Hdvtraining.com

HDV records high-definition video on DV tapes

admin — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 15:32:28 +0000

HDV records high-definition video on DV tapes:

720p is recorded at roughly 19 Mbit/sec while 1080i records at 25 mbit/sec.
In 720p, the luma sampling matrix is 1280×720, square pixel, exceeding DVCPROHD’s 960×720 sampling.
In 1080i, the sampling matrix is 1440×1080, with 1.33:1 pixels; this is the same luma sampling used in HDCAM and exceeds DVCPROHD’s 1280×1080 sampling.
Color sampling is 4:2:0 in all HDV formats.
HDV uses long-GOP MPEG2 for video, with a 6-frame GOP for 720p and a 15-frame GOP for 1080i.
MPEG 1 Layer 2 is used to store 16-bit, 48 kHz 2-channel audio at 384 kbit/sec, with 4:1 compression.

JVC’s 720p/30 (720 scanline, 30 frames per second) camcorders were the first HDV products available, shipping in late 2003. They use single CCDs and, sadly, perform no better than low-end JVC DV cameras do, so they never really took off. JVC may have more professional HDV camcorders coming up, which we await with bated breath.

Sony’s 1080i HDV camcorders started shipping in late 2004, roughly nine years and one month after the DV revolution was started by the DCR-VX1000. These machines have decent camera sections and very acceptable lenses, and serve as the VX1000s of the HDV era. I got one of the first HDR-FX1 cameras shipped and the information here is based, for the most part, on that camera.

Panasonic HVX200A High Def Camcorder

admin — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:28:39 +0000

Canon XH A1 - $3649 - order in - usually takes a few days
Demo model in store for viewing

Find Canon WD-H72 Wide Converter for this camera here

Read a review of this camera in Sound & Vision Magazine here
Read a review of this camera by Adam Wilt here
View sample clips posted online by users of this camera here
Queen’s has posted a set-up checklist for this camera here

For the commercial, and television production professional, the XH A1 combines the outstanding performance of a 3CCD, High Definition camcorder with an array of advanced features — all in a compact design. Plus, with its Genuine Canon 20x HD Video Professional L Series Fluorite Zoom Lens, 1/3″ Native 16:9 CCDs (1440 x 1080), and DIGIC DV II image processing, the XH A1 ensures uncompromising image quality.

The Image Quality of High Definition
The XH A1 captures true 1080 High Definition resolution video at 60i, 30F or 24F frame rates (or, 50i/60i with optional upgrade). It captures a true 16:9 widescreen HD image that is made for your HD broadcast and theatrical projects.

Genuine Canon HD Zoom Lens
The XH A1 comes with a Genuine Canon 20x HD zoom lens that shows why the name Canon is synonymous with optical excellence. This Professional L Series Fluorite lens ensures outstanding resolution, contrast and colour reproduction, and delivers clarity and image quality you won’t see with conventional optical glass lenses.

3 CCD Performance
The XH A1 is equipped with three 1/3″ Native 16:9 CCDs (1.67 Megapixels), delivering outstanding picture quality, highly accurate colour reproduction, and a wide dynamic range with virtually no colour noise.

Super-Range Optical Image Stabilizer
Canon’s innovative Super-Range OIS combines gyro- and image-sensors to correct camcorder shake instantly - whether it’s the fast vibration you’d experience while recording from a moving car; the medium-speed motion of hand-held recording; or the slower motion of body sway.

Instant AF
With HD, focus is more critical than ever. Instant AF is the next generation of auto focus, designed with HD resolution in mind. It combines an external AF sensor with Canon’s legendary auto focus system for fast and accurate focus. Together, the two sensors reduce focusing time - even in low-light situations - and improve focusing performance on difficult subjects.

DIGIC DV ll HD Image Processor
DIGIC DV II HD is the next generation of Canon’s exclusive DIGIC DV signal processing technology. Designed specifically for HD, DIGIC DV II ensures optimal image quality for HD video, with improved color reproduction - especially in skin tones, and dark and light scenes. It also employs a hybrid noise reduction system that integrates two types of noise reduction, for high definition images that are crystal clear.

Image Control
A variety of image control functions give you as much or as little exposure control as you want, and let you fine-tune your exposures for outstanding video.

I’m confused by HDV and it’s colorspace. I’m told it’s different than SD. Is this true?

admin — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:13:55 +0000

Yes. HDV is compliant with the ITU BT.709 standard, while SD is compliant with the more strict ITU BT.601 standard. There are several sites on the web that very clearly explain the somewhat difficult concept of ITU BT.709 and how it differs from what you may currently be familiar with. The HDTV standard is ITU BT.709 regardless of where you live in the world.

HV20 vs HF10 vs HG10

admin — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:27:06 +0000

Austin posted his tests (440 MB) comparing the 1 year old HDV HV20 vs the 6 months old AVCHD HG10 and brand new AVCHD HF10. The new HF10 can record full 1080p at its highest quality mode at 17 mbps, compared to just 1440

Isn’t HDV just too huge a data rate/stream to edit with?

admin — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:11:35 +0000

HDV in 1080i format is the same bitrate (25Mbps) as DV is. However, depending on the system, you may experience slowdown on the system, depending on whether you’re editing Transport Streams or with an intermediary codec such as the Cineform Connect HD codec. As mentioned above, HDV editing experiences can be just about the same as editing DV. A reasonably fast computer can manage the bitstream without any trouble.

Why don’t I want to edit the transport streams?

admin — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:06:50 +0000

The Transport Streams/TS files from the camera are MPEG data, containing I, B, and P frames. The nature of the long GOP (group of pictures) format causes generational loss during the encoding/decoding, not to mention that it’s very hard on the processor and very slow.

Can I edit HDV in real time?

admin — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:12:31 +0000

Of course you can. With the Cineform ConnectHD codec, you will have the 29.97 or 24p with 3:2 pulldown that you are already used to. It will edit quickly and easily. There is a lot of speculation about this, but the truth is, with an upper end processor and a fair amount of RAM, you should notice little difference between editing HDV and DV. And depending on the application you’re using, you may not need the additional RAM.

I read that HDV has bad motion artifacts. What’s the scoop?

admin — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:11:35 +0000

If you attempt to do very fast pans with HDV, due to the way the frames are generated with MPEG and GOP, you may see motion artifacts. However, this is not nearly the issue as it’s often painted to be. It’s a good idea to rent, borrow, or download images from a website to see for yourself, how HDV works with fast motion.

Do I need a new monitor to preview HDV files?

admin — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 15:10:14 +0000

Maybe. You can monitor HDV one of two ways. You can view it on a computer monitor that is at least 1900 x 1200, or you can use an external HD television monitor. If you want to use an external monitor, you’ll need to use an HD card similar to the MyHD card from MIT systems, or something similar. Since HD will be viewed on plasma and LCD screens in the future, you’ll want to view on a monitor similar to what the footage will be viewed on so that color correction, etc are accurate.
You can view HDV in your NLE application on a lower resolution computer monitor, and likely be reasonably accurate, but for critical video, “reasonably accurate” just isn’t good enough.

How do I capture HDV?

admin — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:09:31 +0000

HDV is captured in exactly the same method as you capture DV. Using a capture application like the ones offered by Cineform, you’ll capture media, and either conform it to the intermediary on the fly, or conform it to the intermediary later. Because HDV also has timecode embedded in the file, Batch Capturing and previewing scenes for capture should stay the same. A free capture application is available here.