Question on FCP settings for 480/24p mini DV tape capture...

[gmehl]

Hi Newbie here:

I want to shoot 16:9 480/p onto tape using the HVX200.... and I have a few questions that seem to be alluding me from Barry's book, the FCP manual, and the camera manual.

If I want 16:9 aspect using 480/p capturing onto tape -- do I want to use: letterbox or squeeze (I assume normal is 4:3) in the aspect conv. menu? Are there benefits using one or the other? I want to eventually create a DVD with the edited footage that will on 4:3 aspect TVs show with bars above and below picture... and with 16:9 TVs show without any bars.....

So....

1) If I shoot 480/24p to mini DV NTSC tape using the HVX200 using "squeeze" in the aspect conv. setting...... what are the settings that I would use for FCP easy setup?

2) Likewise same, but if I use "letterbox"... and everything else the same as #1 above -- what would the FCP easy settings be for capture?

3)If I shoot 480/24PA -instead of 24P -- what would the FCP easy setup be for #1 and #2 above?

The FCP easy setup options that I find in the menu include the following:

a)DV-NTSC 24p (23.98)

b) DV-NTSC 24p (23.98) Advanced Pulldown removal

c)DV-NTSC anamorphic

So the which for what? or do I need to create a different setup?

Thanks for any expert advice.

Garrett

[Don Steele]

Hey Garrett,
I actually played with this setup this weekend to investigate what the "right way" would be to go about this. Here's what I came up with (that is SO subject to scrutiny/critique/improvement):

1. Definitely want to use squeeze mode to shoot 16x9 (and use the full sensor). Even if you want to ultimately letterbox it for 4:3, you'll start with a higher resolution for 16:9 TVs. With letterbox mode you'll be starting with less of the sensor horizontally, and with the letterboxing shrinking it further vertically - if that makes sense.

2. In FCP, you'd use DV-NTSC 24p for either letterbox or squeeze for the easy setup. For squeeze mode you're not quite done. You'll need to click the settings for your sequence and select the 16:9 anamorphic option in settings. Then you're about ready to capture. For clarification, you can also use the anamorphic easy setup option, but then you again need to click into your sequence settings to change the frame rate. Creating a custom easy-option will help you shortcut all this step for the next go.

NOW, there's one component on which i'm not quite sure is "right", but I believe to be... back in your sequence options under the Quicktime Video Settings, there's a chicklet for "Advanced..." If you click that you'll see two pull-down menus for 'Scan Mode' and 'Aspect Ratio'. I BELIEVE you need to change scan mode to "progressive" and aspect ratio to "16:9".

I'm sure there's a better/faster setup - but this is what I strung together to get my stuff working in FCP.

[Don Steele]

Garrett -
In examining my setup further, I'm wrong on two points... something most any DVX100 user would've caught right off the bat. In regards to shooting 24p - you want to actually select 24pA (24fps Advanced) off the camera menu. Additionally, in FCP, in your easy setup option you'll want to select the 23.98 Advanced Removal option (you'll still need to check the anamorphic option as well as adjust the quicktime compressor options to be progressive and 16:9. After capturing your footage, it'll be converted to 24fps (with the excess frames being dropped, not blended as was the case with my previous post). Sorry for the misinfo, but should be right now...

[SailorGuy]

I know this one targets 24p, but I have the same basic question about 480/60i Squeeze with the HVX200 onto miniDV tape. Right now, I'm going to import into FCP seleting the exisiting preset: DV NTSC 48Khz Anamorphic. Could someone confirm? Thanks.