use both of these types footage in 1 movie? Or I am limited to the limit of DV res? I was wanted to encode in HDTV res really but means I stretch the DV footage?

February 7th, 2006, 04:41 PM	#3
Matt Vanecek Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Denton, TX Posts: 334	Alternatively... You could embed the SD into the movie as kindof a picture-in-picture. Make it evident that the clip is different resolution, or whatever. That way, you can avoid the distractions Kevin mentions, because you're saying, "yeah, I know the res is different, and I'm arranging the clip a little different to show you that.." or something. Anyways, if you're creative and artistic, you can minimize the distraction, without trying to appear as if you're passing off SD as HD (i.e., denigrating the viewers' intelligence). I guess it would depend on the movie's purpose and the footage you shot...this would be easier in a doco or interview, I imagine, or in event footage. Be artistic, and assume the audience can tell the difference. Try to work that knowledge into the movie's flow. ciao, Matt

February 7th, 2006, 02:08 PM	#2
Kevin Shaw Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,488	If your DV camera is primarily designed to shoot 4x3 footage then the best thing to do is crop your HDV footage to match and output the finished project as 4x3 SD. If your DV camera is designed to shoot true widesceen SD footage then you can mix and output as a widesceen SD video. If you mix DV footage with HDV and try to output at HD resolution, the difference in image quality between cameras will likely be distracting to the viewer. (If DV upsampled flawlessly to HD resolution, we wouldn't need HD cameras.)

February 7th, 2006, 05:19 PM	#4
David Dwyer Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chester, North West Posts: 565	Movie is "Nürburgring in the snow" and the DV footage is outside car stuck using suction mounts on rear of the cars (dont trust my Z1 on there) So not sure how I can get around it. Nor decide on what res to use..

February 7th, 2006, 09:04 PM	#5
George Ellis Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Suwanee, GA Posts: 1,241	Actually, the hardest part may be in post if you mix 4:3 and 16:9. Older versions of editors may not mix the formats, so you may have to reformat it, export, and then import into a new line. If you do 4:3 DV, you will clip some 16:9. If you go up to 16:9 with 4:3, you may lose quality. Some editors support both (I know Avid Liquid 7 does). It depends on what you are using.