HDV and HDCAM Topics

Although DVMP Pro only processes standard definition DV, it can be an invaluable aid in High Definition workflow, especially when using Premiere.

DVMP Pro's powerful file splitter allows you to create offline edits in standard definition with timecode accuracy in all clips. Subsequent batch capturing of high definition will therefore also take place with accurate timecode. 

This also means that you can cut costs by:

  • doing all of your offline editing in cheaper standard definition DV
  • free-up time on expensive high definition edit suites
  • avoid tying up expensive HDCAM and HDV cameras or decks during offline editing
  • outsource downconversion of HDCAM or HDV to standard definition for use offline
  • outsource batch capture at high definition using the batch capture file produced by your NLE
  • trimming HDV projects

Consider the following workflows and the advantages of using DVMP Pro:

Workflow 1 - Editing HDV acquired material

This method utilises the "off line" approach so as to create an "on line" project that is trimmable.

  1. Capture DV using HDV > DV downconvert built into the camera/deck
  2. Open the AVI file/s in DVMP Pro and split out to separate files using either timecode break/jump detection or date/time discontinuity detection*
  3. Edit using the newly created files as a standard definition DV project.
  4. After completion of edit create a trimmed version using the project trimmer but don't save media (trim project only).
  5. Open a new HDV project and import the trimmed project. All media will appear as "off line"
  6. Batch capture all media as HDV

* Note: Timecode break/jump detection can be used if time-of-day timecode was used during recording or if your deck does not write date/time to tape. Date/Time discontinutity detection should be used if record-run timecode was used and the timecode is therefore continuous throughout the whole tape

ADVANTAGES: All the timecodes of the clips and trimmed clips are accurate, as will be the EDL generated by the editing software. This circumvents the errors that would normally occur with Premiere not recognising timecode irregularities in the original capture. Also Premiere's inability to project trim a HDV project is no longer a problem with archiving.

 

Workflow 2 - Editing HDCAM acquired material

This method utilises the "off line" approach so as to create a "on line" project that is trimmable.

  1. Capture as DV using a Sony J H3 HDCAM deck > DV downconvert built into the camera/deck
  2. Open the AVI file/s in DVMP Pro and split out to separate files using timecode break/jump detection
  3. Edit using the newly created files as a standard definition DV project.
  4. After completion of edit create a trimmed version using the project trimmer but don't save media (trim project only).
  5. Open a new HDCAM project and import the trimmed project. All media will appear as "off line"
  6. Batch capture all media as HDCAM

ADVANTAGES: All the advantages of Workflow 1, but also the fact that HDCAM material is extremely large in size so where there are many tapes involved the actual hard drive size needed is only based on the final required footage.

Another advantage with HDCAM editing based on the above procedure is that anyone who edits DV can do the HDCAM edit based on outsourcing the HDCAM to DV conversion (either to tape or harddrive) as described in step 1 and then outsourcing the final 'on line edit' back out to HDCAM as described in steps 5 and 6.

 

Using DVMP Pro, any timecode inaccuracies within the camera original material are rectified much earlier in the process by using DVMP Pro's timecode-based splitting. Otherwise major errors would occur when doing the final on line edit as well as inaccurate EDL and project archiving.

 

DVMP Pro can also be used to split HDV material. This is useful for users who don't wish to use the on-line/off-line workflow and instead edit in native HDV in Premiere. Just use the following procedure:

  1. Use Premiere to capture a HDV tape as DV (downconvert in camera/deck)
  2. Use DVMP Pro to split the DV file and create a ".csv" batch file of the DV file
  3. Use Premiere to batch capture HDV from the .csv file, and start editing native HDV
  4. When project trimming only the "used clips" will be saved avoiding whole tapes being saved.