OT: switching to hi-def

Randy Brown wrote on 5/31/2010, 7:28 AM
I'm finally making the switch to Hi-def and really feeling like a newb.
I'm selling both of my Canon XL1S' and getting a Canon XH-A1 and a Panasonic TM700K. My concern is what else I will need.
Right now I'm capturing and monitoring with a 36", 4:3 CRT TV through a JVC SR-VS30U...I'm guessing both are about to become obsolete.
To monitor hi-def footage on the timeline would a TFT monitor (like this http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=I-inc&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=17173777887697714440&ei=h8UDTK-INInWMLGe1Ts&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDQQ8wIwBA# ) coming straight out of my video card (NVIDIA GeForce GT 220) work or do I need to have a hi-def cam or deck to preview.
Looking at my specs below do you see any other issues I may be facing?

Thanks very much guys,
Randy


Windows 7, 64 bit, Vegas 8
Intel core 2 quad Q8300 at 2.5 ghz
8 GB RAM
NVIDIA GeForce GT 220
23" I-inc Wide screen TFT color LCD monitor
17" Proview TFT
Delta 1010

Comments

farss wrote on 5/31/2010, 7:39 AM
"or do I need to have a hi-def cam or deck to preview"

That trick does not work with HD, sorry.
A 24" LCD monitor that does 1920x1080 is what you need. Beyond that basic requirement you can spend a lot of money or not. If you want an LCD that will correctly display interlaced video and/or that can be correctly calibrated I hope you have deep pockets. A HDTV fed over HDMI is one relatively cheap solution.

Bob.
Randy Brown wrote on 5/31/2010, 7:49 AM
Thanks Bob,
I'm not sure what you mean by "that trick does not work with HD".
The card I have now has an unused HDMI out; can I use the LCD I mentioned (http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=I-inc&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=17173777887697714440&ei=xcoDTKu9I4iKNurA1Ds&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDQQ8wIwBA#) directly out of the card to monitor? It claims to do 1920 x 1080.
Isn't HDTV 60i? (geez I feel like a newb)
Thanks again Bob,
Randy
EDIT: BTW, by no means do I have deep pockets : (
Tom Pauncz wrote on 5/31/2010, 7:54 AM
Randy,
This solution works well for me.

The monitor on the wall is a 32" LED-LCD HDTV via HDMI out of a BMD Decklink Studio 2 card.

Added benefit is that I can simultaneously monitor in SD to the monitor on the right and it's automatically letterboxed.

Look at my system #1 specs. It's still 32bit...

Tom
Randy Brown wrote on 5/31/2010, 8:03 AM
Thanks Tom but that card is out of my "budget" (hence the reason I'm getting the consumer Panasonic as a 2nd cam).
I guess what I want to hear is the cheap (oem) card I have will work to monitor 60p and/or 60i HD but I have a feeling the answer is not good?
Thanks again amigos,
Randy
Tom Pauncz wrote on 5/31/2010, 8:42 AM
Randy,
You could get away with the BMD Intensity pro if all you want to do is monitor via HDMI to a HiDef TV.

It's under $200 at B&H.
Tom
Spot|DSE wrote on 5/31/2010, 9:29 AM
I'd second the recommendation for the Intensity.

Switching to HD is not a simple task.
When you buy an HD camcorder, especially a highly compressed format, you're essentially buying a big semi-trailer filled with gold. But...if you dont' have a tractor/truck to pull it with...you're kinda stuck with a trailer filled with gold sitting in the desert. Can't do much with it...
Former user wrote on 5/31/2010, 9:46 AM
Spto/DSE,

I am still using Version 8, but I am a bit confused about the compatibility of the Intensity Pro.

Can I monitor with it using Vegas Pro 8? Can I capture with it or does it have software I can use to capture with?

thanks,

Dave T2
Randy Brown wrote on 5/31/2010, 9:54 AM
Okay so as I understand it my current card won't handle it and I need to expect to spend $200 on this card. When you say HDTV, will the display monitor I linked not work...does it need to be an HDTV...sorry for such ignorance guys but I'm totally new to HD.
Thanks for your patience,
Randy
Randy Brown wrote on 5/31/2010, 9:56 AM
you're essentially buying a big semi-trailer filled with gold. But...if you dont' have a tractor/truck to pull it with...you're kinda stuck with a trailer filled with gold sitting in the desert.

Well that's encouraging (deep breath) ....ok Douglas, what features am I missing on my tractor/truck....or am I driving a VW bug?
Is my PC adequate?
Randy Brown wrote on 5/31/2010, 2:28 PM
So I checked out the BMD Intensity pro at B&H and now have a couple of questions... Should I get it with the Cineform bundle deal?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/667640-REG/Blackmagic_Design__Intensity_Pro_with_Cineform.html

And will the Cineform convert the XH-A1 coming in via firewire?

