4:2:2 colorspace

Here is a few more questions:
I will be buying the A1. Does it make sense to buy an expensive capture card if all I can output is firewire???
Can I get 1080x1920 w/firewire???
Just how much better is SDI then firewire???
Are there any good priced decks that can output SDI???

Thanks in advance for any help.
 
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So is the live component out in the A1, 4:2:2? I just want to make sure...

Another question,
How is the live component out(analog) signal of the A1 that different from the HDMI out signal of the hv20, which is digital.

Is the HDMI signal really going to be that much cleaner?

I am torn between this and the hv20. I know the A1 has better bells and whistles, but I am talking about image quality.

Thanks in advance...
Taj
 
TajJackson said:
So is the live component out in the A1, 4:2:2? I just want to make sure...

Another question,
How is the live component out(analog) signal of the A1 that different from the HDMI out signal of the hv20, which is digital.

Is the HDMI signal really going to be that much cleaner?

I am torn between this and the hv20. I know the A1 has better bells and whistles, but I am talking about image quality.

Thanks in advance...
Taj
Click to expand...

Hi TajJackson. The camera records digitally (HDV) anyway, and the video quality is pretty good, even though it is 4:2:0 . You can get this signal out via firewire without degradation.

The main reason you might want 4:2:2 is for green-screening work. But remember, 4:2:2 is not the only parameter that makes the video quality better. All those "bell and whistles" you mention are there for a reason (well, most of them are...) and if they are used as intended, will give you better results n other areas (like exposure, depth of field, etc.).

For most people, the HDMI is just a way to get a digital connection to a TV screen.
 
milvid said:
So can I edit 1080x1920 HD or 16x9 SD over firewire.
Click to expand...

The HDV resolution is 1440x1080 and you can capture that via firewire. You can also capture 720x480 SD video, 4:3 or 16:9.

For 1920x1080, you would need the HDMI port, which at the moment requires a specialised card to capture on a PC.
 
Elton said:
Todd, just for starters try DVCPRO HD 1080i 29.97 for a capture/editing preset. 24F uncompressed HD output is actually progressive 24p, but carried within the 1080 60i standard, and therefore needs to be captured at 29.97 fps. It's possible to remove pulldown after capture, but in general to get the full 4:2:2 color sampling you have to capture the 29.97 fps output of 1080 60i. It's only the HDV stream that can be captured as 23.98 fps...at least currently within FCP.
Click to expand...

Interesting information here Elton. I have LOTS of questions if you have a few minutes I would appreciate it.

So direct hookup to the Decklink Extreme via component (what the heck is "Video 2" all about? Looks like SDI but can't find it in the manual, it's mentioned but no info???)

Set easy setup of DVCPRO HD 1080i 29.97. I assume my sequence settings should be the same.

Now, my biggest area of confusion and why I'm really here: The Camera...

I still haven't even changed anything other than turning off AGC / Setting my custom gain settings 0/3/6, turn off AWB. Basically I turned off all the things I would turn off on any imaging device. It's still on HDV 60i with a shutter speed of 1/60 or 1/30 - and of course I can play with the aperture ring. (I haven't even looked at modes other than manual yet)

So I really just need to sit down with the book and the camera for a few more hours, days, weeks.

BUT to capture greenscreen in the "Best" way with this camera, what should the basic settings be. 24F vs 60i? Particular settings of each?

Suggested keying software? I own shake, have Combustion at the studio (don't know it at all though), and Ultra Version 1 on my ancient PC at home but am willing to spend some cash on a new keyer if it will give significantly better results.
 
jaegersing said:
The HDV resolution is 1440x1080 and you can capture that via firewire. You can also capture 720x480 SD video, 4:3 or 16:9.

For 1920x1080, you would need the HDMI port, which at the moment requires a specialised card to capture on a PC.
Click to expand...


O.K.
The A1 doesn't have an HDMI output. How can I get the 1920x1080?
Just to make sure. 16x9 SD will not streatch on an HD tv.
Now will the 1440x1080 streatch to 1920x1080?

Thanks
 
toddmcm said:
Interesting information here Elton. I have LOTS of questions if you have a few minutes I would appreciate it.

