Digital Betacam transfer options for DVD production

[Wotcha]

Hello folks

I have been given video footage on Digital Betacam from which to make
a commercial DVD - about 3 hours' worth. This is the first time I have
used third-party broadcast material as I usually shoot footage on my
Canon XM1 and use firewire to import into Final Cut Pro.

What would people recommend I transfer the footage onto - in order to
preserve the quality at reasonable cost? I would like the option of
producing a HD version of the DVD in the future, although the source
material actually dates from 1976!

Your comments and suggestions would be most welcome.

David

[Tadeusz Krzeminski]

On 18-10-07 7:01, in article

Post by Wotcha
I have been given video footage on Digital Betacam from which to make
a commercial DVD - about 3 hours' worth. This is the first time I have
used third-party broadcast material as I usually shoot footage on my
Canon XM1 and use firewire to import into Final Cut Pro.
What would people recommend I transfer the footage onto - in order to
preserve the quality at reasonable cost? I would like the option of
producing a HD version of the DVD in the future, although the source
material actually dates from 1976!

Finul Cut Pro is a good choice, the question is whether you have any video
interface with SDI inputs which easily allows you to preserve quality. If
yes, you have to consider which codec to choose for capture. Unfortunately
I'm not video editor and I can't give you any hint here.

And if you can, just keep this tape for future. When HD recorders will
become a standard everywhere, you will be able to capture it easily again. I
don't think Digital Betacam become unreadable in the next couple of years as
almost every professional SONY machine nowadays (HDCAM, SRW etc.) is
backward compatible (for playback only).

[Wotcha]

Post by Tadeusz Krzeminski
On 18-10-07 7:01, in article

Post by Wotcha
What would people recommend I transfer the footage onto - in order to
preserve the quality at reasonable cost? I would like the option of
producing a HD version of the DVD in the future, although the source
material actually dates from 1976!

Finul Cut Pro is a good choice, the question is whether you have any video
interface with SDI inputs which easily allows you to preserve quality. If
yes, you have to consider which codec to choose for capture. Unfortunately
I'm not video editor and I can't give you any hint here.
And if you can, just keep this tape for future. When HD recorders will
become a standard everywhere, you will be able to capture it easily again. I
don't think Digital Betacam become unreadable in the next couple of years as
almost every professional SONY machine nowadays (HDCAM, SRW etc.) is
backward compatible (for playback only).
--
Pozdrawiam / Best regards
Tadeusz Krzemi�ski

Thanks for the suggestions. I have asked around for anyone with such
an interface. If anyone has suggestions on suitable codecs then feel
free to chip in. In the past DV has been fine, but I'm conscious of
wanting to 'up the quality' for any future usage. Is there a
calculator for working out how much HD space I would need to store in
various formats?

David

[Tadeusz Krzeminski]

On 22-10-07 8:41, in article

Post by Wotcha

Post by Tadeusz Krzeminski
On 18-10-07 7:01, in article

Post by Wotcha
What would people recommend I transfer the footage onto - in order to
preserve the quality at reasonable cost? I would like the option of
producing a HD version of the DVD in the future, although the source
material actually dates from 1976!

Finul Cut Pro is a good choice, the question is whether you have any video
interface with SDI inputs which easily allows you to preserve quality. If
yes, you have to consider which codec to choose for capture. Unfortunately
I'm not video editor and I can't give you any hint here.
And if you can, just keep this tape for future. When HD recorders will
become a standard everywhere, you will be able to capture it easily again. I
don't think Digital Betacam become unreadable in the next couple of years as
almost every professional SONY machine nowadays (HDCAM, SRW etc.) is
backward compatible (for playback only).

[cut]

Post by Wotcha
Thanks for the suggestions. I have asked around for anyone with such
an interface.

As far as I am concerned, AJA is the most reasonable choice.

http://www.aja.com/html/products_macintosh.html

Post by Wotcha
If anyone has suggestions on suitable codecs then feel
free to chip in. In the past DV has been fine, but I'm conscious of
wanting to 'up the quality' for any future usage.

