Show all posts by user

Re: workflow: AVCHD (panasonic-ag-hmc40) and FCP - 14 years ago

I've been using the Panny HMC150 (which also shoots AVCHD) for the past 18 months and find the workflow very user friendly. Plus the cards are dirt cheap in comparison to P2 cards -- $40 holds more than 90 minutes of 1080p. We brought 30 of them for a shoot in Guatemala and they worked flawlessly. Thomas

Re: audio synch question: using 30fps "flip camera" footage in a 29.97 timeline - 14 years ago

I know it can be done... I'm just hoping to hear from people who've done it... and hear what their workflow is. I've just heard a lot of grumbling (about out-of-synch audio) from people who've shot 30fps footage with the canon 5d mark II and tried to convert it to 24fps or 29.97fps. We have a quick turnaround on this edit, and we don't want to use flip cameras if we have to spend an inordinate am

audio synch question: using 30fps "flip camera" footage in a 29.97 timeline - 14 years ago

We're producing a travel reality show and we're considering giving out some flip cameras to the on-camera hosts to intercut with the principal photography. We're not worried about a slightly degraded visual image, but I'm worried about the audio being in synch. The timeline is 29.97 frames per second... and as far as I know, the flip camera (like the Canon 5d mark II) records at a straight 30 fra

Need to convert to 1080/50i. Should I shoot at 1080/60i or 1080/24p? - 15 years ago

I'm working with a client that needs my footage in 1080/50i. I'm shooting on a Panasonic HMC 150... and as I see it, my options are either shoot at 1080/60i or 1080/24p... then convert using Compressor. Any thoughts on which would be best? I'm guessing 1080/24p, but I've never converted a progressive image to interlaced. Thomas P.S. Years ago I used Graeme Nattress' plug-in to convert DV fo

Re: red exclamation mark when importing AVCHD Footage - 15 years ago

I've had a similar problem: a handful of clips won't import (like you, I get the red exclamation point). I can discern no pattern as to why certain clips won't import... but a quick work-around that works for me is simply changing the name of the clip that won't import. This method has worked 100% of the time. - Thomas

Re: HELP! BAD AUDIO - 16 years ago

Reshoot the interview. You can waste a lot of time (and a little money) trying to improve the audio, but in the end it will still sound bad. We've all been there, and tried like mad to eliminate echoes/air conditioners/traffic... all to little avail, if indeed the problem is "terrible."

Re: Fttping an MPEG 2 - 16 years ago

Andy and Koz are correct about MPEG2 being used for broadcast. I upload MPEG2 files to The Newsmarket all the time. The clips are typically two minutes long... and are less than 90 MB. I use Compressor (720 x 480; average data rate 4 Mbps, max data rate 6 Mpbs; audio set at IMA 4:1). Once the video and audio files are created, merge them using BitViceHelper, which can be downloaded here: Tho

Re: OT: Zach from "on the lot" - 17 years ago

lhdor12 zach's latest short ('die hardly working') didn't have ANY special effects (just great sound design) and he still destroyed the competition, which is admittedly weak. i agree with shane -- a show with great potential has descended into a saccharine mess (with shameless product placements, like the caveman/mustang short, which not only kisses the arse of the show's sponsor (ford) but is

Re: Input for voiceover tool?? - 17 years ago

<<<a mic through a pre-amp>>> i run an electro-voice re20 mic through a focusrite 'voicemaster pro' pre-amp.

Re: Input for voiceover tool?? - 17 years ago

> so why does FCP have a voiceover tool that cannot be used I'm with Derek. I use a mic through a pre-amp and the voice-over tool works quite well.

Re: OT- is it ok to use 10 sec of music w/o copyright? - 17 years ago

i stand by derek and shane's advice. anyone making documentaries knows what an uphill fight it is securing music rights, even if everybody and their dog suggests it falls under "fair use." ask a filmmaker who's tried to use a clip of anyone (even in a documentary) singing happy birthday. it ain't free. many a filmmaker has been sued or threatened with litigation because they were given

O.T.:Free 8GB P2 card with HVX200... what's up? - 17 years ago

Panasonic is offering a free 8GB P2 card (and the HVX Book by Barry Green) with purchase of HVX200 before Dec. 31. Sweet deal, for sure ? I'm just wondering if anyone knows of any big changes in store for the HVX200 in the short-term (HVX200a?). I've heard the 16GB P2 card isn't too far off. Anyone know anything else? Thomas

Re: capturing Sony Z1 HDV footage - 17 years ago

The Z1 doesn't shoot 720p. As for storage requirements with the Z1, Tom is right ? 1080i HDV takes up about the same amount of space as DV, so five hours will require at least 60 hours. (720p HDV, like in the JVC, records at a slightly smaller bitrate... which is probably why Josh suggested less space is needed.)

