Is it better to edit my HD tapes in HD or convert them to SD first?

All of my tapes were shot in HD, but my client only wants a regular SD DVD. My deck has the capability of converting my tapes to SD, on the fly, during the capture process. Since editing in SD will be less demanding on my system, and I can get more layers of real time, should I just edit in SD?

The answer to this question depends a little on the nature of the project. If it is a quick, simple, "down and dirty" project, that may only have one showing, you might want to edit it in SD - if you find that easier on your system. However, if your project is a serious edit for a commercial client, that is going to have a variety of uses and a long "shelf life", I recommend editing in HD. After much testing by many Edius editors, it is pretty much agreed that there are many advantages to editing the project in HD and then converting it to SD in the end.

There are several reasons why I choose to do it this way.

1. If you down convert to SD first, either with your camera, deck, or in Edius - during after capture, or simply throw HD Clips on a SD timeline, you are limiting yourself to one, set option for the conversion, over which you have no control. You are left at the complete mercy of the conversion capability of your camera or deck manufacturer, or the version of Edius you are working with. You may very well end up with an end SD product that does not look the best. It could be desaturated and have more "jaggies" or artifacts then you would like to live with! Editing in HD gives you the option of exporting your finished project to a variety of HD streams, including lossless. Now you have the option of taking your program to third party software for the down-convert to SD.

2. Your client may want four or five different types of SD product (ie tape for broadcast, DVD, internet files in WMP, QT, Flash, and a TV standard conversion to PAL for broadcast in Europe). Each of these options may benefit from a different pathway of conversion from HD, using a variety of third party software, settings, filters, etc. It is best to be able to have the highest quality stream to start with, and not be locked in to what your camera or deck did to your tapes at the start of the project. 

3. If you have high quality HD streams of your final product, your program may benefit from future advancements in conversion software and filters. If all you have is an SD export, because you chose to edit in SD, you will never be able to benefit from this without doing a batch capture and a rework of the project!

4. Even though your client may have asked for a SD DVD, you may get a call one day that goes something like this... "We are setting up a booth at a trade show and we sure would love to display your video on a big HD monitor. You shot that project in HD, right?"

5. Many internet sites today, including YouTube, allow you to upload HD video. Your client will appreciate it if you can provide that.