Transcoding AVCHD to DVC Pro HD

8string

8string

Well-known member
After downloading the program that Panasonic points us to to transcode from AVCHD to P2 DVC Pro HD, which appears to be AVS Video Converter 6.3, I'm unsure what format to transcode to. AVS sees my files, I can actual transcode to anything I want just fine, but there is no DVC Pro Hd format to choose. Am I supposed to choose the AVI format? I choose HD Video 1080p: H.264 AVC etc.

It sort of looks fine.

Agravatting that Panasonic sends us off to this other web site, where we have to pay to license the software, which Panny seems to imply is free. But that's a nit.

I am doing this because I'm under the belief that going from DVC Pro to FCP's Apple Pro Res formats will be better than just transcoding directly. My first experiments in transcodeing directly into Apple from DVCHD seems pretty good in my eyes, but thought this would be worth exploring.
 
I use MainConcept AVCHD to DVCPro Transcoder from Panasonic's website. I think you downloaded something else.
 
No just transcode to ProRes Directly donnot go from DVCPROHD to PRORES you will lose some resolution transcoding to DVCPROHD first.
 
Ok. I'm just going to stick with ProRes directly. Since it's lossless it appears to be doing a fine job for me. Just wanted to get the highest quality possible. And I know that there has been some thoughts floating around the support sites that maybe going from AVCHD to DVCPROHD would give better quality during the editing. It doesn't seem to matter. My eyes can't see the difference.
 
8string said:
Ok. I'm just going to stick with ProRes directly. Since it's lossless it appears to be doing a fine job for me. Just wanted to get the highest quality possible. And I know that there has been some thoughts floating around the support sites that maybe going from AVCHD to DVCPROHD would give better quality during the editing. It doesn't seem to matter. My eyes can't see the difference.
Click to expand...

I did a test, where I trans coded the footage to Pro Res and compared it to footage transcoded DVC PRO HD...the Pro Res looks better for me. The color "pops" more. Not quite sure why that it is, but nevertheless...

I would only transcode DVCPRO HD if you really didn't feel like mixing codecs, and your A-CAM happens to be an HVX.
 
ikander said:
I did a test, where I trans coded the footage to Pro Res and compared it to footage transcoded DVC PRO HD...the Pro Res looks better for me. The color "pops" more. Not quite sure why that it is, but nevertheless...

I would only transcode DVCPRO HD if you really didn't feel like mixing codecs, and your A-CAM happens to be an HVX.
Click to expand...

I agree on this. I compared CineFormed AVCHD footage to DVC PRO HD made from AVCHD footage, and the CineFormed footage definitely looked better. It wasn't vastly better, but better. I'd guess ProRes would be much the same.
 
Going from AVCHD to DVCPRO HD can't help but degrade the image, both luma and chroma. You whack 1/3 of the resolution off both luma and chroma sampling, as well as subject the images to a generation of lossy method compression (which is an extra generation of compression, if your final destination before any editing is Pro Res anyway).

Realize, that 1920x1080 4:2:0 sampling means 960x540 for the chroma. 1080 line DVCPRO HD is a 1280x1080 4:2:2 format, which means chroma sampling is stored at 640x1080. You whack 1/3 of the vertical lines, while doubling the number of horizontal lines stored, but that doubling of the horizontal lines does not magically produce more chroma information than was originally recorded by the camera, so you essentially wind up with actual chroma resolution of 640x540 (a significant sacrifice, in addition to the sacrifice of luma information).
 
Emperoryder said:
So,

Which software is the best to convert AVCHD to ProRes if I am using MAC and using CS4???

Thanks
Click to expand...

Well, ProRes is an Apple/Final Cut thing. I'm not sure you can even convert to Pro Res without Final Cut Studio installed.

I could be wrong about that, but it seems that a big selling point for Apple's newest version of Final Cut is all the flavors of Pro Res. They've been really pimping they're codec as of late....i
 
Robert M Wright said:
Going from AVCHD to DVCPRO HD can't help but degrade the image, both luma and chroma. You whack 1/3 of the resolution off both luma and chroma sampling, as well as subject the images to a generation of lossy method compression (which is an extra generation of compression, if your final destination before any editing is Pro Res anyway).

Realize, that 1920x1080 4:2:0 sampling means 960x540 for the chroma. 1080 line DVCPRO HD is a 1280x1080 4:2:2 format, which means chroma sampling is stored at 640x1080. You whack 1/3 of the vertical lines, while doubling the number of horizontal lines stored, but that doubling of the horizontal lines does not magically produce more chroma information than was originally recorded by the camera, so you essentially wind up with actual chroma resolution of 640x540 (a significant sacrifice, in addition to the sacrifice of luma information).
Click to expand...
Question for Robert Wright or anyone. I'm upgrading from the dvx100B to high def., and comparing the 150 and the 200. Price is some consideration but not a deal breaker. I'm concerned about final product resolution. Is there a significant difference between final output of the HMC 150, the HPX-170 and the HVX200? I will capture in Final Cut, latest version, on a Mac Pro eight-core (20Gb RAM), and intend to set the Sequence and timeline to ProRes 422. From there I can export via Compressor. Any predictions of how final output would appear in each of these cameras? (I do Nature video and small concert venues). Thanks!
 
Hi Rbtjonas,

You have already asked this same question in another thread and got some good answers. It is very confusing when someone introduces a new topic in the middle of someone else's thresd, especially as it has already been answered elsewhere.

Ken
 
KenP, Sorry about that. I'm just getting used to this discussion forum. I thought that by dropping in on different discussions I'd get more nuanced responses. I'll try to limit myself to one thread.
 
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