HD to SD Conversion solution

[BMPhoto]

Hi to all experts and enthusiasts

Does anyone run a conversion from HD to SD clips? Is there good, efficient and cost effective method to convert HD to SD while preserving as much color info as possible (I know of the 4:2:2 to 4:1:1 color space conversion issue between HD and SD) and timecode?

I'm using Tapeless solution and if I shoot in HD, it will output HD (unlike the tape solution where I can instruct the cam to output in SD). However, editing in HD is rather challenging at time. I'm exploring a workflow to convert and edit in SD instead while keeping the HD clips for the future rework if needed. I've searched this and other forums, but have not found much effective solution mentioned. I wonder if anyone is carrying out this conversion effectively and willing to share. Thanks.

rgds

 

[jaegersing]

I convert many of my projects from HDV to SD. Usually I just put the HD clips on an SD timeline in Edius, and let the software do the downconversion during the final render. I know you said you wanted to edit in SD, but with this method, Edius plays back much more smoothly than it does if I set the project to HDV resolution, so it is almost like editing in SD.

If I really needed to convert a bunch of HD clips to SD before editing I would use Procoder to batch convert them. The colour space issue depends on your SD codec, so obviously you can't use DV if you want to maintain 4:2:2 during editing. Probably Canopus HQ will work well for this. Of course if your final destination is SD DVD you will have to drop to 4:2:0 eventually.

 

[DXNMedia]

Check your FCS manual for making offline edits.
We do offline edits all the time when cutting docus, then online wth hi-res clips when we have picture lock.

:thumbsup:

 

[BMPhoto]

I convert many of my projects from HDV to SD. Usually I just put the HD clips on an SD timeline in Edius, and let the software do the downconversion during the final render. I know you said you wanted to edit in SD, but with this method, Edius plays back much more smoothly than it does if I set the project to HDV resolution, so it is almost like editing in SD.

If I really needed to convert a bunch of HD clips to SD before editing I would use Procoder to batch convert them. The colour space issue depends on your SD codec, so obviously you can't use DV if you want to maintain 4:2:2 during editing. Probably Canopus HQ will work well for this. Of course if your final destination is SD DVD you will have to drop to 4:2:0 eventually.

Hi Jaegersing

Thanks for the info. Will explore Procoder and Canopus HQ for possibility.

Rgds

 

[BMPhoto]

Check your FCS manual for making offline edits.
We do offline edits all the time when cutting docus, then online wth hi-res clips when we have picture lock.

:thumbsup:

Hi DXNMedia

Thanks for the direction. I have indeed taken note about this offline edits in FCS when I first studied the SW, but have never really attempted it. Sounds now like a possibility. Will look into it.

Can I ask, is it exactly stable and intuitive as its supposed to be? I've not been hearing many others using it and have not really seen it in those FCS trainings I have participated. Does it really render the exact intended portion of the final footages? Can it really display the intended effect when certain filters or transitions are applied to the offline clip? Does it takes same amount of time to export the HD clip to SD as the workflow to edit in HD and export to SD? Appreciate if you could share your experience and knowledge in this as these are not clearly defined in the manual. Thanks.

rgds

 

[DXNMedia]

This online/offline non-linear edit workflow have been used since the 1990s or earlier when the Avid systems that we use cannot support holding that much uncompressed SD footage in the system. Back then we use raided 4gb harddisks for storage, and managed to cut so many programs that you've seen on local & international TV.

One key thing is that when you do your transcoding of footage, DO NOT MESS WITH TIMECODE! Once you maintain timecode integrity of your clips, logged your tapes/P2 media properly, maintain proper unique filenames for each set of files, then you can be sure that your relinking process will be without any problems.

 

[DXNMedia]

Hi DXNMedia

I've not been hearing many others using it and have not really seen it in those FCS trainings I have participated.

rgds

After so many years in the industry, I have not known any local FCS trainers or Apple Certified trainers who have ever done online post production for television at this scale....not to mention that with the amount of harddisk space available to editors at this moment, this workflow have almost become redundant.

 

[BMPhoto]

This online/offline non-linear edit workflow have been used since the 1990s or earlier when the Avid systems that we use cannot support holding that much uncompressed SD footage in the system. Back then we use raided 4gb harddisks for storage, and managed to cut so many programs that you've seen on local & international TV.

One key thing is that when you do your transcoding of footage, DO NOT MESS WITH TIMECODE! Once you maintain timecode integrity of your clips, logged your tapes/P2 media properly, maintain proper unique filenames for each set of files, then you can be sure that your relinking process will be without any problems.

After so many years in the industry, I have not known any local FCS trainers or Apple Certified trainers who have ever done online post production for television at this scale....not to mention that with the amount of harddisk space available to editors at this moment, this workflow have almost become redundant.

Hi DXNMedia

Thanks for the sharing. Will relook into the Offline and see how I can cut down the timing and experience in my edit workflow running on my MacBookPro. Thanks.

rgds