Editing HVX footage...

A

airforceguy

Active member
What will I need, other than HD editing software, to edit HVX footage? Is there any other hidden software or plug-ins, I will need just for basic editing (for say Vegas 7 or Avid Epress Pro HD, etc)?

What about for editing SD HVX footage, can I do it on Vegas 6, which I currently have, or will I need additional software or plug-ins?

How do you down res HD HXV footage to SD?
 
I know that the current version of Avid Xpress Pro (v5.6.7) works just fine with HVX footage. Vegas...I think...requires a plugin know as Raylight. Search the boards for Vegas and you will come across a thread or two about it.

James
 
You'd need Raylight for any version of Vegas; I know it works in 6 and 7.

EDIUS Broadcast and Avid XPress Pro HD have built-in support. Premiere Pro and Vegas both need Raylight.
 
Thanks guys.

I currently own Vegas 6, so I will have to upgrade if I go HD. As an amatuer, I found/find Vegas really user friendly (thanks to Barry's advice), but I don't know if I want the added expense if I up grade to Vegas 7.

Can anyone tell me how does the the Avid Express Pro learning curve compare to Vegas? I really suck at color correction, does the automatic color correction feature in Avid Express Pro work as advertised?

If I have to make the switch, I think now would be the time since I am still in the early stages of learning to edit.

Thanks in advance...Paul
 
One more question.

Are you saying that with Vegas 6 (even though it's not HD), along with Raylight, I would be able to edit HD footage?
 
Ok... 1st thing.

Its called Avid Xpress Pro.

MANY years ago, when Avid first launched the Xpress line they had a third party make it for them and for the 1st releace of the new product it was called Avid Express (using the ABVB boardset). Avid was unhappy with things and took matters back into thier own hands. Then it was renamed Avid Xpress (using the meridian boardset).

Then they launched the software only DV line calling it Avid Xpress DV. Then to counter the FCP hype it was renamed Avid Xpress Pro. And then Avid Xpress Pro HD (again to counter FCP HD).

And now today... if you are still with me... it is again called Avid Xpress Pro. Tomorrow? Who knows! *LOL*

airforceguy said:
Can anyone tell me how does the the Avid Express Pro learning curve compare to Vegas? I really suck at color correction, does the automatic color correction feature in Avid Express Pro work as advertised?
Click to expand...
1.) Everyone learns differently. Some people love the Avid workflow. Some people hate it. Some people hate FCP's work flow and some love it. But it does bear mentioning that 95% of Hollywood is still cutting on Avid, allbeit the higher end systems. FCP has a huge following on this board. It is a great tool also. But I prefer Avid myself. You may be different. Try before you buy if you can and find out what works best for you and the way you work because this is the only thing that matters.

2.) The color correction tool is a spilldown from Avid's industry changing Avid Symphony. It is a scaled down version of that brilliant tool. Yes it works as advertised. It does not have secondary color correction, from your statement above I'm thinking this may not matter to you anyway.

:smile:
 
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Thanks Take 1.

If I am forced to upgrade to HD software I will be force to upgrade computers as well (I am leaning towards an Apple), I think I would like to go with Avid Express Pro. The color correction feature (matching all of the clips/scenes etc,) is definitly a selling point for me.

And you are right, what do you mean by secondary color correction, or a lack there of?

Can you answer my last post about Raylight and Vegas 6 being able to edit HD footage?

Just a couple more questions, if you shoot in HD and down res to SD, can you capture/edit in SD software or do you have to capture/edit in HD software? Im asking to see if I would need to upgrade to HD immediately if I buy the HVX.

Does the Mac have a PCMCIA slot to down load the P2 card?

And one stupid one for the road. Can you download from the P2 card directly to a hard drive then into editing software later, or can you only download it/capture directly into editing software?

Sorry for so many questions. My workflow cost will determine if I go with the DVX or the HVX. Thanks in advance...
 
Seems like you are just starting out, so I would stick with what you have (Vegas), get Raylight, and try out the demos on the others. . ..Also check under this category. . .

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/forumdisplay.php?f=4

Many of your questions answered there for the software.

I used the HVX footage with Vegas (6 and 7) all the time, no problems. . .and Vegas does also have color correction and edits HD (again using Raylight).

Downresing answers are in the manual, yes you can downres....

Yes you can go p2 - > computer directly, using one of these. . .

http://www.buyextras.com/rirlpctopcic.html?gclid=CLKa9vaRgosCFRESSQodPV7WHg

PS - Go with the HVX, you can always start with tape and learn that way, then work with the P2 card. . .

