Kybar

I've been using Pinnacle 12 to do all of my editing up until now (previously SD footage), but I just recently purchased an XH-A1 and will be working exclusively in HD. I'm looking to upgrade all of my gear to Mac and Final Cut Pro. Can anyone tell me the essentials for getting set up "the right way" for editing HD footage? Not just the bare essentials, but all of the things that I'll eventually end up buying if I want to start editing complete episodes...everything from monitors to storage drives/servers, speakers, etc. I was also curious about a capture deck for handling HD since none of my old SD cameras can be used to capture footage to the computer, and I don't want to wear out my XH-A1 heads. Basically everything the pros are using to produce TV shows and DVDs. Thanks for the help!

lungbuster12point06

First off your Pinnacle program should be able to handle HD editing, but if you want to go with Mac and FC it's not a bad thing. Second your consumer sd camcorders CAN be used as decks with HD footage as it has already been written to the tape and therefore any camera capable of playback will transfer that footage in HD to your computer.

For your wish list you'll have to ask a Mac user..........I use PC.

reelcrazyfish

I'm not so sure about that. I film in HD with a Sony HDR-FX1 and my Sony mini-cam will not recognize the tape. I must use my HDR-FX1 when I transfer to the PC. I am able to hook up my mini cam TO my HDR-FX1 and I can transfer High Def footage to SD footage on the fly and save to a mini-dv tape in SD format on my mini-cam (in theory - haven't tried it yet though).

JIM

lungbuster12point06

What do you mean it won't recognize the tape? It won't play it back in your consumer camera?????
It really should be no different than playing back progressive footage in a consumer camera that only shoots interlaced.......the footage is already embedded into the tape, you are just playing it back and therefore the type of deck should have no bearing on what the computer reads during capture.
Now if you mean the timecode won't read correctly I have run across that with almost any footage shot from a different camera and played back, but unless you're producing a feature film, I wouldn't worry about the time code as you are only loading footage from one camera, not 4 or 5 that may be used on a movie set.

Are you by chance shooting progressive in HD? Maybe your big camera is removing the pulldown during the capture process and the small camera is not capable of this?

reelcrazyfish

A tape shot on my Sony HDR-FX1 in High Definition will not play on my Sony SD handi-cam. Not sure why though.

Kybar

Yeah, I've had the same problem. Tapes shot on my XH-A1 won't play back on my little Elura 70 that I used to use as a trasfer deck. Anyone have any ideas?

hoosierhunter2

HD format is completely different than SD, it will require use of a HD deck or camera to playback and capture. Now if you record in SD format on a regular Mini DV tape then it is not different, but HD format is completely different, no different than trying to play a Blue Ray disc in a DVD player, won't work.

Kybar

Okay, so we've established it won't work. Anyone have any suggestions for an HDcapture deck or other essentials?

pixeldoctor

A HD consumer camcorder will work - http://www.amazon.com/Canon-HV30-Definition-Camcorder-Stabilized/dp/B00114PN1U
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/537980-REG/Sony_HDR_HC9_HDR_HC9_HDV_Camcorder.html


or u will need a deck which is quite expensive...
http://www.videogearshop.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=470
https://www.coremicro.com/catalog/product_info.php?language=en&currency=USD& products_id=196
https://www.coremicro.com/catalog/product_info.php?language=en&currency=USD& products_id=200

Google is a wonderful tool!!!

pixeldoctor

Other essentials...
http://www.contourdesign.com/shuttlepro/
I have three of these - http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Essential-External-Drive/dp/B000VZCEUI
and 3 of these - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=230278165 087&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=013
I have a WorldTech keyboard for Adobe Premiere 3.0 but here is another option for u - http://www.amazon.com/Bella-Professional-Keyboard-Apple-Silver/dp/B000LQPF9Y
Here is some awesome sites for learning FCP and music and graphics sites - www.lynda.com, www.digitaljuice.com