http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Forums Tag: format en Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:36:20 +0000 http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/which-hd-format#post-42579 Sat, 27 Dec 2008 19:05:53 +0000 NormanWillis 42579@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <blockquote><p> Yea, "decompressing" is pointless. It doesn't do anything but give you larger files sizes. The reason it does not increase quality is because when you compress anything, you throw out information to achieve a smaller file size. Once data is thrown out, it can not be brought back. So don't bother "decompressing." All you will do is tax your hard drive and CPU.    Brandon, Your experience with using a different camcorder to capture is strange. Is this with HD tapes? Is it the HDV codec? I still shoot SD with a miniDV camcorder and I use a deck to capture. I've never had a problem. I would assume doing the same with HD would be fine as long as you stay in the same codec. </p></blockquote> <p>I have a raft of stuff to wade through before I start shooting, and I'm still trying to figure out what's what, but when I finally get to film, I will try feeding the tape in using the old camera-switcheroo, and if that does not work I will have to move the workstation to the camera.  If this thread is still living at that point (hmmm) I will try to let you know what happened.  But in the mean time we will try it, and hope for the best!  Thanks.  Norman </p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/which-hd-format#post-42578 Sat, 27 Dec 2008 19:02:29 +0000 NormanWillis 42578@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <blockquote><p>One decompression side of things I can't help.  But will give you a word of caution. If you record something on one camcorder then take the tape to a different camcorder to download to the computer, be ready for the the captured footage be choppy.  Not 100 % of the time but much of the time the capturing device with do something just a bit differently and only that cam can read it correctly. I recently bought a camcorder soley to capture the footage to the computer so I wouldn't wear my heads out.  Unfortunately the footage looked (and more importantly) sounded like crap.  Then when I put it back in the original cam it worked fine. I finally just took the camera back to the store. Just be aware this may happen.</p></blockquote> <p>Thanks Brandon.  Good to know.  Norman.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/which-hd-format#post-42370 Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:36:24 +0000 brandon0409 42370@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I still shoot in SD.  I use Sony DCRvx2100 to shoot.  I tried a couple different cheap cameras (brand new $150) to transfer the tape to the computer so I would not wear out the heads.</p> <p>Each different camera gave me the bad audio.</p> <p>oh well.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/which-hd-format#post-42339 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:54:31 +0000 robgrauert 42339@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> Yea, "decompressing" is pointless. It doesn't do anything but give you larger files sizes. The reason it does not increase quality is because when you compress anything, you throw out information to achieve a smaller file size. Once data is thrown out, it can not be brought back. So don't bother "decompressing." All you will do is tax your hard drive and CPU. </p> <p>  Brandon, Your experience with using a different camcorder to capture is strange. Is this with HD tapes? Is it the HDV codec? I still shoot SD with a miniDV camcorder and I use a deck to capture. I've never had a problem. I would assume doing the same with HD would be fine as long as you stay in the same codec. </p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/which-hd-format#post-42316 Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:12:10 +0000 brandon0409 42316@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>One decompression side of things I can't help.  But will give you a word of caution.</p> <p>If you record something on one camcorder then take the tape to a different camcorder to download to the computer, be ready for the the captured footage be choppy.  Not 100 % of the time but much of the time the capturing device with do something just a bit differently and only that cam can read it correctly.</p> <p>I recently bought a camcorder soley to capture the footage to the computer so I wouldn't wear my heads out.  Unfortunately the footage looked (and more importantly) sounded like crap.  Then when I put it back in the original cam it worked fine.</p> <p>I finally just took the camera back to the store.</p> <p>Just be aware this may happen.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/which-hd-format#post-42206 Sat, 13 Dec 2008 23:15:45 +0000 NormanWillis 42206@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Hello.</p> <p>I also have a camcorder/codec question, if you don't mind.</p> <p>I plan to record using a Sony HDR-FX1 (HDV) with three point lighting.  I then plan to feed the tape into the computer using a Sony HCR-HC1 (also HDV), so I do not have to dismount the big camera from the teleprompter tripod.  I am hoping to edit in Sony Vegas 8.0.</p> <p>I have a 3.0GHz Pentium D.  Do the uncompression programs like NeoHD make it easier for Vegas to handle the footage?  