AG-DVX100B Basics

[BruceCampbell413]

So, I recently acquired an AG-DVX100B from a friend who was looking to part with it for cheap so he could upgrade. What a fool. I jumped at the chance and snagged this little beauty for a great price. He took great care of it... I can practically still smell that new Panasonic scent!

Anyway, I've shot a couple shorts on this bad boy for my video class last semester... and I just had a couple super basic questions. At least... I hope they're basic. My friend didn't have the manual to give me as well... so I was hoping to just master this camera through experience. Then, I stumbled upon this super helpful-looking website... and figured I could learn from some experts! However, all the info in all these threads is overwhelming me a bit.

The first short I shot with the DVX I shot letterbox format. I Edited it in imovieHD (yeah whatever I know i sucks) and burned it to iDVD. When I watched it on my HDTV... it looked pretty great! No major complaints.

Last semester, I used it for my video final. This time, I edited it in Final Cut Pro. I still shot letterbox format... and this time the quality looked a bit worse. I compressed it with H.264 and the whole thing looked okay but generally grainy and unappealing. Also the aspect ratio on the quicktime file is weird... it sort of refuses to take up the whole viewing box. It basically just looks grainy and weird and not great. Should I have done something different in FCP?


tl:dr -

Is "squeeze" format always better?
How to I switch to 24p? Does that mean progressive? Not tryna get NTSC bars all up in here.
What's the best way to shoot and best way to edit (assuming I'm using FCP7)? What's different between that and imovie HD?


Long story short I'm trying to shoot something for my next video class (and edit it in final cut pro 7) and I just want to make sure I do everything right to ensure it looks as good as possible.



Finally, I understand that the DVX is not HD... but does anyone have experience with those programs that convert SD footage to HD? Do they look okay?


Thanks a million for bearing with me. I understand I must sound like a gigantic neophyte.

 

[BruceCampbell413]

thnx everyone

 

[Alex H.]

With so many people moving on to HD this section of the forum doesn't get as much traffic as it used to. That can cause delays in answers.

Is "squeeze" format always better?

Are you shooting for 16:9 widescreen? Then, yes. If you're shooting for 4:3, then no.

How to I switch to 24p? Does that mean progressive? Not tryna get NTSC bars all up in here.

One of your scene file settings should be set to 24p Advanced (24pA). That'll get you where you need to be. Yes, that "p" means progressive, and the 24 stands for 24 frames per second (actually 23.976). The difference between 24p and 24pA is in the pulldown that's added, since both are recorded to tape at 29.97. NTSC bars have nothing to do with this.

If you want to shoot and edit in 24p, use the Advanced setting. If you want to know why, read THIS and THIS.

What's the best way to shoot and best way to edit (assuming I'm using FCP7)? What's different between that and imovie HD?

Best way to shoot? For what? 24p is great if you want the motion look of film. 60i (Progressive: OFF) is fine for broadcast and DVD. 30p is what you want for Internet video without the film-like motion of 24p.

Never use Squeeze for 60i.

To edit 24p:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?23355-FAQ-How-to-digitize-24pA-footage-for-a-23-98-Edit

Remember also, if you have shot in Squeeze, to set your FCP capture and sequence settings to Anamorphic.

And the difference between iMovie HD and FCP7 is that iMovie is a beginner's editing program that doesn't offer any advanced tools, and FCP 7 was designed for professionals. If you have a choice, it shouldn't even be a choice.

Finally, I understand that the DVX is not HD... but does anyone have experience with those programs that convert SD footage to HD? Do they look okay?

There were several folks who swore by InstantHD. It looked good, but I never was dissatisfied with the results I got simply by using Compressor or MPEG StreamClip to up-scale the frame size. It won't be HD, but the DVX holds up pretty well (assuming, of course, the source footage looks good).

