Newbie question - Best settings for green screen shoot

[Peter Reynolds]

I’m shooting with the HVX on Wednesday and I’m wondering what the best settings are for shooting green screen. It’s 1-person, stationary, from the waist up, speaking directly to camera.

The final output is DVD and Windows Media for the client’s website.

I have a DVX100, and normally shoot 30p, 4x3, Detail Level: Thin. I won’t have access to the HVX until the shoot day, so I’m hoping for some advice so I’m not going in totally cold.

In particular, should I be shooting DVCPRO-HD or DVCPRO-50? I’ve been searching the forums and there seems to be some debate over DVCPRO-50 or down-rezing from DVCPRO-HD.

I’m editing with Premiere Pro CS3, and recording directly to my laptop with Adobe OnLocation.

Any advice you might have would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Peter
DVX (soon to be HVX) user :)

[wgzn]

if its lit properly, i dont know that you need any specific settings to get good results. i typically shoot 30p with the factory cineD setting. and get good clean results.

why would you down res? shoot dvcproHD and capture and edit in dvcproHD. then you can export the final as whatever you want.

[Peter Reynolds]

Thanks. I've got the lighting down, thanks to many similar projects using my DVX. My main concern (not having working with the HVX), was any settings or menu options that I should be aware of.

Forgive the newbie question, but "CineD setting", is that selectable from the menu? I'd
appreciate a bit of a walk-through.

As for DVCPRO HD. I agree that shooting in HD seems like the best option. I'd just read on a couple of forums here that for DVD output, DVCPRO-50 gave the same results.

Thanks again. And if you can think of anything else - by all means...

Peter

[wgzn]

there is a reset button "It is behind the LCD screen on the cam's body to the left as you face that compartment" that takes the camera back to factory settings. need a paperclip or something to activate it.

do that in order to defeat any crazy settings the previous user may have left active
choose the cineD setting with the scene file selector wheel on the back of the camera
then go to the menu and under recording settings you'll find the various options 1080/720/p/i/etc...


I'd just read on a couple of forums here that for DVD output, DVCPRO-50 gave the same results.i dont know that your final output medium makes that much difference in your acquisition format. "best in = best out" has never let me down. unless youre shooting long form (in non-stop takes) and space is of concern, there is no reason IMO to dumb-down the format.

even if dvcpro-50 gives the same result once you down convert. what happens if you need to deliver in HD? youd be out of luck.

[David Jimerson]

I would shoot 1080p, either 24pA or 30p, depending on which look you want -- you'll get better keys. Edit as progressive.

[Peter Reynolds]

Thanks WGZN. Thanks David.


I'm really looking forward to finally working with the HVX200. I'm sure the results will be as spectacular as I've seen on this site.


If I might trouble you for one more piece of advice. I have the opportunity to purchase a 1-year old HVX200a + FS-100 + accessories (bag, on-camera mic) for $4,000 USD. Does this sound like a good deal? The camera is in good working order. Any advice you can offer would be appreciated.


Best.


Peter

[wgzn]

eh, sure...

not sure the hours, but the 200a is a GREAT camera. fs100 has a VERY significant life left (in fact im now considering an fs100 VS a 64gig E series card) depending on your purpose, (and the use of the previous owner) thats a very smart kit.

though the wisdom of the purchase has a LOT to do with the seller... beyond that, thats YOUR decision

[Luis_]

I understand about "what if you want to deliver in hd" and that's what I thought on a project that I had, but,

since you are editing in CS3, I would not recommend shooting in HD if your sure that your client doesn't need it and will not need it.

The conversion on Adobe for DVD is horrible. And the render times and settings not to speak.

I just went through an episode of hedaches on that like 3 weeks ago. I get better results without the downrez ordeal on Adobe.

If you were editing on another platform maybe I would have a different opinion.

