Proper HDV Procedure?

DefcomDMC wrote on 3/21/2006, 8:18 AM
I'm been capturing HDV footage via Firewire using Vegas' Internal Video Capture Application. Then I drag the .m2t onto the timeline and edit from there.

Is this what I should be doing or is there a better way? Should I be dealing with an intermediate and then replace with .m2t? Or am I working with the intermediate now?

Do I need to load my .m2t's in the Project Media window and then render out an avi? Am I warm?

I imagine if I've been editing HDV inproperly this would effect my systems performance, because both systems I've been using have performed poorly.

Is there a better way?

Comments

Spot|DSE wrote on 3/21/2006, 8:23 AM
You'll do better if you capture the m2t as you are, and then convert to the CineForm codec.
You can do this any number of ways;
Batch converter
individual file render
GearShift (paid plug in)

or, you can purchase the CineForm capture utility for 199.00 which will convert on the fly if you have a fast computer.
DefcomDMC wrote on 3/21/2006, 8:28 AM
Is there anything preventing me from dowloading the fully functional 15 day free trial and abusing that?
johnmeyer wrote on 3/21/2006, 8:35 AM
Nothing preventing you ...

Other threads you might want to read:

HDV Questions

My workflow for HDV to SD projects
DefcomDMC wrote on 3/21/2006, 9:41 AM
John,

Thank you. That was a wealth of useful information.

The only question I'm left with is now that I have the .m2t files in the computer, what's the best way to convert them to an intermediate? I can download the trial version of Cineform or I can render out every file (although there are 45 of them) using Vegas' template.

Also, among those threads it was mentioned that intermediates don't need to be replaced with .m2t's. Is this true and why?
johnmeyer wrote on 3/21/2006, 10:16 AM
I can download the trial version of Cineform or I can render out every file (although there are 45 of them) using Vegas' template.

The Cineform product lets you capture directly to the intermediates, in real time, which is a HUGE timesaver. The render, by contrast, takes a long time.

Unlike proxy files -- which is the other way to go -- intermediates retain all the quality of the original, so you don't have to replace them with the m2t files just prior to final rendering, although you can do so, if you wish. I haven't done my own tests, but have been assured by many people that HAVE done tests that you really can't tell any difference between rendering from the intermediates and rendering from the original m2t files.
DefcomDMC wrote on 3/21/2006, 10:25 AM
Will Cineform convert existing files? I just tried the trial and yes it will.
DefcomDMC wrote on 3/21/2006, 1:00 PM
Are proxies just avi's? What do I need to know?
PeterWright wrote on 3/21/2006, 4:32 PM
Proxies are DV widescreen avis - they are much smaller res than HDV, they do take a while to render, but they do enable you to edit fluently on an "old" computer, like my 1.6 Ghz laptop.

Cineform Intermediate avis are full resolution.