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25i to 24p and AR
I have a Sony HVR-A1E video camera. While it’s a great tool and delivers fine results, it is still an interlaced 25 fps camera. I would like to convert my 1440×1080 25 fps interlaced footage to 1920×1080 24 fps progressive. The research I’ve done suggests that I interpret the footage and conform the frame rate to 24, separate the fields – upper first, then slow the footage down to 96%.
Is the above method accurate enough and yields good results, or maybe there’s a better way?
Also, when I bring non-square-pixel footage into after effects and try to make a new composition, I get it at 4:3 aspect ratio (i.e. 1440×1080 with a pixel ratio of 1.33). The only way I can work on it 16:9 is by manually changing the comp setting to 1920×1080 square pixel. Is there a way to automate this or am I doomed to manually change the settings on every new comp I create?
-MS
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7 Replies
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i think i would convert the footage like this:
– use the interpret footage settings to correctly separate fields and conform to 24fps. i would also try checking the preserve edges option, it will often improve the deinterlaced image.
– create drag it onto the new comp icon (if you want square pixels, you will need to set that in the comp settings, but you can save a comp preset to make it easier, then you’ll just need to pulldown the preset.
– i would also try enabling frame blending (frame mix) to composite the image data from the second field. this often helps smooth out some of the deinterlacing artifacts and can give a slightly softer, more film like image. the draw back is if the movement is fast, this technique will produce a double image like effect that may be rather distracting. so it depends a lot on the shot.
i don’t think i would try changing the speed of the footage after this… with this method you will see every frame you shot and i don’t believe the one extra frame per second will make much of a difference to the timing, the footage will only be one fps slower (very slight slow-motion)
if you do find that you need to drop that extra frame, i would not conform the frame rate in the interpret footage window, leave it at 25 (change the other settings as above). then drop the footage into a new comp, but change the comp’s frame rate to 24fps. this will easily remove that extra frame and maintain timing.
[Mike Smith] “Is there a way to automate this or am I doomed to manually change the settings on every new comp I create”
actually, i think there is a script that will allow you to conform selected comps to settings that you choose, all at once. i will need to look for it….
Kevin Camp
Senior Designer
KCPQ, KMYQ & KRCW -
i agree, conforming the footage to produce a slight slow-motion effect (almost unnoticeable) would be the prefered way to go, that way every frame is seen… there is no risk of a jump due to the dropped frame every second or interpolation issues if you have the fancy software.
there is one other method that uses the time warp effect… (and it would involve not conforming your footage in the interpret footage window), and it may produce decent results for you…
take the footage (25p) into a 24p comp. apply time warp, setting speed to 100. turn on motion blur in time warp and set shutter control to manual. the default 180 shutter angle should produce fairly natural motion blur and blending of the frames if pixel motion is selected as the method.
but remember this is interpolated pixel motion, you won’t see the frames as they were shot, and, i would still prefer the seeing every frame that was shot over interpolated frames…
Kevin Camp
Senior Designer
KCPQ, KMYQ & KRCW -
you can find the multiple comp changing script at crgreen.com. scroll down to the bottom, it’s the called ‘Selected_Comps_Changer.jsx’.
with this you could drag all your footage into new comps then select the those comps in the project window, run this script and change any parameters for all the comps at once…
Kevin Camp
Senior Designer
KCPQ, KMYQ & KRCW -
First I’d like to thank all of you. Amazing feedbacks. I’ve never seen such a great community.
Now from what I gathered the best way to convert 25i to 24p (without spending money or buying special plug-ins) I better conform the footage to 24 and de-interlace while the upper field is first (PAL). Then I create a new comp from the make comp button and make sure it’s set to 24 fps. Finally, enable frame blending.
Did I get it right?
-MS
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that’s the method that i believe should give you good results (i’m defining good as closest to what was shot, with minimal interpolation).
the frame blending (frame mix) is a per shot call, it won’t always look the best, but it will usually give you smoother results. it’s a way to use the field data that would otherwise be lost in the deinterlacing (fields separating) process.
if you the footage isn’t looking as good as you had hoped, post again with the specifics, and you will probably get even more suggestions…
Kevin Camp
Senior Designer
KCPQ, KMYQ & KRCW -
Thanks. I’ll try and post the results.
-MS
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[Kevin Camp] “you can find the multiple comp changing script at crgreen.com. scroll down to the bottom, it’s the called ‘Selected_Comps_Changer.jsx’.”
Awesome, that’s part of what I’d need. Being able to change composition settings is now a real time saver with this.
Is there a way to add the function to rotate the clips 180° at the same time? I’m working with both a DSLR and HDV camcorder with a DOF adapter and I need to rotate the clips in each comp every time. Anyone knows how to save some time with it?
Thanks
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