Intermediate codecs with the hacked GH1

[cut2052]

I need an intermediate codec to work with these large, high bitrate files from the hacked GH1.
I recently used Avid's DNxHD codec and was able to export the individual files and re-import back in Vegas. But that is a "lossy" format. It also made the files four times as big as the original.

I was considering a lossless codec, like Cineform NeoScene.
Will the files with, for example 50 to 100mbps, be compatible with NeoScene?

I understand Cineform also makes the files larger; they say on their site that 1920x1080 10mbps would be 60 gigs for an hour. Would a 50mbps file 1920x1080 be five times that, or it doesn't work that way?

What are the other intermediate codecs and workflow people are using with the high bitrate files from the hacked GH1?

 

[CRFilms]

Cineform is industry standard but it costs $100+. I was looking for a free solution and found this:

http://buildyourown.wordpress.com/2010/08/08/how-to-transcode-mov-files-using-matrox-codecs/

It's for T2i files, but it works with the mts files from the GH1. The matrox codec is much easier to view, but it makes huge files. A 9mb, 5 second clip, is 100mb after conversion. My trial period for Neoscene expired so I can't remember how big it's files were but they were at least 5 times bigger give or take....ok just found some old files I had converted with Neoscene. I can't watch them cause I removed the codecs, but a 9 second clip is 41mb(pre hack footage), so neoscene does give you a big storage advantage over Matrox....but matrox is free.

Only other downside is matrox/Prism Converter only gives closest 24p frame rate at 23.98, while the GH13/7 does 23.971. I haven't shot any footage that can test out sync issues, but it looks ok so far. Again, you get what you pay for.

EDIT: Also, another thing Cineform has over Prism/Matrox is speed. Cineform can convert at least 3 times faster than Prism. I was stunned at how fast Cineform converted the stock GH1 60i files into 24p avi. Fast, fast, fast.

 

[cut2052]

Thanks for the reply.

Since my post, I tried tried the Cineform NeoScene trial and found that the file sizes became about 3 times bigger after going from mts to Cineform AVI.
The speed of the NeoScene process is reasonable; I just let it run in the background while doing something else.
Sony Vegas was able to handle the files easily, especially during render/which was the problem with the hacked GH1 files. Vegas was crashing when rendering all high bitrate mts. The image quality also improved with Cineform.

I am really impressed by it and am strongly considering getting NeoScene.

 

[mr bill]

DNxHD may be a 'lossy' codec math-wise but I challenge you to see ANY difference when put up against the uncompressed source. Avid did this at NAB a few years ago - original and DNxHD with a horizontal wipe between the two, and people were blown away. I would have every confidence in using it.