WHAT IS HDTV?

HDTV delivers a viewing experience at a much higher resolution in a digital format, making it feel like you are in a cinema as opposed to watching a regular TV.

The formats used in HDTV are:

720p - 1280×720 pixels progressive
1080i - 1920×1080 pixels interlaced
1080p - 1920×1080 pixels progressive

and the lesser quality semi-consumer formats

HDV1 1280×720 pixel 4:2:0 - 19.7Mbit/sec. JVC

HDV2  1440×1080 pixel 4:2:0 -25 Mbit/sec  Sony / Canon

“Interlaced” or “progressive” refers to the scanning system. In an interlaced format, the screen shows every odd line at one scan of the screen, and then follows that up with the even lines in a second scan. Since there are 30 frames shown per second, the screen shows one half of the frame every sixtieth of a second. For smaller screens, this is less noticeable. As screens get larger, the problem with interlacing is flicker.

Progressive scanning shows the whole picture, every line in one showing, every sixtieth of a second. This provides for a much smoother picture, but uses slightly more bandwidth.

HDTV has lifelike pictures and digital sound. The higher resolution produces clarity like you have never seen from a picture tube. Films retain their original width, enhancing your home theater experience.

HOW CAN I WATCH HDTV?

HDTV will playback on any regular TV with a digital-to-analog converter, but it is best viewed on a new high-definition television. You can purchase an HD monitor and a separate receiver box, or a fully integrated HDTV set. We also produce HD Blu-Ray DVDs.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF HDTV?

There are several benefits to viewing programs in high-definition.

Clarity. The digital signal is crystal clear and noise-free.
Wide-screen picture. Traditional televisions use a 4 by 3 aspect ratio, which means the screens are 4 units wide by 3 units high. However, theatrical films are usually much wider, taking advantage of the actual human field of vision. HDTV uses a wider 16 by 9 aspect ratio, which delivers movies with less “edge cropping” and provides a more intense viewing experience.
Sharpness. In addition to clarity, HDTV provides a much sharper picture than analog television. Just like a digital camera, more pixels means sharper pictures. The highest resolution HDTV format has approximately 2 million pixels compared to about ½ million pixels in analog TV.
Digital sound. HDTV’s digital audio sounds better than a standard television’s analog sound, just like digital CDs are superior to analog radio. Also, some HDTV programs use Dolby Digital surround sound, which is also frequently used on DVDs. With 6 speakers, Dolby Digital can create a home theater experience with a three-dimensional sound field.

WHY ARE THERE TWO HD FORMATS? WHAT ARE THE TECHNICAL DETAILS OF 720P AND 1080I?

Having two HD formats allows broadcasters to choose the format that provides the best technical quality for their particular mix of programming.
The 720p format makes a picture with 720 vertical lines, each with 1280 pixels horizontally — so in computer display terms, it has a resolution of “1280 x 720″. 720p uses progressive scanning, like computers, which sends a complete picture 60 times per second. 720p provides the smoothest possible motion rendition, but it does not have as much resolution as 1080i.

The 1080i format makes a picture with 1080 vertical lines, each with 1920 pixels horizontally — so in computer display terms, it has a resolution of “1920 x 1080″. 1080i uses interlaced scanning, like traditional TV, which alternates sending odd lines and even lines and thus sends a complete picture 30 times per second. 1080i provides the highest possible resolution, but has the same motion rendition as traditional US TV.

WHY SHOULD WE WORK IN HD NOW?

Editing in HD now means that your work is now future-proof. When the new format becomes standard, you won’t have to go through the degrading process of up-converting. Plus it is the most cost effective way to produce for two formats simultaneously, such as  for TV and Cinema release at the same edit.

CAN PIXELFANTASTIC PERFORM COLOUR CORRECTION IN REALTIME ON HD FOOTAGE?

Yes! you should see it. Call for a demonstration. You’ll be amazed.

CAN PIXELFANTASTIC CAPTURE AND EDIT PANASONIC VARICAM HD FOOTAGE?

Yes, the Piranha system and the Quantel eQ identify ‘active frames’, so working with Panasonic VariCam is easy.

IS IT A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE TO EDIT IN HD?

Because we are out-of-Soho, at pixelfantastic, our HD day rate is far less than most Soho Edit House’s regular PAL video Edit Day-rates, so call us for our most competitive prices.

ONCE I HAVE MY HD FOOTAGE HOW DO I GO ABOUT MAKING THE DOLBY SURROUND SOUNDTRACK?

We have a full Avid ProTools Picture-to-Audio sync, so creating Dolby 5.1 or higher soundtracks is not a problem for us.

If you have any other questions regarding HD or any other services we offer please email us at questions@pixelfantastic.com