Video Camera - Standard Def or High Def

[Rutabagared]

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[Administrator_JSVN]

Youtube now supports hi-def.  I personally think it's worth the extra bucks.  Here's what YouTube says about video uploads...

Best Formats for Uploading

YouTube can accept almost any video format for upload, but for most users we have found the following settings give the best results.

    * Video Format: H.264, MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 preferred
    * Aspect Ratio: Native aspect ratio without letterboxing (examples: 4:3, 16:9)
    * Resolution: 640x360 (16:9) or 480x360 (4:3) recommended
    * Audio Format: MP3 or AAC preferred
    * Frames per second: 30
    * Maximum length: 10 minutes (we recommend 2-3 minutes)
    * Maximum file size: 1 GB

Note that since adding hi-def, they have not updated this page.  I think the recommended resolution for hi-def is 1280x720 if memory serves.

 

[peter halle]

Joe,

If you are going to look into a video camera, my advice is to look at your possible usage beyond YouTube.

I am not an experienced video person - as evidenced by the video links I have posted here.  I have HD.  I believe - and someone feel free to correct me if I am wrong - that the limit on YouTube is 10 minutes.  The deciding factor is how long you want to spend uploading it.

I shot all my videos at HD and then uploaded them for the most part at a lower resolution so that it wouldn't take so long and would be available to others quicker.

I see that Shane has posted.  So I will end this post.  But I will post an OFF Topic thread to show you HD.  Stupid video but it was an experiment.

Peter

 

[jgag]

re: Long-term storage
a) only purely digital media - not physical media - blue-ray /  DVD / CD and all the lost formats on the way, are all designed to relieve you of your cash
b) use only open formats, not proprietary formats (see above)
c) back up to multiple locations and multiple formats (and pay attention over the years to formats changing - more copies)  How do I get copies of the kids on VHS onto something mordern,  grrr....
?
only buy a tool that facilitates your needs (sounds familiar)

re: editing
a) lots of backups / intermediate versions - your time has value - the media, as long as there is plenty, is immaterial
b) plenty of memory matters + preferably some decent CPU horsepower...

 

[AlexThePalex]

I would like to add that for YouTube, HD is not necessary at all. The problem with YouTube is that all videos you upload to them are re-sampled to a lower quality format to make them more suitable for the web. After all, YouTube doesn't have unlimited bandwith. So if you're going all out with a HD camera then you'll gonna be disappointed when you see the end result on YouTube.

But if you're going to get a new camera anyway, I'd certainly consider one with HD. Because when you get one, you're probably not gonna use it mainly for YouTube videos but for your own pleasure. And when you record and view what you shoot back on your own TV set, HD will make a big difference.

When buying something technological, I always try to get one with the latest technology incorporated. If you're planning to do 10 years or more with a gadget, like me, then it's certainly wise to have one that's not already becoming outdated at the moment you buy it. It might be ok this year and the next, but in 5 years time, you're going to regret it and wished you had bought a more modern one.

 

[Dan Clark]

Joe,

HD video requires a decent computer to edit HD video and will suck up storage space.  OTOH, disks are cheap these days.  For archiving, you can add a large, slow disk to your computer as a removable drive (think large floppy disk) using one of these guys: http://www.wiebetech.com/products/RTX100.php .  So there is a price to pay.  However...

The quality you can get is pretty amazing.  This video was shot with a Panasonic GH1 (about $1,240 on Amazon): The Natural Order    Make sure that you select 720p when viewing it and expand it to fill your monitor.  Once you shoot in HD, you'll start thinking, "SD?  What's that?!?".

Regards,

Dan.

p.s. No, that's not my video.  (I wish.)

 

[Dan Clark]

Regarding the requirements for a video editing system, I'm building a new workstation now.  One of my major requirements is the ability to efficiently edit photos and HD videos.  The CPU is an Intel Core I7-920, which will be overclocked to about 3.8Ghz.  The specs are a bit of an overkill, but I want long term expandability.  You can do nicely with a WD 300Gb Velociraptor as a system disk, a WD Caviar Black 1Tb disk for video and a 1-2 TB Caviar Green for backups.

