DVCPRO-HD codec in Vegas?

Jeff Cooper wrote on 8/30/2009, 7:46 PM
Hey folks...

I've got a distributor that wants me to render a film and wants me to use a "DVCPRO-HD codec" in highest quality High Def. I've never heard of this codec, and can't find much info about it on the web. I have no idea what this codec is, or does, or why it would be a requirement.

Does anyone know if I can render to this spec using Vegas?

I also wonder if they'd even notice the difference.... I've never seen this on a list of distribution requirements before.

Cheers, Jeff

Comments

rmack350 wrote on 8/30/2009, 11:18 PM
Vegas doesn't directly support any of the proprietary Panasonic formats. The only thing I know of that helps Vegas is to use Raylight. That would allow Vegas to read DVCPro-HD files but I don't know if it helps with writing them.

I'd check on Raylight first and then, regardless of whether Raylight allows you to write files in that format, explain to the client that Sony and Panasonic have a "Special Relationship" that prevents Sony from acquiring a license to the codec.

<edit>The Raylight Encoder is $150.00. http://dvfilmstore.com/raylight-encoder-pro.html This should allow you to write files.

Rob Mack
ushere wrote on 8/31/2009, 12:29 AM
alt, dump the edited master on to a ex hd, and take it to a studio that can transfer.

strange really since most broadcasters still want hd on tape rather than file....

leslie
Jeff Cooper wrote on 8/31/2009, 1:51 PM
Thanks for the info guys!

I just finished explaining to the distributor that the Cineform HDV that Sony uses is a vastly superior codec. I had absolutely no idea what I was talking about, but I used to sell used carpet, so I don't need the DVCPRO.

In reality, I doubt there's a person alive that could watch a film and be able to tell which codec was used anyway.... :o)

Cheers, Jeff

rmack350 wrote on 8/31/2009, 4:19 PM
It's more a matter of what's easier for them to work with. Since they accepted your logic I think they had no idea why they wanted DVCProHD.

However...DVCProHD is an easy codec to work with if your NLE supports it. For Final Cut this'd be a pretty common format. DVCProHD has a 100 Mb/s data rate and is ingestible over firewire.

Panasonic also has an AVC Intra format for DVCProHD that is 50 Mb/s but I doubt they wanted that. Both of these are native formats of some of the more professional Panasonic cameras.

Really, I'm sure there's tons of info out there about DVCProHD and you'd do well to know something about it.