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electronDegenerate
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Best Field Recorder/Codec for CS6 on PC

Apr 24, 2012 12:10 PM

I'm preparing to buy a new video editing system to run CS6 (moving away from Avid). My intent is to also purchase a field recorder to record 422 HD off my XL-H1. What's going to be the best bet? I was looking at the SideKick HD since is uses SSDs, but it, like most, comes native with ProRes422. I don't want to worry about whatever I may lose by using the 32-bit bridge for Quicktime. I'm fine purchasing the Avid DNxHD upgrade, but it sounds like that still uses Quicktime and has some issues of it's own.

 

So, what is going to be the best field recorder to use for Premiere Pro CS6? And it would be great if it has an onboard monitor.

 

Thanks.

1533 Views   10 Replies   Latest reply: Jim Simon, Apr 25, 2012 6:01 PM
 
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  • shooternz
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    2. shooternz,
    Apr 24, 2012 1:48 PM   in reply to Jim Simon
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    Is that 4:2:2 ?

     

    Otherwise..an Atomos Samurai might suit the O.P

     

    FWIW: http://www.atomos.com/press/articles/customer003-shooterfilm.xml  ...about me and my Samurai 

     
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  • rpestes
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    3. rpestes,
    Apr 24, 2012 2:07 PM   in reply to shooternz
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    Yes, the Samurai is cheaper and much better. I saw it at NAB. You don't get Prores and DNXHD with the Pani.

     
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  • Jim Curtis
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    4. Jim Curtis,
    Apr 24, 2012 6:37 PM   in reply to electronDegenerate
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    You said "best," right?  Then, stay away from AVCHD, and go with a 10-bit intraframe codec (ProRes, DNxHD or AVC-Intra 100). 

     

    AVCHD makes tiny files (it's greatest strength, perhaps), but at the cost of slowing your edit due to CPU overhead; and it's 8-bit 4:2:0, which is nasty on certain kinds of footage, difficult to make drastic corrections to color, and probably the worst choice for chroma keying.

     

    Since you mentioned 32-bit bridge, I assume you're on Windows?  You'll need the ProRes Windows decoder (free from Apple). 

     

    I'm on Mac, and DNxHD Quicktimes don't work as well as ProRes Quicktimes.

     

    You're wise to do your homework before you buy something. 

     
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  • Jim Simon
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    5. Jim Simon,
    Apr 25, 2012 8:49 AM   in reply to rpestes
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    You don't get Prores and DNXHD with the Pani.

     

    Yes, but you also don't have to deal with QuickTime, something specifically asked for.

     

    And it does comes with the requested built-in monitor.

     
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  • electronDegenerate
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    6. electronDegenerate,
    Apr 25, 2012 10:09 AM   in reply to Jim Simon
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    Yeah, I'm amazed how many people can't read. Thanks for response, Jim. What I read about AVCHD kind of scares me off that too, though. Anyone familiar with the Convergent nanoFlash? While it doesn't have a monitor, it does 422 with Sony's XDCAM.

     

    I guess maybe another question ahould be, "Is it a good idea to have 95% of my footage as Prores in Premiere on a PC?"

     
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  • electronDegenerate
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    7. electronDegenerate,
    Apr 25, 2012 10:22 AM   in reply to electronDegenerate
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    And, "Would DNxHD MXF files work with Premiere without going through Quicktime?"

     

    Thanks!

     
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  • Jim Simon
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    8. Jim Simon,
    Apr 25, 2012 4:42 PM   in reply to electronDegenerate
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    I think I read that PP (even CS6) will not handle DNxHD wrapped as MXF.

     
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  • Jim Curtis
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    9. Jim Curtis,
    Apr 25, 2012 5:20 PM   in reply to Jim Simon
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    We really could use a cross-platform 10-bit 422 and/or 444(4) intraframe open source codec.

     

    Cineform?  Maybe some day.

     

    NanoFlash:  XDCam HD 422 is MPEG.  If you want the best, as you wrote, you should rule out any codec out that's MPEG/Long-GOP and/or 8-bit, IMO.

     
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  • Jim Simon
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    10. Jim Simon,
    Apr 25, 2012 6:01 PM   in reply to Jim Curtis
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    Don't forget to add "free" to that descriptive list.  Both free of charge, and free of any connection to Apple (read; QuickTime).

     
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