Workflow for converting 4X3SD to 16X9 HD?

What format are you converting from?

OK. Once you capture, you can put the clips into an HD sequence. Make sure you don't change sequence settings to match clip settings. You'll probably have to resize the picture to fit the frame--no need to crop. You can even do this in the canvas with "Image + Wireframe" selected instead of just image. This also lets you move the frame around a little more easily. This lets you manipulate the frame so that you get your best 16x9 out of your 4x3.

As far as the cropping is concerned, you would have to either crop or matte if you were trying to letterbox in 4x3, but you shouldn't have to in 16x9. The render is going to inherently leave out those parts of the image.

It's a pretty easy process, really. Just be aware that there'll be some rendering issues that will likely take some extra time. Now, if there were only a way to make the image not look so junky when trying to upconvert . . .

I hope that I put this forth clearly. Feel free to ask some more questions if I didn't.

Convert to what format of HD? I have BetaSP and digibeta tapes that I need to incorporate into a DVCPRO HD project...a 23.98 project. So I use the AJA Kona 3 to upconvert the footage to 720p60 at 29.97, then use Compressor to convert the footage to 23.98. Works beautifully.

If you only have an SD capture card, then look at INSTANT HD by REd Giant SOftware.

Shane

Getting a BlackMagic means that you can upconvert SD to 1080i 29.97. Not a bad thing. YOu can capture to DVCPRO HD or PRO RES or UNCOMPRESSED HD 8-bit or 10-bit. What format should you go? Depends...what are you trying to do? How fast of a Drive RAID do you have?

Shane

Correct. The HD Capture card will be doing the conversion for you. Far better quality than software conversion. Although I do recommend the AJA Kona 3 over the Decklink cards. It can capture SD to 20p or 1080i, and cross convert 720p to 1080i or the reverse. The Decklink cards cannot cross convert, or capture to 720p. Plus the upconvert process is easier with the Kona, in my experience. The Software is very straight forward.

By that I mean the 4X3 frame will be cropped at the top and bottom in order to fit the 16X9 HD frame.

You can either crop off the top and bottom, or capture as "pillar box" leaving black on the sides. I tend to crop off the top and bottom.

I may want to use the top part for some shots and the bottom for others (which I figured I do by keyframing).

In that case you will need to look at Compressor for this, or Instant HD...or a Terranex at a post facility.


Shane

YOu got it. YOu can capture as pillarboxed and then reposition and render. The image will look much better than doing the full upscale via software.

Shane

Congrats on the Kona 3. GREAT card.

OK...I'll give you the quick basics, as I am writing an article on this.

First, in the AJA Control Panel, you have to choose your Frame Buffer to be the format you want to convert to. For example, I choose 720p59.94. Then, on the output (this affects the input too), you choose your SECONDARY format, which should be 525i29.97. Then you get this little UPCONVERT box to appear between your input arrow and the frame buffer (and DOWNCNVERT on the output arrow).

In the FORMAT button of the control panel, you can choose to ZOOM LETTERBOX or PILLARBOX your footage...as well as a few other options. Zoom Letterbox will zoom into your 4:3 footage to get 16:9...cropping off the top and bottom. Pillarbox will leave black on the sides...so whatever you want to do.

Then, in FCP, make your Easy Setup to be the format you want to capture to. This and the Frame Buffer in the Control Panel should match.

Savvy?

Shane