Hdv/dvcpro Hd

[zioxide]

So I'm working on this project with a bunch of old pictures and making a movie with them. I want to do it in HD so it will be future-proofed, but I have no idea which codec to use.

I've tried the Apple Intermediate HDV Codec, HDV, DVCPRO HD, and I'm not sure which to use. I want to use a format that's 720p30. When I tried DVCPRO HD, it distorted the image and stretched it out badly, but that might have been some playback setting I had screwed up. HDV doesn't stretch it out, but I've read some things that say DVCPRO HD is better quality and easier to edit with. But I can't figure out why it's stretching out these images.

This is my first time working with HD, so I'm pretty confused.

 

[faustfire]

Im not sure why DVCPRO HD is streaching your image but if you can figure it out and fix it you should definitely go with DVCPRO HD over HDV. HDV in my opinion is a horrible codec and should really be used as a last resort.

 

[Carl Spackler]

It sounds like you're essentially making a slideshow with a soundtrack. Why not use Animation or None. Assuming the dimensions of your original pictures are greater than 1920x1080, I'd set your frame size to fit.

 

[zioxide]

I also have some video clips that I'm including in the video, plus I'm used to final cut so I'd rather use that.

Now, when I go to select DVCPRO HD 720p30 as my sequence's codec, it tells me the resolution is 960x720 instead of 1280x720. I think this is why it's stretching the image. Does anyone know why this isn't showing me the right resolution?

 

[SpaceJello]

I notice on final cut there are 960x720 and 1280x720... i am confused which is the 720p u are looking for?

 

[zioxide]

720p30 16:9 is what I want, which is a 1280x720 resolution. However, when I try to use the DVCPRO HD 720p30 codec, it gives me a resolution of 960x720.

 

[LethalWolfe]

720p30 16:9 is what I want, which is a 1280x720 resolution. However, when I try to use the DVCPRO HD 720p30 codec, it gives me a resolution of 960x720.

It has to do w/pixel aspect ratios. DVCPro HD is 960x720 but the pixels aren't square so when properly displayed they form as 16x9 image. Same thing w/HDV (1440x1080, but displays at 16:9) and DV (720x480 but displays as 4:3).


Lethal

 

[Rod Rod]

It has to do w/pixel aspect ratios. DVCPro HD is 960x720 but the pixels aren't square so when properly displayed they form as 16x9 image. Same thing w/HDV (1440x1080, but displays at 16:9) and DV (720x480 but displays as 4:3).

Yes, but HDV can also be 1280x720 with square pixels. 1080i HDV is 1440x1080 but 720p HDV is 1280x720.

To the OP: DVCProHD's advantage is 4:2:2 color sampling compared to 4:2:0 of HDV and 4:1:1 (NTSC) DV. DVCProHD's disadvantage is its higher bitrate (100mbps) and lower pixel resolution (960x720 for 720p and 1280x1080 for 1080i/p).

DVCProHD makes sense if you're mastering to a DVCProHD cassette.

 

[LethalWolfe]

Yes, but HDV can also be 1280x720 with square pixels. 1080i HDV is 1440x1080 but 720p HDV is 1280x720.

Good call. I had forgotten about the 720p variant of HDV as I typically only get tortured by the 1080i version.

To the OP: DVCProHD's advantage is 4:2:2 color sampling compared to 4:2:0 of HDV and 4:1:1 (NTSC) DV. DVCProHD's disadvantage is its higher bitrate (100mbps) and lower pixel resolution (960x720 for 720p and 1280x1080 for 1080i/p).

DVPro HD also gives you more realtime streams/effects and smaller render times.


Lethal