Firewire or Svideo at DVinfo.net

Garret Ambrosio · May 6th, 2003, 03:02 PM

I know a videographer that has a PD150 and a Casablanca Kron and says that he doesn't use the firwire to capture but rather the svideo so that he can control the audio. He says that the image quality is equal to capture from firewire with the freedom of running the audio through is mixer first before processing it in the NLE. Is this a viable solution? Or is this guy off his rocker?

Jeff Donald · May 6th, 2003, 03:13 PM

In almost all cases analog is no match for digital (S-Video vs. DV). At the very least his program is going through two extra steps. D to A conversion to send the program out via S-Video and the Casablanca does an A to D conversion to be able to manipulate the video. The extra steps will add noise and lower the S/N ratio. I would only do it as a last resort.

Rick Spilman · May 6th, 2003, 03:41 PM

Why not do both? No, I don't mean use the S-Video out. He could use the firewire out and still record sound out independently if he wishes. I don't know anything about Casablanca, so this might not be practical but on most NLEs one can always record the audio independently through a mixer and add it is as independent track.

Garret Ambrosio · May 6th, 2003, 05:19 PM

that's what I figured, but this guy is not your most snazzi person when it comes to technology. I figured by the very least he can capture IEEE 1394 video (digital) and digital audio and split it in the NLE and then use a sound utility to tweak the audio track and recombine...but I guess he is used to the linear editing world, I think he has recently given up his BetaSP in favor of DV.

May 6th, 2003, 03:02 PM	#1
Garret Ambrosio Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Vallejo, CA Posts: 263	Firewire or Svideo I know a videographer that has a PD150 and a Casablanca Kron and says that he doesn't use the firwire to capture but rather the svideo so that he can control the audio. He says that the image quality is equal to capture from firewire with the freedom of running the audio through is mixer first before processing it in the NLE. Is this a viable solution? Or is this guy off his rocker? __________________ "USA Today has come out with a new survey - apparently, three out of every four people make up 75% of the population." -David Letterman

May 6th, 2003, 03:13 PM	#2
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	In almost all cases analog is no match for digital (S-Video vs. DV). At the very least his program is going through two extra steps. D to A conversion to send the program out via S-Video and the Casablanca does an A to D conversion to be able to manipulate the video. The extra steps will add noise and lower the S/N ratio. I would only do it as a last resort. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

May 6th, 2003, 05:19 PM	#4
Garret Ambrosio Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Vallejo, CA Posts: 263	that's what I figured, but this guy is not your most snazzi person when it comes to technology. I figured by the very least he can capture IEEE 1394 video (digital) and digital audio and split it in the NLE and then use a sound utility to tweak the audio track and recombine...but I guess he is used to the linear editing world, I think he has recently given up his BetaSP in favor of DV. __________________ "USA Today has come out with a new survey - apparently, three out of every four people make up 75% of the population." -David Letterman

May 6th, 2003, 03:41 PM	#3
Rick Spilman Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Jersey City, NJ Posts: 366	Why not do both? No, I don't mean use the S-Video out. He could use the firewire out and still record sound out independently if he wishes. I don't know anything about Casablanca, so this might not be practical but on most NLEs one can always record the audio independently through a mixer and add it is as independent track.