Posts by Stephen
Digital video tape transfer
Digital video tape transfer.
Video Image Productions are in the process of converting Mini DV tapes of an un edited film shot on Mini DV tapes in 16:9 aspect ratio.
Mini DV tapes captured digital video onto magnetic video tape. Encoding was MPEG 2.
Camcorders.
In my opinion the two best Mini DV camcorders were the Sony Z1 and the Panasonic DVX100. Both camcorders had a 3CCD setup for superior colour rendition. The Panasonic could record 24p frames per second for a more filmic look, and had cine gamma settings.
Digital video tape transfer can be Mini DV tapes, Digital 8 tapes or Digital Betacam video. Digital Betacam was the gold standard for standard definition video capture.
Capture.
Transfer is via firewire to ensure no quality loss of the digital video tapes during transfer.
Capture of the Mini DV tapes is through Final Cut Pro 7. Setting within FCP are set to Pro Res 422 and copied to hard disc.
Final Digital video files for the customer will be copied onto USB memory sticks. It is important that the USB memory sticks are USB 3 and around 95mbs speed. You can use slower cards but it takes a long time to copy the files to your computer with the slower cards. If the files run into the 1TB or above size then you are best of having us transfer them to an external hard drive. We can buy an external drive in for you or you can provide one yourself and send it with the tapes.
Video editing.
We also recommend that the files are copied onto fast AV hard drives for editing. The fastest of these drives are SSD but they are expensive and not really necessary for Standard Definition editing. Two of the best Software packages for video editing are Adobe Premier and Apples Final Cut Pro.
16mm sound film conversion to Pro Res
16mm sound film to Pro Res.
At present Video Image Productions are in the process of converting 16mm film to Apple Pro Res format for a Hovercraft Museum.
I took the picture at the Museum of this monster. This hovercraft used to run between Dover and Calais.
A 16mm sound film refers to a motion picture film format that is 16 millimeters wide and includes a soundtrack for synchronized sound. The 16mm film format has been widely used in both professional and amateur filmmaking.
In the early days of cinema, 16mm film was primarily used for non-theatrical purposes, such as educational films and home movies. However, with the advent of synchronized sound technology, 16mm sound film became more prevalent for various applications.
Here are some key points about 16mm sound film:
- Soundtrack: 16mm sound film includes a magnetic or optical soundtrack that carries the audio information. The soundtrack runs parallel to the filmstrip and is typically located on the edge of the film.
- Professional Use: While 16mm film started as a format for amateur filmmakers, it found its way into professional use for certain applications. For example, documentaries, newsreels, and some independent films were shot on 16mm.
- Amateur Filmmaking: Many enthusiasts and amateur filmmakers used 16mm film for shooting home movies, as it provided a more accessible and affordable option compared to larger film formats.
- Magnetic and Optical Sound: The soundtrack on 16mm sound film could be either magnetic or optical. Magnetic soundtracks used a magnetic coating on the film to record audio, while optical soundtracks employed variations in light intensity to represent sound.
- Decline in Use: With the rise of digital technology and high-definition video, 16mm film has seen a decline in use for mainstream filmmaking. However, it still holds historical and artistic significance, and some filmmakers continue to use it for its unique aesthetic qualities.
- Archival Challenges: Preserving and restoring 16mm sound film can be challenging due to issues such as deterioration of the film stock and potential degradation of the sound elements. Archivists and preservationists often work to digitize and restore these films for future generations.
In summary, 16mm sound film refers to a motion picture format that combines a 16mm filmstrip with synchronized sound, either through a magnetic or optical soundtrack. While it has seen a decline in mainstream use, it remains relevant in certain niche applications and holds historical value in the world of filmmaking.
Picture above showing the 16mm sound films to be converted to Apple Pro Res.
Kodak Super 8 movie camera
Kodak Super 8 movie camera.
Kodak has announced that it will be making a brand new super 8 movie camera.
Features.
It will incorporate a flip out LCD monitor.
The lens will be C-Mount. This will make the camera be able to accept interchangeable c mount lenses. This is a big thing to film makers.
It will have an audio record input.
The Kodak super 8 movie camera will use the same cartridge system of old.
Larger film gate almost 11 percent.
Estimated price will be between $2,500 to $3000 US dollars.
Conclusion.
This price is very high for a super 8 camera. I would suggest that for this type of money you go the 16mm route.
8mm film lengths on reels
8mm film lengths on reels.
The original Super 8 and Standard 8 cine films which came in a plastic cassette and were 50ft long reels.
These films were then either left as 50ft reels or spliced into the following reel lengths for projection purposes.
50ft reel 3 Inch diameter reel.
200ft reel 5 inch diameter reel.
400ft reel 7 Inch diameter reel.
For Information on 16mm film
Sometimes on the larger reels there is ruler marks on the side of the reel showing feet and another showing meters. This tends to be more common on the 400ft reels.
If you have any problems working out the length of your super 8 standard 8 and 16mm cine reels please contact us and we will do our best to help.
Contact page. Contact us.
Mini DV tape or HDV transfer
Mini DV or HDV tape transfer.
HDV. High definition video first appeared as a Prosumer format using Mpeg 2 compression onto standard Mini DV tapes.
Mini DV or HDV tape transfer.
This video format used Long GOP compression to write High Definition video onto magnetic tape. This was the same tape that Mini DV camcorders and video decks used for Standard definition video. Most of the HDV video tapes had a 60 minute runtime.
Please note that there is no way of telling if your Mini DV tape has been recorded in SD or HD until you put it into a deck or camcorder. A Mini DV camcorder or deck will not be able to play a tape recorded in the HDV format, but an HDV deck will play both formats.
The most widely used HDV camcorder was the 3 CCD Sony Z1. (pictured above Sony FX 1 E ).
HDV video tape transfer.
To preserve the quality of the picture the best way to transfer the HDV video footage is via firewire to a PC or Mac computer.
Video Image Productions capture your HDV footage using Apple Pro Res 4:2:2.
This is an excellent format for video editing or transferring to DVD or HD Youtube Etc. Compared to High Defintion and 4K camcorders now HDV is still a good quality picture even if it is only 1080i.
For more Information please go to Video Image Productions.