Disadvantage to multiple formats on timeline?

R

Ryan Patch

Member
Hello!

I'm doing a project in which we're getting footage from an HVX-200 (DVCPRO HD) and a 5D (h.264, transcoded to prores). I've cut a lot in FCP, but haven't worked with P2 media in a while. I've learned that P2 DVCPRO HD is now a nativelu supported format, that can be edited right in the timeline, which is great.

My question is this: since I will be using ProRes in the timeline (for the 5D footage), is there any advantage to transcoding the DVCPRO HD stuff to ProRes, so that I'm editing in ALL ProRes, or is DVCPRO HD just as good as ProRes?

I'm dealing with a large documentary project file, so anything that will make the timelines or the project file lighter will help a lot, and that's my main concern. I know the DVCPRO will work, but the question is, will ProRes work better, or does that just add more transcoding and degradation to the project. Thanks!

Ryan
 
Transcoding the DVCPRO HD stuff into ProRes will create larger files. However, if you have seen the Zacuto Shootout with the DSLRs, they have tested editing the camera files versus ProRes transcoding, and they noticed the the ProRes file actually retained more detail in the highlights the the H.264 codec normally would have just left as white. I have no idea what is going on with this (since in theory, transcoding shouldn't create information that isn't there), but according to their tests, it does help the footage stand up to a lot of color correction. My suggestion would be to transcode to ProRes if you have the space for the files and if you think you'll need to do some heavy color correction.
 
Ryan Patch said:
Right, of course ProRes is better than the h.264, but what about the DVCPRO HD?
Click to expand...

Tomato/tomato, transcode the DVCPRO to Prores 422, the square pixel aspect of your prores files will do a mess with "auto adjusted" sequence settings with DVC pro's pixel aspect.
 
DJDecay said:
Tomato/tomato, transcode the DVCPRO to Prores 422, the square pixel aspect of your prores files will do a mess with "auto adjusted" sequence settings with DVC pro's pixel aspect.
Click to expand...

I know I just had a kid, but in my world "do a mess" means "**** on". I have been doing HVX/T2i shoots and have not noticed any issues with putting my Pro Res footage into a DVC ProHD timeline.

Is this going to bit me in the ass later? I also down convert the h.264 to 720p24 ProRes.
 
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