ProRes 4:2:2 is a new codec inplemented in the lastets Final Cut Pro (6).
Might be worth to see it and to consider using it - seems to be future
proof. Expensive though...

Post by Wotcha
Is there a
calculator for working out how much HD space I would need to store in
various formats?

If you dig deeper, you should find some tools on the net.

Good luck!

--

Pozdrawiam / Best regards

Tadeusz Krzemiński

[Frank]

On Thu, 25 Oct 2007 23:31:26 +0100, in 'rec.video.production',
in article <Re: Digital Betacam transfer options for DVD production>,

Post by Tadeusz Krzeminski
On 22-10-07 8:41, in article

Post by Wotcha

Post by Tadeusz Krzeminski
On 18-10-07 7:01, in article

Post by Wotcha
What would people recommend I transfer the footage onto - in order to
preserve the quality at reasonable cost? I would like the option of
producing a HD version of the DVD in the future, although the source
material actually dates from 1976!

Finul Cut Pro is a good choice, the question is whether you have any video
interface with SDI inputs which easily allows you to preserve quality. If
yes, you have to consider which codec to choose for capture. Unfortunately
I'm not video editor and I can't give you any hint here.
And if you can, just keep this tape for future. When HD recorders will
become a standard everywhere, you will be able to capture it easily again. I
don't think Digital Betacam become unreadable in the next couple of years as
almost every professional SONY machine nowadays (HDCAM, SRW etc.) is
backward compatible (for playback only).

[cut]

Post by Wotcha
Thanks for the suggestions. I have asked around for anyone with such
an interface.

As far as I am concerned, AJA is the most reasonable choice.
http://www.aja.com/html/products_macintosh.html

Post by Wotcha
If anyone has suggestions on suitable codecs then feel
free to chip in. In the past DV has been fine, but I'm conscious of
wanting to 'up the quality' for any future usage.

ProRes 4:2:2 is a new codec inplemented in the lastets Final Cut Pro (6).
Might be worth to see it and to consider using it - seems to be future
proof. Expensive though...

Post by Wotcha
Is there a
calculator for working out how much HD space I would need to store in
various formats?

If you dig deeper, you should find some tools on the net.
Good luck!

Speaking of AJA, the following is taken directly from my Web page (URL
in sig).

AJA Video Systems offers a free program for calculating data rates and
storage space requirements for video files based upon user-selected
frame size, frame rate, and compression parameters. For maximum
accuracy, audio sampling rate, bit depth, and number of channels can
also be specified. Both Mac and Windows versions of the program are
available at the links given below (look under "Utilities and Optional
Downloads"). Use of an AJA capture card (Kona, Xena, etc.) is not
necessary in order to use these programs.

AJA Data Rate Calculator Application Version 2
http://www.aja.com/html/support_konaLHe_swd.html

AJA Data Rate Calculator Application Version 1 for Windows
http://www.aja.com/html/support_xenaLHe_swd.html

[Tadeusz Krzeminski]

Post by Frank
Speaking of AJA, the following is taken directly from my Web page (URL
in sig).

[cut]

Post by Frank
AJA Data Rate Calculator Application Version 2
http://www.aja.com/html/support_konaLHe_swd.html
AJA Data Rate Calculator Application Version 1 for Windows
http://www.aja.com/html/support_xenaLHe_swd.html

Frank, thanks for that!

[Frank]

On Fri, 26 Oct 2007 19:23:01 +0100, in 'rec.video.production',
in article <Re: Digital Betacam transfer options for DVD production>,

Post by Tadeusz Krzeminski

Post by Frank
Speaking of AJA, the following is taken directly from my Web page (URL
in sig).

[cut]

Post by Frank
AJA Data Rate Calculator Application Version 2
http://www.aja.com/html/support_konaLHe_swd.html
AJA Data Rate Calculator Application Version 1 for Windows
http://www.aja.com/html/support_xenaLHe_swd.html

Frank, thanks for that!

You're very welcome. Hope that it proves useful to you. It's not
absolutely perfect in every way (few things in life are, after all),
but it definitely is one of the better calculators that I've come
across.