 

[firehawk]

I use Red Giant software, Magic Bullet"instant HD" plugin.
I used to use it with my DVX100b to upscale my videos to 720 for web. I still use it today when I have SD footage I have to mix with HD. or pics, etc that are too small.
There certainly may be better options out there, but it seems to be ok for me.
I also have used it to upres 720 to 1080 with good results and 1080 to 2k for a crop zoom, so it would have future benefit to you as well should you later get another camera.

 

[kplo]

Can you still download the camera manual online from the Panasonic site?
Better yet, buy Barry Green's book.

Ken

 

[pulpfiction007]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...=nS8fwMcaYN44DEmc0zZ8Sg&bvm=bv.45960087,d.cGE

There's the manual if it will help you out.

 

[jammin]

With so many people moving on to HD this section of the forum doesn't get as much traffic as it used to. That can cause delays in answers.



Are you shooting for 16:9 widescreen? Then, yes. If you're shooting for 4:3, then no.



One of your scene file settings should be set to 24p Advanced (24pA). That'll get you where you need to be. Yes, that "p" means progressive, and the 24 stands for 24 frames per second (actually 23.976). The difference between 24p and 24pA is in the pulldown that's added, since both are recorded to tape at 29.97. NTSC bars have nothing to do with this.

If you want to shoot and edit in 24p, use the Advanced setting. If you want to know why, read THIS and THIS.

But what is I already recored in 24p Normal? What is the capture frame rate in Adobe PPRO? What would be the timeline framerate? And what would be export framerate(internet or TV broadcast? My DVX100B was shot with letterbox format, not squeeze.



Best way to shoot? For what? 24p is great if you want the motion look of film. 60i (Progressive: OFF) is fine for broadcast and DVD. 30p is what you want for Internet video without the film-like motion of 24p.

Never use Squeeze for 60i.

To edit 24p:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?23355-FAQ-How-to-digitize-24pA-footage-for-a-23-98-Edit

Does this apply to Adobe PPRO also? Or just FCP?

Remember also, if you have shot in Squeeze, to set your FCP capture and sequence settings to Anamorphic.

Note my bold replies back above....
Also....My capture always seems a little grainy when captured in Adobe Premiere Pro CS3, is that just viewing it on the computer(mac)? When I captured footage from the Canon XL2(used DVX100b to actually capture it), it seems much more clear than the DVX100B has, no graininess basically. The DVX100b looks good in the LCD screen, very clear and precise but when on CPU, it seems grainy in far away shots.

 

[Zim]

Use squeeze mode,24p. Export out 874x480

 

[David Jimerson]

But what is I already recored in 24p Normal? What is the capture frame rate in Adobe PPRO?

If you're in Premiere, it doesn't matter that you shot 24p standard; Premiere will still remove the pulldown automatically. You should shoot 24pA for 24p edit, but Premiere will still do you fine with 24p standard.

What would be the timeline framerate?

Use the DV-24p sequence.

And what would be export framerate(internet

For YouTube, Vimeo, etc., export as 23.976. You do NOT have to export as 29.97 for the web. (And you should NEVER export 24p material as 29.97p)

or TV broadcast?

TV broadcast is 60i, but you should edit as 24p FIRST and then export for broadcast.

My DVX100B was shot with letterbox format, not squeeze.

The only time you should ever shoot letterbox for widescreen is if you're going to watch it on a 4:3 TV directly from tape, and that's ALL you're ever going to do with it. If you plan to edit it at all, shoot Squeeze.

With your letterbox footage, you'll probably want to use the Widescreen version of the DV-24p sequence. Then you'll want to zoom in on your footage so that you cut the black bars out.

 

[jammin]

Hi David, that has to be best bit of answers I have gotten so far, as a lot of what I have seen has been mixed at best. This has been the most valuable so far even though I have gotten some good answers, they seem to be missing the directness that I was needing. LOL :2vrolijk_08:

If you're in Premiere, it doesn't matter that you shot 24p standard; Premiere will still remove the pulldown automatically. You should shoot 24pA for 24p edit, but Premiere will still do you fine with 24p standard.

Use the DV-24p sequence.

