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Blockiness in cross-dissolves
I am seeing a few frames with horrendous blockiness in cross-dissolve sections after encoding to m2v with compressor, using the “DVD best quality” preset (NTSC). I would have hoped that FCP’s auto-generated compression markers would help reduce that, but it looks pretty gross. Here’s a screenshot: https://ravenplenty.com/blocky.jpg – it looks even worse in motion.
The entire source sequence is DVCPRO NTSC, nested into an Uncompressed 8-bit sequence so that I can apply the Color Smoothing 4:1:1 filter. Perhaps the nesting obliterates the compression markers?
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8 Replies
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If it’s an 8 bit sequence, color smoothing should be the 4:2:2 one. Also have a look if you export straight from DV w/o the conversion to 8 bit. Make sure it looks OK in your video monitor (or hook a TV and check it there to make sure it’s OK). Then, encode and check the results.
Kevin Monahan
http://www.fcpworld.com
Author – Motion Graphics and Effects in Final Cut Pro -
Well, the source footage is DV NTSC and I’ve only nested it in an 8-bit sequence so that I can apply color smoothing. (Applying color smoothing to a DV sequence doesn’t seem to work – effect reverts after rendering.) In short, I’m going from DV –> FCP –> DVD.
I don’t see a change in the canvas view when I apply the 4:2:2 filter, compared to no filter at all. 4:1:1 looks great to me (makes sense, no? since DV is 4:1:1), and looks great on the DVD output as well. Isn’t the color smoothing not relevant to my blocky transition issue though?
Thanks for your help.
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I should add that these are going to be displayed at one location on 16×9 LCD tvs, hence my concern that the blockiness will be more visible than on a CRT.
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Hi Raven,
You have to apply the Chroma smoothing filter directly in the footage that you lie in the time-line.
You can not apply to a nested sequence. And if you are applying any other filter, this one have to be set the first one.
You need to use the 411 option because your footage is 411.
FC add compression marks when you send to Compressor from the time-line.
However the blocks I see in your JPEG I don’t think they come from any blockyness in the footage.
They are MPG2 compression artifacts. They happen in the water and in the grass. Areas with little detail.
I would try to different ways:
– Rendering in 10b.
– Increasing the bit rate of the MPG2’s or try with Short/Open GOPs.
Rafael -
Thanks Rafael. Actually, I have successfully applied the 4:1:1 filter to my nested sequence. The result is clearly visible in the canvas as well as in my exported m2v file. No problem there. Also, yes I agree the blockiness is introduced in the MPG2 encoding. And it looks like the compression markers are retained even with the nested sequence. I have tried a higher bit rate with no visible difference. (It was already the default “best quality” setting of 6.2Mb/s – max 7Mb/s.) Is this what people are talking about when they say Compressor sucks?
I don’t know much about GOPs yet…I’ll look into that, and you’re 10-bit suggestion. Thanks.
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Thanks Rafael. Actually, I have successfully applied the 4:1:1 filter to my nested sequence. The result is clearly visible in the canvas as well as in my exported m2v file. No problem there. Also, yes I agree the blockiness is introduced in the MPG2 encoding. And it looks like the compression markers are retained even with the nested sequence. I have tried a higher bit rate with no visible difference. (It was already the default “best quality” setting of 6.2Mb/s – max 7Mb/s.) Is this what people are talking about when they say Compressor sucks?
I don’t know much about GOPs yet…I’ll look into that, and your 10-bit suggestion. Thanks.
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[Raven Plenty] “Is this what people are talking about when they say Compressor sucks?”
You’ve never mentioned how you’re authoring and/or burning your DVDs. Are you using Toast by any chance?
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
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FCP –> Compressor –> DVD Studio Pro
The blockiness looks the same in both the m2v file and the DVD itself, which makes sense since DSP shouldn’t be changing anything.
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