Or is Vegas able to handle HDV from Sony camcorders without a problem? </p> <p>I do not mind decompressing, as disk space is not a concern.</p> <p>Thank you,</p> <p>Norman</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/which-hd-format#post-41974 Sun, 07 Dec 2008 12:21:02 +0000 robgrauert 41974@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <blockquote><p> Editing HD on a I-Mac, I hope you have a lot of munchies when you start to render.</p></blockquote> <blockquote><p> </blockquote> I don't think editing HD on an iMac would really be that bad if you avoid crazy effects/compositing and work with a compressed format as opposed to uncompressed SD or HD.  </p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/which-hd-format#post-41973 Sun, 07 Dec 2008 12:15:16 +0000 EarlC 41973@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> Well, the more editing/rendering (effects, layers, etc.) you do the more bogged down your creative drive is going to get using a limited system, but like building a house with a hammer and a hand-saw instead of a crew, power tools and assorted other materials and resources, you can do it, just takes longer - and you can't depend on creative drive to push you in the right direction because there's too much wait. You'll have to plan your projects, and do some serious rethinking regarding use of much more than cuts only story telling. Not that THAT is all bad, it remains among the basic tennents of production in the business.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/which-hd-format#post-41971 Sun, 07 Dec 2008 11:58:11 +0000 Venzuelanhomedog 41971@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> yea the max they take is 4</p> <p> </p> <p>and cuts only editing? </p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/which-hd-format#post-41970 Sun, 07 Dec 2008 11:52:58 +0000 EarlC 41970@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> What's the max ram the iMacs take now, 4Gig? You could likely accomplish something good if you stick primarily with cuts only editing techniques.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/which-hd-format#post-41969 Sun, 07 Dec 2008 10:49:50 +0000 Venzuelanhomedog 41969@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> well duh tht would take a while..</p> <p>i have one of the new imacs with 1 gig of ram.. i prob will buy more if i get an hd camera </p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/which-hd-format#post-41951 Sat, 06 Dec 2008 08:22:35 +0000 NewBirthProductions 41951@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Editing HD on a I-Mac, I hope you have a lot of munchies when you start to render.</p> <p> I once rendered a 50 min clip of 720P on a mac mini G4 with 512 ram just for kicks.  I stopped it after 3 days just wasn't worth it.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/which-hd-format#post-41943 Fri, 05 Dec 2008 19:56:58 +0000 EarlC 41943@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> For sports and high action, extreme events, HD; for everything else there's AVCHD or HDV. Yeah, Rob, I've changed my tune. Next cameras will be either HV30s on the bottom end, with lights and Beachtek audio control and braces for a high quality mic, etc; or on the (MY) top end, the new Panasonic AG-HMC150 SD &amp; SDHC recorder and no tape. I think perhaps FCP will do a decent job for me with the AVCHD format, but I still am concerned about all the youth sports events we produce. Will have to do a hands on and see how bad the motion stuff will be - swish pans, follows, and other things more prevalent in sports activities.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/which-hd-format#post-41934 Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:13:21 +0000 robgrauert 41934@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <blockquote><p> I was wondering which HD format, and how it is saved, is the best (meaning looking best)?</p></blockquote> <p> Which is best looking has to do with how compressed the codec is. More compressed  means lower image quality, but it will take up less space too.AVCHD and HDV are more compressed than DVCPro HD and XDCam HD.</p> <p> Also take note that image quality is more impacted by lighting. You can have the biggest most badass camera in the world, but if you don't have ample light, your image will still look like crap. </p> <blockquote><p> </p></blockquote> <blockquote><p> Is hard drive, memory stick, or tape best? What about HDV, AVCHD, or some other one?</p></blockquote> <p>I'd go with a memory stick like P2 or SxS, but it all depends on what you want to do. Recording to tape you don't have to sweat losing your footage--it's on tape. Memory sticks and hard drives don't record drop out, which you sometimes get with tape, and the capture stages are much faster than capturing tape. Cameras that record to just a memory stick have no moving parts inside, so theoretically nothing gets worn out.  </p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/which-hd-format#post-41929 Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:52:37 +0000 Venzuelanhomedog 41929@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I have a jvc miniDV camcorder, and recently I have been thinking about getting into the HD craze. I have an iMac with Intel processors and Final Cut Express 4 installed, so I'm pretty sure I can edit in almost any format. I was wondering which HD format, and how it is saved, is the best (meaning looking best)? File size is not really an issue, because I have a 500GB external HDD. Is hard drive, memory stick, or tape best? What about HDV, AVCHD, or some other one?