So shoot in 24pA always, then use project settings of DV-24p? Correct?
And the fact that I shot in 24pN will not matter either for this situation?
What do I capture the footage as 23.98 or 29.97? According to the article link posted above it says to always capture it at 29.97, is this correct?

For YouTube, Vimeo, etc., export as 23.976. You do NOT have to export as 29.97 for the web. (And you should NEVER export 24p material as 29.97p)

So export as 23.976, but is there a certain codec needed to use? Also any other settings I need to be aware of?

TV broadcast is 60i, but you should edit as 24p FIRST and then export for broadcast.

So export as 60i for this situation, but all edit processes the same as above? This is not a definite, but it helps in case they go that route later with the video.

The only time you should ever shoot letterbox for widescreen is if you're going to watch it on a 4:3 TV directly from tape, and that's ALL you're ever going to do with it. If you plan to edit it at all, shoot Squeeze.

So always shoot squeeze mode for widescreen style video? Well that info would have been good to know prior...LOL So when it shoots in squeeze it is actually shooting in full widescreen, but will not been seen that way until you capture it to a widescreen sequence?

With your letterbox footage, you'll probably want to use the Widescreen version of the DV-24p sequence. Then you'll want to zoom in on your footage so that you cut the black bars out.

Yes in some instances I have done this and some I use it for words and information(website, dates, etc) to be placed for the client. But the squeeze mode setup will change a lot of that.

Now here is a "kicker", I also have footage from a Canon XL2(tape, 16:9 mode) and Canon HD DSLR camera for some b-roll footage. What do I capture those as?

 

[jammin]

Sorry for the delay in responding to this thread, I thought I was subscribed to it but I guess not. Now I am.:happy:

 

[David Jimerson]

So shoot in 24pA always, then use project settings of DV-24p? Correct?

Correct. Use the 48KHz option.

And the fact that I shot in 24pN will not matter either for this situation?

It will not matter in Premiere. It would matter for FCP.

What do I capture the footage as 23.98 or 29.97? According to the article link posted above it says to always capture it at 29.97, is this correct?

You don't capture it "at" a frame rate; you just capture. You take it exactly as it is on the tape with no chages. This means the video files will be 60i with pulldown inserted, but Premiere will remove the pulldown in the 24p sequence and you will be working with 24p video.

So export as 23.976, but is there a certain codec needed to use? Also any other settings I need to be aware of?

That depends on what you're exporting for. YouTube, Vimeo, etc., have their guidelines that you can check.

So export as 60i for this situation, but all edit processes the same as above?

Yes. Edit your 24p material as 24p. DO NOT edit it as 60i (or "29.97") just because it's going to be broadcast that way. That's an export issue, not an editing issue. Treat them separately.

So always shoot squeeze mode for widescreen style video?

Yes. It will give you the best results.

So when it shoots in squeeze it is actually shooting in full widescreen, but will not been seen that way until you capture it to a widescreen sequence?

It is recording widescreen video. If you play it out to a widescreen TV, it will look right. If you play it on a standard TV, it will look squished. This is exactly the same as a widescreen DVD.

Now here is a "kicker", I also have footage from a Canon XL2(tape, 16:9 mode) and Canon HD DSLR camera for some b-roll footage. What do I capture those as?

The XL2 is functionally exactly the same as the DVX100B.

The HDSLR footage doesn't need to be captured; the video files are already on the card.

 

[jammin]

David I cannot say enough you have been money on the replies and the knowledge. Please keep subscribed to this thread in case I have any questions I can ask or would I be able to message you directly? I would rather have responses on here in case someone else comes along with the same questions they can get the answers as i was having a lot of problems finding direct answers which is was kind of weird. It looks like I am set for right now though, you have been VERY helpful with this and I appreciate it immensely. Hopefully I won't have any questions. Thanks again David!! :2vrolijk_08:

 

[David Jimerson]

Honestly, jammin -- check my sig -- the 24p & Frame Rates tutorial was designed specifically to answer all of these questions, and more.