Converting HDV to DVD output

Vulcan wrote on 3/9/2005, 1:52 PM

I´m going on a short trip to NY late next month. In US I can buy a HVR-Z1 for some USD 5,000 (Swedish price tag some USD 9,000) so I'm seriously considering replacing my PDX-10P with the HVR-Z1. I've no experience whatsoever with the new format but I have spent the last couple of days reading and searching and from what I understand that this is a fantastic camera. One thing that makes me confused is the conversion discussions. I have, for test purposes, downloaded four PAL HDV files (from the Sundance site) and the trial version of Cineform but I don't really know how to proceed and process the files.

Shall I convert the m2t files using CineForm or shall I put the m2t-files on the Vegas timeline and convert/render to intermedite HDV files using Vegas?

When I render the avi file to DV Widescreen (I use Procoder for producing the DVD files) shall I then change the field order of the HDV files, the field order of the resulting DV Widescreen avi file or shall I leave the settings as is (HDV UFF, DV LFF)? The clips I've downloaded doesn't have much motion so I'm not sure that the wrong setting will show up on these testclips.

Would I gain anything if I save and encode as progressive (my DVD and Plasma are capable of progressive output)?

Any input is highly appreciated.

Regards

Hans

Comments

busterkeaton wrote on 3/9/2005, 3:25 PM

HDV FAQ on the HDV Portal page.

I believe you use the trial version of Cineform, though my trial has expired.

PeterWright wrote on 3/9/2005, 4:52 PM

I've just finished my first HDV to Widescreen DVD project.

Although you could render from m2t to MPG2 directly, you won't be able to edit this, so it's better to convert to Cineform avi for editing, then render to DVD from there.

I used the Vegas Widescreen PAL DVD preset to create MPEG2 and it looks fabulous. This is the stage where the change to Lower field first occurs.

Vulcan wrote on 3/9/2005, 10:30 PM

Thank you.

When you say "this is the stage where the change to LFF occcurs do you mean that it is taken care of by Vegas without me doing anything (i.e. leave the presets as is) or do you mean that I shall change the Cineform avi from TFF to LFF?

Regards

Hans

Spot|DSE wrote on 3/9/2005, 11:17 PM

Let Vegas manage this. If you use the template, everything will be wonderful, pending everything being wonderful prior to the render.

PeterWright wrote on 3/9/2005, 11:20 PM

The preset for MPEG 2 seems to cover this - I have read about also changing the Cineform avi from Upper to Lower, but I'm not sure it's necessary - I certainly got good results without doing this.

Vulcan wrote on 3/10/2005, 10:55 AM

Thanks. Did the way suggested with both the PAL and the NTSC clips and the resulting DVD looks great, no teething and no jerkiness (there where motion in the NTSC clips. I'm now convinced that the Sony HDV camera is a good camera and that there ain't to much hazzle in getting the HDV files downconverted to DV for DVD output.