10bit uncompressed MX02LE on macbookpro
by Barry Bishop
on
Nov 6, 2009 at 5:44:27 am
I just got my MX02LE today. Hooked it up, and works like a charm. Two problems
1) How am I supposed to record 10bit Uncompressed 4:2:2 on a macbook pro? Since my express card is being used. Can firewire 800 handle it? I just ordered the drobopro, will that handle it using iSCSI(i have heard it doesn't) the data rate is like 106mb/sec
2) The video seems to be incoding at 1920x1080i not 1920x1080p. All my footage is now interlaced. I do alot...and i mean ALOT of chroma keying and cant be having interlaced footage. BTW im shooting off an ex1.
Re: 10bit uncompressed MX02LE on macbookpro by Andy Mees on Nov 6, 2009 at 6:11:48 am
Hi Barry
I just got my MX02LE today
You lucky dog!
1) How am I supposed to record 10bit Uncompressed 4:2:2 on a macbook pro?
Sorry to say Barry, but you're not. As you note yourself, you'd need faster storage than your laptop can handle with just FW800. If you need to work in Uncompressed HD then you need to work using a tower as host, not a laptop. For the MBP I'd recommend sticking with DVCPRO HD or ProRes 422 (LT) for capture.
2) The video seems to be incoding at 1920x1080i not 1920x1080p.
This is the nature of "PsF" or progressive segmented frames, where each frame is divided into 2 fields and carried within an interlaced signal. 1080p itself is not supported as such.
Re: 10bit uncompressed MX02LE on macbookpro by Barry Bishop on Nov 6, 2009 at 6:25:42 am
I just want the best quality picture, but also be portable. (maybe a 50ft BNC to my macpro could do it)
So am I better off recording to the sxs (sony ex1) and forget about using the mxo2? or am I getting a better picture using the mx02 and recording using "maxtor apple pro res 4:2:2 (lt)" am I keeping the 4:2:2 color space? Like I said I do chromakeying all day long.
WTF!!! 1080p aint supported? what should I do? I just switched from premiere to FCS3 this week. How do I get around this crappy PsF. Should I drop it to 720p as thats supported? How do I get these divided fields back together? Throw them a house warming party?
Re: 10bit uncompressed MX02LE on macbookpro by Andy Mees on Nov 6, 2009 at 8:48:02 am
>I just want the best quality picture...
If you want "best" then yes, run a cable to your tower and capture Uncompressed HD
>So am I better off recording to the sxs (sony ex1) and forget about using the mxo2? or am I getting a better picture using the mx02 and recording using "maxtor apple pro res 4:2:2 (lt)" am I keeping the 4:2:2 color space? Like I said I do chromakeying all day long.
If you record to SxS and thereafter ingest/capture from those recordings then you are of course committing to the in camera compression quality ie you can change to an intermediate compression after the fact but the quality will always be limited by that of the original capture format. That said, the XDCAM EX1's 35 Mb/s VBR (4:2:0) codec produces very nice clean images which are arguably fine for keying ... what is much more important for the quality of your key is your lighting skill. As someone who does a lot of chromakeying then I'm guessing you probably know this only too well already. Beyond that, yes you are quite right that a 4.2.2 codec will preserve more chroma detail in the compressed image and that'll make your keys that much easier to pull. DVCPRO HD is a 4:2:2 codec that is a tried and tested that should perform well for you, the same goes for ProRes 422 LT although a recent post suggests to me that the former might be a better choice for keying.
>WTF!!! 1080p aint supported?
Nope. True 1080p has never been supported on the MXO2. At this point in time its only 1080i and 1080PsF.
