HDCAM Master

[weso33]

Hey all - I have a client who is mastering his doc onto an HDCAM - and from what I'm aware, it's the original HDCAM, not HDCAM SR. My output for him was both a surround and a stereo mixdown, giving him the typical 8 channels of audio. Since the HDCAM only allows 4 channels of 20bit audio, I'm wondering what I should get him / tell him. I could get him an AC3 w/ a stereo master, but I'm not thrilled w/ AC3 and for the master, I'd much rather give him a set of uncompressed wave files etc. And AC3 is all we have in house regarding compression schemes...

Or should I just tell him to get an HDCAM SR, allowing me to fit all channels of audio on there?

Or am I not thinking about it correctly?

Thanks for reading...I appreciate the help on the DUC a ton.

[audiogeek1]

I would look at Dolby E. This is a way to get a 5.1 + Stereo onto tracks 3 and 4 of the HD Cam. This is essentially AC3 quality because it is a compressed and then you need to have a Dolby E Decoder to replay it. Most major cities you can rent these.

The other option is to print a stereo mix and then mate a DA88 tape with it. It will be uncompressed.

Or just do all of the above and be covered many ways.

Mike

[budster]

The other option is to print a stereo mix and then mate a DA88 tape with it. It will be uncompressed.

Or just do all of the above and be covered many ways.

Mike[/quote]

The DA-88 will not woek because it can not understand 23.976 time code. I would give them an LtRt on the tape and then a 4.0 and 5.1 on files. The 4.0 they can put to HD Cam if needed. Dolby E is another good choice if the network uses it.

Buddy

[EarHole]

I thought Dolby E was 48K 20 Bit UnCompressed.

[audiogeek1]

Originally Posted by budster

The other option is to print a stereo mix and then mate a DA88 tape with it. It will be uncompressed.

Or just do all of the above and be covered many ways.

Mike

The DA-88 will not woek because it can not understand 23.976 time code. I would give them an LtRt on the tape and then a 4.0 and 5.1 on files. The 4.0 they can put to HD Cam if needed. Dolby E is another good choice if the network uses it.

Buddy[/QUOTE]


He did not say anything about 23.976. if it is for broadcast it is most likely not 23.976. It is most likely 1080i.

Mike

[minister]

If it is festival bound, I would not bother with Dolby E. I have yet to hear of a festival that can deal with Dolby E.

Anyone have a different experience with festival stuff?

If it is broadcast only, then yeah.

[JKD99]

the only festival I've been involved with that can do Dolby E has been the LA Film Festival.

Sundance, for example, no Dolby E.

I love that even the big festivals who crow on and on about their HD projection and demand that the films are screened on HDCAM still can't play back a mix that's above an Lt/Rt.

[weso33]

Thanks for the help all. Much appreciated. This print is festival bound, so I'm going to stray away from Dolby-e, - - but for other things I think that sounds like a good way to go. I think I'll end up giving them LtRt on tape and then 5.1 as files. I wasn't considering giving them 4.0 as well...but being fairly new in the game, is that a typical mix to give as well? It wouldn't be tough giving him that as files also, so I guess there's no reason not to.

Thanks again all...