Videowave Hdv Or Avchd?

[treehousemann]

My apologies upfront.

 

I've got to believe there is a thread on this already but can't find it. My question for the Gurus is what is your experience on the better file format for HD editing, workflow and quality in Videowave? I have a Canon HV20 and the editing experience with the MPEG 2 HD files is a little frustrating. The MPEG files just bog down videowave too much at least on my laptop system. I typically have to edit the MPEG 2 files to select reels in videowave and then convert to DV AVI so I can properly edit the pieces without freezes. Sort of defeats the purpose of HD.

 

Just wondering the experience out there with HD files.

 

Thanks

 

Treehousemann

HP DV9500

[Jim_Hardin]

Gary (ggrussell) is our resident expert in HD matters and should be around shortly,

 

(different time zone and laid back southern nature…)

 

I have a post in Tips & Tricks about production strategy that may be of some use to you. I would think that you would not want to output anything from VW but rather use the VW Project (dmsm) in MyDVD.

 

I did a 10 minute one yesterday and am guessing I did something wrong. I output from VW as mpeg2 High Def 1089i.

 

That took almost 3 hours. OK, figure MyDVD will Smart Render it so I'll gain time there… No! Another 3 hours rendering in MyDVD as AVCHD.

 

So my PC is rendering at about 1 hour for every 3.5 minutes of production.

 

Maybe Gary can advise both of us…

 

You should list your PC specs too.

[sknis]

My apologies upfront.

 

I've got to believe there is a thread on this already but can't find it. My question for the Gurus is what is your experience on the better file format for HD editing, workflow and quality in Videowave? I have a Canon HV20 and the editing experience with the MPEG 2 HD files is a little frustrating. The MPEG files just bog down videowave too much at least on my laptop system. I typically have to edit the MPEG 2 files to select reels in videowave and then convert to DV AVI so I can properly edit the pieces without freezes. Sort of defeats the purpose of HD.

 

Just wondering the experience out there with HD files.

 

Thanks

 

Treehousemann

HP DV9500

 

Sorry Jim, I posted at the same time you did. I agree that Gary has more expertise on this than I do. I have just not played with it much.

 

HV30

 

An AVI file should be best for editing but they are very large and you'll need an external hard drive quickly if you have many of them. Is the native format for the HV 20 the mpg2 format or is that just what you captured?

 

Unfortunately, HP in its great wisdom names a lot of laptops with the same name so it is impossible to tell from the model number what you have. It would be a big help if you posted your computer specs (CPU, CPU speed, graphics device, etc_) in your signature. If you are not sure, download and run Belarc Advisor (free) to get the information.

 

On my experience, I would not use anything other than a desktop replacement with a built in dedicated memory video card to do any editing, let alone HD. If you post your computer specs perhaps we can make a better judgment.

 

What tips me off to you not having a simple laptop is that you were able to capture the video to your hard drive. One more thing to try, in Video Wave, go to the top menu and select tools, options and then put the dot near software rendering (if it isn't already there). That should help some with the freezing.

 

Even with my computer and a relatively fast video card, it is not a quick process.

 

I think Gary has the HV20 so perhaps he can give you more advice.

[Jim_Hardin]

No problem Steve – we are looking for answers and you have added many things I didn't think of!

 

Wish Gary would get here – he should sign up for Duncan Donut Home Delivery…

 

[treehousemann]

Thanks for the quick response guys. I've put my specs at the bottom. Yea its a desktop replacement, but on the lower end. Steve to answer your question, yes the native HV20 format is MPEG 2. I will definitely try the (.) option in the tools options. Jim, thanks for the links on properly outputting using MYDVD. I admit, the "DVD" in the title led me to believe for DVD's only. I mainly do file exports.

 

one question, am I losing HD quality by converting to AVI? If not I have no problem staying away fro MPEG... It's pretty nasty.

 

Awaiting's Gary's arrival is at a fever pitch!!

 

Treehousemann

 

HP dv9500

intel core duo CPU T7500

2.20 ghZ

Memory (RAM) 2.00 GB

Hard drvie 140 GB (40 avaliable)

Vista 32 bit.

 

 

 

[sknis]

Thanks for the quick response guys. I've put my specs at the bottom. Yea its a desktop replacement, but on the lower end. Steve to answer your question, yes the native HV20 format is MPEG 2. I will definitely try the (.) option in the tools options. Jim, thanks for the links on properly outputting using MYDVD. I admit, the "DVD" in the title led me to believe for DVD's only. I mainly do file exports.

 

one question, am I losing HD quality by converting to AVI? If not I have no problem staying away fro MPEG... It's pretty nasty.

 

Awaiting's Gary's arrival is at a fever pitch!!

 

Treehousemann

 

HP dv9500

intel core duo CPU T7500

2.20 ghZ

Memory (RAM) 2.00 GB

Hard drvie 140 GB (40 avaliable)

Vista 32 bit.

 

Does that have a video chipset or a dedicated video card?

 

[treehousemann]

Steve,

 

sorry about that. added graphics info signature..

 

Thanks..

 

 

 

HP dv9500

intel core duo CPU T7500

Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100

2.20 ghZ

Memory (RAM) 2.00 GB

Hard drvie 140 GB (40 avaliable)

Vista 32 bit.

[ggrussell]

Greetings... Personally, I would not convert the HDV files to DV AVI for several reason. First, the files would be really huge and that alone would create a storage problem unless you have 500GB or more in that laptop. It almost sounds like you are converting to standard definition DV AVI so yes, you would be losing quality. I would need more info on how you are doing that.

 

Second, you are converting from a compressed format to a 'less' compressed format. When you're ready to create a Bluray disc, DVD or output to MPEG 2 again, then that file has to be recompressed again. So there is a potential there for losing quality although it may not be that noticeable at hidef resolution. Only testing and burning would prove to see if it would be worth it.

 

MPEG editing is getting better in most applications. The slowness for you may be the hard drive subsystem. Most laptop hard drives spin at 5400rpm and have smaller buffers where a desktop hard drive spins at 7200rpm and has faster throughput with larger 16MB or 32MB buffers. Unless you have a very high end laptop, I don't recommend them for video editing.

[treehousemann]

Gary

 

Thanks for the recommendations and advice. It is very much appreciated! I will absolutely consider the limitations of my laptop, though it does spin at 7500, but HD space is a concern.

 

Yes you are correct, I decided to down convert to SD DV AVI, because the last 1 sec of each HD MPEG 2 file in Videowave would freeze right before the transition and then move onto the next clip in preview. It was difficult to tell if editorially the cut was working. So I created select clip MPEG 2 HD projects and then output from Videowave to AVI files. Then I am bringing those AVI files into a new project to cut the piece. It is working nicely, but again as you pointed out I am no longer in an HD format I would assume. I won't output to DVD or Blueray, but will create a file for upload and send links for download. I assume a WMV file would work best for quality and download, but would entertain suggestions.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks

Treehousemann

 

HP dv9500

intel core duo CPU T7500

Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100

2.20 ghZ

Memory (RAM) 2.00 GB

Hard drvie 140 GB (40 avaliable)

Vista 32 bit.