• Compression Techniques

  Compressor Letterbox Problem

  Posted by C. Strothjohann on March 18, 2010 at 1:48 pm

  I have to convert a lot of files from avids dnxhd (1080p) codec to apples prores 422 (LT) (1080p).
  the resulting files should be Letterboxed to 2.35 (not cropped).
  so i add the “letterbox” filter in Compressor with the “mask” setting and “2.35”.

  the first frame of the resulting file is all fine with the letterbox. but then the whole goes to a very dark
  freeze frame, occasionally flashing to a different dark freeze frame.

  I tested to convert to all the other prores codecs with the same result.
  i tried adifferent version of the avid codec (version 2.01 and version 2.1). same result.
  i tried a lower dnxhd codec quality. same result.

  when I don´t add the letterbox to my conversion the resulting file is all fine.
  when i add the letterbox filter to a different hd file (for example prores HQ) the letterbox
  is applied properly.

  We´re running Final Cut Studio 3 on a MACPRO 2,26 Octocore (Nehalem) with 24GB ram.
  All Software are on the latest version.
  We tried the whole Process on an older MACPro as well with the same results.

  Has anybody run into the same behaviour or knows a solution?

  Andrew Saliga replied 16 years, 5 months ago 2 Members · 1 Reply
• 1 Reply

• 

  Andrew Saliga

  March 18, 2010 at 4:23 pm

  Instead of adding letterboxing in the filters tab have you tried adjusting the “Padding” settings in the Geometry tab to “Panavision 2.35:1”?

  -Andrew Saliga

  Steelehouse Productions
  http://www.steelehouse.com (undergoing a much-needed redesign)
  http://www.vimeo.com/steelehouse

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