HDCAM and the EX-1 at DVinfo.net

Andrew Wilson · December 22nd, 2007, 05:50 PM

A client of mine just told me that a television station asked them if they could provide 1080i HDCAM footage of their resort.

I told her that while I didn't have HDCAM, I was thinking of upgrading to XDCAM in the (now very) near future. I asked her to ask the station if there was any way for them to accept XDCAM media files on optical discs.

What do you think that producer might say and what are my options for delivering content to someone that prefers and currently works in HDCAM?

Also - is there a way for me to hide that it was actually shot with an EX-1? Not that I would be embarrassed but if they're working in HDCAM and assume I have one of the bigger XDCAM cameras, oh well.

(damn large-market television stations and their big budgets!)

Steven Thomas · December 22nd, 2007, 05:59 PM

Hmm....
If they don't ask, then offering the XDCAM 35mb may be good enough.
Let us know how this pans out.

BTW, I lived in the Burlington Vt area most of my life. I really miss it !
Not the snow though! LOL

Craig Seeman · December 22nd, 2007, 06:13 PM

There are many ways to meet their spec but I have no idea what resources you have local to you.

Shoot in 1080i. When done editing render to HDCAM codec. Put on Hard Drive. Bring to dub house that can take the file and output it to tape.

I believe AbelCine (DVInfo sponsor) does this sort of thing. You may need to find someone local. They may give you different instructions as far as bringing them the file. You don't mention your NLE so I don't know what codec compatibility support you have. FCP and Vegas support the EX1 but that doesn't mean a dub house can handle it.

Mike Marriage · December 22nd, 2007, 06:32 PM

I find it is always best to speak to who is handling the footage directly.

I was recently asked to deliver a project shot on DVCAM on Digibeta. I phoned the editor to check it was necessary and it turned out he was converting back to DV to edit anyway. Prevented wasting time and money.

If they demand that you shoot (or maybe just deliver) on HDCAM, they'll have to pay for it - either for camera rental, or conversion of XDCAM to HDCAM tape.

Andrew Wilson · December 22nd, 2007, 07:21 PM

I should have mentioned that I'm using FCP. I see the XDCAM HD codecs in my export options but no HDCAM.

I usually find that talking to other editors is the best way, too. I just want to make sure I can deliver something they can use. If they ask, I'll tell them it's the EX1.

Where would I get HDCAM codecs for FCP?

Man Steven, I guess you miss the snow in AZ... Give me your fedex number and I'll send some overnight for xmas! We have plenty to spare.

Andy Mees · December 22nd, 2007, 08:21 PM

No such thing as a native HDCAM codec per se (unless you are using Sony's own XPRI edit system http://bssc.sel.sony.com/Professiona...ri2/index.html)

Craig meant to say that you should render it out to an HD codec that your dub house can handle ... or you could just put it back to your EX1 and dub to HDCAM directly from the HDSDI out

Phil Bloom · December 23rd, 2007, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Mees

No such thing as a native HDCAM codec per se (unless you are using Sony's own XPRI edit system http://bssc.sel.sony.com/Professiona...ri2/index.html)

Craig meant to say that you should render it out to an HD codec that your dub house can handle ... or you could just put it back to your EX1 and dub to HDCAM directly from the HDSDI out

that is by far the best way

Rob Collins · December 23rd, 2007, 08:07 AM

How does one do that? The manual only mentions going out by firewire HDV.

Mike Marriage · December 23rd, 2007, 08:35 AM

I would call them first.

The editor may love it if you offer to deliver on hard drive or optical disc and save him from capturing. Hard drives are so cheap now!

You'll get better results delivering natively or in ProRes than dumping back to tape and then the editor having to capture back to another format on his system. If he is using FCP6 he'll be able to handle XDCAM natively.

December 22nd, 2007, 05:50 PM	#1
Andrew Wilson Tourist Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vermont, USA Posts: 123	HDCAM and the EX-1 A client of mine just told me that a television station asked them if they could provide 1080i HDCAM footage of their resort. I told her that while I didn't have HDCAM, I was thinking of upgrading to XDCAM in the (now very) near future. I asked her to ask the station if there was any way for them to accept XDCAM media files on optical discs. What do you think that producer might say and what are my options for delivering content to someone that prefers and currently works in HDCAM? Also - is there a way for me to hide that it was actually shot with an EX-1? Not that I would be embarrassed but if they're working in HDCAM and assume I have one of the bigger XDCAM cameras, oh well. (damn large-market television stations and their big budgets!)

December 22nd, 2007, 06:32 PM	#4
Mike Marriage Major Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NE of London, England Posts: 788	I find it is always best to speak to who is handling the footage directly. I was recently asked to deliver a project shot on DVCAM on Digibeta. I phoned the editor to check it was necessary and it turned out he was converting back to DV to edit anyway. Prevented wasting time and money. If they demand that you shoot (or maybe just deliver) on HDCAM, they'll have to pay for it - either for camera rental, or conversion of XDCAM to HDCAM tape. __________________ www.mikemarriage.com

December 23rd, 2007, 08:35 AM	#9
Mike Marriage Major Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NE of London, England Posts: 788	I would call them first. The editor may love it if you offer to deliver on hard drive or optical disc and save him from capturing. Hard drives are so cheap now! You'll get better results delivering natively or in ProRes than dumping back to tape and then the editor having to capture back to another format on his system. If he is using FCP6 he'll be able to handle XDCAM natively. __________________ www.mikemarriage.com

December 22nd, 2007, 05:59 PM	#2
Steven Thomas Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,896	Hmm.... If they don't ask, then offering the XDCAM 35mb may be good enough. Let us know how this pans out. BTW, I lived in the Burlington Vt area most of my life. I really miss it ! Not the snow though! LOL

December 22nd, 2007, 06:13 PM	#3
Craig Seeman Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Posts: 3,841	There are many ways to meet their spec but I have no idea what resources you have local to you. Shoot in 1080i. When done editing render to HDCAM codec. Put on Hard Drive. Bring to dub house that can take the file and output it to tape. I believe AbelCine (DVInfo sponsor) does this sort of thing. You may need to find someone local. They may give you different instructions as far as bringing them the file. You don't mention your NLE so I don't know what codec compatibility support you have. FCP and Vegas support the EX1 but that doesn't mean a dub house can handle it.

December 22nd, 2007, 07:21 PM	#5
Andrew Wilson Tourist Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vermont, USA Posts: 123	I should have mentioned that I'm using FCP. I see the XDCAM HD codecs in my export options but no HDCAM. I usually find that talking to other editors is the best way, too. I just want to make sure I can deliver something they can use. If they ask, I'll tell them it's the EX1. Where would I get HDCAM codecs for FCP? Man Steven, I guess you miss the snow in AZ... Give me your fedex number and I'll send some overnight for xmas! We have plenty to spare.

December 22nd, 2007, 08:21 PM	#6
Andy Mees Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Posts: 645	No such thing as a native HDCAM codec per se (unless you are using Sony's own XPRI edit system http://bssc.sel.sony.com/Professiona...ri2/index.html) Craig meant to say that you should render it out to an HD codec that your dub house can handle ... or you could just put it back to your EX1 and dub to HDCAM directly from the HDSDI out

December 23rd, 2007, 08:07 AM	#8
Rob Collins Major Player Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 229	How does one do that? The manual only mentions going out by firewire HDV.