AVCHD as used by the AF100.... EDITING

Shooter said:
Thanx all for your thoughts /input and keep them coming please. I am trying to make a decision and you guys are really helping.

..but...I am still reading transcode, transcode, difficulty with keying etc...

I read about instabilty and potential failure of SD cards - scary in a pro scenario!

I am going to struggle with AVCHD versus the ease and familarity of P2 and DVCPRO HD

Love to hear from Pro editors ( not camera people) also ...please.
Click to expand...

Are you against using an external recording device, like the Ki Pro Mini, nanoFLASH, or the Atmos Ninja? With these you could do either Prores or XDCAM HD, thus bypassing the AVCHD codec completely.
 
Last edited:
I am some what encouraged by Barry Greens replys. (and Jan C.s understanding of not needing or wantingto transcode)

Adobe PPRO CS5 with MPE /CUDA is a brilliant way to edit... and everyone else using it here understands the reason why I do not wish to transcode.
(Transcoding and intermediates seems a way of life for FCP users ...but not one I wish to engage in when its so un necessary)

I dont actually understand why the shoot CODEC is not what one would want to edit with. Whats the advantage of that?
eg DVCPRO can be shot, edited, exported , cross platformed, transcoded...etc .

I am now looking foward to shooting and running my own tests thru my post prod pipeline. I just need access to an AF100 ( AF102 actually) and have organised that as part of my pre order.

Currently , my Panasonic HVX202 workflow for any TVC I shoot with that particular camera is:

(Windows 7 Pro)

Shoot 720p / 1080 DVCPRO HD
Transfer card to external HD (in the field) . This drive becomes the backup and archive once next step is complete.
Transfer files from external HD to local HD in NLE
Ingest to PPRO CS5
Edit - using entire Adobe Suite incl AEFX. (All files native and using DL . Occasional intermediates)
CC , Grade, FX, Keys ( I shoot a lot of keys and need this to work flawlessly)
Output Sub Master or Master file ( HD uncompressed .Mov )
Mix and master audio at Audio Studio. Layback to master.
Post house transfers via FCP* and Kona card to Master tape. Creates outputs for Broadcast ( TV stations)

*FCP is the weakest link in my chain due to the Gamma issues but I am stuck with that and it does work. I compensate for it.

I will post up what I discover once I test AVCHD in the same workflow.
 
can you use mercury engine playback even if you don't havea 300+ dollar video card?
 
Nektonic said:
Are against using an external recording device, like the Ki Pro Mini, nanoFLASH, or the Atmos Ninja? With these you could do either Prores or XDCAM HD, thus bypassing the AVCHD codec completely.
Click to expand...

I am not against the concept of an external device at all and will be checking the options out. Kind of becomes an issue of cost and convenience as well at some point.

Primarily I want a great editing experience and a workflow that is not going to be "troublesome". I already have that with DVCPRO HD...now AVCHD...lets find out.

I know the camera can do the business.. so thats not the reason for this thread.

BTW: Pro Res is not really a decent option for Windows users. It works fine as a read and edit solution but writing or exporting to it is a NO-GO!
Its also kind of illogical weirdness that FCP uses it as an intermediate and expand the file size in the process. Duh!
 
Shooter said:
I am not against the concept of an external device at all and will be checking the options out. Kind of becomes an issue of cost and convenience as well at some point.

Primarily I want a great editing experience and a workflow that is not going to be "troublesome". I already have that with DVCPRO HD...now AVCHD...lets find out.

I know the camera can do the business.. so thats not the reason for this thread.

BTW: Pro Res is not really a decent option for Windows users. It works fine as a read and edit solution but writing or exporting to it is a NO-GO!
Its also kind of illogical weirdness that FCP uses it as an intermediate and expand the file size in the process. Duh!
Click to expand...

I completely understand. I'm gonna get the camera first, then see how the various external recorders stack up, and whether or not I need one later in 2011.