Someone at creative cow suggested this:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/686585-REG/Blackmagic_Design_BINTSSHU_INTENSITY_SHUTTLE.html

Thanks,
Randy
farss wrote on 5/31/2010, 2:56 PM
I'm not sure what you mean by "that trick does not work with HD".

The "trick" I was referring to is feeding DV over firewire to a camera or VCR and from that to a monitor. You cannot feed HDV to a HDV capable camera or VCR and then to a monitor.

Bob.
Randy Brown wrote on 5/31/2010, 3:55 PM
Thanks very much Bob...in that case can I talk you into commenting on the two cards above por favor?
farss wrote on 5/31/2010, 4:44 PM
Not easily as I've never used the Intensity card. Assuming others are reporting it works with Vegas it should be a viable path to go down.
The Shuttle at the same price is not yet released and uses USB 3. Two issues do occur to me. Will it work with Vegas and you'll need a USB 3.0 port to use it. If it all pans out it certainly looks attractive.


To me the question comes down to what do you want to achieve.
A good LCD such as those from Eizo or the HP Dreamcolor connected via DVI and properly calibrated would be an excellent choice for color grading, better than most HDTVs. On the other hand they're not what most here would call "cheap" although they're a lot cheaper than the next step up.

I'd suggest go slowly, get the camera, see how you go with it and once you have a better idea of how its working for you and you have more funds to spend then make an informed decision on where to spend the money to improve your workflow and outcomes.

Bob.
Randy Brown wrote on 6/1/2010, 5:43 AM
I'd suggest go slowly, get the camera, see how you go with it and once you have a better idea of how its working for you and you have more funds to spend then make an informed decision on where to spend the money to improve your workflow and outcomes.

That's exactly what I'm trying to do and is the reason I was trying to find out if the card I already have now will suffice for a while or if I have to decide on a card now to even edit anything.
Thanks Bob,
Randy
Randy Brown wrote on 6/1/2010, 11:22 AM
bump
PerroneFord wrote on 6/1/2010, 11:39 AM
You can monitor in SD if you want. I did it for 2 years. I *JUST* got my monitoring solution for HD but it won't apply to what you are doing. Hopefully, someone who's doing this inside Vegas can give you better advice.
Randy Brown wrote on 6/1/2010, 12:10 PM
You can monitor in SD if you want. I did it for 2 years

If you're saying I can monitor HD footage in SD (and render to HD tape or Blu-ray later) with the set-up I have now that would really relieve my mind a lot!
I do realize I'm going to have to invest in some equipment at some point but it would be nice to know I have a little time.
Thanks very much Perrone,
Randy
PerroneFord wrote on 6/1/2010, 2:19 PM
Again, I've been doing it for two years. Connected my PC to my tape deck via Firewire, connected my monitor via S-Video to the tape-deck. Done.

Now with that, you'll need to understand your levels, and know what "black" and "white" should look like, but that won't take too long.

I bought the EX1 in 2008 and never changed my setup from when I was just working with shooting the DVX100. I've cut RED this way, XDCam, Cineform RAW, and all other manner of HD files. Even did my last movie this way.

I recommend monitoring in HD if you can, you have to do what you can do.
farss wrote on 6/1/2010, 3:04 PM
I was in much the same boat as Perrone.
I've always cut on a HD timeline when I shot HD but back in V7 days I was only using a 486 and 17" LCD monitors. I also had / have the ability to send downscaled SD via firewire to a decent CRT monitor.

Simple answer is you don't have to change your editing system to cut HD.

Bob.
Randy Brown wrote on 6/1/2010, 3:18 PM
Thank you very much gentlemen...you made my day!

I had some weird stuff happen a couple years ago and almost went bankrupt (definitely screwed up my credit) and then on top of that I've lost a lot of work not being hi-def (or at least 16:9) so my budget is very limited...but seeing light at the end of the tunnel ...thanks again guys : )
Guy S. wrote on 6/1/2010, 6:24 PM
A quad core is great for HDV and workable for AVCHD. But you definitely want Vegas 9 64-bit for editing AVCHD footage. I switched from 8.1 to 9.0d after I spoke to the Sony guys at NAB and WOW, what a difference.

As an aside, if you haven't worked with a file-based workflow (TM700), you may want to solicit some opinions before purchasing a tape-based camera. The XH-A1 is an excellent camera, but there are some compelling AVCHD cameras in the same price range (if low light performance isn't a necessity).

Good luck,

Guy
Randy Brown wrote on 6/2/2010, 5:31 AM
The XH-A1 is an excellent camera, but there are some compelling AVCHD cameras in the same price range (if low light performance isn't a necessity).
One of the advantages of going with this particular camera is that a collegue is going to let me make payments on it....and I occassionally do shoot stage/theatre with low light....but thanks for the suggestion.
I am indeed hoping there will be enough money left over to move to 9.0d
Thanks again Guy,
Randy