I just thought I would write a quick post about footage capture. This is really going to focus on DV footage, be it SD or HDV.
The first question is how can you get that video on that tape into your computer? Well, there is a good way and a better way. The good way is to connect your camera straight to your computer. If you have a MiniDV camera, this is generally done through FireWire.
If you have a hard drive or solid state camera, you would either connect the camera into your USB port or maybe take the media and plug it directly into the computer. A good example would be the Panasonic AG-HVX200A, that uses the P2 card that plugs nicely into the ExpressCard slot of a MacBook Pro.
Non-tape cameras are pretty much a drag n’ drop kind of deal. Importing the footage is really, on a basic level, just that simple. However, if you have a tape camera, getting that video into your favorite video editing program is a waiting game. You have to capture the footage from the tape in real time, which is why FireWire is used rather than USB. The reason for this is FireWire is essentially a constant stream of data, while USB uses a packet burst system. Obviously, a constant stream would be ideal for capturing digital video in real time.
So, connecting your camera to the computer is a pretty good way to capture digital video, but what is a better way? Well, that’s called a VTR or video tape recorder. Why would you use a separate device to capture? To save wear on your tape heads in your camera. The longer you can use the heads in the camera, the longer the camera will remain functioning. That’s always important. However, there are some things to think about when considering a VTR.
If you are shooting on MiniDV in standard def, any DV VTR will work just fine. The issue comes when you are looking at an HDV VTR. Then you have to look at what format you are shooting in. There are two standards that you have to consider. The first is 60i. This is an interlaced image that is 30 frames per second. The sixty part of it is complicated, but it is a feature of an interlaced video frame. 60i HDV footage will work in any HDV VTR no problem.
The other standard is a 24 frames per second progressive video. Progressive video is a method of displaying the whole image at a time, as opposed to half of it like interlaced video. The problem is that Canon, Sony, and JVC have different standards for 24fps HDV. This means that only a Sony VTR will read Sony’s 24fps HDV and only a JVC VTR will read JVC’s 24fps HDV. Canon doesn’t make any HDV VTRs, so the only way to get 24p footage from a say, XH A1 is via the camera itself. This is a problem because if there aren’t any standards, we just have to be extremely careful in what formats we shoot.
So, there you go. This should help you get started on determining what HDV VTR to look at if you are in the market for one. I realize the article wasn’t that in depth or anything, but it is just an general introduction to HDV standards. That and my battery is dying. Comment, email, or twitter me any questions you might have.
Nice post.
With both my Canon XH-A1 and my Sony HC1 being destroyed in a recent house fire, I'm now figuring out what I should buy or rebuy. Ever since I've been recording with video, I've been recording to tape and I love that I still have archives of all my tapes. Because of that, I will always want a tape-oriented camcorder no matter what. But ideally, I would like secondary recording functionality. The big problem is that I have so many events that I've recorded that I've been “meaning to look at” but know that i'm probably not because I would have to connect my camera to the computer to import, cycle through the footage, etc. So it would be nice if I had a much easier way of getting footage rather than importing. If my camcorder also would record to an SD card or something also, I could just take the SD card w/ my MacBook Pro on the go and edit and upload.
with the new XH-A1s, with the 6 pin firewire, it will be much easier to record to a hard drive simultaneously while recording to tape. So that will work nicely for me for one of my profesisonal needs: one of the big things I do to make some money back on this hobby is record other stand-up comedians while I perform myself and sell them their recordings. So the quicker and easier I can get the footage into my computer to edit, the better.
What I'm wondering is if there's a consumer camera that records to minidv AND some sort of hard drive, flash drive, etc. This way, family events, etc,I can actually do something with it. If there isn't a consumer level camcorder like this, then this time around, I'm probably getting a Canon HV20/HV30 (under the assumption that these will play nice with the XH-A1s – I know with the XH-A1 they were supposed to, so I assume it's the same)
Perhaps I should invest in a tape deck too. I would like to own a Mac Pro sometime in the next couple months so I would leave it hooked up to that? (not too familiar with tape decks). I see from your post it's tricky working with 24p and a tape deck, but that's ok – I don't plan on working with 24p footage in the near future because I'm working with Final Cut Express 3.5 (don't have Final Cut Studio), and from what I understand, FCE 3.5 doesn't work with 24p footage without some sort of conversion.
Footage from an HV20/30 will play nicely will all formats shot on an A1(S). Even 24p if you are going for that film look. If you stick with 60i on the A1, especially since your editing with FCE 3.5, any HDV camera or tape deck will read your footage with no problem.
Finding a consumer camera that has both tape and HDD recording may be hard to find. The awesome Panasonic AG-HVX200 records onto HDD and MiniDV, but only SD on tape, even you are shooting 1080p on P2 cards. Kind of annoying, but at least it is some sort of backup.
From what I've read on Canon's website, there really isn't a major advantage of the XH A1S over the A1. Maybe the HDD recording capability, but I just got a brand new A1 and can't afford to sell it and buy an A1S. Unless you are looking for an A1 with less than 1 hour on the heads. :D