HVX-200 to AJ-SD93

[Jim Wiseman]

Barry, I am cross posting this from Creative Cow. The question was about using the analog outs of the HVX-200 to an AJ-SD93 DVCPro 25/50 deck to make DVCPro 50 dubs. Barry said the HVX would down-convert on the analog outs. Would the Firewire out also have the downconversion? I have no need for analog on this deck at the moment. SDI possibly. Is the downconversion letterboxed? Also how would you judge it's quality? I did read below that the internal downconvert is 16x9 DV "squeezed". Does it appear anamorphic on 3x4 monitor? Does it display at all? This is a setup (HVX to AJ-SD93 firewire) I am seriously considering, having already ordered the HVX-200. The SD-93 would seem to be a great way to distribute SD versions on DVCPro 50 and have the HD for future use. Thanks, hope this was not too confusing.

Jim Wiseman
Digitalmedia Hawaii/Pacific
digitalmedia.hp@gmail.com

[Barry_Green]

I don't believe there is any firewire downconversion possible on the pre-release models. Firewire streaming is supported in all modes, so it sends the native signal out the firewire port at all times, AFAIK.

As such, I would expect you'd find the SD-93 to be of best use when you're shooting DV50 on the HVX; shooting DV100 wouldn't allow you to record straight to DV50 on the deck (although you could downconvert in your NLE and output it to DV50 from there).

The internal downconvert to tape is done at 16:9 anamorphic "squeeze", so yes it would display as squeezed on a 4:3 monitor.

[Jim Wiseman]

What would the analog down conversion you mentioned on CC look like? Would it be squeezed too? In other words would its be compressed from the sides on a 4x3 display, or would it be letterboxed? Or straght 16x9? It sounds like analog is the only way to get it straght out of the camera down converted. Or just do it in the NLE. I have FCP and Media 100 SDI.

Thanks

[Barry_Green]

It outputs a downconverted-to-SD version of whatever signal you're shooting. If you're shooting 4x3 DVCPRO50, you'll get a 4x3 SD signal. If you're shooting 16x9 DVCPRO50, you'll get a 16x9 signal.

HD is always 16x9, so it always outputs a downconverted 16x9 on the s-video and composite ports, and it will output a downconverted 480 version on the component ports if you tell the component ports to downconvert.

[Jim Wiseman]

Yes, I know the native aspect ratios. Last question, hopefully. What does the downconverted 16x9 HD from the HVX component outs look like on the 4x3 monitor? That is, what would the SD-93 record and display it as? Letterbox, squeezed or cropped? I would love to hear letterboxed.

Thanks again.

[Barry_Green]

It outputs the full signal, not digitally processed, so it's a 16x9 signal. So a 4:3 monitor will display it as squeezed. There is no letterboxing or other processing happening on the outputs.

You'd need a 4:3/16:9 switchable monitor to do what you want. Not much of a big deal though, almost all modern production monitors are switchable, aren't they?

[Jim Wiseman]

Yes, my monitor is switchable. Just wanted to know if the HVX was producing processed consumer viewable 4x3 (such as letterbox) on its outputs. Guess this means I will need some hardware or software to do that. Thanks again.