Cannot Finish Project on S4000

[CasablancaExpert]

There is no 'Range' function when exporting HDV projects...

This is my understanding (corrections/additions welcome and invited ) the HDV format used by your Casablanca requires a complete stream to render - this is why you must re-render the entire storyboard if you make _any_ changes in an HD project. So, Lou's trick/suggestion to use the Scene and Clipboard function allows you to take a portion of an HD Storyboard and access it.

Although the process is virtually identical to us who have been editing SD in our Casablanca there are some substantive differences and this is one of them.

Regards,
Chet

[LouBruno]

A corrupt SD will not cause a problem till outputted.

Thanks for the tips guys. I will try when I can- right now its in the middle of a render again, which takes 24 hrs+. My only issue is it DID render everything- at least it indicated it did. After the batch render it indicated both audio and video was rendered. So if there was corrupted scenes wouldnt it not have rendered in the first place? And just so Im clear, there SHOULD be the "Choose Range" option should be evident after the batch render, correct?

[Rte80west]

Thanks again all for taking the time to repond.

Specifically to your suggesstion Lou:

I think you are indicating to put a bunch of scene clips from my storyboard to the clipboard, then dumping these clips into a NEW project and then stringing them together on the new project storyboard. Is that right? If it IS right, then my main concern is what about all the music and FX that are CURRENTLY attached to the scene clips in my storyboard now? They won't transfer wil they? Which means I have to lay all the music and FX down again AFTER I import selected scene clips into a new project. Is that correct? If it is correct, I agree it's doable, but man, what a pain in the___ that would be.

The only other way I can think of is to START to export the entire 350 minute storyboard to tape. The tape will be filled at about 60 minutes. Then go back into the storyboard and DELETE those 60 minutes already transferred to tape. Unfortunately, I think that means I have to re-render the entire (albeit shorter now) storyboard. I could then repeat this process until the entire 350 minutes are on several tapes and then upload those 350 minutes into a new project. Finally, I could then lay down 60-80 minute clips onto the storybaord (or whatever a DVD will hold) and burn to DVD. Also a valid approach (I think) but also a pain, mainly due to the waiting time while rendering.

Are both these approaches valid and logical?

I am sure there is a valid tech reason why there is no longer a SELECT SCENE option in the FINISH window but it makes this process a real pain!

[TimKennelly]

That is incorrect, if you make a Scene of the Storyboard (or any portion) it will incorporate everything in that Range, including transitions, IP Effects, audio tracks, etc.

The drawback is it "cements" them permanently in this Scene, but that is not a drawback for the purpose you want which is simply to export a specific portion.

Use the Scene function just like you would the Range function in SD Finish, Clipboard that single Scene to an empty Project, Add to Storyboard, Create in Finish, export.

I would suggest adding a few seconds of buffer footage, say five seconds of Color Bars before and after the Scene on the Storyboard so you don't lose any footage going out to tape (start up, etc).

[Rte80west]

OK Tim, thank you for the clarification.

If you wouldn't mind, can you specifically explain how to accomplish what you are explaining? I have used Clipboard before but only to transfer a scene or audio clip between projetcs. I am uncertain how to use it to accomplsih the same end result as the CHOOSE RANGE function allows one to do w/ SD projects. Thanks so much in advance.

[TimKennelly]

Say the Range you would set in Finish is a middle ten minute segment of a sixty minute Storyboard.

In the actual Project place the Scene that would begin the middle ten minute segment in the Workbox, select the Transition icon to bring up the Scene function, choose Scene, Range and range the In and Out points just like you would do the Range in the Finish menu, select Ok after setting those.

You will now have a Scene of this ten minute selected segment in the Scene Bin.

Select Special, scroll to Clipboard, select Add Scene and this ten minute Scene will be added to the Clipboard.

Switch to the empty Project, choose Clipboard, checkmark the Scene, select Import Scene, Ok.

Add the Scene to the Storyboard (here is where I would suggest you add the buffer Scenes (something created in New a few seconds long such as I mentioned Create a Color Scene) and Add it to the Storyboard before and after the 10 minute Scene.

Then switch to Finish and the Storyboard will BE the preferred "ranged" segment, Create, export.

[Rte80west]

Tim-

BIG THANKS

Worked perfect.

I just never used that feature, wasn't aware of it. Thanks for the time and detailed description.

Another quickie b/c I'm paranoid and new to HD.

As I already described, I have a storyboard of about 325 minutes or so. I will transfer to tape in 60 minute chunks. This transfer to miniDV will remain in HD if I export via firewire, regardless of whether it's HD miniDV tape or regular miniDV tape, correct (I understand the drop out/reliability issue risks w/ using non HD tape, etc).

Also, if I choose to upload from the miniDV tape back to the S4000, the HD footage (just transferred to tape) will be downconverted to SD upon loading up to the S4000 and to export AGAIN to miniDV tape and/or to burn a DVD it will need to be transferred to HD once again (via the create button) first. Is this correct thinking? My main concern is to preserve HD quality. And if I am correct in my thinking, to put it in somewhat layman terms, the quality is always downgraded upon loading into the S4000 and must first be upgraded before exporting again. Yes?

[Rte80west]

And also big thanks to Lou, Chet and Bob for taking time to answer inquiries on this thread. Didn't mean to exclude anyone. Appreciate the time and energy you all take to help.

[CasablancaExpert]

Let me clarify something in this rather confusing arena (it's easy to be confused with all the acronyms and the variables in the technology and our menus).

You are exporting to DV tape (or miniDV tape). You can record either SD or HDV onto a miniDV tape. If you wish to maintain the best quality with your HD project, you should record the HDV signal out to DV tape (selecting HDV not SD).
Then when you load that footage/project back into your S4000 you should load it into an HD project. This will preserve the HD quality.

If you are wishing to down-convert to SD you can export from your S4000 to a DV/MiniDV tape and use the DV export option in the Finish window with your HD project. The Casablanca will export then an SD version of your HD project. When you import that back into your S4000 you can/will have an SD version. You cannot make an HD tape or HD DVD of that project as it is now in SD.

Oh, so many acronyms - so little time

Hope that clears things up a little...

Regards,
Chet

Acronym Legend:

HD - High Definition
HDV - High Definition Video
SD - Standard Definition

LOL, AFAIK... oh, never mind

[TimKennelly]

You are welcome.

As for your question, it's what Chet said. LOL

In other words, it is always your choice on whether you export an HDV Project out as DV or HDV.

The same for importing HDV footage, your choice (by menu selection on the cam/deck) on whether you import HDV footage as DV (downconverted on the fly by the cam/deck) or HDV.

If you want the result at any point to be HDV you should keep the footage in HDV throughout any transfers and editing.

You can upconvert DV footage to HDV footage in your editor, but it is not really the same quality even if it was originally HDV downconverted to DV.

There is always some loss from downconverting/upconverting footage.