So direct hookup to the Decklink Extreme via component (what the heck is "Video 2" all about? Looks like SDI but can't find it in the manual, it's mentioned but no info???)
Click to expand...

Yes, connect the D4 component cable to the analog HD inputs of the Decklink card.
Video 2 is composite SD via BNC connector.

Set easy setup of DVCPRO HD 1080i 29.97. I assume my sequence settings should be the same.
Click to expand...

Yup. Make sure the Decklink card is looking for the signal via the analog inputs rather than SDI, otherwise you will get a blank capture window.

Now, my biggest area of confusion and why I'm really here: The Camera...

I still haven't even changed anything other than turning off AGC / Setting my custom gain settings 0/3/6, turn off AWB. Basically I turned off all the things I would turn off on any imaging device. It's still on HDV 60i with a shutter speed of 1/60 or 1/30 - and of course I can play with the aperture ring. (I haven't even looked at modes other than manual yet)

So I really just need to sit down with the book and the camera for a few more hours, days, weeks.
Click to expand...

You'll need to read up in the manual, but if you want to shoot 24F, just push the menu button/Signal setup/ and choose the HD signal standard "Frame rate...24F". Also, be sure "Comp. Out" is set to 1080i/480i. You should be able to get the live HD signal (not tape playback) to show in the FCP capture window now.

BUT to capture greenscreen in the "Best" way with this camera, what should the basic settings be. 24F vs 60i? Particular settings of each?
Click to expand...

Progressive footage tends to key more easily, so choose 24F or 30F, unless you need the footage to have a "normal" video look, in which case shoot standard 1080 60i.

Suggested keying software? I own shake, have Combustion at the studio (don't know it at all though), and Ultra Version 1 on my ancient PC at home but am willing to spend some cash on a new keyer if it will give significantly better results.
Click to expand...

I've pulled nice clean keys with Final Cut Pro. If you need better, maybe go with Shake but give FCP a try first.
 
milvid said:
O.K.
The A1 doesn't have an HDMI output. How can I get the 1920x1080?
Click to expand...

It is not available from the A1. Possible to take the component analogue output and redigitise it as 1920x1080 with a capture card, but the additional conversions involved could actually make the image worse instead of better. You would also need to be tethered to a desktop PC or an HD recording deck which is not that convenient.

milvid said:
Just to make sure. 16x9 SD will not streatch on an HD tv.
Click to expand...

16x9 SD will show without distortion on an HD TV. Hope that answers the question, which I don't quite follow.

milvid said:
Now will the 1440x1080 streatch to 1920x1080?
Click to expand...

In a PC environment, the 1440x1080 pixels should be detected by the media player as having a 1.33 aspect ratio, and the video will play back as 16:9 (equivalent to 1920x1080 with square pixels). NLE software will also recognise the 1.33 aspect ratio and treat the 1440x1080 frame as 16:9.

For playback directly from the A1, the component output is analogue, so there is no longer any 1440 or 1920 to talk about. When this signal is connected to an HD screen, it will be redigitised to the screen resolution and will show as 16:9.
 
Great thread.

XHA1 settiings in terms of signal do not seem to effect the Component output at all.

Well in FCP the only way the log and capture screen will show the live video is if the selected input is one of the 60i presets. I'm having great luck using the BlackMagic HD 60i ProRes 422.

Just got it setup and running and am looking forward to posting some results very soon. Can already tell a difference in how the footage reacts to color grading. Definitely SEEMS like there is more latitude. I will run some tests to absolutely confirm or deny what is going on.

OLD thread, but great info and was just what I was looking for.
 
vizziocom said:
Great thread.

XHA1 settiings in terms of signal do not seem to effect the Component output at all.

Well in FCP the only way the log and capture screen will show the live video is if the selected input is one of the 60i presets. I'm having great luck using the BlackMagic HD 60i ProRes 422.

Just got it setup and running and am looking forward to posting some results very soon. Can already tell a difference in how the footage reacts to color grading. Definitely SEEMS like there is more latitude. I will run some tests to absolutely confirm or deny what is going on.

OLD thread, but great info and was just what I was looking for.
Click to expand...

Are you capturing with the Black Magic card? How big is the difference/color space between HDV and the captured footage?

Can anyone confirm that it's really 4:2:2 on the component output on the XHA1?
 
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