What capture settings etc transcoding from a Sony HVR - A1E/A1P camera (HDV1080i).

Hi All

I've done quite a bit of reading around on this and I'm still somewhat confused. I am working in the UK and intending to project my video in a gallery, using a 4,000 lumens HD projector connected to a media player. I am working on a Mac Book Pro with Firewire Drives and FCP 7. My material is recorded to tape using a Sony HVR - A1E/A1P camera (HDV1080i). I want to preserve the highest possible quality, while keeping render times manageable. At present I am intending to output the finished work using H264 (unless you have other advice?).

Am I correct in thinking that my camera records in HDV and that my best option is to transcode this on on capture to HD or Pro Res (is Pro Res the better option ?)

When I open a FCP project if I choose easy set up it asks me to set the format - HDV / HD / or Pro Res. Depending which I choose this sets up up different parameters

If ignore this and go into audio video settings I have options for

sequence preset
capture preset
device control

Does anybody have any advice on how to set these ? I'm also not sure which version of pro res would be best Proxy 422, LT 422 , 422, HQ422 or Pro res 4444.

I guess its play off between render times / disc space and quality . Might a reasonable option be ?

sequence preset - Pro Res 422 - 1920 x 1080 25p 48kHz (or should it be 24p)?
capture preset HDV - ProRes 422
device control Sony HDV Firewire
render control apple pro res

I would really appreciate a second opinion on this.

Many thanks

If you have the A1E, you are working PAL. There is no 24p.

Are you going to do a lot of compositing, keying, other fancy stuff to your footage? Then capture and edit in HDVi50 and export to ProRes422 in 25p if your MBP can play it. I never saw a reason to transcode HDV for editing, even though it is a long GOP format.

You won't lose much quality with footage from the A1, as there hasn't been much from begin on (based on the vintage of that cam). It was a nice camera to its time, but is hopelessly obsolete nowadays. Make sure you have a lot of light.

Thanks cg

I'm not in a position to reshoot the footage so will need to work with it as it stands. Can I clarify are you saying not to transcode to ProRes422 on capture only on export . Should I also use HDVi50 for the sequence settings?

I presume by MBP you ean the media player?

Thanks

That is solely up to you. I never saw a reason for not editing in HDV (are you going to do Chroma Keying, extreme color grading or other fancy stuff?)

MBP = MacBook Pro (sorry)

Edit in HDV on a MBP if it's a relatively short and simple project.

If it's long and/or complex, go ProRes 422.

For archiving, output a full resolution ProRes 422 copy.