dvx100-like in post

S

salt

New member
hello,

i am getting ready to shoot my first short film and i am very confused as to what camera to shoot it on...

basically, my problem is that i have free access to a pd150 camera which i was going to shoot with until i saw some footage shot with the dvx100. i am not great with technical details (yet) but i could tell that image shot with dvx100 looks much better and much more like film.

so, my question is this: if i shoot with pd150, can i do in post what dvx100 does in camera. basically, should i spend money renting the dvx100 or can i shoot pd150 for free and do it in post. is it such big difference and is it worth it or not?

thanks in advance,

gerry
 
Re: dvx100-like in post

It is a big difference, but depending on how much money you have to spend altogether, it may be better spent on other areas of the production. With Magic Bullet you can simulate 24P, it will never look as good (despite what people may say) but it may be what you're after.

Definitely though, hands down the DVX is the superior camera for filmmaking.
 
Re: dvx100-like in post

Hm, Magic Bullet - that sound yummy...

But now i'm even more confused. :-/

In anycase, thanks for your answer Mike.
 
Re: dvx100-like in post

Mike, you said that Magic Bullet 'simulates' the 24 frame look, but i just went to their website and there it said that it actually 'converts' the footage making it 24.

Could you please expand upon why you think it cannot achive the 24 look and only 'simulate' it.

Gosh, technology is driving me nuts. It's not enough being an artist anymore - you have to be a bloody scientist as well !!
 
Re: dvx100-like in post

MB only simulates 24P because it takes interlaced footage (60i in NTSC, 50i in PAL) and applies software algorithm to interpolate between the odd and even scan fields. In NTSC it also applies pull-down removal (throws away about 20% of recorded information). The result is 'somewhat' similar to true 24P footage, but you will loose something in the process. For example, software doesn't know how the picture really looked like when the footage was taken, so it makes some educated guesses.

With true 24P, the CCD chip actually produces series of progressively scanned frames (like in film), and then the camera applies a reverse algorithm to generate interlaced video signal recorded on the tape (reverse pull-down).

The difference is, of course, that now odd and even fields will produce a smooth picture because they were taken from the same frame. When you download true 24P (or 25P) footage in your NLE, it should automatically be in progressive mode, no MB necessary.
 
Re: dvx100-like in post

Ok, thanks for the explenation Jerry, but now i have another dilema...

I just found out about the mini35 adapters as another great tool for dv filmmakers. Here in UK, the dvx100 camera and the mini35 adapter cost about  the same to rent. So what do you think is better, to have pd150 and the mini35 adapter or the dvx100 camera by itself? What would you rather shoot your movie with?...

thanks,

Gerry
 
Re: dvx100-like in post

I much prefer the look of the DVX to a PD150 with the Mini35. You're going to get higher resolution images and the film-like motion of 24p. It's gonna look great.
 
Re: dvx100-like in post

I'm new to the DVX... you all seem so knowledgable so I thought I'd try you:

1) I shot a concert in 24p (I don't think I used the advanced mode but I'm not sure)... I captured into FCP4 using a GL1 with normal settings ... NTSC 48kz... and I noticed a weird audio distortion. (bleeps... almost digital peaking but without a reading on the levels). I played it back on the camera and the same distortion exists on the tape it seems. Could this be the camera not liking the tape? Or do I have to go get the DVX again and capture with that?

2) If film isn't the project's final destination, should I edit in 29.97? Is there a procedure for capturing 24p that I should know? (I don't own the camera or the manual)

3) If the final destination is for both film AND dv.... should it be cut in 24p? Does FCP4 have to be set to that "remove pulldown" function during capture? What're the settings to keep in mind?

Sorry if these are complicated or stupid questions. I'm new.

-Steve
 
Re: dvx100-like in post

Steve,

Your first question - my guess is either you're editing on a 38Khz timeline using 48Khz footage, or the other way around... The DVX, like most camcorders, can record both types, so maybe it was set on 38Khz...?

Cheers, Andy.
 
Re: dvx100-like in post

Sorry, ignore that, I hadn't read your question fully!

It seems like (hopefully) just a MiniDV tape issue. Hopefully nothing's wrong with the GL1... Try using a different tape and THEN try capturing with your DVX. Sorry for the first post!
 
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