HDV on the Casablanca Renomee

[videojim]

Who in here has experience with this machine doing HDV work? I am curious about your experience with it. The project I am beginning to work on is probably a month from shooting, and I wanted pointers from those who have been there with this machine, doing HDV. As I mentioned before, I am shooting with a JVC GYHM700, and have already mentioned the possibility of it only outputting 720P, which Renny might not want to work with. Assuming its a signal the machine won't choke on, how well does the editor handle HD? Thanks.

[Jeanton]

Hi Jim

If you have the camera in possession why don't you go out and film some try-out footage and put it in your machine and play with it. You will soon know what you can and can't do with it - that's how I do things. If I am not sure if it works on my machine, I go and film things before I do a real job that you can't stuff up. If you are shooting with some one elses camera, ask them if you can borrow it for a day or two- sure they won't mind if you say you want to get to know the camera before your real shoot.

[BobFoster]

I did a short promotional video using Renomee Plus and OS 8.xx. I probably would not want to do a real professional job with it. I had problems with dropped frames and rogue video frames appearing in scenes that were not in the program at all. You can see the example here: http://tinyurl.com/8ttfy6
Note the dropped frames at the beginning after the opening graphics. I could not do a work around to eliminate the problem. Others may have different results. P.S. Pause the program to let it down load most of the way to avoid playback stopping.

[CasablancaExpert]

Hello Jim,

Yes - I have previously edited some shorter projects on my Renommee Plus with HDV. This was 1080 HDV however.
The workflow can be long, as the approach requires downconversion in the Renommee Plus from HDV to SD. You are essentially editing the SD footage while an EDL (Edit Decision List) of sorts is being created with the HDV footage. Then when you are finished with your edit, in the Finish window you can select SD output (either to tape or to DVD) or you can export back via firewire the HDV signal.

You have three times when you your editing is noticeably different than when editing SD:
1. Directly after import of HDV footage - before you have access to any other function
2. When creating anything under 'Special' -- it will affect your SD scene/s with the effect/filter, then take longer to affect the HDV footage (which makes sense as there is increased resolution)
3. On export IF you are going out to HDV -- if you are exporting an SD version of your Storyboard, there is no additional time required beyond the regular export/DVD process.

As far as 720 HDV, it is my understanding that you can successfully edit cuts-only. That the titles, effects, transitions, etc are not compatible with 720 in the Smart Edit approach to HDV editing.

NOTE: The above information is for Generation 2 Casablanca units and it is different for Bogart enabled Casablanca editors.


Hope that helps!

Regards,
Chet

[videojim]

Ok, thanks everybody. I do not own the camera, but will be asking about the 720p situation. As the info at the right says, I have OS7 currently, and have seen no need to upgrade to 8, yet. This is the Renomee, plain Jane, not plus. Does that change anything? Will do this SD if I run into too many roadblocks. Actually plan on burning an SD disk for now, but keep the footage for later. Still working with the details. Thanks for all your help.

[videojim]

Good news! The camera will put out whatever you want it to, just dial it up. I will remember the rest of the tips, tho. Once the edit is finished, is it possible to make an SD disk from it? I plan to keep the footage on the Hard Drive, unless it is highly advisable to move it to something else. Nothing else seems that much better of a life expectancy than to leave it on the drive. Opinions?

[TimKennelly]

Yes, you can make a regular DVD out of an HD Project.

I personally would back it up to HD tape as well.

[rone]

I have the same cam ... JVC GYHM700 .... very nice. You can shoot in 1920x1080 and firewire directly into you cassie using the SD firewire output jack .... sweet!

Forget progressive with your renomee if you want anything other than straight cuts when editing.

RonE

[LouBruno]

RON...................ya beat me to it. This is a gerat shoulder mounted camera and the downconveret is truly remarkable via an outside button rather than menu driven.

I have some SD cards on the way to try in our JVV GYHM700.....I am wondering how the RENOMEE would work in the 720P and 1080P mode? In HDV and downcoverted.

I have the same cam ... JVC GYHM700 .... very nice. You can shoot in 1920x1080 and firewire directly into you cassie using the SD firewire output jack .... sweet!

Forget progressive with your renomee if you want anything other than straight cuts when editing.

RonE

[TimKennelly]

You been drinking Lou?