can avisynth handle video from professional cameras?

[E-Male]

i was asked to edit some footage (not yet shot)
it will be shot with professional cameras, he said they are the same as used for "TV Total" (german TV show)
now i wonder, if he is correct about that:

-are those cameras digital? i assume it
-can i (easily) get it's files on my PC or can the guys that offer the cameras put them on cd/dvd for me
-and most important: can i read those with avisynth?

thx

[Mug Funky]

1. most probably
2. depends on your hardware
3. definitely, even though you may have to jump through hoops.

i'm guessing these cameras shoot to digibeta. that's 10 bit 4:2:2 colour, and as far as i can tell it's uncompressed (not much info around on this, though i know it works in 8x8 blocks and 16x8 macroblocks).*

i'd say you'll have to capture this footage through SDI. most SDI input cards are only 8-bit, but that's not a problem as avisynth is also.

one thing that might be a problem is i think you may need to use macs and quicktime. avisynth can take quicktime via VFAPI, which means converting to RGB24 and losing a teeny-tiny miniscule bit of quality.

however, if these cameras shoot DV or DVCpro, then you're in luck - simply capture as type-2 DV avi and you're set.

[edit] * looks like digibeta uses 4:2:2, 10 bit, CBR 96Mbps MJPEG based compression, and 4ch 20bit 48k uncompressed sound. well, that's the end of that mystery.

[E-Male]

thx, clears up alot, but i need some more details

SDI doesn't ring a bell for me, can you give me a link that elaborates on that?

mjpeg, i hear of that, but can avisynth read it, especially 10bit?

also, does 96Mbps include the audio?

thx again, seems like i can soon mail back and clear the tech part


EDIT:
so i'm i right that if i get a device that can read dv(cpro) i can put it on any pc with firewire?
and that digibeta would have to be transfered to pc with professional equipment?

i calculated that ~20 min of dv(cpro) material fit on a DVDR and ~5 min of digibeta, correct?