If you're planning a film-out at the end of your Sony HDV project, you'll want to edit on a 24p timeline – without using the interlaced tape format that Sony's HDV camcorders use to record progressive images in their proprietary CineFrame mode. Fortunately, CineForm has just updated its Aspect HD and Connect HD software to extract a progressive, 24 fps sequence from CineFrame 24 and CineFrame 25 footage.
Sony's special progressive CineFrame modes record 24, 25, or 30 frame-per-second video sequences on tape using an interlaced MPEG2 50i or 60i signal. The CineFrame 24 capture mode, which is set within the camera's picture profile settings, will deliver 24 frame-per-second progressive pictures through a 60Hz interlaced output, in much the same way that 24p film material has "3:2 pulldown" added to create a 60i interlaced output for television broadcast.
The CineFrame 25 has less motion stutter and offers greater flexibility in adjusting shutter speed than the CF24 mode. When using CF24, the camera is limited to a shutter speed of 1/60th of second (or faster), whereas CF25 offers 1/25th, 1/50th, 1/60th and faster. To maintain a "film look" 1/50th is recommended (this emulates the typical 180-degree exposure of 35mm film).
However, if film output is desired at the end of a project, it is preferable to edit using a 24p workflow, and not use the interlaced tape format. New features in CineForm's Aspect HD and Connect HD can extract a 24 fps progressive sequence from Sony's CineFrame-24 or CineFrame-25 modes, which is then stored in CineForm Intermediate format. The resulting files can then be edited using Adobe Premiere Pro, Sony Vegas, or other AVI-compatible applications.
CineForm's applications offer support for the progressive CineFrame modes in Sony's HDR-FX1 and HVR-Z1 HDV camcorders. Both Aspect HD (v 4.1) for Adobe Premiere Pro and Connect HD (v 2.0) can create a 24-frame progressive output file while ingesting footage shot in Sony's CineFrame modes.
CineForm's intermediate technology has been used for editing on feature films. It eliminates the need for proxy files, conforming, and rendering. Its architecture was designed to run on standard Windows desktop PCs.
The retail price of Connect HD is $199; Aspect HD is $499.
For more information, visit http://www.cineform.com.