Panasonic HVX200 workflow questions. Used to DVCAM.

[Steve55]

Panasonic HVX200 workflow with FireStore

I am about to buy a Panasonic HVX2000 camera, but I would like some advice on the workflow I have in mind.

I'm working in PAL in the UK. I'm used to working in a DVCAM workflow, but my DSR390 is now dated as it is only 4:3 and not widescreen so I'm about to change my entire shooting kit and equipment.

Question 1: P2 cards are still a bit pricey, so can I buy a Focus Firestore and record in the best quality DVCPRO50HD mode direct to it, or do you need P2 cards for the highest HD recording quality?

Question 2: Depending on the answer to the above, I intend editing in my Final Cut Pro 5HD suite, which is made up of a Dual 2 Ghz G5 Powermac with an extra internal 500GB hard drive and two 250GB external LaCie FireWire 400 hard drives. RAM is 1 gig. Can this computer handle it or will I have to buy extra hardware? if so, what?

From the Firestore (if question 1 is answered yes), can I import that footage straight into Final Cut Pro with a timeline sequence set up as DVCPRO50HD at 1080x1920?

Finaly, I need to author in DVD Studio Pro (latest one as part of Final Cut Studio) and burn out a master DVD that can be sent off and replicated so the DVD can go on general sale. I assume this stage will have to be Standard Def?

I've been used to a DVCAM workflow with Final Cut for about 5 years now, so I'm clued up on all that stuff, it is just this new HD workflow that is a bit daunting and scary.

Oh, there is a little glitch to this, there is going to be another camera used for this shoot as a second camera. It is a JVC GY-HD101E, which shoots HDV progressive or standard dv interlace only. No HD.

To wrap up this question, should I just use the HVX200 to shoot in standard def mini-dv mode and wait for the HD workflow to get easier, or is it easy now?

Thanks a lot guys, but I really do need advice on this as I have a very important commercial production that I'm shooting in 6 weeks and I need to work out my workflow before then. I can't shoot this on my old Sony DSR390 as it is not even Widescreen.

[Barry_Green]

1. Firestore alone will work.

2. That's plenty of Mac.

3. Yes, but use the FCP "easy setup" (which is 1280x1080).

4. All DVDs are standard-def.

[esperman]

Question 1: P2 cards are still a bit pricey, so can I buy a Focus Firestore and record in the best quality DVCPRO50HD mode direct to it, or do you need P2 cards for the highest HD recording quality?

From the Firestore (if question 1 is answered yes), can I import that footage straight into Final Cut Pro with a timeline sequence set up as DVCPRO50HD at 1080x1920?



Firestore and the upcoming Cineporter will record all flavors of DVCPRO.

DVCPRO50 is NOT HD. It is standard 720 X 486 video. Keep that in mind.

[Steve55]

I'm confused. 1280x1080? shoudn't that be 1080x1920, which is the DVCPRO50HD resolution?

esperman. I am talking about the HVX200 shooting in dvcpro50HD mode (note the HD in there).

Barry, you do know I'm talking about the HVX200 and not the DVX100 don't you?

To re-cap. I am getting a new 'HD' panny camera, model, HVX200, format to shoot in, best quality mode on this camera, which is DVCPRO50HD, HD.

So, are all the answers still the same?

[Barry_Green]

I'm confused. 1280x1080?
1280x1080 is correct for DVCPRO-HD 1080p. Use the "easy preset"

shoudn't that be 1080x1920, which is the DVCPRO50HD resolution?
No. First of all, DVCPRO50HD = confusing two things. There's DVCPRO50, and there's DVCPROHD, and those are two different formats.

Second, just about all high-def formats prefilter the pixel array before recording. They start at 1920x1080, but by the time they get recorded they're smaller. HDCAM and HDV record at 1440x1080, and DVCPROHD records at 1280x1080.

Barry, you do know I'm talking about the HVX200 and not the DVX100 don't you?
Yes, and the answers I gave are correct for the HVX200.

[Steve55]

Thanks everyone for the great input. One more question I've thought of. Regarding shooting in SD mode on both cameras. If I shoot using the HVX200's best quality SD mode, think that is DVCPRO50? and use the JVC in SD Mini-DV mode, am I right in assuming that I can mix these two lots of footage in the same Final Cut Pro sequence as they are both 720x576 right? or will the DVCPRO50 standard def codec not work as it is different from the JVC standard def mini-dv codec?

Thanks again people.

[esperman]

Thanks everyone for the great input. One more question I've thought of. Regarding shooting in SD mode on both cameras. If I shoot using the HVX200's best quality SD mode, think that is DVCPRO50? and use the JVC in SD Mini-DV mode, am I right in assuming that I can mix these two lots of footage in the same Final Cut Pro sequence as they are both 720x576 right? or will the DVCPRO50 standard def codec not work as it is different from the JVC standard def mini-dv codec?

Thanks again people.
well sort of. You can edit DVCPRO50 and DV in the same sequence..you'll just need to render cause your mixing 2 formats.

[Steve55]

Great, so I assume I bring in the SD DVCPRO50 footage from my P2 card, then bring in the SD footage from JVC in Mini-DV mode, then as I drop the latter onto the timeline, it will be red-lined indicating that I will need to render it?