HDV1080i to edit in AVI with acuracy

[Cyclope]

Hello

I recieved 3 tapes to make some editings.
Tapes were recorded in Sony HDR-HC7.
I'm using the camera to transfer the files.
After capturing the 1st tape I realized that the video is in mpeg and I want to have frame acuracy, like .avi.

What is the best process to capture HDV for editing in PP2, with no losses maintaining it's aspect racio and size?

Thank you

[minidv2dvd]

HDV is recorded to tape as mpeg. you can't change it or get it any better. once captured, you can re-encode to any lossless or intermediate format you want for editing.

[Cyclope]

Thank you 4 an objectiv answer.

Let me ask another!
Whats the fuzz in HDV, once is a compressed format with no acuracy or quality.Is there advantage is recording in HDV or it's betterto use DV?
Thanks

[jagabo]

Is there advantage is recording in HDV or it's betterto use DV?

DV = standard def
HDV = high def

HDV has to be more compressed to fit on the same tape.

[Cyclope]

Seems you're right.

Now I have these tapes on my hand.
What's the best setting to convert this 1440x1080 to avi maintaining the same size?

[minidv2dvd]

HDV cams usually have better sensors and lenses than most consumer cams. if you are used to pro level DV cams most HDV won't measure up to the same quality. an HC7 is an ok prosumer cam, almost as good as the top rated canon hv30.

there shouldn't be any "fuzz", a good, well lit HDV recording should be crisp and clear watching on an HD tv.

HDV standard is recorded as 1440x1080i with non-square pixels. in square pixel format it is 1920x1080i.

[jagabo]

What's the best setting to convert this 1440x1080 to avi maintaining the same size?

If you're not performing extensive filtering just use an editor with smart MPEG handling. They will give frame accurate editing and only reencode cut GOPs, transitions, and the like.

[minidv2dvd]

mxf or cineform are the most common intermediate formats.

[Cyclope]

Thank you both, minidv2dvd and jagabo.

[jagabo]

Other all I frame codecs in AVI with Windows would be:

HuffYUV: fast, lossless, very big files (much bigger than your current MPEG source)
Lagarith: slower, lossless, slightly smaller files than HuffYUV
MSU lossless codec: slow, lossless, even smaller
MJPEG: fast, lossy, more lossy = smaller file, at high quality will be bigger than your MPEG
MPEG1/2/4 all I frame: fast, lossy, bigger than your source at decent quality levels

In short, any all I frame encoding with quality will get you much bigger files.

[edDV]

Tell us what you want to do? What do you mean by avi? uncompressed?

HDV can be edited to the frame with reconstructive software. Any recent pro editor and most consumer editors (e.g. Premiere Pro, Vegas et.al) handle HDV well.

I can't tell from your question whether you want quality or something like Divx.


PS: I see you said PP2 (Premiere Pro 2). See if HDV is in the new project settings. I forget.
http://digitalproducer.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=44921&afterinter=true

[Cyclope]

I want to edit some footage wich is originaly in HDV and want to work at the best quality and if possible to mantain the original size.
I captured it with PP2.
When I have the original file on the time line it's dificult to edit because the video doesn't run smoothly.
What I did was, converted the movie to .avi and started a new project DV Pal 16:9.
This is not what I wanted once I want to keep the original size.
I didn't start editing yet.

[edDV]

I want to edit some footage wich is originaly in HDV and want to work at the best quality and if possible to mantain the original size.
I captured it with PP2.
When I have the original file on the time line it's dificult to edit because the video doesn't run smoothly.
What I did was, converted the movie to .avi and started a new project DV Pal 16:9.
This is not what I wanted once I want to keep the original size.
I didn't start editing yet.

Your problem is Premiere Pro 2 which isn't optimized for HDV to the same degree as CS3 or CS4 which support native HDV editing. Even so, HDV will be processor intensive for preview or timeline searching. To solve this problem, a digital intermediate codec (e.g. Cineform NeoScene or Prospect) is used to speed up the timeline.
http://www.cineform.com/neoscene/features.php

Your AMD Semperon 2600 is clearly not up to HDV demands. CS3 and CS4 require faster dual core processors. NeoScene requires a minimum Core 2 Duo 2GHz (also XP 64bit or Vista 32/64bit).

By "avi" do you mean uncompressed? That would require a large RAID disk system. If you have sufficient RAID, uncompressed is another option and would work for your Semperon.

If "avi" means DV fomat, that requires downsizing 1440x1080i HDV to 720x576i DV.

[2Bdecided]

Canopus HQ and Canopus HD enabled HD editing on lower spec'd PCs (or more advanced editing on higher spec PCs). They're designed for use with Edius (and buying Edius Neo might be the cheapest way of getting them), but the work well with other software.

Sounds like you need a new NLE and a new PC!

Cheers,
David.