Here's the config:

OS                            Win 7 Pro
CPU                            Core I7-920 (OC?d to 3.8Ghz)
CPU Cooler                  CORSAIR Water Cooling - Hydro Series CWCH50-1
Mainboard                  ASUS P6X58D Premium
Memory                      12 GB Mushkin Enhanced Redline DDR3 1600
Video Card                  nVidia GeForce 9600 GT
Power Supply              CORSAIR 850W
Disk Controller            Intel ICH10R controller (6 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports) w/ RAID 0,1,5,10
                                  Marvell? PCIe SATA 6Gb/s controller (2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports)
System & App Disk    WD 300GB Velociraptor #1
Paging File Disk          WD 150GB Raptor or maybe old 80Gb disk
Backup Storage          1X Western Digital Caviar Green WD20EARS 2TB
Removable Archive    1x 500Gb
Other Disk                Maxtor 6Y200P0 200Gb (currently owned, but not sure what to do with it

Video Config:

2X Western Digital Caviar Black 2TB configured RAID 0*:
- Video Capture       
- Preview Files
- Sound File
- Final Results

WD 300GB Velociraptor #2:
- Project Files

 

[AlexThePalex]

Well Dan, that's not an average system you list there. Except for the video card that's all top of the line you've got there. I'm amazed you didn't go for a solid state disk from Intel as your system drive.

For most people any average computer out there you can buy today with a 2 GHZ+ CPU and 2 GB or more RAM will do for editing video, even HD.

 

[Brice Burrell]

You know Dan, the problem with a good (video) camera like the Panasonic GH1 is I'd embarrass the poor camera with my crappy content. ;D

Another factor is video editing software. The free software that comes with the camera usually isn't great. Anyone have any ideas for any opens source (free) video editing software that's any good?   

 

[Dan Clark]

Well Dan, that's not an average system you list there. Except for the video card that's all top of the line you've got there. I'm amazed you didn't go for a solid state disk from Intel as your system drive.

For most people any average computer out there you can buy today with a 2 GHZ+ CPU and 2 GB or more RAM will do for editing video, even HD.

Alex,

No, it's not a modest system.  I thought about upgrading the video card, but I don't think it is cost effective now.  Perhaps when Adobe CS5 comes out, it may support some new video technology that will improve performance.

I considered an SSD for the OS/Apps disk.  However the technology still hasn't quite gelled.  First, it's still pretty expensive per GB.  Second, SSD degrades over time.  I understand that Intel is working on this, but I don't know when it will hit the streets.  I think that SSDs will become very practical for mainstream use as an OS/Apps disk within 6-12 months. 

Regarding the system necessary to do HD, it depends.  For many formats - like MiniDV captured to disk - you are absolutely correct.    OTOH...

If you're editing AVCHD directly (Sony Vegas, Premiere CS4 and other editors support this), then you need a bigger, faster system.  My next video camera will probably be something like the Panasonic GH1 or GH2, which stores video in AVCHD format.   

If you're video camera stores data in DVCPRO HD, where the data can be stored at a data rate of 100MBps with color-sampling resolution of 4:2:2, you'll probably need some serous horsepower in you video editing workstation - lots of memory, XEON-based system, and a hardware Raid controller with a bunch of disks in a Raid 0 or 3 configuration.  It just depends.

Regards,

Dan.

 

[Dan Clark]

You know Dan, the problem with a good (video) camera like the Panasonic GH1 is I'd embarrass the poor camera with my crappy content. ;D

Another factor is video editing software. The free software that comes with the camera usually isn't great. Anyone have any ideas for any opens source (free) video editing software that's any good?     

Brice,

Of all the terms I'd use to describe your content, "crappy" would NEVER be one of them.  "Excellent", "exceptional", and sometimes even "fantastic" maybe.  But not "crappy".  [smile]

Regarding free video editing software, I can't comment.  I'm currently using PhotoShop and Premiere CS3 now.  When CS5 hits the bricks, I'm planning on upgrading to CS5 Creative Suite - probably Production Premium.  Here's the CS4 version: http://www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/production/

Regards,

Dan.

