Correct way of DJI D-log M editing?

relaxvideo wrote on 1/19/2025, 2:27 PM

Until now i mainly used standard 8bit rec-709 videos, but now with my DJI Mini4 Pro
i can record 10bit D-log M videos too.
What is the correct way of handling, editing these in Vegas 22?
Project settings, media properties, effect and render settings?

I am lost. Any tutorial out there?
thanks

Comments

Reyfox wrote on 1/20/2025, 3:44 AM

DJI does have a LUT for it to convert to Rec 709 HERE. With my Mini 3 Pro D-Cine, I've used the Color Panel to grade. Even using only the Color Curves, I've gotten some very good results.

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relaxvideo wrote on 1/20/2025, 3:45 AM

So i just drop it on LUT filter and render to normal 8bit, rec709?

Project settings doesn't matter?

thx

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Reyfox wrote on 1/20/2025, 3:50 AM

You still might have to do some color correcting depending on the look you want. You can render it out to whatever you want no matter the project settings. Rec 709 also does 10bit.

Here is a sample of the footage I shot and only used the Color Curves in the Color Panel. Go to about the 5:10 mark in the video.

Last changed by Reyfox on 1/20/2025, 3:57 AM, changed a total of 3 times.

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RogerS wrote on 1/20/2025, 3:53 AM

If you are working with 10-bit log, at least before rendering you need to change it to 32-bit full with view transform off if you intend to use a LUT or CGP for grading. You might do this at the media level and then tweak as needed at the event level.

Otherwise ACES is an option but I don't think there is a color profile for this camera.

Then render to whatever you want (8 bit AVC is fine; you need the 10-bit for the log conversion not for viewing SDR).

relaxvideo wrote on 1/20/2025, 3:53 AM

thx
so the advantage is that i can change colors, exposure more intensely without banding, right?
(to some point of course, compared to rec709 recording)

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Reyfox wrote on 1/20/2025, 5:09 AM

There is one way to find out... try it! I'll edit in 32bit when I work with 10bit video, for that very reason, banding in the sky for the most part. That's one reason why I shoot mainly 10bit since a lot of what I shoot will be scenic with a lot of sky.

So experiment and render out those portions to see how it looks.

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RogerS wrote on 1/20/2025, 5:20 AM

Yes, the point of doing the conversion in 32-bit mode is to avoid banding and take advantage of the 10-bit precision of the source.

relaxvideo wrote on 1/20/2025, 5:21 AM

yes, i can try experiment for hours :)

that's why i asked first

thank you

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Reyfox wrote on 1/20/2025, 5:22 AM

I know I too have spent a lot of time experimenting. But what that has shown me are ways of doing and not doing something. What is great is that you can get the look you want, and I've always learned something new.

Have fun and let us know what you've decided on.

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Dexcon wrote on 1/20/2025, 5:49 AM

From a very good years old HitFilm video on YT about color grading and LUTs, it was explained that there are two types of LUTs: 1 - technical LUTs that transform the unique propriety color profile of a specific camera to a 'watchable' image; and 2 - 'look' or creative LUTs which typically provide the 'look' of a well-known feature film or TV series.

It could well be that the LUT for your DJI camera is a technical LUT and therefore is for a transform purpose only. Once that technical LUT is applied, normal color grading can then be carried out on that video event.

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relaxvideo wrote on 1/20/2025, 9:04 AM

ok, got it!

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ChrisD wrote on 1/23/2025, 3:38 PM

I have the Mini4 Pro as well. My (limited) understanding is that D Log M is a bit of a strange animal, though I have had good results by adding a bit of contrast, and a slight colour curve. Have you tried HLG? It seems to have almost the same dynamic range, and looks fairly good right off the card, requiring minimal correction.

And at the risk of going OT, have you figured out a Vegas workflow to format and position the telemetry from the SRT file - without a ton of hand-editing? That is, not cc, but as subtitles or an overlay.

relaxvideo wrote on 1/24/2025, 2:17 AM

thx, i will try HLG too, but experts say dlog-m is the best for post processing.

For srt: i only use mediaplayer classic which so these infos as subtitles when i want (iso, shutter, etc)

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