is intensity pro needed for the hvx200?

V

vortex677

Well-known member
Hello all. I am about to purchase a intensity pro from blackmagic. I bought a hdmi 28inch pc monitor my hvx editing. what i wanted to know is do I need to shell out 349.00 or so for that card or is it not realy needed? I have been getting mixed reviews about it. I understand it doesint capture uncompressed as the site says on 1080/24p on my firestore 100hd so is there another way i can do the monitoring on my nle? (not realy understanding the need for it) another question is what is a good way to edit 1080/24p? I herd about a program called raylight. does this edit mxf files raw or how does it work exactly? sorry for all the questions, im just scared to shell out money on usless itemsand I always get the best advice from you guys so I had to ask. thank you in advance for all replies.
 
it all depends. what editing software are you using? and what exactly are you hoping to achieve.

youre not going to capture "uncompressed" HD anyway, without a serious fiber or scsi raid
 
Now, how would you propose to capture from an Intensity Pro? I have't noticed the HDMI port on my HVX. You would use it as a monitoring solution. How are you currently monitoring your HD? Not understanding the need for monitoring??? How else are you going to begin to view an accurate image? The computer screen does not provide an accurate representation of your video.

Your monitoring options-- Intensity or Intensity Pro (save the $100 unless you need the analog features of Intensity-- worth the $100 to me) to HDMI monitor. Disadvantages-- HD television is still not the level of a dedicated monitor. Virtually impossible to calibrate with any degree of accuracy.

if on Mac and FCP-- Matrox MXO. The middle ground. That's what I use. DVI output with calibration capabilities to a computer monitor but also SDI, composite and component with ability to downrez for simultaneous HD and SD.

Top option-- capture card SDI out to SDI monitor whether something as wonderfully basic as Panasonic LH1700 to very high end SDI monitors. This option, of course, is the best quality.

Ned Soltz
 
I understand now what u mean by monitoring. But im am not recording live and can i properly frame it in premire or after effects? im sorry if this sounds dumb im just clueless. Im hearing all these things about hd and nothing can properly edit it and it confused me. I use to do alot of shoots but I was never the editor. I did special effects using after effects. Everything came out briliant on the hd televisions. Now im getting the hvx200 and firestore100hd and alot are telling me hd is never uncompressed and mxf files are not supported. so im looking for a solution. I don't fuly understand why the hvx200 doesint have sdi when other cams i worked with did. I don't understand how firewire on hd could really achieve anything. I called up blackmagic sometell me it suports progressive frames others tell me it doesint which mixed me up even more. now I know I should get the intensity pro because im sure it will be good for future use and what i now am begining to understand monitoring. What is raylight exactly? thank u so much for all help provided.
 
I believe I've responded to you before.

Shooting to the FS and/or p2 cards results in video using the compressed DVCProHD codec.

Exactly and specifically what are your objectives and how do you intend to use Intensity to achieve them?
 
I want to use them for tv shows and one full feture movie. I want to pitch it to many networks but not till it's complete. You have responded to the compression question which this is not. My question here is above. Thanks for answering the other question but this one is difrent im still mixed up about it.
 
The computer monitor does not display the colors or any of the other values correctly. The whole basis of video editing is that one monitors to a properly calibrated NTSC or PAL monitor. If you are going to broadcast or full feature, it is even more critical that you have the best monitoring possible. Intensity really is not good enough for these purposes. You need a capture card with SDI output to SDI monitor. Or just resolve that you will only cut on your computer and then take footage to post house for color correction. Obviously, if you are going to full feature big screen, we're talking DaVinci or the like. For broadcast, you will need to go back to HDCAM or D5 unless you have a media outlet that would accept DVCPRO HD tape. Monitoring is critical and, as I said, that is unfortunately video 101.
Ned
 
ok, as i understand the intensity card is used for two key things:

1. LIVE capture from HDV based cameras (in order to bypass the crappy HDV format) into "uncompressed HD" - which as i understand, means that you'd have to have your computer on set with you. not to mention some form of RAID drive setup. this is ok for in-studio but a total non-starter for field work.

2. monitoring your HD project from your edit software out to consumer HD tv/projector/etc. thats handy as hell, especially for real-time client review but it can be done more accurately (however more costly) with the matrox MXO

from what im hearing in your posts vortex - you arent going to see a lot of (if ANY) benefit from the intensity card.

BIG QUESTION: what camera/format are you shooting with? and what kinds of things are you shooting?

----
as a side note, ive always thought that black magics documentation has been SADLY LACKING in actual real world information... and to a degree, pretty misleading...
 
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Not exactly on point #1.

The Intensity Pro card captures via HDMI. You get "uncompressed" if you shoot live and capture just like with the HVX component. Difference-- it is digital. Think of HDMI as a consumer version of SDI-- pipeline isn't as wide and it carries HDCP. Once compressed, it is compressed. Of course, you would need some kind of RAID set up for uncompressed. However, it is possible to capture on Macs to Apple ProRes if you are running an Intel machine. This will bypass a later transcode to ProRes.

#2 is correct-- Correct. It is very handy for client previews to projector or TV or perhaps even for the lowest end color correction. I tested and wrote a review a couple of weeks ago and it does have some great features in that regard. I was able to view output from Apple Color on HDMI HDTV. Not as accurate as SDI signal coming out of my Kona card, but keep the price in mind.

Vortex has indicated that he wants to shoot and monitor for broadcast and possible theatrical release. That means SDI monitoring to me.

Ned
 
ned, have you played at all with that MOTU v3hd thing? i wonder where that falls in the monitoring conversation...?
 
I have't had the chance to play with the Motu. I am in line to receive a review unit of the IoHD. I am also quite interested in how the IoHD handles monitoring since it has HDMI in addition to SDI outputs. Motu seems to have some very good features until you get to the codec-- ProRes is a step above DVCPRO HD and the price point of the two units is identical.

I haven't heard who will be getting the Motu but I'll post something either if I do get one or if I hear any reports.

Ned
 
so what model do u guys recomend the most then for monotoring so i dont have to take it to the lab and be presentable? i want to make sure i make a good impression. thanks again so much for all the help. i have a pc not a mac. i want to shoot at 1080/24p format.
 
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Since you are using Premiere, your choices are really the AJA Xena card or one of the Blackmagic cards. I think you could do with Decklink HD Extreme. From that either go SDI to something like the Panasonic LH1700. But using the Decklink HDLink you could go to a DVi monitor like a Dell 24". Using the HDLink to DVI monitor would be a very good compromise solution.

Ned
 
Yes. HDLink will do the trick (you probably need the $445 HDLink rather than HDLink Pro). You will also need SDI card. That's why I recommended the lowest end ($995) card. That would do the job nicely for you from Premiere. And should you ever switch to Mac, the Decklink cards are both PC and Mac compatible.

Ned Soltz
 
so i would have to buy a sdi card and the hdlink? why wouldint intensity pro do the same? don't they both do just monitoring? im sorry for asking so many questions, i want to buy today thats why. please let me know thankx so much again.
 
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so get HDLink and the sdi card purchase both? please let me know and i will buy now. thanks. I still dont have the hvx in my hands. I didint know they have an sdi conection. thanks again please let me know.
 
One last time. HVX does not have SDI. Intensity or Intensity Pro will not deliver you monitoring to the level of broadcast or theatrical application.

Buy one of the following:
SDI card + HDLink + DVI monitor
SDI card + SDI monitor (e.g. Panasonic LH1700)

Ned
 
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