conversion times?

[Justyn]

I"m thinking of getting the HMC. pulling the trigger soon, but the conversion or transcoding times are something that might be a deal breaker... especially if it's as time consuming as the AVCHD footage off my SD9 camera. Takes forever to convert the clips with my macbook. My current editing comp is a G5 and it's fine for the HVX footie, but it won't work for the other stuff. plus even though that works with Voltaic.. so slow.


So I'm just wondering what times people are getting in terms of conversion for Mac based systems. What they are using for programs and computers? If it's not a fast option then I"ll have to think about a used HVX or something again.


cheers all and hope this isn't what I think it might be in terms of PITA workflow.


j

[Justyn]

If also people on the Mac side of things are using Powerpc or Intel? I want a mac pro but that will have to be a spring purchase... So it's a toss up between a used HVX or a new 150. I just can't see my patience staying in tact when a 1 hour clip takes 3 hours to transcode... that would just suck. as an 1 of HVX footage probably takes less than 30 minutes to transcode...


cheers all and either way, it'll be finally a 2nd panny prosumer cam... about time.

[jscheib]

I'm actually using a PowerPC G5 tower with dual 2.0, 4GB RAM, and OS X 10.4.11(!...) and although of course I can't edit HMC150 footage natively (and doubt I'll ever be able to), I did transcode Barry Green's short footage (the rain and the girls) that he posted using both Voltaic HD, which was extremely slow as you said. I then got Toast 9. Transcoding with that on my computer is a little under 3x, to any format: AIC, ProRes, ProResHQ, DVCPRO HD, or even DV/DVCPRO, all which I can edit fine on my machine with FCP 6.

What I'm intending to do (since I'm about to begin shooting/editing a doc feature) is to transcode all of my footage to DV (for storage reasons) and then after I'm done cutting the whole thing, use an EDL and reimport only what I need as DVCPRO HD, ProRes, or AIC to make the final cut.

If you can find a longer clip of raw HMC150 footage (Barry's longest clip was 18 seconds, which took 50-52 seconds to transcode), I'd be happy to test anything else you want, but as far as I'm concerned right now, I don't think I'll need a new computer, or even an Intel-based one, to do my project. The 3x is something I'm ok with dropping and walking away. Then again, maybe I should just get a new computer :)

[matt s.]

It also comes down to what footage type you are transcoding. At least with me on pretty much the same system as jscheib excepy i only have 2.5GB ram and FCS 1. 720/24 transcodes much faster than 720/60 with toast. the 1080 will probably be slower to transcode as well but i have only been shooting 720.

[BobDiaz]

Using my iMAc (Dual Core, 2.4GHz, 2GB RAM) and a 62 second video file I took at DV Expo (720/24p), I measured the following conversion times:

Toast 9 = 55 seconds (0.89x, faster than the clip)

VoltaicHD (Normal Mode) = 365 seconds (5.9x)

VoltaicHD (Quick Mode, NOT Final) = 110 seconds (2x)

The quick mode of the VoltaicHD is still experimental and is not finished. Later versions will have this mode and be working properly for all modes.

The following photos are a crop from the image taken at DV Expo:

Toast 9
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/KQ6WQ/Toast_9.png


VoltaicHD (Normal)
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/KQ6WQ/VoltaicHD_Normal.png


VoltaicHD (Quick Mode)
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/KQ6WQ/VoltaicHD_Quick.png

Keep in mind that I had set the camera for auto everything and didn't have a lot of time to play with it. I think the gain had kicked in, but I don't know how high it was.


The following are shots taken from Barry's Rain Footage:

Toast 9
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/KQ6WQ/Toast.png


VoltaicHD
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/KQ6WQ/VoltaicHD.png


The still photos don't show it as well, but the solid color of the vertical post had a bit more noise with the VoltaicHD conversion.


Bob Diaz

[Justyn]

Thanks so much to one and ALL. I do think that I've decided to buy the 150 unless I can find a great deal on a used HVX... and I have a new solution that involves an old friend and his mac pro.

I'm going to use his system and his intensity card to capture the footage in real time and on the fly convert to DVCPROhd. I have done this with the SD9 camera with great success. If anyone else has access to a mac pro this is a good working option as well...


I think I will also buy Toast and give that a try... also because of the disk spanning and blue ray options. Voltaic I have and that's a slow slow slow process. Either way, this will be a short bandaid till I can buy one of the 8 core Mac Pro's next year.


This forum rocks and so do my beloved brothers in arms on this site. Cheers and I'm glad to be taking a step back in price and options, but maintaining basically the same look as my beloved HVX. I'd like to get the a, but finances and the gig calls for being able to roll 8 hours per day. P2 at this clip would be something to deal with.