HDV / HDCAM Workflow
Cubist has been shooting High Definition Video on Sony HVR-Z1U camcorders since the format was introduced. These small and versatile cameras offer the beautiful imagery of 1080i that transfer easily onto HDCam and other formats.
We’ve developed and tested an HDV WORKFLOW that gives producers the flexibility to shoot, ingest, edit, and finish through Final Cut Pro HD. You have options – ingest / master at Cubist and edit on your own, reconform an existing program, HDV mastering to HDCAM, or post the entire project in our HD edit suite.
From beginning to end HDV post-production at Cubist is held up to the same high standards we set for all of our projects. Your show looks like you’ve never seen it in crisp, full sized HD.
Plan 1: Uncompressed HD Editorial and Mastering at Cubist
OK, you’ve finished a week of shooting and bring in the HDV camera source tapes either logged (preferably) or unlogged. The footage is captured through a Miranda HDV Bridge into our Final Cut Pro HD system via the Kona 2 card as 8 or 10- bit uncompressed HD. The show is edited and then mastered to any flavor of HD/SD tape or authored to DVD.
Plan 2: Uncompressed HD Reconform and Mastering from existing project at Cubist
You’ve edited a show on your own system. Depending on your preferences and setup it may have edited in HDV or down converted to DV. No problem. Bring us your Final Cut Pro project file, source tapes, and a firewire drive containing any other assets such as music, graphics, etc. The tapes are captured through a Miranda HDV Bridge into our Final Cut Pro HD system via the Kona 2 card at 8 or 10-bit uncompressed HD. All media is relinked, and rendered if needed. The reconformed show is then mastered to any flavor of HD/SD tape or authored to DVD.
Plan 3: HDV Conversion and Capture to Firewire drive
You have HDV camera masters but want to edit the show on your own. No problem. Say you want to work offline in a codec that you’re not able to capture over Firewire, like DVCPro HD. Bring us the camera source tapes and a Firewire drive. Footage is captured through a Miranda HDV Bridge onto your Firewire drive via the Kona 2 card at the desired codec.
Maybe you want cross-convert a camera source to match another format you are working in – like moving 1080i to 720p. Bring us the camera source tapes and a Firewire drive. The footage is captured through a Miranda HDV Bridge onto your Firewire drive via the Kona 2 card at the desired codec. Cross conversion takes place in real time on the Miranda HDV Bridge.
After you’ve finished editing the program come back to Cubist for FCP HD Finishing.
Plan 4: HDV Mastering
OK, you’ve edited your HDV program and now want an HDCAM Master. Bring a FireWire drive with all of the media and a Final Cut Pro project file. We’ll connect the Firewire drive to our Final Cut Pro HD system and output, in real time, through the Kona 2 to HDCAM. If you need another HD format, just ask, we’ll take care of what you need.
Cubist is a pioneer in cost-effective non-linear post-production and desktop compositing techniques that maintain the highest image quality and stretch production budgets. We have a history of exploiting and mastering new technologies, like HDTV, for the benefit of our clients. Our digital project studio, creative team and open workflow support clients’ unique needs and ensure their creative freedom. Editorial at Cubist is more than just video editing. It's working with people who understand the nuances of storytelling and visual messages. Our designers thrive on creative and technical challenges that take visual communication to new places. The Cubist team knows how to create video that goes beyond standard television into digital delivery and special venue exhibition.
