Sony's new Webbie HD camera MP4

Files are files, and you usually can just drop them on a drive from the cameras, but MP4 isn't going to be any sort of format I'd like to edit with. You'd still end up transcoding them for a better experience working with them. If you have a link to the camera's specs I might be able to comment further, but it's likely it's not intended to be used as your main camera in professional software if the MP4 is designating the file format, which it likely is.

Jerry

Since we're speaking of CES and the best FCP workflow, how about this puppy: http://www.hitechreview.com/cameras/jvc-introduces-new-final-cut-pro-6™-ready-so lid-state-camcorder/3179/ From teh Press release: "Industry’s first native support of QuickTime file format for Apple’s Final Cut Pro Both camcorders natively record the file format used by Apple QuickTime for Final Cut Pro. Video clips are dragged directly from the storage media onto the non-linear editor’s timeline, eliminating the need for transcoding that can consume excessive time and disk space while maintaining original first generation image quality." It appears to record in full-raster (1080p?), 1080i, and 720p all on SDHC Media Cards, but it won't be available until April. Obviously I have no experience with this unit and have no connection with JVC, but am just mentioning it since it seems like you want a Brand New camera with easy workflow and that's just what this guy is. But yah, MP4 is a delivery format, not capture nor edit, so unless you want to just take these files into iTunes and onto your iPod/iPhone, then I'd skip that cam.

Good Luck,
-Brian

I've no idea how well the camera shoots, so can't say how it may look in the end on your Plasma. However you usually get what you pay for....

MP4 is not a supported format for editing in FCP, so you'd have to transcode the files to an acceptable format before you edit the material such as ProRes or HDV, then to see it on a TV set in HD, you'd need to recompress it to a format you can use to see it with... Apple TV H.264 comes to mind.

Think about it: a $200 "HD" camera isn't going to compete with those that cost upwards of $3,000 or more no how...

This camera is really made to make quick videos for consumer use and can't in any way compete with even a mid range consumer HDD camera I'd suggest, without even looking at it.

However it does have it's place in the world of home movies and internet destined delivery I'll wager.

Jerry

What you'd need to do is deliver the final project in that format after you've edited it in a format that FCP supports. It doesn't support H.264. You'd import the files into compressor and change them to DVCPROHD, or HDV, or ProRes. Then edit, then recompress to MPEG-2 for DVD Production. (these would be Standard definition) or then back to H.264 for delivery on the web.

Jerry

You could compress to both MPEG-2 for DVD's and back to H.264 for the web from the edited video...

Jerry

You can burn an HD DVD using DVD SP (though it won't hold a lot of video because it's burned on a DVD-5 or 9, but not a Blu-Ray disk without more software and a Blu-Ray Burner. For that you need to take a read here:
http://www.kenstone.net/fcphomepage/taming_the_wild_blu2.html

Jerry

The FCP-ready camera from JVC looked interesting until I got to this bit:

*Enhanced MPEG2 Long GOP Encoder*

*Drawing from its experience in developing encoders currently used in broadcast applications, JVC developed a proprietary codec capable of providing highly efficient compression up to 35 megabits per second, a bit rate supporting full 1920 x 1080 encoding in the HQ mode. This results in recorded images of extremely high quality. MPEG2 long GOP encoding is the most widely implemented broadcast standard compression and is currently supported by all popular editing systems and broadcast servers. Additionally, the camera can record 720p (19/35Mbps) and 1080i (25Mbps) in SP mode, assuring compatibility with today’s most popular professional NLE systems.*

How is MPEG2 Long GOP an instantly useful, Quicktime-based, FCP-ready format? Every post I've ever read here about any MPEG2 compression requires the hapless user to convert to ProRes.

bogiesan

bogiesan

Well, you could edit in HDV native with the camera's format, if you don't mind the long render/encoding times. That's what ProRes speeds up.. And JVC's earlier released cameras used short gop, not as compatible...

Jerry

Message was edited by: Jerry Hofmann

Now that we have the actual model, we can look more into the cam itself. Correct me if wrong, but I thought that FCP 6.0.2 running on an Intel Mac could import AVC via the Log and Transfer window? So you need two things, first and foremost an Intel Mac. In order to do anything on a Mac with AVC, you need an Intel Mac (again I'm pretty but not 100% sure). Secondly, you'd need at least FCP 6.0.2. You said you used to do video editing, so I don't know what version you have. I took a look at the specs and it specifically says "Format : MPEG4 AVC/H.264 (MP4)" so as long as Sony hasn't messed around with making it's own implementation of AVC (I don't see why they would) then FCP 6.0.2 or iMovie '08 or later would both work with the AVC files natively. You'd need to export them from FCP to bring into DVDSP anyways, however I don't know if it would be as simple as Export->Quicktime Movie of if you'd need to go through Compressor. Anyone here work with AVC? You might be better served searching the forums (here, creative cow, etc.) for AVC workflows, and if you never find an answer to your other questions, by all means post another question here and I'm sure someone will be able to answer it, but right now AVC users don't necessarily know that this thread has turned into AVC workflows.

G'luck,
-Brian