Workflow - convert hdcam footage to non compressed image sequence

C

chadi

Member
Hi
How "on a very high professional level" I can convert HDCAM footage shot by SONY F900R to be post-produced and/or Visual effects processed?
Is it useful to use DPX, CIN files, or the quality I can have from the tape is only 8bits and therefore I should stick with SGI or PIC format, in other words, can FCP, AVID or any other software provides higher quality for the image sequence more than 8bits, something like 16bit F or 32bits.
I was using Quicktime Pro 7 to open the quicktime "digitalized from tape" and then export it to image sequence, I found out many compression issues on some areas.
The mode used here is 25p, then no interlacing problem here.

Another question is for the workflow with those SD footage from tapes that shot with other SD SONY camera in 50i?

Thanx
 
HDCAM is 1440x1080 3:1:1 at 8-bpc. Converting this to a DPX format would not offer much of a benefit in terms of post unless you are sending your tape to a post-house that only accepts DPX workflow.

If you're sending your material out, I would seriously look at other post-houses that can work with your HDCAM tape directly, since converting it to a DPX sequence is going to cost a lot more, and take more time to get roughly a similar result.

If you must go down this road, you can capture the tape in a codec that is visually lossless and then convert that sequence to DPX with Adobe After Effects CS4+.

If you're doing everything yourself, Adobe's suite will work in 32bpc floating color space with 8-bpc files, giving you greater color accuracy with grading. It isn't fast, but it works.

What exactly do you have on your HDCAM tape and what are you trying to do with it? DPX may not be the best/most cost effective route to go.
 
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