HMC and Final Cut Pro workflow - need help

[LINZAC]

Hi, I am trying to use the HMC40 to film sit down intervwiews for the highest quality DVD - 30 minutes I can make short of Blueray. I am going crazy, I have FCP 7 and need to figure out the workflow settings.
I have camera now in PH 1080/60i
I just to a standad transfer in default Log and transfer
the DVD burning has been using the droplet for Best Video 90 Minute MPEG 2 60 mbps 2-pass with dolby sound.
The Video files I capture look great, but the Final DVD has Jagged lines, and striping that were not in origional file.
This is driving me crazy.
I am using a 2009 I mac.

Can someone please suggest the following:

1. Settings on the camera for video quality
2. Best way to transfer to FCP and any settings I need to make.
3. After Editing, best settings or codacs in compressor for final product.

Thanks in advance for all the help.
Jeff

[Superfresa66]

The fastest way i found to do this (and still looks good) is by editing everything in HD, once done export a DV NTSC anamorphic file with compressor (this will down-res HD to SD) and once in SD compress that file for DVD (with the same setting you were doing)

The problem is that you're going from HD to SD-mpeg2 and that causes quality problems... i do the same workflow as mention on a daily basis!

Hope that helps!

[LINZAC]

Thanks , this might help me relax and get some sleep tonight.
is the export a DV NTSC anamorphic file with compressor a droplet or a setting I choose? (I am still new at this and still a little lost?)
Also after much reasearch and finding the panosonic AVCHD editing guide, I changed Camera settings to ph 1080 30P and A/V Sequence preser settings to Apple Prores 422 HQ 1920x1080 30p 48khz and Capture Preset to HDV-Apple ProRes 422 HQ
do you think that will help or shoud I go beck to origional settings?

[Superfresa66]

1) those settings depend on your final output, but in reality any of them would work just fine for SD DVD

2) For FCP you need to log and transfer, AIC (Apple intermediate Codec) or ProRes would work for SD work,
AIC has a smaller file size and would probably be better for SD, but if you plan to apply a lot of filters for example "Color Correction" then ProRes would be better for that!
Once you drop your first video file to your timeline, fcp will check if your settings are correct. If they're not it will ask you if you want to change it to match the clip (hit yes so they match)

Edit away as you will any other project...

3) After editing export to "Compressor" and on settings pick Apple/Other Workflows/Advanced Format Conversions/Standard Definition/DV NTSC Anamorphic
(this will down size HD to SD) pick your destination and compress

Once Compressor Finishes, grab the file you created and bring it back in compressor... this time you will pick the DVD setting you were using before


I know is an extra step than just going from the HD timeline to DVD but it yields the best/fastest results...

I hope this more detail guide helps!

[LINZAC]

Thanks, in FCP 7 I think I have to share to compressor, export no longer goes there
I will play with this tonight

[LINZAC]

Well underway, should it take 3 hours to do a 12 minute conversion?

[Superfresa66]

3 hours for 12 minutes? Mmmmmh well it depends on the amount of stuff you're doing to your video. On my Intel Quad it takes me anywhere from realtime to double-time on the projects that i do to downsize from HD to SD.

Yeah if you're using FCP7 you have more options to capture your footage on... I like ProResLT, you also have some changes to compressor... and you're right, you have to share. I guess i should have asked what version you were using before.

I personally use FCP6.0.5 and also FCP7

[LINZAC]

Just a cross dessolves, and adding some still pictures.
Could it be that my origional files were so big?

[Superfresa66]

on your timeline what color is on top of your footage? gray, light blue, green, yellow, orange, red???
i think you might have the wrong setting on your timeline...

[LINZAC]

Mostly Grey with a few light blue sections