codec issues

Hi everyone, I wonder if someone could offer some advice.
I am about to start a job shot on XDcam 50 pal. After editing it will be laid off to Digi Beta for tx.
I would assume to use a 10 bit codec from the off but I will have many rushes and hope to bring them in over firewire as QT files.
Should I batch convert them or kick off with a 10 bit seq and render as I go?
I don't want to hold up the edit and may have some complex layers to build along the way.
If I copy an xd seq to a 10 bit seq at the end will there be much of a loss?

Thanks in advance...

Hi Graham,

By "XDCAM 50" I guess you mean XDCAM IMX (PAL SD format at 50Mbit/s) ?

Best wishes,

Ronny

If your footage is XDCAM IMX 50, you will be doing some complex compositing on the timeline and you wiill be outputting to Digibeta you should consider to Log and Transfer your XDCAM footage to ProRes instead of Uncompressed 10-bit. The ProRes codec is one of the best 10-bit 4:2:2 full raster codecs I have ever seen. Virtually transparent and very edit-friendly.

PorRes will give you more RT during your editing and you will not see any quality loss in the process. Once you have finished your edit, play it through your video card via SDI to Digibeta. You will be amazed at the output quality.

Best wishes,

Ronny

Thanks Ronny, I will do just that, your reply was timely as I start tomorrow (Sat)
Many thanks again

Graham