HD SD Arabesk 4 quality

[Alan]

Hi all,

I've had my S4000 pro for over six months now and one of the first things I did was to down-convert HD to SD via Arabesk and make a DVD. I was very disappointed, I was expecting a stunning picture and what I got was about VHS Quality. Now there are a lot more machines out there what are others finding, or is it just me? The only way I can see to present a quality DVD is to down-convert HD to DS in the camera and re-edit. I've gone back to shooting in SD with my Canon XH-A1.

Cheers, Alan in the UK

[TimKennelly]

Alan,

Why would you waste the time converting internally on the S4P when you can do it real time in the cam during the input?

I have not created many DVDs yet on my S4P, but the few I have look as good as those created on my Solitaire to me.

[Alan]

Tim,
I'm doing several wildlife projects which are for other people and these are videoed in HD for my pleasure. Seeing wildlife in HD on an 80" screen is absolutely stunning. They also have to be done in SD for DVD. So I have to edit twice. Also projecting an HD project downscaled via Arabesk is dreadful and I expect to be asked to show these videos at our local movie club. I will not show poor quality video especially as they will know it has been done from an HD camera.

For other SD projects I was expecting to do as PC owners do. Video in HD for future use but supply in SD. Also there seems to be among PC editors the view that videoing in HD and converting to SD gives a superior picture than using SD as the source. Not so with the S4000.

Cheers Alan

[TimKennelly]

Alan,

I have heard about two people actually make that statement about editing in HDV and then burning an SD DVD from that being superior to downconverting to SD in cam, editing and burning a DVD and a ton of people "parrot" that sentiment without actually testing this themselves.

Even the two that I know who said they compared it both ways were not willing to send me samples.

I am not disputing the statement, simply pointing out it's easy to say something without it actually being true.

I do know that properly shot HDV video converted in cam while downloading to the S4P and then using that footage to create an SD DVD looks very good, as good or better than anything I have done with Sony VX2000 footage.

Beyond that, it's still faster to input it twice than to input once HDV and internally downconvert as inputting HDV footage that is being downconverted on the fly in the cam is real time and internally downconverting HDV footage to SD footage takes longer than real time, at least on my unit during such tests.

[MichaelD]

In my opinion the quality of a DVD produced from an HD project is worse than a DVD from a normal DV project. Not only does the image quality appear reduced but diagonal lines often have 'jaggies'. I believe that his is due to the electronic conversion process that Bogart/Arabesk now uses since we don't have the C Cube chip anymore. However I also believe that there is a software solution - somewhere in the wings.

The reason not to just down convert on the fly is not only that the whole edit has to be done twice (if you want an HD version too) but the fact that down converted footage will not auto split as the cut points are lost in the process. There is an option to use 'time' rather than cut points to split but I've found this to be at best unreliable, if not totally useless.

[Alan]

Hi Tim,
You are correct that parroting sentiments is wrong. I am a keen supporter of our products ever since the first 'Works straight out of the box' early Cassi. This time in the HD to DVD area I am dismayed. I see that Michael D confirms my experience and what is more has an explanation. Has anyone else tried and tested?

Cheers Alan in the UK (Its foggy and damp outside, so I'll stay in and edit)

[MichaelD]

Just to clarify . . .

We're not talking about down converting the HDV project, as such, to another DV project within the Cassie and then Arabesk but merely going straight to Arabesk from an HDV project.

Obviously there are conversions in this process too but it's quicker than an HDV project to a DV project then to Arabesk . . .

[TimKennelly]

I agree that if you are wanting an HDV version as well you won't want to edit the entire Project twice to have it in both ways.

I would suggest in that situation to edit it in HDV, export to digital tape and then import it again letting the cam/deck do the downconvert on the fly into a DV Project.

I have not done this as no clients have been willing to pay for a high definition product so I have been editing and burning solely in SD to date.

I have finished up my outstanding projects and now should have a little time to play with personal HDV shot stuff and will look at all of this.

[Alan]

Thanks Tim, that sounds like a good idea.

Alan