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Downconvert seeing jaggies
So I have footage shot on the Sony EX1 – 1080p – 23.98fps
I need to edit it in a SD timeline to match other footage.
I have final cut running with a MXO2 LE.
What would you suggest is the best way to bring this 1080p footage into a SD comp and edit to SD footage? I am planning on letterboxing it.
The problem is, when I created a new SD sequence and drag in the 1080p sequence onto it, I get jaggies in the footage when viewing with my external monitor (via matrox) but that look fine on the FCP canvass window.
A little out of my depth here… help much appreciated.
Thanks!
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7 Replies
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If you want to convert it to SD before editing, use compressor.
make sure the resize filter is enabled and set for best quality.
the jaggies will be gone! -
Thanks Chris…
So I rendered out my HD footage and am importing it into a SD timeline and the fields look like they are flickering… I checked the comp setting and it is set to NONE… I also checked the footage setting and it is set to NONE on fields… any idea why it would be flickering?
The lines look fine when on a freeze frame, but on my external monitor the sharp lines flicker like crazy when I play the footage
Help really appreciated 🙂
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What are your SD sequence settings, and specifically, what is the editing time base (fame rate)?
FYI, if you’re attempting to intercut the downscaled SD 23.98 footage with 29.97 interlaced footage in a 29.97 sequence, you’ll have problems. If this is the case, you will need to use Compressor to downconvert your 1080p24 clips to SD 29.97 with 3:2 pulldown added prior to importing into your 29.97 sequence. FCP does not add in proper 3:2 pulldown when 24p clips are dropped into a 29.97 sequence. Instead, it applies a horrific 2:2:2:4 cadence that looks atrocious.
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[Dave LaRonde] “You removed the pulldown before you started cutting, right? “
The EX-1 shoots native 1080p24, no 3:2 pulldown removal required.
It may actually be the case that he needs to add pulldown – see my above post.
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OK.. you are all right… I have mixed timecodes…
So… starting from scratch… If I am trying to import XDcam footage at 23.98 1080p into a SD timeline.. what settings should I make my SD timeline?
Thanks so much
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First of all, what are the specs of the other SD footage that you need to intercut with your downconverted HD footage? What will be the ratio of native SD footage to downconverted footage in the final product?
If the majority of footage in the project is 29.97 interlaced SD, then I’d suggest making your sequence setting 29.97 interlaced ProRes 422 (not HQ). If the SD footage is NTSC-DV, make your frame size 720×480, lower field first. Then use Compressor to downconvert the 1080p24 XDCAM EX footage to ProRes 422 720×480 29.97 interlaced (lower field first) with 3:2 pulldown added. You’ll need to change the frame rate to 29.97 in the video compression settings dialog and make sure that the frame controls tab is turned on. Choose lower field first in the field order settings, and choose best for the resize filter setting. Make sure to change the resolution to 720×480 with a pixel aspect ratio of 0.9 in the output dimensions section.
If the majority of the project will be the downconverted footage, you may instead want to use Compressor to convert the native 29.97 interlaced SD footage into 24p SD and downconvert the 1080p24 footage to 24p SD, then edit everything in a native 24p (23.98) SD ProRes sequence.
Which route you take mainly depends on whether you want the 29.97 interlaced footage to retain the interlaced look, or if you want it to match the 24p look. In documentaries, it’s not uncommon to see archived 29.97 interlaced footage intercut with recently shot 24p footage (with 3:2 pulldown added). In a dramatic feature, it’s more common to make everything 24p for a consistent look. What’s the nature of your project?
If you haven’t used Compressor before for this kind of advanced format conversion, you really should crack open the manual and read up on what all of the various settings do. It’s by properly configuring the frame controls tab settings that you can really unlock Compressor’s potential as a format converter.
What will be the primary delivery format for this project (DVD, broadcast, etc.)?
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Can you give me advice on what to do with footage shot at 24p in SD with the HVX. In FCP my timeline is 29.97 and the footage looks good but when I render it out via compressor it has jagged edges and looks terrible. I would really appreciate any advice as I have to turn this in tomorrow.
Thank you
Mike
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