Best MBP setup to edit/output HD?

[Simon Hughes]

I just bought an HV20 and I am running a MBP C2D with 2 GB RAM. I want to shoot HD (mostly at 24P Cine mode) and then use iMovie HD to edit and then output to a DVD that I can play on my Toshiba XA1 HD-DVD player to a Panny TH-50PX60U 50" Plasma TV. (It's my understanding that I can indeed burn HD to a regular DVD (albeit at a reduced BW) and play it on an HD-DVD player.)

Is this doable? Do I need to use JES Interlacer in the workflow (and if so, where) to get rid of the pulldown?

I also want to be able to output to SD DVD for distribution on SD players.

I would really like to minimize buying any additional software and I'm really hoping that I've got everything I need to accomplish this. Any suggestions etc, would be really appreciated.

Cheers,

Simon

[skinnyboy]

You can probably do it with that setup, but you could do it better with Final Cut Studio.
Not sure how iMovie handles 24p, or if it can handle 24p. I know it couldn't at one point, but the newest version may be able to.

Not terribly helpful, I know.

[Simon Hughes]

Thanks for the reply. I did a search in the iMovie HD help for "24P" and it comes up blank so I'm really not sure. If push comes to shove, I guess I'd spring for Final Cut Express. Can anyone confirm that I can do what I want with it?

[joseph soriano]

simon,

you will need final cut pro as express dosen't support 24p.

[Simon Hughes]

Joseph, if that is indeed the case, I'll be sticking with iMovie (at least for the forseeable future). What would my best options be? I want to shoot in the 24P Cine mode to get the "film look" and I know if I just import it into iMovie that it actually comes in at 60i but is there a way in iMovie to keep the look that I get at using the Cine mode?

Are there any plug-in or outboard programs that would accomplish the 24P conversion you know of? My main goal is to maximize dynamic range to minimize shadow blocking and blowing of highlights (which is what the Cine mode helps with).

[monkeyboylee]

Oh no, does that mean if I want to film quite a bit in 24p (for low light) is FCP the only software I can edit with?

Wow - thats just increased my costs from £670 to £1520 and way out of budget!

Nightmare!

Someone please tell me I can use 24p in imovieHD or FCE..... PLEASE!

[Simon Hughes]

Yeah! My concern exactly!

[monkeyboylee]

Well done some more hunting around the web and I think that as I'm in the UK the pal version is 25p (not 24p) and both imoviehd and final cut express can handle 25p. Sorry if this is obvious to some but I am a noobie on this topic.

Can anyone confirm this at all so I can start getting excited again!!!!!

[Pom16/10e]

yup, the pal version does 25p in a 50i container, and that's natively supported in FCE.

happy excitement !-)