HD downconvert & capture via Sony S280 deck and BM Decklink HD Pro PCI-x
by RubyHotWax
on
Mar 2, 2007 at 1:57:08 am
Hi fellow cud munchers
I am about to try something new (for me) - I hope the cow community can double check the capture & downconvert steps I am about to follow.
I am working on a feature shot in 1080i 50 onto HDCAM from a Sony F900 at 25fps. We have 60 tapes of up to 50 mins each.
It is a low budget film and we can't afford an array (Raid). We have a 1TB external hard drive.
We are happy to edit in SD (DV Pal) initially and output to DVD. Later on, if the film is selected for festivals, we would like to recapture at HD using the XML of the edit.
I will be doing the capture, clip organisation & logging and assembly edit. Then I hand over to the editor to complete on a different computer.
I have a Mac Dual 2.7 GHz PowerPC G5 with 2.5 GB of RAM. I run FCP 5.0.4.
I am hiring a Sony S280 Deck and having a BlackMagic Decklink HD Pro PCI-x card installed. I have received terrific technical support from the BM folk and they have confirmed this is the right card for my requirements.
This is how I will be doing the downconvert & capture:
1. Install the BM card into my Mac. I will have help with this.
2. Connect the deck using 1 BNC cable from the SDI out (on the deck) to the SDI in (on the BM card). Note: this is not the HD SDI connections but the standard def connections, as I am downconverting through the deck.
3. I have studied the Deck manual and find it very confusing. All I need to do is downconvert from HD to SD. I want to use the original timecode on the tapes, not generate a timecode (I understand this is essential for the later recapture using the XML). As far as I can see, there is nowhere in the manual that clearly explains how to do this. The folk I am hiring from don't know enough about the deck to help me. If there is anyone who can point me to a simple explanation of the settings, I would be eternally grateful.
Also, feedback on the overall approach is welcome.
Re: HD downconvert & capture via Sony S280 deck and BM Decklink HD Pro PCI-x by RubyHotWax on Mar 3, 2007 at 6:03:49 am
Hi Mads
thank you for your advice. I've never used a RS-422 control and I haven't been able to find out more info through my internet searching (RS422 for dummies, sadly, doesn't exist). So, can you explain what the RS-422 is, how it connects to the deck and (I presume) FCP and how this manages the deck settings?
Re: HD downconvert & capture via Sony S280 deck and BM Decklink HD Pro PCI-x by Mads Nybo Jorgensen on Mar 3, 2007 at 11:43:40 pm
Hey Ruby.
I don't have FCP, so you're better off asking on that forum on how to connect the RS422 cable. I still think you would be much better off following my advice:
"However, a better and much simpler option would be to get a J-H3 with the fire-wire option installed."
All the Best
Mads
London, UK
Mac Million Ltd. - HD Production & Editing
Blog: http://blog.myspace.com/bigflopproductions
Re: HD downconvert & capture via Sony S280 deck and BM Decklink HD Pro PCI-x by Michael G on Mar 4, 2007 at 5:24:02 am
A quick look online at the specs for the Sony S280 indicates it has a 9pin remote. Check with the hire people that this is a Sony RS422 port. If not then hire a JH3 as Mads suggests because it does have an RS422 9 pin remote.
The Decklink card when installed will have a breakout cable with an RS422 control connector to control the machine. Connect this cable to the HDCam.
In FCP you will find a setup called Blackmagic DV PAL. Use this setup as it capture straight from the SDI and converts the file to DV. The Blackmagic card can also downconvert from the HD SDI on the fly. Either the card or machine downconvert can be used. This easy setup also assumes RS422 remote to control the machine. You will have correct timecode accurate capture with this setup.
I have the same card and have done numerous shows with this exact workflow. We then recapture HD uncompressed after the fine cut to online in FCP. Works a treat. I tried to use a JH3 firewire once but the downconvert looked bad. The Blackmagic combination looked better.
Re: HD downconvert & capture via Sony S280 deck and BM Decklink HD Pro PCI-x by RubyHotWax on Mar 4, 2007 at 6:11:55 am
Thanks Mads & Michael G - appreciate your help and suggestions.
A J-H3 isn't possible at the moment.
It's comforting to hear someone using the S280 + Decklink card approach successfully! I think the idea of using RS422 (yes, the 9pin on the S280 is a RS422 port) and the Blackmagic DV Pal setup in FCP sounds the way to go. And if I use the card for the downconvert, do I connect the BNC cable from the HD SDI out (on the deck) to the SDI in (on the card)? And will my 1TB of storage be enough (in other words, this workflow won't try to store the HD data first before converting it to SD)?
Re: HD downconvert & capture via Sony S280 deck and BM Decklink HD Pro PCI-x by Michael G on Mar 4, 2007 at 9:27:03 pm
I haven't used the S280, just the JH3.
I connect the HD SDI out from the JH3 to the input of the Declink which is designed to accept eith HD SDI or SD SDI depending on the FCP setup. In the Mac System Preferences open the Decklink control panel and you will see the option to downconvert the input to SD 16:9 anamophic.
Re: HD downconvert & capture via Sony S280 deck and BM Decklink HD Pro PCI-x by Michael G on Mar 4, 2007 at 9:29:27 pm
Also, the files are stored as SD DV codec. No HD files are recorded on your drive. 1TB is a lot of DV storage. Digital Heaven make a cute widgit to calculate storage based on codecs so it is easy to calculate.
Re: HD downconvert & capture via Sony S280 deck and BM Decklink HD Pro PCI-x by RubyHotWax on Mar 9, 2007 at 11:21:34 pm
Hi
the card installation went ahead yesterday - successfully. The deck was connected and then I spent most of the day trying to get it to work! As you know, I tried to find out how to set it up prior to the install but could not find anyone who knew this deck. Sadly, the hiring company did not really understand how to set it up - "you probably don't need to change the settings" was their response. But I did need to change them and as the deck manual appears to have been written by an engineer, for engineers and I am not an engineer, this was not easy.
I had some great help from Blackmagic's support crew in Oz who were able to work out that the system frequency setting on the deck was wrong. So once this was fixed, the capture and downconvert began.
Thanks again Mads & Michael G for your help... next time I'll use the JH3 deck!
Re: HD downconvert & capture via Sony S280 deck and BM Decklink HD Pro PCI-x by Michael G on Mar 12, 2007 at 12:02:29 pm
Thanks Ruby for the feedback. JH3 is bog simple but even it needs the right menu setups. Manuals are written by sadists and only read by masochists. Glad to help and sorry that you had to resort to the manual.
