What do I need for HD editing

[child]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has been editing HD format yet. What kind of hardware (PC) and recommended software should I use for the edit?

VJ Child

[gpvillamil]

I am editing HD from a Sony HDR-HC1.

Hardware is a dual-core Athlon 4400, with a couple of 7200RPM drives.

I am using Vegas Video 6.0, which works well with HDV. You *do* need to use the HDV editing templates, and follow the instructions for intermediate formats, for editing to be reasonably quick.

However, there is a lot of interesting free software out there for working with HD, a lot of which is quicker and faster than Vegas for small jobs.

Check out:

CapDVHS for capturing from HD cams (or other FW MPEG2 devices), quicker than Vegas and better results
HDTV to MPEG2 for converting MPEG2 transport streams to regular MPEG2
DGMPGDec for decoding and deinterlacing MPEG2, and importing to VirtualDub (on neuron2, go to Mine, then DGMPGDec)

The Decomb filters from neuron2 are useful, also VirtualDub.

Basically, with only free software, you can capture and do simple editing on HD footage.

For VJing, I am finding that one of the most useful and practical things to do with HD footage is to remove every other line, to generate progressive scan video at standard resolution.

If you want to get fancy, you can turn every other field (line) into frames, turning 30fps interlaced video into 60fps progressive video at half the resolution. Looks very good for VJing!

You can do all this with VirtualDub and AviSynth, on a pretty low-end computer.

[famouswhendead]

Well using poor man's HD as well, here using HDV.
From an Sony FX1 to FCP works fine.
It is generally better to transcode to DvcproHD100/or avid dna as it is easier to edit and does not suffer from GOP problems.
I usually comp in FCP edit there and then go to AE with the finished edit i want to affect/effect .
In AE i have made a new HDV preset.
But editing native is fine but the render hit on output is not worth it. So just transcode using a Kona LH or another capture card if you can, or do it in software and relink later.
On PC what you asked Vegas is good, or xpresspro from avid using a transcode to their dna codec.

BTW gpvillamil a line is not a field. Do not get them confused.
Each video standard has a fixed number of scan lines 525 for NTSC or 625 for PAL. This has nothing to do with fields, I will elaborate if necessary if you want.

But great stuff in your post.

[gpvillamil]

Originally posted by famouswhendead
BTW gpvillamil a line is not a field. Do not get them confused.

You're right, I was not clear. A field is the set of alternating lines that make up half of an interlaced frame.

But do try the 1080i to 540p trick, looks great!

[Westbam]

If I ever have the money left to buy me such a cam, I will read your post again gpvillamil

I also know that premiere 1.5 (and higher) have HD plug-ins.

[Meierhans]

I work with Premiere 1.51 and Cineform RT Engine 3.

Specs:
- 3.6 Ghz P4
- two 7200 HD?s in RAID, one for System
- 1 Gig RAM (will upgrade on 2 the next days.. 1 is not enough for HD)

I?m able to play up to 3 streams in realtime, files are very big if you choose highest quality in Cineform Codec. This only makes sense if you want to chromakey or hardcore colorcorrect.

Downconversions to 576p look just like Digibeta.