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View Full Version : Help with GH1 footage and Premiere CS4, please



Kerplunk
07-01-2009, 11:13 AM
Only recently became aware of the GH1 and have to say this forum has been invaluable in trying to learn all about it. Great stuff! But am having problems determining the best workflows using Premiere. Seems the majority are using FCP. Have tried reading through as many threads as possible and searched, but one question just seems to lead to another without definitive answers and am at the point of merely being confused. Totally my fault because I'm sure the info is here somewhere, but it's becoming a full-time job just keeping up with the volume of posts. So either some outright suggestions or at least some pointers to the right places would be much appreciated.

Thanks to this forum, am definitely planning on getting a GH1. Currently shooting with a D90 and editing in Premiere CS4 using the The HDV 720p24 stock preset. Works fine, except the D90 footage is pretty soft and the camera does have its limitations. Also occasionally use talking head green screen footage shot with a borrowed Sony FX-1 and bring that right into the 720 sequence without a hitch. Really like working with the 1080 footage at 720 because it gives me a lot of framing flexibility in post; in that I can zoom and pan the 1080 stuff in the 720 frame while maintaining good quality. Have never had to deal with pulldown.

Almost everything I do ends up on the Web in H264 at sizes smaller than 720. Some stuff gets hard drive playback at 1280 x 720, but have never had a need to output at 1080 and don't anticipate I will. Like I said, the 1080 stuff is used to simulate camera moves in post in a 720 timeline (with the green screen work dynamic linked to AE). Once I have my own 1080 capable GH1, would like to start shooting regular (non-green screen) footage at 1080 to have the same post production framing flexibility.

Have downloaded some 1080 MTS files, but they look pretty awful once I bring them into a Premiere timeline. I'm sure it's just because I don't know what I'm doing.

So here are my questions. Considering the above, what's the best way to bring the GH1's footage into Premiere for the following footage?

• 1080p
• 720p
• 720mjpg

And what would be the pros/cons of each considering my outlined workflow?

Thanks,
Kerry

Kevin I
07-01-2009, 06:51 PM
In what way does the GH1 footage look bad?

Kerplunk
07-02-2009, 06:04 AM
In what way does the GH1 footage look bad?

Severe macro-blocking unless rendered.

Kevin I
07-02-2009, 06:17 AM
Is that during playback on the timeline?
What about freeze frame images?

I think AVCHD decoding puts a huge strain on the CPU/GPU and I also get severe macro blocking on playback from the timeline or in the preview monitor.

But actual output is perfectly fine.

Kerplunk
07-02-2009, 07:17 AM
Yeah, during playback on the timeline. When stepping through on the timeline frame by frame or in source monitor it looks okay. Good to know it should look okay on output. Makes sense since it's essentially rendering the timeline. However, I haven't been able to get a decent export with any of my standard presets. May have something to do with pulldown?

Am using a dual-processor, 3 GHz dual-core with 16 GB RAM and a NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500.

Thanks for your help, Kevin.

seb33
08-07-2009, 03:52 PM
it seems to be normal on CS4 premiere, got the same problem on CS4 for mac. It seems to be a software problem, maybe it will be better with upgrade... The Toast video player play very very good the MTS.

jamesc
08-11-2009, 08:49 PM
Severe macro-blocking unless rendered.

1080p/24 AVCHD from GH-1 plays smoothly for me in Premiere. Two things to check:

1. Make sure you've upgraded to CS4.1
2. For the viewer, make sure the Output is set to Highest Quality (I think it defaults to Draft Quality)

Kerplunk
08-12-2009, 08:13 AM
1080p/24 AVCHD from GH-1 plays smoothly for me in Premiere. Two things to check:

For the viewer, make sure the Output is set to Highest Quality (I think it defaults to Draft Quality)

Thanks! Had mine on Automatic, but much better at Highest.