2:3:3:2 instead of 3:2 pulldown

[Jeremy Garchow]

[Peter Hadfield] “My 24.0 clips had a 2:2:2:4 pulldown (I could tell because the 4th and 5th frame were the same),”

So then you don’t have 24.0 clips. Your 24.0 clips should NOT have any pulldown.

[Peter Hadfield]

“Your 24.0 clips should NOT have any pulldown. ”
Oh, ok.

So, converting my 24.0 clip to 29.97 gave it a 2:2:2:4 pulldown, because that’s default for FCP. So that’s why I have to change the pulldown on the 29.97 clip to 3:2 in Compressor, correct?

[Jeremy Garchow]

[Peter Hadfield] “So, converting my 24.0 clip to 29.97 gave it a 2:2:2:4 pulldown, because that’s default for FCP. So that’s why I have to change the pulldown on the 29.97 clip to 3:2 in Compressor, correct?”

Yes. Now you got it!

[Peter Hadfield]

Ok. Good. I’m getting somewhere.

Now, is it necessary to convert my 24.0 clips to 29.97 first with the 2:2:2:4 pulldown, and then change the pulldown to 3:2, or can I go straight from 24.0 with no pulldown to 29.97fps with the 3:2?

I’ve been following these steps to get a 3:2 pulldown:
1. In FCP, select your sequence then choose FILE > SEND TO > COMPRESSOR. Or you can export your sequence to a video or reference video then open that in Compressor.

2. In Compressor, select your video then right click and choose NEW TARGET WITH SETTING > APPLE > FORMATS > QUICKTIME > APPLE PRORES 422 (HQ). Or pick whatever codec you like to work with.

3. Click on that newly created compression setting to open it in the Inspector window. Click the Encoder tab. Click the Video: (Settings…) button. Make the frame rate 29.97. Check the interlaced box. Set it’s drop down menu to Bottom field first. Click OK.

4. Click the Frame Controls tab. Set Frame Controls to On. Set Output Fields to Bottom first. Leave Deinterlace on Fast. Leave Adaptive Details checked. Leave Rate Conversion set to Fast. Leave the Set Duration to: on 100% and make sure it’s radio button is selected and NOT the “so source frames play at 29.97 fps” button.

5. Make changes to the Filters or Geometry sections as needed. Those settings listed above are the ones critical to getting the proper 3:2 pulldown added.

6. Submit the compression, then bring the resulting video back into Final Cut Pro. Place it in a 29.97 timeline and make sure you watch it on an NTSC monitor to verify that it looks good. If you step through it frame-by-frame you should see the familiar pattern of 2 split/interlaced frames followed by 3 whole frames. This is a very important step. I tried many solutions that looked OK playing back on the computer monitor, but looked terrible on the NTSC monitor.

I saw you had commented on this thread and said that compressor can do a good job “if you set it up correctly”. Are those steps correct for a 3:2 pulldown?

Jeremy, you’ve been a HUGE help.
Thank you very much,
Peter

[Jeremy Garchow]

[Peter Hadfield] “Now, is it necessary to convert my 24.0 clips to 29.97 first with the 2:2:2:4 pulldown, and then change the pulldown to 3:2, or can I go straight from 24.0 with no pulldown to 29.97fps with the 3:2? “

No and that’s impossible. Your goal is to go from 24.0 (no pulldown) to 29.97 with 3:2 pulldown. No 2224 pulldown ever.

[Peter Hadfield] “Set it’s drop down menu to Bottom field first. Click OK. “

You are going to want upper field first for 1080i.