Which Camera To Use???

Dave wrote on 8/18/2010, 5:35 PM

I'm about to begin working on a video project that will be incorporating some SD video with a 4:3 aspect ratio that I will be importing from a DVD via my camera into VMS9.

I will be shooting new video as well for this project and I have a choice of shooting in HDV 16:9 or SD 4:3.

I'm wondering what the potential pitfalls (if any) will be in using the different formats in a VMS9 project.

I would like to use my newer HDV camera for this, but I'm thinking for compatibility, it maybe better to use my older SD camera.

Any advice?

Thanks!

Comments

drw wrote on 8/18/2010, 6:24 PM

You didn't specify which version of VMS9 you have, the standard version doesn't support HD, so that makes your decision easy if you're using that version.

Dave wrote on 8/18/2010, 6:50 PM

I have VMSP9 and it does support HD.

Nevertheless, I've decided to shoot the new footage in 4:3 aspect ratio so that it will match the archival footage. I don't want the project to keep jumping back and forth from 16:9 to 4:3 and visa versa.

I'm guessing it's ok to mix HD and SD in the same project with both using the same aspect ratio.

Correct?

Rainer wrote on 8/18/2010, 6:52 PM

Hi Dave, You first should decide what you want to deliver. Most TVs are 16:9 these days and if yours isn't now it soon will be. And you can get the DVD footage without going through your camera. Doing 16:9 and combining 4:3 isn't a problem. Just set your project to 16:9, your 4:3 comes out pillarboxed (unless you resize it, which isn't recommended since you lose a lot and it's even lower res). There's actually a reasonable section on this topic in the built in help - search for 4:3 or 16:9 or widescreen or anamorphic.

Dave wrote on 8/18/2010, 7:01 PM

Thanks for the replies.

I'm just going to do the whole project in 4:3. I found that when I select this on my HD camera, the format changes to DV. So that should be fine.

Much of this project is going to consist of old 16mm film that was transfered to DVD. So although it is on DVD, it is in 4:3 aspect ratio.

I thought that I would have to record the DVD into my camera using the analog inputs in order to then import the video in Vegas.

Is there a better method?

Obviously, I have not been down this road before.

Thanks.

richard-amirault wrote on 8/18/2010, 8:07 PM

You can import the DVD using the drive in your computer and Vegas.

One way is to use the import DVD function, but that sometimes has poblems if the video is long. It may break up the file into sections and it may leave an audio gap at the breaks.

You could also try just dragging the VOB file (it will be the biggest one) over to the timeline.

Rainer wrote on 8/18/2010, 8:25 PM

Hi Dave, If the DVD isn't copy protected, just open it in your computer, open the Video_ts folder, there's a few .vob files, one of these has the footage you want, just drag it onto your timeline, well better drag it to your computer first then drag it onto your timeline (saves Vegas having to access the dvd).

dang brighterside, you beat me to it.

Dave wrote on 8/19/2010, 7:26 PM

This is great information. I will give it a try.

BTW, I did the shoot tonight in 4:3 and the footage came out great!