Questions About HVX-200/P2 Workflow

[srproductions]

Hi Everyone!

I have a project coming up (short film) that I am going to be renting an HVX-200, an 8GB P2 card, and a PowerBook that has a slot where I can put the P2 card in. I have a few questions about the workflow.

1. On set, will I be able to put my P2 card into my PowerBook, copy the files to my external hard drive, then (back in the editing suite) import those files into FCP?

2. How much hard drive space does 1 minute of 1080i 24p footage?

3. Is there anything I should know about this workflow?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[srproductions]

Hey all. I have been doing a bit of research, and I am thinking of getting P2 Genie to speed up the process. What do you guys think.

One thing I forgot to mention, I am using FCP 5.

[Luis Caffesse]

From what I've been reading (and I'm just now getting back up to speed)

1) Yes
2) Almost 1 GB (you have to rememeber that you're going to be storing a 1080i/30fps file - even if you're shooting 24P (until you are able to remove the pulldown in FCP)
So - seeing as it's a 100mb/s format - you can do the math:

1 sec = 100m/b
60sec = 6000m/b
6000m/b = 750MB (give or take - you want to leave yourself some headroom)

3) You should know everything about your workflow :thumbsup:
Make sure you get the FCP Frame Rate converter plugin from Panasonic's site.
Go to the 'support' section for the HVX - you should find it there.


Also - you want to be running on FCP 5.1.2 from what I've been reading.
I'm on 5.0.4 right now - and it's not ideal.

[Luis Caffesse]

Here is a link to the Panasonic Frame Rate Converter for Final Cut Pro (http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?storeId=11201&catalogId=13051&itemId=93120&catGroupId=34401&surfModel=AG-HVX200&displayTab=R)

[srproductions]

Why should I run 5.1.2? What's wrong with 5.04?

[THoff]

1. If you have a PowerBook with a PCMCIA slot, you're in good shape. All you need to do is install the P2 drivers that come with the camera (you can also download them online), and then you can mount the P2 card as a standard removeable drive. Copy the entire contents of the P2 card to your PowerBook or an external drive, and then you can import it later into FCP.

2. About 1GB/minute.

3. What version of FCP do you have? FCP 5.0.4 is the absolute minimum, but it has some issues. FCP 5.1.1/5.1.2 are your best choice. There are some clips that cause 5.1.2 to choke during import, but those same clips work fine with 5.1.1; if not for this one unresolved issue, 5.1.2 would be the clear choice.

[Shane Ross]

Here is a quick tutorial that might help too.

http://forums.creativecow.net/cgi-bin/page_wrapper.cgi?forumid=8&page=http://www.creativecow.net/articles/ross_shane/p2_workflow/index.html

[srproductions]

Thanks!

[Luis Caffesse]

Also - here is a great tutorial from BenB that I found invaluable - does a really good job of breaking down the import process:

http://www.bbalser.com/tutorials/fs100fcp.mov

He's got a bunch of tutorials on his site also - which you might find helpful:

http://www.bbalser.com/page4/page4.html

[srproductions]

Thanks. Downloading now.

I have a couple more questions though after seeing the Creative Cow video tutorial. For one, he uses 5.0.4, and it seemed to work just fine. Any comments on that?

K. Just watched BenB's tut, and it doesn't apply to me. First, he uses the FS100, while I'm on the HVX-200. Second, he doesn't put the P2 card into the computer, he uploads footage via camera.

So, this brings me to my deciding questions:

1. I will for sure need the HVX-200 (duh), an 8GB P2 card, a PowerBook with a PCMCIA slot, an external hard drive, correct?

2. I need to know FOR SURE which version of FCP I need--5.0.4, 5.1.1, or 5.1.2

3. Is the quality of the footage and 4:2:2 color space really worth the hassle?

[Luis Caffesse]

Just watched BenB's tut, and it doesn't apply to me. First, he uses the FS100, while I'm on the HVX-200. Second, he doesn't put the P2 card into the computer, he uploads footage via camera.

The import process is the same whether you are bringning the files in from the Card directly, from the card in the camera, of from the FS-100 DTE.

I thought the tutorial was useful in showing the steps you need to take in FCP to import the footage properly, regardless of where that footage is being imported from.

I think you'll find that no matter how you bring your footage in, you'll wind up going through the steps outlined in that tutorial.

I haven't seen the Creative Cow tutorial - I'll check is out ASAP.

[srproductions]

Kool.

Any1 have answers for the other two questions?

[LightSourceMedia]

Hey,

Okay My 2 cents worth..I own a PB and a HVX for almost 4 months..love it..

1. yes without a doubt ( make sure driver is installed or its a no go)

2.U REALLY want to be using FCP 5.1.2 !!!!

3. Quite frankly, I almost always use the 720p24pn for my film work..however it is personal choice..based on the type of shoot and what not... on an 8gb card you could capture 20min of 720p24pn per card load... it all depends on what you want my friend !

Good luck ! hope this helps a little...

~ Daniel
G5 Studio, Powerbook 15", 9 External HDD's = over 3 Terabytes, HVX200 , 2 4gb P2,
Etc, etc.....

[srproductions]

Sweet. I will do that then, and upgrade to FCP 5.12.

Doesn't the HVX-200 have a 1080p setting? If so, I will shoot in that. If not, I will go 720p. I CANNOT STAND INTERLACED VIDEO!!!!!

[srproductions]

Just thought of 1 more question. Sorry.

Do you guys recommend the P2 Store or the P2 Cards?

[THoff]

The HVX200 doesn't have a 1080p recording setting because there is no 1080p broadcast standard.

What the camera does instead is to image and process the video progressively, and store the progressive frames as two interlaced fields. When you play those back, you still get a true progressive image, it is simply created from two separate fields. Do a search, this has been gone over many times.

You can't use a P2 Store without P2 cards, so the card(s) should always come first.

[Shane Ross]

1. Yes. More cards would be better, so you wouldn't have to stop shooting while you offload the clips. But that is my workflow.

2. I have problems with 5.1.2, which is why I use 5.1.1. But that version is no longer available. Try 5.1.2, and if that won't import all your footage claiming it is "corrupt," then you might trash the application and install 5.1 and stick with that. But 5.1 is the way to go.

3. OH MY YES. Very worth the hassle. HDV is much more of a hassle, let me tell you.