Firestore Format for Final Cut Pro.

[spikeman256]

I shot stills at a ballroom dance competition on this past Saturday, but as far as video, I stuck my cheapo camcorder on a tripod to shoot the dance floor since the camcorder was able to hold the 1.5 hours needed...I only have 8GB for my hvx-200 and no one to help offload.

So, I would consider purchasing a Firestore. I see the FS-100 and the newer FS-5...about the same price, but I guess the FS-5 is less storage but with new features.

1 - My goal is to be able to sit my hvx-200 on the tripod and shoot for a couple of hours straight...no cuts, no pans, no nothing until I stop the recording.

2 - I would like to import this entire two hours or so into my friend's Final Cut Pro, maybe quickly chop out a few scenes.

3 - Next, I'd like to burn a DVD of the entire event. Nothing fancy...just recorded footage that runs straight for the two hours...this obviously isn't nearly as exciting as great closeups, cuts, sweet editing, etc....but, I don't have the ability to do that at this time.

My questions:

1 - What is a recording format that will be somewhat space efficient, yet still good for a ballroom that might be dimly lit (if that effects recording mode choice). The ever-popular 720/24? Would it help to film at 1080i even if I burn to a regular DVD?

2 - What firestore recording mode would be best recommended since I'll be going into Final Cut and then simply burning a DVD? MXF? Quicktime?

: Keep in mind that I'm not ready for all of the whiz-bang capabilities of MXF...I just need something that can help me record & burn as quickly as possible with the fewest steps and least time.

3 - I don't know if it's actually FCP that *burns* the DVD or if it's a separate Mac app...in either case, what is the time limit on a 4.7GB DVD? If I ever needed to burn, say, 4 hours, could quality be reduced, yet still have it fit?

: One thing I will probably do is somehow cut the 2 hours into 5 or 10 scenes that can be quickly jumped to during DVD viewing.

4 - Any recommendations of the FS-100 vs. FS-5?


Thank you.

-Shannon

 

[VenezuelanD]

1. Shoot 720/24pn if you want to shoot in HD

2. You can record native .mov files so that you can edit on FCP direct. Please understand that the only firestore that works with the HVX and with DVCProHD codecs is the FS-100 not the FS-5. That is a drive designed for HDV and DV cameras.

The FS-100 comes in three flavors: 100gb (discontinued), 160gb, and 250gb.

3. FCP does not burn the dvds you can send your project out to DVD Studio Pro and author a DVD from there.

Honestly from what I am understanding about this project: Low light, no editing, you might be better off finding someone with an SD camera that performs better in low light than the HVX such as DVX100, a PD170, or a VX2000. This way you can record to tapes and only have to switch every hour.

You can record up to 4 hours (maybe even more) on a single layer dvd, however the quality hits that you take are pretty large (IMO). If you're going over 1.5 hours you really want to think about recording to a dual layer dvd to mantain quality.

As it is if you use the HVX I'd recommend shooting it in MiniDV widescreen 24p instead of to P2 cards or Firestore because in the conditions you describe the ~$2k investment required for a new firestore does not justify the minimal increase in quality you would achieve.

 

[Jim Carswell]

Set the camera at 720/24 and the Firestore FS-100 at pn and you will get more than the two hours your looking for. I think it's closer to four hours.

The FS-5 is not for use with the HVX.

Jim

 

[spikeman256]

1 - 720/24pn - Got it.

2 - HVX-200 with FS-100 only...Got it.

3 - .MOV for FCP instead of MXF...ok.

4 - So, the HVX-200 is so bad in low light that the results won't be much better than an SD camera? That stinks...the HVX-200 is all I have access to.

5 - A tape wouldn't be a bad idea if I could just give it to the client upon completion, but he actually needs a DVD....so, going from firestore into the PC would probably be easier or more convenient than from tape.

Although at a cost of $2000...ugh.


6 - If I need to burn a dual layer disc to keep quality, then that sounds like the thing to do...I'll have to find out 1) can most macs burn dual layer & 2) can standard dvd players play them.


7 - VenezuelanD, do you recommend MiniDV with the HVX-200 because it will give me more shooting time, yet with no significant quality loss over 720/24 to P2 card? (do to the low light problem).


Thanks.

-shannon