 

[mattfc]

2X Western Digital Caviar Black 2TB configured RAID 0*:
- Video Capture         
- Preview Files
- Sound File
- Final Results

yeah.. be careful with RAID 0, I had an array using two WD Raptor drives in RAID0, if one disk goes, you use the whole lot. I was just using it for work in progress, but its only when you loose it that you realise what you forgot to move off.

I now have an SSD 128GB system disk, which is fine space wise for Win 7 plus apps, and 2 x 2TB WD Blacks in RAID 1 for backup, with 6TB RAID 5 for films, music, pictures etc in the attic

 

[jeffinsgf]

Joe,

Before you run out and jump into HD, here are some things to think about.

A wide screen format is, in my opinion  [embarassed] a very difficult format to compose for the amateur videographer.  This is particularly evident in wide screen "how-to" video.  There's too much image area when you're trying to focus on detail. The wide areas to the left and right very often contain extraneous images that aren't intended, needed or wanted.

Even for "family" video, are you trying to capture moments or shoot Gone With the Wind?  The occasional shots where wide screen is really nice are, to me, outweighed by the vast majority of scenes where it is difficult to compose.

Now, I haven't looked deeply into this.  There may be HD cameras that allow you to shoot in either 4:3 or 16:9, but in that case, if you're talking about video to upload, any gain in image quality from higher frequency shooting will be shot down in compression for upload.

I have a top of the line video camera from just before the arrival of HD.  It is a Sony PDX-10 which will shoot in true 16:9.  Every frame that I have ever shot in 16:9 has ended up on the virtual cutting room floor.

Whether you end up with HD or conventional, if you shoot in 4:3 be sure that in the editing you add black bars to the left and right of your image to fill to 1280 pixels.  That way, if your video is viewed on a wide screen, it won't get stretched, and on a 4:3, the bars will just be outside the viewing area.

My opinion may be clouded by the fact that I am saddled with my PDX-10 and don't shoot enough to justify replacing it.  On the other hand, most of my bias against HD for the amateur is based on 16:9 composition.  The rest of HD is great.

 

[jeffinsgf]

Dan,

Very nice work.  As someone who has old cats and new cats, too, it was poignant.  Ours are not quite to the laying on each other stage.  Brilliant camera work and superb editing.

 

[Dan Clark]

2X Western Digital Caviar Black 2TB configured RAID 0*:
- Video Capture         
- Preview Files
- Sound File
- Final Results

yeah.. be careful with RAID 0, I had an array using two WD Raptor drives in RAID0, if one disk goes, you use the whole lot. I was just using it for work in progress, but its only when you loose it that you realise what you forgot to move off.

I now have an SSD 128GB system disk, which is fine space wise for Win 7 plus apps, and 2 x 2TB WD Blacks in RAID 1 for backup, with 6TB RAID 5 for films, music, pictures etc in the attic

Matt,

Initially, the 2Tb WD Caviar Green will be used as primary backup for nightly (or more often) backups, with recurring backups over my LAN to a small file server.  The "Removable Archive" disk will be used to archive off old content.  When the disk is full, I will remove it, pop it into a plastic case, and move it to a safe place.  Using the archived content is as simple as popping it into the drive holder and closing the door.

In the future, I may add in a hardware Raid card (maybe an Areca), add more disks,  and create a Raid 3 array.

Regards,

Dan.

 

[Dan Clark]

Shane, Peter, Jgag, Alex, Dan, and Brice,
Thanks for the feedback.  I'm leaning much more towards hd now.  Nice video btw.  My home pc is pitiful and inadequate for hd.  Maybe this laptop?  I don't plan on editing much.

Joe

Joe,

That seems a bit modest for HD editing.  The drive (like most laptops) is only 5400rpm.  And sharing that single drive for system, apps, and video media will be a constraint.  Also, while good for portability, the 15" screen may leave you wanting bigger. 

Regarding the disk, HD video editing uses lots of disk space and you're moving lots of data around.  For example, the simple three-minute Kapex video below is was created from about five minutes of raw video.  The project including captured video files, project settings, renders, etc took 1Gb of space.  You can easily use 20 GB of space.  A video of my wife's 25 minute Akido test, takes 32Gb of space.