Although, I'm okay with transcoding, as I've gotten used to it with footage I shoot with my DSLR, and have sometimes even transcoded my HDV footage to edit in a more robust codec in FCP.
 
lpowell said:
In CS5 you don't need to transcode because you no longer need to do multiple renders. You can edit your composition directly from the original source files in Premiere (using proxies if needed) and export the entire project to After Effects without intermediate renders.
Click to expand...

That is exactly my issue. The CS3 "dynamic link" never really worked that great for me so I ended up having to do JPEG2000 renders whenever I wanted to go back and forth from After Effects to Premiere. I really like AE for even simple things like color grading over Premiere.

So, does AE prerender AVCHD so it can actually work with longGOP? How is the "dynamic link" with CS5? Again, still on CS3 here. Maybe it's time to upgrade.

As far as proxies: do you mean some may need them if their graphics card isn't up to snuff?
 
I do envy CS5 in that respect and I used to cut on it before FCP. I just hope that the next FCP goes 64 bit, native codec editing and a few new added toys as well. Would be nice if they include a plugin similar to pluraleyes.. which I absolutely love and think every editor should have it...


cheers all but I for one have no qualms about AVCHD.. it's been a solid earner and really great to cut... although you do end up with some larger sizes.... harddrives are just cheap... One thing though, redundant backup and offloading to multiple sources is still a major consideration.... Loosing footage sucks more than the Movie Pearl Harbor.....
 
Steve Kahn said:
That is exactly my issue. The CS3 "dynamic link" never really worked that great...

So, does AE prerender AVCHD so it can actually work with longGOP? How is the "dynamic link" with CS5? Again, still on CS3 here. Maybe it's time to upgrade.

As far as proxies: do you mean some may need them if their graphics card isn't up to snuff?
Click to expand...
Yes, CS5 works as advertised, and if you haven't yet tried Rotobrush in AE CS5, you have a real treat to look forward to.

CS5 does not prerender AVCHD, it decodes and displays it on-the-fly. Really, there is no transcoding involved, it's all done in RAM.

Whether you need proxies depends on how complex your layers get. You can render a proxy for any video file at any time, and CS5 will automatically substitute the proxy for the original up until your final render.
 
Great information. Thanks guys. Now i need to get me cs5.

Will i have a lot of trouble editing avchd in cs4?

lpowell said:
It still works efficiently even without an nVidia card. But if you can install one in your workstation, even an inexpensive GT 240 will work with the Mercury Playback Engine. You just need to add its name to CS5's "cuda_supported_cards.txt" file:

http://www.indiev.org/?p=317
Click to expand...
 
I am becoming a little more encouraged as the thread progresses. Thanx.

I am so impatient to do my own tests and thwarted due to lack of the cam! ( I dont really wish to work with someone elses sample footage)

Specifics:

Anyone done any keying with AVCHD footage?
What CC or "looks" applications are you using ? eg Colorista, Color, Synthetic Aperture, MB Looks....
Anyone used it in a Flame Suite?

Any experience of AVCHD "gotchas"?
 
PaPa said:
Great information. Thanks guys. Now i need to get me cs5.

Will i have a lot of trouble editing avchd in cs4?
Click to expand...

Be a little careful. Not all NVIDIA Cuda Cards can be hacked. I think it is RAM dependent. do your home work on the Adobe Site where there is plenty of info and advice.

You can save your self some hassle by getting a certified for MPE card also from the approved (tested) list.

FWIW I use Quadro FX3800
 
im just not prepared to spend big bucks on an expensive graphics card at this point. I do, however, have nvidia because ATI cards seemed to be very screwy with pp.
 
Shooter said:
Be a little careful. Not all NVIDIA Cuda Cards can be hacked. I think it is RAM dependent. do your home work on the Adobe Site where there is plenty of info and advice.

You can save your self some hassle by getting a certified for MPE card also from the approved (tested) list.

FWIW I use Quadro FX3800
Click to expand...

Very, very true,

But with a little research, I've got a GTS450 1GB DDR5 doing fine over here...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top