HDCAM and DVCPro HD Downconversion to Digibeta, DVCAM

Our Sony HDW-F500 vtrs have the HKDV 501 and now the HKDV- 507D board (upgraded from the 507A), for built in downconversion from the 1125 line (1920x1080 pixel) HD recordings to 525 line (720 x 486pixel) NTSC. The preferred format for off-line editing is usually DVCAM, although we can arrange to do transfers to Digibeta as well for loading into your off-line non-linear edit system. The HDW-F500 vtr takes the 24 frame images and add 3:2 pulldown to create standard 60i recordings for offline editing. Apple Cinema Tools™ software is now included in FCP 5.0. You can now convert back to 24 frames (23.98) as you capture from a 60 field (29.97) DVCAM in real time, and then set Final Cut Pro as a 23.98 project. You still view on a regular monitor and can output back to DVCAM on your offline system, you are just more compatible when the whole 23.98 project comes into our online non-linear HD conforming system running FCP to create what is known as a HD Universal Master..

The Panasonic AJ-HD1200A DVCPro HD vtr takes 1280 x 720 24p over 60p progressiveframes, or 1920x1080 60i interlace and downconverts to standard def 720x486 NTSC.

Downconversion options

full widescreen 16:9 images (your monitor or projector needs to be set as 16:9 or the images will look "squeezed" horizontally)

letterbox (full edge to edge display with black borders horizontally at the top and bottom on a standard 4:3 television)

center crop to 4:3, or pan and scan on a shot by shot basis to correct framing

see rates

Downconverting to the Apple Panasonic DVCPro HD codec for editing and "HD Digital Dailies"

"Digital Dailies" is an expression that has come to imply an overnight transfer of film or HD to a digital tape format that is of high enough image quality to make decisions regarding the quality of the original.

We offer this transfer to your Firewire drives for $150 per hour

Last modified: April 22, 2008