Looking to start HD capturing...

[RockWood610]

Hey everyone,

I hope someone can help me out here. I am currently working with SD video. I do capturing, editing, and DVD authoring. I am looking to venture into HD capturing/editing.

Since 2004, I have been using Pinnacle Studio versions 8-9 with their PCI card that has a breakout box for my video editing. It got me a good start and I learned a great deal using it. I started to venture into Sony Vegas Pro over the past year and a half for my editing application… and now I have Vegas 8, and was looking for a good capture card.

I am currently having a new PC built for video/audio production. I am using the Gigabyte S-series GA-MA69G-S3H mother board that supports a dual core AMD processor. I don’t have anything else but the case itself bought at the moment. It’s a working process to get it built. However, I was looking to make this new PC HD ready since I am currently waiting for the U.P.S. guy to deliver my Canon HV 30 HD cam Corder (the updated HV 20). I was looking for a capture card that I can put into this new PC. I wanted to be able to capture my standard analog SD video, along with the new HD. I kind of want to use one card for all of this, and remove my Pinnacle card.

I am new to the HD world in a since, so I was wondering a few things. When capturing HD Video, what is the best way to do it (in real time). My HV30 Cam Corder will be recording to mini DV format. It will have an HDMI output along with component and composite. Is HDMI a possible capture connection? I was eye balling the Black Magic Intensity Pro card, but don’t know much about it. I see it has an HDMI input and a breakout box. I am looking to capture high quality HD video from my camera and possibly my TV (when I get DirecTV HD service).

Thanks in advance for any help.

John

[Baldrick]

The best way is to use the firewire connection and "copy" the HDV from the camcorder. You don't have to use any hd capture card.

[Soopafresh]

You'll need a firewire connector on your PC, which is either built into the motherboard, or you'll have to get a peripheral card with firewire on it. That Gigabyte motherboard you ordered DOES have a firewire port on it.

http://www.pcstats.com/articleimages/200708/GBTma69GS3H_io.jpg

Plus, you'll need a 4pin to 6pin Firewire cable. The cable does NOT come with the HV30. Fortunately, they're cheap (unless you go to Best Buy). I bought a 9 foot one for less than $10

http://www.microbarn.com/details.aspx?rid=100110&source=froogle

Also, the camera does not come with any blank tapes. The regular Panasonic AY-DVM60EJ 60 Minute Mini DV Video Cassette ($3.00 ea) works great with the HV30. Salespeople will try to push the more expensive HD tapes, but I swear the only the difference are the letters "HD" on the shrink wrapping.


Software-wise, I use an app called HDVsplit to capture from tape to .M2T (Mpeg2 Transport Stream format)

Finally, many of your HV30 related questions are already answered at Http://www.HV20.com

[RockWood610]

Ok great. I was un-aware that the fire wire interface could transfer full HD. Like I said, I am still pretty new at this.

The Panasonic tapes work just as well? Thats amazing... because the higher end Sony's I was looking at were $10 a tape...

[Soopafresh]

Yeah, the Panasonics have been just great. There's a thread around here about HDV vs DV tapes you can search for. I haven't had any problems with them at all.

[RockWood610]

Grea thanks a lot man. I hope the 24p cine mode on the HV 30 isn't hard to work with. Especialy in my Sony Vegas Pro 8 program. I took a glace at the forums you posted, and it appears it may not really be as easy as 1-2-3. I was hoping lighting would really be the only rthing we would have to focus on when shooting our small projects.

[Soopafresh]

30p works better than 24p on that camera, IMHO. The pans will be smoother. I know about "the film look", but the frame rate and progressive mode stuff are only a tiny bit of the whole "look" - maybe 25% of it. The rest is lighting, Depth of Field (a biggie), color correction.

[RockWood610]

Wel if we were shooting any idy type flick, wouldn't we wanna use 24p for the movie type look?

[Soopafresh]

Ah, you beat me to the punch. I answered it above.

Have a look at this pan, recorded at 25fps progressive:

http://www.macgregor.autoecstasy.com/redlab/contenido/curso/paneo2.mpg

See the issue with slow frame rate ?

[RockWood610]

Yea. My partner and I are trying to start a msall production studio. And we are totaly new at a lot of stuff... just learning from trial and error, and from watching film maker documentaries and reading forums...

How well do you know the HV 20/30?

[Soopafresh]

These cameras take a while to master. So much of it has to do with keeping the camera steady - even your heartbeat will show up if you try to just hold it in your hands. Panning is an art - rule of thumb is take at least 7 seconds panning from point A to point B. You'll see, there's a learning curve ahead of you. Read all the FAQs on HV20.com. Still, you made a great choice with the HV30 - awesome camera for the price.

As far as stabilization is concerned, have a look at the Hague MMC Handheld Stabilizer - around $200 Minimally, get a tripod, even while you learn how to use the thing.

http://www.vimeo.com/722995

[RockWood610]

Thanks alot for the info!!! I was looking at the GL2, and was dissapointed that it was only SD... and I know that technology is going HD. So I then was looking at the SOny 1000U, witch was HD, but lacked some of the qualies the GL2 had for pro looking video options. I was continuosly overlooking the HV20/30 because of its size. But after doing heavy reasearch for 2 weeks, I leaned... and yes this cliche... but size apparently doesn't matter.

We will be investing some money into other lenes, the Manfroto modosteady (or something like it... if you have suggestions, please let me know), and of course a tri-pod or two.

I am hoping 30p does a nice shot... I plan on doing green screen segments where I act as a host for a DVD project we are doing, and I want that interview/reality tv type quality to it.

We are excited, and expecting MANY hours of testing before being able to do a real good sized project.

Thanks again for all the info!!!

[Soopafresh]

The Manfrotto Modosteady tries to be a jack of all trades and is a master of none, unfortunately. The reviews are just terrible. Have a look on Youtube for footage.

Go to Http://www.vimeo.com and do a search for HV30 . You'll get an idea of what some of the footage looks like

Here's 30p on the HV30 http://www.vimeo.com/777514

[RockWood610]

I actualy looked at some footage from it... and they didn't seem to bad...?

[Soopafresh]

Hey, if it's cool to your eyes, then that's all that matters. Pretty soon, I suspect you'll begin to discern the little things that will become annoyances when you're trying to keep things steady. As I said, you'll be learning a lot in the next few months. If you're doing green screen announcer stuff, then a tripod is all you'll need for starters. BTW, have a look above for that 30p footage on Vimeo.