HVX workflow question

[endeavor]

So we've been using the JVC HD GY100 for the last few months, but we officially hate JVC now. Anyway, with the JVC camera the workflow to start editing is rediculous.

With the HVX and the P2 cards, what is the format that the video comes into final cut pro in? can you edit it in realtime or do you have to downconvert the footage to edit realtime?

We really want to purchase this camera, I just wanted to find out some details before investing.

Any feedback, comments, etc about the HVX that can be given would be much appritiated!

Thanks

 

[ozduc]

With the HVX and the P2 cards, what is the format that the video comes into final cut pro in? can you edit it in realtime or do you have to downconvert the footage to edit realtime?
Thanks

When you shoot to p2 cards and ingest into FCP the footage will be in whatever format you chose to shoot in. ie. If you shoot 1080/24P, that's what the files will be in FCP, if you shoot 720/30p, that's what the files will be. etc. etc. You do not have to downconvert to edit as long as you have the drive speed and space. These days a FW400, 7200rpm drive is enough to edit 1 stream of DVCProHD footage but a FW800 or an eSata drive is recommmended.

 

[THoff]

The HD material from the HVX is in DVCProHD format, which FCP supports quite well. It takes the original data from the P2 cards and wraps it in a QuickTime container, but there is no transcoding involved, it's fast and lossless.

Once you have the material in a QT file, editing it is a breeze because DVCProHD uses intraframe compression -- there are no long GOPs, and every frame stands on it's own. While DVCProHD requires more I/O bandwidth than HDV (up to 100Mbps vs. 25Mbps), it's much easier on the CPU.