From Avid Xpress Pro HD dub to P2 card

C

c3kings

Well-known member
Dear All,

I found an article from Avid:
http://www.avid.com/resources/whitep....pdf?dm=forums

On page 5, it says, "'Writeback' to P2 card is planned to futrue release." It seems to me that Digital Cut back to P2 card is actually not yet possible, or the option has been released, but I just don't update my Xpress Pro HD version yet, which is 5.2.4.

In fact, if I want to have a "copy" of my final cut with 1080/25p format, how many options I can have? I know 1./ dub to a DVCPRO HD tape, which, however, is not a cheap solution and neither a easy way to show around. But, what else, then?

I am concerned about how to pass around and show the HD files. See in the DV world, I can dub a DV tape or export an AVI file with DV compression to pass around and play either from a deck, a DV camera or even directly from a computer. But how about in this P2 HD world? Can I play back my final cut (say somehow it is less than 16 minutes and possible to be put in two 8G cards) directly from my HVX200? How many options I can have?

I heard about WMV HD format, but you know, you won't hold a WMV file from a DV project as the final version that you keep. You would keep an AVI file. I hope you get my question.

Any Avid Xpress Pro HD expert can comment on it, please?

Thank you for reading and thank in advance for any inputs.

King
 
I think you need to separate the need for viewing from archiving. Also, keeping final sequences of your project can get quite expensive and only works for sequences of a certain length.

Archiving is certainly the number one issue for formats that do not record to an archive format such as film, tape, XDCAM, etc. P2 is an expensive drive format that allows for very quick recording and transport to the NLE but it is not intended at this time to be the archive for delivery method for content.

So you need to separate the two issues - create a viewing format - either in SD world via a down convert or transcode to DV or DVD or in HD you can do WM for HD, or high def DVD such as Blu-Ray or HD-DVD. The archive of materials is the bigger concern - the files on disc are you masters, or as I like to call them - my digital negative. Those need to be backed up (maybe twice or more even) to a long term, low cost format. Many people use FireWire drives - although large and inexpensive, they do not have a good reputation for long term shelf life. You can always look to Blu-Ray data disks or tape based formats like DLT.

Many people record their sources back to tape format such as DVCPRO, HDCAM, etc for long term shelf life.

Once P2 write-back becomes a feature, it will help in some workflows, but not all of them - namely all your sources and lon term. Welcome to the file-based world - backup and archive will become your two new best friends the first time you lose something due to a drive failure.

Michael
 
Michael,

Thank you very much for your elaboration, which really clears my mind a lot!

As I know you are a moderator of Avid 24p forum, would you give me some ideas what HVX actually does the 2:2 pulldown to get the 25p over 1080i? Also, I know you are from NTSC world, so maybe can you direct me to some web page to study more?

Let me tell you what I have found out. I read something about HVX on European web page (www.hvx200.eu), and it says:

"Progressive to interlace conversion, cross conversion and down conversion all start with the 1080p/50 scan. That initial 1080p Native Progressive Scan offers the highest level of vertical resolution possible at this level of camera. Keep in mind that the camera does not record this signal but uses it as a basis for all capture."

I really want to know how it works.

By the way, I remember someone told me the following in another forum, "as I shoot 25p, no matter what I choose from Avid either 1080/50i or 1080p/25, I will still get progressive as the final output." Why? I think it is because I don't understand how HVX 2:2 pulldown converts interlace to progressive. I think I need to learn more, and it can help me choose the correct format from Avid (or one may say working out with Avid's limitation).

Thank you very much.

King
 
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