Color Bars

Norm Sanders

Norm Sanders

Script Wrangler
I see this mentioned a lot to record the color bars at the beginning of your take/scene, etc.

Why?

Is it for helping to adjust your lighting/look during the scene, or strictly for post? For those of you who use Vegas, where/how can I use this to benefit me in post?

I know I mentioned Vegas, but this really is a DVX question (I think), not an editing question .... again, I think.
 
i believe its used to calibrate something or other... i havnt leant how though...
 
Standard color bars are (were) used as an header for calibrating analog VCR output signals by a vectorscope/ waveform monitor. They also show specific RGB signals on the CRT guns and thus allow for electrical calibration of some video chain properties. For visual inspection/calibration they are rather limited, even with "blue only" monitors. A much more powerfull color bar version (for NTSC only) is the SMPTE color bar signal (http://www.greatdv.com/video/smptebars.htm).
 
Should 30 sec. of tone and colors still be recorded at the beginning of each tape? When I was in school they always told us to record 30 sec of color bars and tone at the head of every tape. I forgot why.

Thanks,
Maria
 
I forgot to add how does one record 30 secs. of tone and color bars at the beginning of the tape? Does anyone know?

Thanks,
maria
 
30 seconds of bars and tone is usually only going on masters, tough it could also be used just so you dont start rolling at the beginning of your tape, i would just roll on black or whatever for a minute before shooting.... and for masters, the bars/tone will be coming from your NLE. each system generates bars/tone differently but it is very easy... what system are you on?
The guys I've known that do encoding for broadcast say its usually the tapes that need bars and tone that dont have it....
 
Thanks for your response. Refresh my memory. What is NLE? Also, I'm shooting with a DVX and I'm using FCP. I know it's possible to record color bars and tone with a Canon XL1 and other cameras, I just haven't figured out how to do it with my DVX100A.

Maria
 
I usually record 30 seconds of color bars after a take / cut whatever... the reason being I can then roll back about 10 seconds do a rec chk and ensure I pick up a sequenced frame. Its handy in your NLE as after you capture its easy to see the barred sections between takes, so makes life a little easier. I dont use it for colour calibration really as usually I shoot a bunch of test stuff to see what Ill end up with before I go and shoot for real.
 
I usually just do 15-30 seconds at the beginning of the tape, not only for editing sake, but also because different decks and recording devices take up different amounts of tape when they thread it and prepare to play, so having that extra at the beginning ensures that you won't lose your beginning footage. As far as benefitting in post, the generated color bars won't really help you except for calibrating your monitor. What can help you though is getting a color chart, like the macbeth one or a Kodak color seperation guide or the colored sticks on your slate. By placing one of these items into the lighting setup of your scene and recording it, you have a visual reference to a standard set of colors that you can correct for in post. That way when you sit down to color correct, you have a visual starting point as to where your colors are at before you touch them. This is used alot in film shooting when you would have a telecine color timer calibrate the head of the reel to that standard set of colors. It's also useful in video too though.
 
Two questions:

What is NLE?

How do you record color bars and tone on the DVX 100-A (don't have manual nor DVX book).

Thanks.
 
NLE- Non-Linear Editor. In your case FCP would be your NLE. Bars can be assigned to one of the user buttons, go into the DVX menus and you'll find it, but your NLE should have an option to generate bars and tone.
 
Thanks for reminding me what NLE stands for.

Since I don't have my DVX book, can someone walk me through the step in assigning color bars to one of the user buttons?

thanks,
maria
 
Maria said:
Thanks for reminding me what NLE stands for.

Since I don't have my DVX book, can someone walk me through the step in assigning color bars to one of the user buttons?

thanks,
maria
Click to expand...

Have you illegally downloaded your cam over limewire or something like that ? Remember piracy is bad !!! :)

Seriously, you can find a pdf version of the user manual (and a lot more of litterature about the dvx…) by performing a search in google (dvx100+.pdf). Even starting by the product page of the dvx on panasonic's website.
 
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