Apple Final Cut Express 4 - Manual (Page 234)

234 Part IV Capturing and Importing
HDV Formats Supported by Final Cut Express
Within the HDV specification, several resolutions and frame rates are defined. HDV
formats are usually distinguished by the number of lines per frame (the height of the
image), the scanning method (progressive or interlaced), and the frame or field rate.
For example, 1080i60 describes a format with 1080 lines, interlaced scanning, and
60 fields per second.
Final Cut Express supports the following HDV formats:
About MPEG-2 Compression
High definition video requires significantly more data than standard definition video.
A single HD video frame can require up to six times more data than an SD frame. To
record such large images with such a low data rate, HDV uses MPEG-2 compression.
MPEG compression reduces the data rate by removing redundant visual information,
both on a per-frame basis and also across multiple frames.
Spatial (Intraframe) Compression
Within a single frame, areas of similar color and texture can be coded with fewer bits than
the original, thus reducing the data rate with a minimal loss in noticeable visual quality.
JPEG compression works in a similar way to compress still images. Intraframe compression
is used to create standalone video frames called I-frames (short for intraframe).
Format Easy Setup Dimensions Video data rate
1080i60 HDV - 1080i60 1920 x 1080 25 Mbps
1080i50 HDV - 1080i50 1920 x 1080 25 Mbps
720p30 HDV - 720p30 1280 x 720 18.3 Mbps
Standard Definition Recording with an HDV Camcorder
In addition to recording high definition video, most HDV camcorders can also record
standard definition DV video. You can capture, edit, and output this DV video just as
you would any other DV video.
Important: You should avoid recording DV and HDV video on the same tape. This can
cause problems during capture and playback.
An additional format defined within the HDV specifications, known as SD, is available
on some JVC camcorders. Final Cut Express does not support this format.