For final output of DVD and doing greenscreen I would definitely shoot it DVCPRO50 and of course nothing less so you can take advantage of the 4:2:2 color system. We know You'll get a better key. I mean not better than HD of course but if you really don't need the HD, I would stay away from it.

Also, I'm not sure if you shoot in "squeeze" mode but maybe that's another area to review for your shoot.

Either way we are all here to support each other so we will give it a couple swirls with cha!:thumbup:

[Peter Reynolds]

Thanks Luis.

It's been a bit of a challenge, since other forums also have conflicting advice on DVCPRO-HD vs. DVCPRO-50.

Regarding SQUEEZE, can you give me a bit more detail on whether that's necessary? Again my final output is 4:3 to DVD using Adobe Encore.

WGZN - I'm waiting to find out about the total hours on the HVX before deciding. From what I understand the camera is in good shape. When I know the hours I'll let you know. Buying used gear is always a risk, but enough DVXUser endorsements on the price (however guarded) make that risk less nerve racking.

Peter

[Luis_]

about "SQUEEZE" ...
I shoot in that mode because now a days most TVs are HD or letterbox. So that means that displaying 4:3 video on a 16:9 television stretches out the picture and looks... well you know.. not good! :) and vise versa, displaying 16:9 video on a 4:3 TV sqeezes the picture and looks like everyone is sick and skinny :) The CCDS in the hvx200 are natively 16:9 so shooting in "squeeze" mode lets you take advantage of the full CCD. When you put the HVX200 in normal instead of "squeeze" the camera grabs a 4:3 block from the middle of the 16:9 image and ignores the sides.
In other words cutting them out.
So me, being that I don't make 4:3 content (or rarely ever) I choose to shoot in SQUEEZE mode so that I captuer a full rez 16x9 image. Which is normally how I output my DVDs 16:9.
If I want a 4x3 I can always do in post, what the camera was going to do for me, which is to cut the sides off and render out a 4x3.

Unless your client has a specific request for it to be in 4:3, I would shoot it in squeeze mode and make your final DVD 16x9.

[Peter Reynolds]

Hi Luis.

The client wants 4x3 so I'll forget squeeze for the time being.

Unless I heard differently from anyone else, I'll most likely go with DVCPRO-50, 30p, 4x3. It seems the safest best.

Peter

[Peter Reynolds]

Hi All.

Quick update. The shoot went very well. I've still got a lot to learn with the HVX.

I recorded at 720p 30p in 16x9. Trouble was the client set-up was recording directly to their computer using Adobe OnLocation, so all the files were saved as AVI's.

Now the AVI's opened fine in Premiere Pro CS3, so I'm not complaining. But I'm not sure if the settings on the camera made any difference at all. I'll have to check the other forums regarding OnLocation.

It will be interesting to know the advantages or disadvantages of recording directly to AVI. One big advantage was importing it directly into the timeline.

Thanks again for everyone's advice.

Best.

Peter

[Luis_]

oh yeah, the benefit with that is that the editing should be nice and smooth because of the native capture.

so the timeline should be less draggy.
I had some projects where it felt like I was dragging a dead cow across the screen when not editing in native footage!

ok so you went with the 720p, wow! better you than me!

not that it's bad recording that way, that's actually one of my preferred formats, it's just getting that down to 4:3!

I don't know if you'll be doing the editing or not but here's some info that may help you along the way, or who ever is putting it on DVD:

on this following link, I'm post #24, before I knew all the details!
After a few days later I became an expert! and also went through a few bottles of pain meds for my headaches! :zombie_smiley:

anyway... here's a little of that info for share, enjoy: http://forums.adobe.com/thread/448706?tstart=0

[David Jimerson]

There should be no quality difference in the OnLocation capture files. You won't, however, have any of the camera's metadata.

[Spiral]

also.......If you do a lot of green screen, check out some software that will help you shave away some of that GREEN look. Pricey but worth it.

Key Correct Pro:
http://www.redgiantsoftware.com/products/categories/keying/key-correct-pro/