Converting MTS files with 5dtoRGB instead of FCP 7

[astro21]

Hi,

I have downloaded and tried 5dtoRBG Lite in order to transcode my MTS files to ProRes 422. As noted by some users on this forum and elsewhere on the web, the resulting MOV has toned-down highlights and less contrast, leading me to think that it has more latitude and could potentially be better to grade. My understanding is that 5dtoRBG is allegedly providing a better transcode, unleashing the true image from the MTS files.

In 5dtoRBG users' experience, is this true? Or is 5dtoRBG simply applying a filter that lowers highlights and contrast, and doing what could simply be done with a little bit of colour correction in an NLE software?

I note that in my tests, the original MTS, as opened in VLC, looks near-identical in highlights and contrast ratio as a ProRes 422 MOV transcoded with FCP's log and transfer.

 

[grimrebes]

What kind of system are you on? Are your monitors calibrated?

 

[astro21]

I'm using a MBP Core 2 Duo 2.66 with 8GB of RAM and a calibrated NEC LCD monitor.

 

[Gabrobot]

I know from working with AF100 footage in Premiere, which works in floating point space, that there's information above the clipping point. This means that in most editors, anything above that point shows up as white, and bringing the levels down doesn't bring any detail back. But in Premiere you can bring the levels down and get that detail above the clipping point back.

I'd guess 5DtoRGB is able to do the same.

 

[krrap]

I've tried this soft on gh2 and af-101 footage and i havent noticed any improvement in details or resolution or color...test was made on broadcast Panasonic monitor with accurate waveform. Maybe there's nothing more to get from AVCHD