-
 
airforceguy said:
Thanks Take 1.

If I am forced to upgrade to HD software I will be force to upgrade computers as well (I am leaning towards an Apple), I think I would like to go with Avid Express Pro. The color correction feature (matching all of the clips/scenes etc,) is definitly a selling point for me.
Click to expand...
Right now, Apple would be a strong choice as you can run Avid, Vegas and and FCP on it. As well you can run both Mac and PC. The only thing with Apple though is that you get what they give you in the hardware. A PC is infinately more scaleable if you really want to mess around with your hardware options.

airforceguy said:
And you are right, what do you mean by secondary color correction, or a lack there of?
Click to expand...
Secondary color correction allows you to make some very complex corrections. e.g. You could mask out an area and have your correction applied only to that region and not affect the rest of the image. The corrector in Avid Xpress Pro is very powerful even without this and I have often saved normally unuseable footage with it.

airforceguy said:
Can you answer my last post about Raylight and Vegas 6 being able to edit HD footage?
Click to expand...
No. But there are lots of people on this board who could. On a side note Edius would work well for editing HD too. Not too sure what they have for color correction though.

airforceguy said:
Just a couple more questions, if you shoot in HD and down res to SD, can you capture/edit in SD software or do you have to capture/edit in HD software?
Click to expand...
Depends on your editing program. There are various ways to skin this cat. You could do an offline to online (lo resolution to high resolution) if you remember to include timecode. Avid for example will allow you to digitize your footage at user definable resolutions. But its much simpler to use the MXF file structure already provided on the P2 cards and just mount the disk and edit. You can also drag and drop the MXF files onto your media drives if you need the cards back right away. This is all much faster than digitizing and preserves the files from conversion and further compression.

You can do either.

airforceguy said:
Does the Mac have a PCMCIA slot to down load the P2 card?
Click to expand...
Not sure. I would guess it would depend on the model.

airforceguy said:
And one stupid one for the road. Can you download from the P2 card directly to a hard drive then into editing software later
Click to expand...
Yes you can. In fact you really should archive it to DVD or Data tape to protect it in case you have an accident and it gets deleted or damaged.
 
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Thanks Take 1 and dusterdoo.

I think you have answered all of my workflow questions. I really like the auto color correction feature in Avid, but sticking to my Vegas 6 and adding Raylight will save me about $2K (i.e. software and computer), right off the top.

And yes dusterdoo, I put the "A" in amatuer. I have only edited one project, about 7 hours of footage. I think I am more afraid of color correcting than anything. But, the good thing is, it forced me to light my project really well, so I wouldn't have to use it. I did everything in production rather than in post...
 
Why would you have to upgrade? Vegas has been able to do HD since version 5, at least, and maybe version 4, I don't remember. If you want to work with the HVX you'd need Raylight, but that's it. I use Vegas 6 with Raylight and the HVX all the time.
 
Hey Barry, I was unaware that Vegas 6 could do HD. It never mattered or came up before now. I feel REALLY stupid now. Even more than normal :)

I am kind of afraid to purchase the HVX knowing as little as I do, and I do understand I will definitley grow into it. I would just hate to buy it now, never use it to its full capability, then a year from now there is a killer upgrade.

With that said, I don't think my wife will EVER be so kind, ever again, to let me buy it down the road. It's kind of like, now or never...
 
Rules of buying gear for work:

Only buy gear when you have a gig or enough gigs to justify and pay for it quickly.
Otherwise rent.


Now if its a hobby... throw out the above rules and write your own!

:happy:
 
No, I am very serious, just inexperienced. I have shot 3 shorts over the last four years (and have gotten a lot better), and have written enought projects to keep myself busy for the next 20+ years.

After I get my camera, beit a DVX or an HVX, and spend a month or so getting to know it, I plan to shoot a low budget feature and 2 episodes of a childrens show right away. I have developed and pre-produced both projects, and they are ready to shoot. I want to accomplish this before I retire from the Air Force in July of '08.

I can get away with the DVX for the feature, other than 1 or 2 green screen scenes, but for the children's show, most or all of it will be shot in from of a green screen.

I have had a half dozen people approach me to shoot commercial for them, but I AM SO AFRAID to take them on. But, if I do get the HVX I know my wife will kick my @$$ if I don't do something with it.
 
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