HDV Workflow

frazerb wrote on 7/25/2006, 4:10 PM
I know this has been beaten to death, but I can't find a simple step-by-step procedure. Please tell me if this is a good workflow:

1. Capture HDV m2t files from the camera.
2. Render those files using the "HDV1080-60i intermediate" option under under "Video for Windows." (This creates avi files.)
3. Bring the avi files created in step 2 to the timeline of a project set for "HDV 1080-60i."
4. Edit the project.
5. To record back to a tape, use "Print video to HDV tape" or render using the "Mainconcept MPEG-2 HDV 1080-60i" template for later printing to the tape.*
6. To make a SD DVD, render using the "Mainconcept MPEG-2 DVD Architect NTSC video stream" and the "Dolby Digital AC-3" templates.*

* Is it important to render step 5 and 6 with the rendering quality set to Best?

Let me know if the above steps are correct, and if "Best" quality is necessary.

Buddy

Comments

ForumAdmin wrote on 7/25/2006, 6:00 PM
looks good, one proposed change.

Prior to rendering for DVD, set the project to the a DVD template that matches the target DVD format, save the project to a new file name, then check the timeline to make sure everything is the way you want it. If your DVD is 4:3 for instance, you might need to tweak positions of composited elements etc.
fldave wrote on 7/25/2006, 7:28 PM
If it's 16x9 widescreen output, I always use HDV 1080-60i project settings. In fact, I always use HDV project, and create a separate project for 4x3 to pan/crop (mostly crop, I try to anticipate if I have to go 4x3 when I shoot, and crop accordingly. But my project settings are always HDV for final render.

I always use best to downconvert, and if I add titles or graphics, always Best. I'm not that crunched for time to compromise quality. I'd rather do one Best render than a Good render and find that I have to go back and do Best.

Otherwise, the workflow looks good!
frazerb wrote on 7/26/2006, 5:19 AM
So, to sum up the responses so far:

The workflow is correct.

If one wants the final DVD to be 4:3, make that change in Vegas (new project setting, and pan, crop, title adjustments) and save it under a different project name. Don't let DVD Architect make the aspect conversion. No project setting is necessary to make a 16:9 DVD.

To my question about "Best" render quality, I think the answers so far are, "Yes, Best is important when rendering HDV to another format (mpg, avi, wmv).

One question remains: Is "Best Render Quality" recommended if the project is printed back to HDV tape or to an m2t file?

Buddy
mbryant wrote on 7/26/2006, 5:53 AM
Quoting from an old post by Sony support:

“Best uses ultra-high quality rescaling calculations”.

So if you are rendering from HDV back out to HDV, and thus not rescaling, then I don’t think it is necessary to use “Best”.
johnmeyer wrote on 7/26/2006, 11:18 AM
I agree with all the responses.

If you want to edit SD and HDV simultaneously on different tracks, or if you want to pan/crop the HDV footage prior to rendering to a 4:3 SD DVD, I developed the workflow described in the post linked to below. It is identical to what you are already doing, but lets you easily visualize the 4:3 cropping prior to render, AND if you want to zoom or pan the HDV footage, makes it easy to do so. Since this is one of the major benefits to shooting HDV during this time when most of us are still primarily in an SD world, I found this to be pretty useful.

My workflow for HDV to SD projects

mjroddy wrote on 7/26/2006, 11:56 AM
When I have edited a spot in HDV 16:9, I just render a single file out or a new track. That "mixes" everything down and I don't have to worry about things getting replaced in the 4:3 --> 16:9 conversion. Then I just render that single file out as a 4:3 clip and it's done.
Is this a bad way of doing things? Too many renders?