Sony CX405: Which format to use with XA10

MikeLV wrote on 3/10/2024, 12:30 PM

I'm getting the Sony CX405 camcorder to use as a second camera in a two camera shoot with a Canon XA10. Which format in the Sony should I use so that it's compatible with Vegas 17, as well as the XA10?

This is from the Sony manual:

Movie recording format:
XAVC S (XAVC S format)
Video: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264
Audio: MPEG-4 Linear PCM 2ch (48 kHz/16 bit)

AVCHD (AVCHD format Ver.2.0 compatible):
Video: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264
Audio: Dolby Digital 2ch

Dolby Digital Stereo Creator*1 MP4:
Video: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264
Audio: MPEG-4 AAC-LC 2ch
*1 Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories.

This is from the Canon manual (I can't copy text):

Someone on this forum a while back told me that although it says 60i, the XA10 actually records in progressive. I've never had to de-interlace its footage so I presume he was correct...

Comments

mark-y wrote on 3/10/2024, 1:24 PM

It's been a while, but I think this is correct:

PF 30 format is Progressive video, flagged as 60i, to satisfy the original DVD/BD authoring specs; this was a feature of the early Canon HDV cameras, which shot MPEG-2 video compatible with direct DVD/BDAV authoring without conversion, thus the metadata "trick" to meet spec.

Someone correct me, but I think I'm close.

I

MikeLV wrote on 3/10/2024, 1:51 PM

I just remember going back and forth with a guy who told me that the XA10 footage was progressive, not interlaced.. But that aside.. Which format on the Sony should I use for best quality, and best compatibility on the timeline? All 3 formats appear to be the same for video? "MPEG-4 AVC/H.264" with only the audio being the difference, so does that mean XAVC S and AVCHD video will look the same?

mark-y wrote on 3/10/2024, 2:00 PM

I've always been partial to XAVC-S for easy handling and compatibility.

AVCHD audio may show up as two-track mono in other applications, which can be a pain to deal with.

 

 

MikeLV wrote on 3/10/2024, 2:24 PM

This wasn't in the PDF manual, but I found it on the product page at Sony's website. So I'll use XAVC-S 30P for the Sony and I'll use PF30 mode in the XA10, correct?

mark-y wrote on 3/10/2024, 2:59 PM

On a lot of commercial movie DVDs, you can rip the authentic 24p video from the disc, which is just flagged as 29.97i / 59.94i NTSC, taking away the motion stutter or cadence. I've got an example somewhere.