</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/best-video-format#post-40662 Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:50:58 +0000 louie 40662@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> So Panasonic intra-frame AVCHD.  Do you know any other hd intra-frame formats ?</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/best-video-format#post-40541 Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:20:51 +0000 BarefootMedia 40541@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>The reason AVI is is so popular is that whenit is compressed, it is done by intra-frame compression.  The compression is limited to individual frames.  MPG2 (in fact all MPG formats) compress across several frames, called a GOP.  Compression across several frames can cause problems during editing because many of the frames are compressed by looking back at previous frames.  So any individual frame is not likely to contain all the data to make the frame.  This is the complaint many folks have about the AVCHD formats.  Panasonic has developed an AVCHD format that uses only intra-frame (versus the usual inter-frame) compression.  However, the bit rate &amp; file size require special high speed and high capacity flash media.</p> <p>As mentioned earlier, MOV files are a bit different as the format can adjust to a variety of bit rates with quality ranging from as good as AVI to less than MPG4 files.   The easiest way to compare formats is to compare their bit rates.  The higher the bit rate, the better the video's quality.  However, you may not always want or need the highest bit rates possible.  For example, the MPG2 files that make up a DVD video are significantly compressed when compared to AVI's (and high quality MOV's) but it would be hard for you (or even me) to actually see the difference.  So while I always archive the highest quality video from the production, I will distribute in a format appropiate to the audience.  So I keep the best quality video available for future projects or re-edits for higher quality playback devices.</p> <p>I don't know if I've added anything helpful to the thread, but thanks for reading.  And good luck with your productions.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/best-video-format#post-40537 Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:58:17 +0000 desmondclark 40537@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> This is good to know. I'm a newb and just trying to navigate my way through the seas of formats, compressions, and craziness.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/best-video-format#post-40428 Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:12:10 +0000 brandon0409 40428@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I edit on a MAC.  ALL formats encoded in FCP are encoded in MOV format.  They are all compressed at different ratios.  Basically the MOV is just a container, just like AVI.</p> <p>AVI seems to be the most popular format for containers.</p> <p>MPEG and WMV are very very difficult to edit cleanly because of the amount of compression even on the best setting.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/best-video-format#post-40398 Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:25:29 +0000 jerronsmith 40398@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>@Craderscott</p> <p>Actually this is a common misconception, it isn't the format that that determines whether you have compression or not. The amount or lack of compression is a matter of which codec is used at the time of the files creation. There are compressed AVI and MOV files and there are uncompressed AVI and MOV files.</p> <p>@<strong>shippocai</strong></p> <p>The best for what? What do you want to use the video for? How is it being deployed? Web? Blu-ray? Something else?</p> <p>In general each file format, and codec have there specific strengths and weaknesses.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/best-video-format#post-40397 Sun, 28 Sep 2008 14:18:44 +0000 craderscott 40397@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> MPEG, MPEG2, MPEG4, WMA are all compressed. I believe MOV is compressed too, AVI is uncompressed and the best format to save in if there will be editing done later or if new copies will be made</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/best-video-format#post-40395 Sun, 28 Sep 2008 12:10:38 +0000 shippocaio 40395@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Hi,</p> <p>i just wanted to know which format is the best?</p> <p>Avi?  MOV?  MPEG2?  WMA?  Other?</p> <p> </p> <p>Any help would be appreciated.</p> <p>P.S.: Size is no problem!  :)</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/dvd-projection#post-40299 Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:16:38 +0000 Dallas 40299@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> I assume the other film shows didn't also have the same problems? Sounds to me like they did something to your video. Very often a festival will rip your DVD to more easily run through the films, Sound like they did some nasty conversion to it for some reason. Projectors are usually a bit more contrast-y, and darker than TVs and other screens, but should not distort the image. If that was the case, there was nothing you could have done... except complain to them.