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the six pixels that changed my life
I have been supplied with a bunch of Standard Def 16:9 footage (1.2 aspect) and instructed that will be the output as well. I need to take much of it to AE for compositing and I’m just trying to do some simple apples-to-apples tests on exports/imports but I’m not coming up with apples. Here’s what I’m doing and the results:
I’m exporting from Avid Media Composer as QT Reference files. So, there should be no issues there. AE interprets the footage correctly as DV Widescreen 720 x 480 1.21 aspect. To keep things simple, I’m just dropping the footage into a comp and rendering back out to the Avid so I can make sure things are, as I said, apples-to-apples. But, when I import, the file has taken on a slight bit of softness and has lost image detail.
On the After Effects side, I have tried just making a new comp from the footage (720 x 480 comp, 1.21) and rendering it, as well as placing the footage into a 720 x 486, 1.21 comp and rendering. I’m rendering a QT Movie using the Animation Codec and field rendering using lower field first (native to the footage).
On the Avid side, I’m importing the QT at 1:1, using 601 color levels and lower field first.
When I import the 720 x 486 rendered comp, I get the noticeable image degradation and softness. When I import the 720 x 480 rendered comp, I get better detail but also the typical slight jittery video you would expect from feeding the Avid anything that’s not 720 x 486.
So, it’s a very simple but very frustrating problem: What is the proper way to be handling this footage in AE so I get a correct import into Avid MC? I’m attaching 2 images, pre and post render to illustrate. Notice the detail in the vases in the top image. Thanks in advance for any help!
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17 Replies
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What avid media composer codec are u using? Is it an older avid? U need to confirm that u r using DV and not D1.
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AE CS4, MC 3.01 Mojo.
I don’t understand your DV/D1 comment. I’ve done renders both ways from AE (480H and 486H). It only imports into the Avid one way.
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Well Dave,
I’m not understanding…my AVID experience was on Media Composer using Meridien hardware which is D1 – 720×486.
You say —
[Dave Fleming] “I’m exporting from Avid Media Composer as QT Reference files. So, there should be no issues there. AE interprets the footage correctly as DV Widescreen 720 x 480”
But then you also say –
[Dave Fleming] “but also the typical slight jittery video you would expect from feeding the Avid anything that’s not 720 x 486”
Which, as I read it, sounds contradictory…does your AVID work natively at 480 or 486? I’ve never dealt with MOJO, but I think that is a DV system which would be 480.
-Jason
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Ah yes–there is a contradiction, you’re right. But to explain it, now that’s another story.
Here’s the deal: The native files were captured on a Sony XDCam at SD Widescreen, which is 720 x 480 at 1.2 aspect. The Avid has no problem playing these files natively (that was the top image in my original post). But, whenever I feed the Avid anything coming from After Effects, it needs to be 720 x 486 or else I will get a slight jitter in the motion of the video. However, the 720 x 486 rendered file produced the bottom softer image.
I’m not sure why that is…I’m just trying to do the most basic of tests to see if I can get the same result out of AE as I have in the Avid. Thanks!
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Also, the Mojo is only a transcoder for material headed to or from videotape, which I rarely use anymore. The system definitely handles SD files at 720 x 486. Now, is it playing the DV files at 480 or tanscoding to 486? I have no idea what’s happening under the hood.
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Work with Avid and AE a lot…if you are creating QT Refernces you need to be exporting at 720 x 486, not 480. When Avid exports to 480, it doesn’t crop it scales down and that will completely mess up the fields. Even if AE interprets it correctly, it’s not going to come back to the AVID correctly. If you scale it up to 486 in AE, it’s missing data and gives you that “soft look” you mentioned.
So export a QT Refernce with native dimensions. I’ve never had AE interpret a 1.21 Avid QT export correctly, so you will mostly likely need to use interpret footage to get to be 1.21.
Johnny Cuevas, Editor
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Thanks Johnny, you may have helped me hit on something…Initially, I thought your reply was wrong, because a native file is a native file when you’re exporting QT Reference…i.e. you can’t (or shouldn’t) change the resolution.
But, then I re-examined my export workflow and discovered that I didn’t have the “Use Avid DV Codec” option checked on the reference file. When it was unchecked, AE was interpreting the file as 720 x 480, 1.2 aspect. When it is checked, the file is interpreted as 720 x 486, .9 aspect.
Could that have made all the difference?
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OK, onto the next question: Assuming my video is now apples-to-apples, how in the world do I create graphics both inside AE and/or prepare them in Photoshop? When I was working in a widescreen 1.2 comp, the compensation was done for me, but now that I’m in a stretched .9 comp, graphics will distort on import.
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You should still be working in a WS composition. I don’t know why AE interpets QT’s that come from avid as .91, but right click on the footage, choose “interpret footage” and make it 1.21. Either drag it to the create new comp button, or when creating a new composition choose NTSC D1 Widescreen.
Johnny Cuevas, Editor
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Thanks again Johnny–I had done this already but forgot to post a response. You’re absolutely right. It’s just annoying to have several extra steps in the AE process now…1) Interpreting the footage lower field first–which is just bizarre because when I wasn’t using the Avid DV codec it knew the footage was 720 x 480, 1.21, lower field first, but now exporting with the Avid DV codec it forgets to separate fields! and 2) Telling AE that the footage is D1 WS 1.21 and not .91…oh well…at least I’m off and running on this project. Thanks for your help!
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