Keying in SD: DV50/P2 or Analog Out/uncompressed?

[Spartacus]

I was asked to shoot greenscreen footage for a lowbudget music video.
I´d like to rent a HVX and record SD uncompressed from the component out to a Decklink equiped PC.
Anyone done this before?
Can I use an editing software for capturing?
Do I need a raid or any other special hardware setup?
Will the result be A LOT better than just recording DV50 to P2 card and keying this?
Thanks,

Spart

[Anders Holck]

I recently shot a lot of Chroma footage for 3d compositing. The final destination is anamorphic SD Uncompressed, but I shoot 1080p25 tethered to a G5.
The footage is keying very impressively, especially after the downconversion to SD.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this workflow as you gain resolution and save space at the capture stage.
I did a rough edit using the RT keyer in FCP, then did the final key / downconversion in AE/keylight.

1080p becomes close to 4:4:4 after downscaling so the edges of the key are very clean and you get the advantage of being able to recompose in post because of the increased res.

[Spartacus]

Hey Anders,
so what exactly did you record in?
DVCproHD?
Any other codec?
Or did you somehow manage to record the 1080p25 uncompressed?
If so, please explain!
Thanks!

[Mark Smith]

Just did a green screen test for a client. I brought in some green screen interview material I shot with Vince Carter in DVC pro 50.

The editor threw it into FCP and put in a chroma key, and essentially it was perfect right out of the box. I will add the interview footage was shot 30 P and that Vince Carter does not have wispy blonde hair. I saw the results of the test and it was really clean.

The editor said it was a no brainer.

[Anders Holck]

I shot native DVCPRO HD 1080p25.

[Spartacus]

So maybe with DV100@720p I would have an advantage in resolution over dv50, but still wouldn´t max out the codec as with 1080p...?
Or will dv50, as Mark stated, be enough for keying in an SD project...?
I was just thinking: if I have the possibility for going uncompressed, due to the component out, maybe I should do it to get optimal keying results - for a doc I probably would´t bother, but my friend want´s a "highly polished" music video (for no budget hahaha)...
No one favoring uncompressed here?

[Mark Smith]

I suppose the subject matter of the scene would influence your choice in what codec you shoot in. I did a greens screen shoot for Sci Fi where we were shooting a model's hair blowing (cu) on green screen. We shot 120 FPS S16, transferred selects to 2k tiff sequences and the key was easy. Try doing that in video and it would be a headache, whether DVC pro 50 of 720 60 p....

The DVC pro 50 test I cited was an easy key: talking head interview. If you shot you talent performing a song to camera I'm sure DVC pro 50 would be quite sufficient for your purposes . If you have the camera, make a test.