HDV Editing Workflow

[SCDVD]

I am considering buying a Canon HV30 camcorder. It has received some very good reviews. It is an HDV format camcorder. I did quite a bit of reading comparing AVCHD versus HDV formats. The impression that I get is that AVCHD isn't there yet. It shows more video artifacts than HDV. It also is a pain to edit and requires more processing power (rendering time) as well. The feeling I get is that it is still too early to consider buying a AVCHD based camcorder.

HDV is an MPEG-2 format which is not a good one for editing either. I read somewhere that it's a good idea to convert to a lossless format before editing. This also takes more time to do as well. I would appreciate any comments about the workflow and optimal tools to work with HDV format video.

[Soopafresh]

Another fun video shot on the HV30 in 30p Cine mode: http://www.vimeo.com/931736

Specific Workflow info for the HV20/HV30: http://www.hv20.com/forumdisplay.php?f=32

- You don't have to convert to lossless format. Depends on the editing app. Vegas 7 is drag and drop

- Your choice of recording mode will affect the workflow procedures

[aedipuss]

i guess it depends on your final output. what is it you are looking to do with the HD footage? burn to blu-ray disc or other?

[SCDVD]

i guess it depends on your final output. what is it you are looking to do with the HD footage? burn to blu-ray disc or other?

DVD now. BluRay maybe a year from now.

[aedipuss]

imho then for now treat the HV30 as a really nice SD cam and shoot in DVavi if you are going to end up with normal 720x480 4:3 dvd. it will save a lot of time and effort over capping/editing/encoding HDV down to SD, only to have it look the same as shooting SD in the first place. the only exception might be if you shoot SD widescreen, then the HDV down conversion route may look slightly better.

[zoobie]

you can downconvert and output DV instead of HDV, too
of course, this defeats the resolution of HDV
if you're looking for studio-like shots, I'd look at a cam with LANC
just somethings to consider...

[SCDVD]

I haven't laid hands on one yet or looked at the documentation. Will the HV30 also record in DV avi as well? If it does, it's a no-brainer; that's obviously the way to go for regular 4:3 DVDs.

[aedipuss]

yes it records either HDV or DVavi to miniDV tapes.

on sale here -

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8714974&type=product&id=1199496731823&re...e=18-6867342-2

[SCDVD]

Outstanding. Thank you!

[pepegot1]

I believe you have been misinformed about mpg editing. Womble or VideoRedo do a excellent job of editing. Why work hard when you can do it easier? As for HD video, its time has not arrived, yet. Stay with STD DVD , for now.

[SCDVD]

I believe you have been misinformed about mpg editing. Womble or VideoRedo do a excellent job of editing. Why work hard when you can do it easier? As for HD video, its time has not arrived, yet. Stay with STD DVD , for now.

Thanks for your input but I need to mention that Womble and VideoReDo are useful but limited scope "editors". They are best described as video "cutters". They do a good job of allowing frame accurate cutting and joining. They render only the portion needed to reconstruct I frames which is necessary with MPEG editing. This avoids re-rendering parts of the video that don't need re-rendering. They are nice products as far as they go but they are NOT full-function editors, not by any means. If you are editing a two-camera video with a b-roll as well with the need to apply filters and effects, you won't be doing it with a "cutter". If you want to cut the commercial out of a TV show that you recorded, a "cutter" is a nifty little tool but it's not an editor.

I agree that SD is still the center path but HD is already here and will continue to grow. It's not as if some day in the "future" some grand guru will flip a switch and pronounce that "HD has now arrived" and bless it. That's why I'm looking for a camera to bridge the gap - Mostly SD now with limited HD. But if we wait for the grand guru to flip the switch, no one will develop the hands-on knowledge and skill that are needed to work with HD.

[zoobie]

As for HD video, its time has not arrived, yet.

oh...ok
how are those rabbit ears working out?

[Soopafresh]

The advantages of shooting in HD and downrezing to SD are significant. Visual quality is much, much better. You can deshake your footage and crop without losing as much of the picture. It's easy to convert to lossless AVI if you need to.

[SCDVD]

Interesting. If I buy the camera, I will try it to compare the difference.

[SCDVD]

As for HD video, its time has not arrived, yet.

oh...ok
how are those rabbit ears working out?

Did you ever watch the character Barney Fife on the old Andy Griffith show? He was an insignificant little dweeb who desperately needed to appear to be an expert on any matter at hand. Does he remind you of this guy?