What some people do is to get a laptop for video editing and then add a larger, higher-speed, external disk.  That way they keep the cost lower and have portability when they need it, but can attach to the external drive for video editing. 

Also, make sure that you get Win7 64 bit and as much memory as possible.  The 64bit OS will allow you to use all of the memory.  (My workstation has 12Gb of very high-speed memory.  I would have bought 24Gb, but that would have added $1,000 to the system.)

Regards,

Dan.

Kapex Stiction

 

[mattfc]

Initially, the 2Tb WD Caviar Green will be used as primary backup for nightly (or more often) backups, with recurring backups over my LAN to a small file server.   The "Removable Archive" disk will be used to archive off old content.  When the disk is full, I will remove it, pop it into a plastic case, and move it to a safe place.   Using the archived content is as simple as popping it into the drive holder and closing the door.
In the future, I may add in a hardware Raid card (maybe an Areca), add more disks,  and create a Raid 3 array.

Regards,

Dan.

Hi Dan, another option to consider is what I have done is to go for an external array, I have a Thecus N5200PRO which supports iSCSI (SCSI over gigabit ethernet) and the performance is pretty fast. You are right with respect to long term archiving, physical HDDs now aren't much more than tape media, plus more reliable.

 

[monte]

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Dan,

Regarding your "Kapex Stiction" video, thanks for the tour. Nicely done.
I haven't gotten my Kapex as yet, (it's on my "next" list- still using my Delta 12 inch.)
As I was watching your video above - I thought to myself.....

Wouldn't it be nice to have a clip-able Mico-adjust that clips/sets onto detents from underneath and then micro adjusts the swing arm.
On the lines of a "Micro-fence" sensitivity.
That way your not knocking back and forth with your hand to get to the exact alignment.
And by having the set detents to set it into (to place this Micro-adjust) you could always Exactly set a repeatable cut.

back to the subject at hand.....
What's your opinion on the Imovie software on a Mac for editing?

.

 

[Dan Clark]

Dan,
Thanks for the reply.  Excellent video.  The audio was great but I didn't see a lapel mic.  Were you using an external mic or just the camera mic?

I'm stuck with that particular laptop.  The external hard drive appeals to me.  I've seen the terabyte externals at Best Buy for about $100.  Are there better options out there in that price range?  Thanks.

Joe

Joe,

I took a look.  Most of the external drives at best buy appear to be USB drives and are probably 5400 RPM.   For backup, these drives should be fine.   However, as a primary drive for your video, I think they are a bit slow.  

I'm not the best person to ask since I don't do external drives, but you might try finding a good quality external drive enclosure and then purchase a drive that fits your needs.  Then, if you need a larger and/or faster drive, you can always get a new one and replace the drive in the enclosure.

Regarding the mic, the camera is a Canon HV30.  It's a good MiniDV camera.  However, like most built-in mics, the audio is mediocre.  In this case, I'm using a Canon external shotgun mic.  Since this was taken in the garage where the all the walls are covered with storage racks full of "stuff", the sound quality is quite good.  Almost no echos. 

I thought about using my Zoom H2 digital recorder or wired lavaliere mic, but decided that it wasn't worth the hassle for this short video.  I'm looking for a wireless lavaliere mic.    For talking-head shots (like this one), it can give you great sound with minimal hassle.

Regards,

Dan.

 

[wnagle]

Roger,

I've been trying to come up with a clip on anti stiction micro adjust as well.  As Dan suggests and demonstrates, the stiction is not really a big deal...However where it comes into play is when trying to adjust miter with one hand while holding the angle finder against the fence with the other hand.  In that case it would be nice to be able to dial a micro adjust with one hand while lining up the lasers to the lines on the angle finder.

As it is now, you have to unlock with your thumb...tap,tap,tap...then reset the angle finder...then tap,tap, tap again...and keep repeating until your lined up with your lasers.  Using the angle finder with the current amount stiction is cumbersome because your not aiming for a degree mark on the scale.  Each time you move the miter angle with your right hand, you have to reset the angle finder either left or right sliding along the fence with your left hand until everything lines up perfectly.

OK...Now back on topic...

Dan the video is excellent,  crystal clear and very clear audio!!!