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/dvd-projection#post-40267 Sun, 21 Sep 2008 12:13:02 +0000 tarver 40267@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I shot a move in 720p at 60fps on a Panosonic P2 camera. I produced a dvd using Encore. It looked great on a tv but at a recent festival where it was projected onto a screen it was all out of proportion and dark. What is the best way to make a dvd that will look the same on tv or when projected? Thanks </p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/camcorder-format#post-36940 Wed, 28 May 2008 13:07:09 +0000 michaeltaleff 36940@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Want to get into multicamcording.</p> <p>Presently, running FCP5 on a G5 and have a Sony FX1 camcorder.</p> <p>Budget is tight and wish to buy another compatable camcorder, but can't affort another FX1.</p> <p>Now FX1 has 3CCD sensor, and looking at a Sony SR12 which has the new CMOS sensor.</p> <p>Know I will see some difference when capture to FCP5, but only doing documenty work.</p> <p>Want to keep post production editing low, and heard if I white balance both camcorders to the same white sheet, would decrease the difference once in FCP5. </p> <p>So how much of a difference would show with this arrangement?</p> <p>Any other thoughts or sites to visit on camcorder requirements for multicamcording?</p> <p>Mike T.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/camcorder-format#post-36787 Sun, 25 May 2008 12:20:43 +0000 BarefootMedia 36787@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>If there's a chance your camcorder will get jostled or bounced around, your best bet is a flash memory camcorder.  While tapes are most prone to recording problems when they get bounced about, even had drive machines can suffer from jostling.  I've been told that DVD camcorders have more "bounce resistance" than tapes, but I don't have any experience with DVD camcorders.  If you're not going to bounce your camcorder around, the acquisition format really doesn't matter except for storage expenses, tape being the cheapest by far. </p> <p>However, when it comes to ease &amp; speed of getting video into your computer, tape is the big loser.  Tape takes real-time to capture.  Hard drives,  DVD's and flash memory cards all store video in a file format.  So their video will transfer at the rate your IO port works, which is damn fast these days.  So you can't really choose one as faster or easier on the whole.</p> <p>But really, acquisition formats are best chosen by field requirements.  If you plan on shoot lots &amp; lots of video out in the field, tape is by far the most economical choice with hard drives being the most costly due to size limits.  (And always calculate recording time using the highest quality settings.)  I haven't seen any really good consumer grade camcorders that use flash memory to store full-frame 30fps video, but they are sure to be on the way.  DVD recording seems to be the best compromise between field recording cost &amp; ease of importing.</p> <p>In the pro markets, Panasonic promotes flash memory recording using its P2 cards.  While Sony's top end ENG/EFP camcorder uses full-size Blue-ray DVD's for acquisition.  But either of these systems cost more than a new Mercedes.  Even pros consider them pricey.  But they do illustrate the equality of the two formats.  Since consumers don't really have a flash memory option, it would seem DVD recording would be the best compromise between recording cost, convenience and portability.</p> <p>Good luck with your choice.  I hope this helps you identify the factors most relevant to your particular needs.</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/camcorder-format#post-36780 Sun, 25 May 2008 10:43:01 +0000 mrjman 36780@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Whats the best format on a camcorder to make action/documentary videos? Hard Drive, Mini DV, or something else? and if I did choose any of these whats the easiest way to upload the video to your computer?</p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/which-file-format-for-upload#post-34762 Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:06:32 +0000 bobjr94 34762@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I would say mpeg4. I think a 1 minute DV video would be like 250MB so that wont work, mpeg 1 is ment for small videos and is out of date,  a good SD DVD quality mpeg 2 video would be about 45 MB, so that might fit in. Using DIVX, XVID or some other generic mpeg4 you get a very good picture for around 10-15MB. Also depends on your output size. You doing SD or an HD movie?</p> <p>I would find out what format and size the movie will be posted in on the website and maybe submit them in the same format so no conversion is needed. That will give the best quality to viewers. </p> http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/which-file-format-for-upload#post-34750 Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:29:27 +0000 Fitzhufilms 34750@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I have to submit a 60 sec video for a competition and my file choices are:</p> <p>&lt;font size="2" face="Courier"&gt;avi .dv .flv .m4v .mov .mpg .mpg2 .mpeg .mpeg2 .mpeg4 .mp4 .qt .wmv .asf .mp3 .wav .wma&lt;/font&gt;</p> <p>The file cannot exceed 50mb and once the file is recieved it will be posted on the inernet on their site. I prefer mpeg2 but, but can anyone else tell me what they would use for the best quality and to help insure once the file is posted the end the footage will still look good.</p> <p>Thanks</p> <p>&lt;center&gt;<br /> &lt;/center&gt; </p>