Re: HDV for broadcast

First off is how are going to deliver HD? What does the network require? IMO don't waist your time with a work around. The new XD Cam EX1 is a real HD solution and depending on the length of the stories you could most likely put the files on a DVD for delivery.

If you are going to try and make your SD camera work you will need a way to uprez to HD. You could spend the time digitizing all the DV media in real time, then spend even more time transcoding to HD and then spend even more time conforming (re-compressing) back down to HDV. I don't believe any of the Sony HDV decks have the HDV encoder so anything you want recorded by the deck needs to be conformed to HDV before hand and most likely that will be your EDL doing the conforming and again that takes time. You might find the AJA Kona 3 capture card may uprez the DV good enough for you and that would eliminate time.

If you go with a real HD solution like the XD Cam EX series you are looking at about 9-10K for a nice outfit. You could edit in the field on a laptop and burn to DVD on a laptop. You purchasing a real camera for real HD work. I have been working with HDV since the beginning and I can say with all honesty this EX series is the way to go.

Good Luck
Michael Palmer