I am a freelance DP. I own several cameras and an ancient Avid Media Composer. One of my clients is the statewide public television network for which I shoot and edit news stories for a nightly newscast in SD, 4 by 3. The network is finally transitioning to HD and is now requiring that news stories be delivered in 16 by 9 HD. Specifically, they are asking for the pieces to be in either Sony XDcam or Sony HDV. I am trying to figure out how to comply with this request as cost effectively as possible.
Right now I am leaning towards the following production workflow but I am looking for input/help from anyone who has experience in Sony HDV on the cheap. My plan is to shoot 16 by 9 SD in the field with my Ikegami HL DV7W. Edit on Final Cut Pro 6 (which I have already purchased) bringing in the DV footage by firewire either directly from the camera or from one of Sony’s inexpensive desktop HDV decks such as the HVRM 15U or the HVRM 35. Not sure I need a capture card because it appears that the best quality in and out of the deck is via firewire and firewire may be the only way to input 1080 60i back to the deck. Output the completed sequence in HDV and then ship off the piece to the network in the format they requested.
I have lots of questions. For instance, will FCP take in DV and then make a satisfactory conversion to HDV? Is firewire the best way in and out of the system or do I need a capture card? Do I need a better VTR like the HVR 1500? In the end, the video has to be very good quality. No skipped frames, no artifacts but they did specify HDV so they are not looking for 10 bit uncompressed. Ultimately, I plan to do some tests of the above workflow and ship the results to the network and see if it meets their specs….but if anybody has some answers or observations or can point out obvious flaws in my plan I am all ears. I would rather not expose my failings to a client. Thanks in advance for any and all help.
Re: HDV for broadcast by Zane Barker on May 20, 2008 at 7:29:26 am
Personally I think that you rally need to invest in a HDV camera. If you give them upconverted DV material, once it is mixed in with the rest of the program that is actually shot and edited in HDV, it will be quite noticeable, and the the network may not even accept it.
There are no "technical solutions" to your "artistic problems".
Don't let technology get in the way of your creativity!
I can't possibly imagine any broadcaster accepting SD upsampled to HD. Even if it's shot with a fine SD camcorder. A cheap HDV camcorder can look as good in SD as a fine SD camcorder, but a fine SD camcorder can't look as good as HD of nearly any flavor through an upsample. Not to mention the additonal time you'll incur...
Rent an HDV or XDCAM camcorder, you'll immediately notice the difference.
IMO, There really is no "on the cheap" HD, not if you're looking for a professional workflow and product.
Douglas Spotted Eagle
VASST
Certified Sony Vegas Trainer
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Re: HDV for broadcast by Michael Palmer on May 20, 2008 at 1:52:12 pm
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.
Re: HDV for broadcast by Michael McGinnis on May 20, 2008 at 4:58:30 pm
Thanks for everyone's two cents on this. I appreciate the input.
As far as broadcasters being unwilling to accept 16 by 9 SD for transmission in HD, I know for a fact several local TV stations (WSOC-TV, Charlotte, NC) still shoot their news in SD yet bill it as HD when it airs. Render times for HD files compromising deadlines and the limited amount of HD material that can fit on a P2 card cause stations to continue to acquire in SD. The on set stuff is shot in HD but the field stuff is still shot and edited in SD.
Thanks for the information on how much time might be required to convert and compress DV to HDV. I do believe a Kona card would upconvert so that is a possibility. A new camera is also a possibility but probably a last resort.
Re: HDV for broadcast by Jeremy Doyle on May 22, 2008 at 4:55:53 pm
You could buy the deck and the kona card, but it would be cheaper to buy and HDV camera and you'll get the added bonus of actually delivering what they want...HD material.
Re: HDV for broadcast by Mark Shepherd on May 20, 2008 at 4:02:50 pm
I have shot numerous times using the SOny Z1 HDV camera in HD, and inputed it into FCP via the firewire using the camera's SD 4:3 down converter It is cheap, easy and the quality is great. It is REAL TIME down conversion. Three sides of famous David Weiss triangle.