Re: Progressive Scan - 17 years ago

John If you're shooting on a Sony VX 2000, DO NOT shoot in progressive mode. It won't shoot 30 fps... it will only shoot 15 fps. Unless you intentionally want an extremely choppy look... avoid it, and use something like Graeme's film-look plug-ins to get a progressive look. Sony has lagged behind others (notably Panasonic) when it comes to offering progressive shooting on cameras under $5,000

Re: OT: problems with B and H? - 18 years ago

Using B&H for six years... they only messed up one order (in a minor way) and promptly fixed the problem. No complaints.

Re: Progressive VS 30P - 18 years ago

30p is progressive. p = progressive... i = interlaced.

Re: HDV Camera Conundrum - 18 years ago

<< "I'd avoid DVCProHD for quality reasons though.... It's rough on video....">> Graeme... what exactly do you mean by "rough on video"? I'm about to begin a project on HDV and a number of people have suggested converting all the HDV footage to DVCProHD before editing (because of shorter renders, etc). I'm going to be using a lot of plug-ins (including your great

Re: Monitor Calibration - 18 years ago

<Besides with DV, you have very little chance of ever getting it to a television or cable station.> DV makes it to cable and beyond all the time. PBS, MTV, CNN, National Geographic, Discovery, HBO and many more.

Re: Magic Bullet and color correction - 18 years ago

Joey What's the difference between FCP version and AE version? Any idea how it compares to Graeme Nattress' film effects? Thomas

Re: Voice Over Blues - 18 years ago

Popular topic. Do a quick search of this forum and you'll find about a thousand recommendations for pre-amps, etc. I'd stay away from the iMic.

Re: cine film effect filters? - 18 years ago

Re: making digital video look more like film - 18 years ago

Do a quick search on this forum and you'll find a ton of suggestions, including buying a set of film-look filters by Graeme Nattress. You might start by de-interlacing the video, changing the gamma and making it 24 frames per second -- all things you can do with the Nattress filters. Here's the link:

Re: Buying mic for inputting sound into G5 FCP5 reasonable price good quality. - 18 years ago

My two cents on the Griffin iMic: avoid it. The blurb on the website sounds great - but in reality, it's hit-or-miss. At times, it works fine; but sometimes it produces an unacceptable amount of noise that will drive you nuts. I've been using a PreSonus FIREBOX for the past month and it's been working great. Here's some info:

Re: Crap quality MPG2 DVD Pro - 18 years ago

Since we're on the subject, what does everyone (Greg, Graeme, anyone) think is the best way to get the highest-quality DVDs using FCP? I've just finished a 45-minute documentary with a lot of graphics. I exported the documentary as a self-contained movie, then dropped it into iDVD and made a quick DVD. Quality looks fine ? I'm just wondering if the quality would improve if I were to use DVD Stu

Re: slow speed - 18 years ago

Most of the slow motion I see with Final Cut (and Avid) looks a little soft. To get slow motion, Final Cut needs to stick in extra frames of video. Unless you shoot with a variable frame rate (only available on film cameras, the Varicam or the HVX200), you're not going to get the beautiful slow motion we're accustomed to seeing in feature films or music videos. That said, I've also seen some p

Re: slow speed - 18 years ago

Unless you're shooting on a Varicam or an HVX200 (each has a true variable frame rate), you're slo-mo isn't going to look so great.

Re: Problems getting HDV footage back onto tape. - 18 years ago

The only way I'm able to lay HDV back to my Sony HDV cam is through "print to video." Have you tried "print to video"?

Re: UPDATE on capturing Sony HZ1 footage with GL1 camera - 18 years ago

What format was the footage shot in (HDV or regular DV)? If it's HDV, there's no way you can capture it using a GL1.

Re: HDV conversion questions - 18 years ago

From what I've heard, the not-so-friendly side of HDV appears when it comes time to render. Nightmares abound about insanely-long renders. So I guess the question I have is: what's the quickest way to convert HDV to DVCPRO HD? I've heard someone say that if you're just doing a Quicktime Conversion within FCP, it could take six hours to convert one hour of HDV to one hour of DVCPRO HD. I don't k

HDV conversion questions - 18 years ago

What's the best strategy for converting Sony HDV to a more FCP-friendly format like DVCPRO HD? I'm most concerned about time. Does a capture card like the Kona-LH allow you to do it on the fly as it's imported? Do you need the Sony HDV deck (and not just the camera) if you go this route? And if you go with the HDVxDV software, how long does it take to convert one hour of HDV? (I've emailed the