720p60 Conform Fiasco

[Shane Ross]

[gary adcock] “remember in HD that the playheads are physically slowed to achieve the 23.98 speed- even HDCam so that the full frames match the DF time base even though the content looks as if it is NDF.”

OK…that’s fine. The decks can do that…so then the code can be NDF. FCP doesn’t do this. The NDF timelines are running at 24fps, not 23.98…and 60fps, not 59.94. So in this case they don’t match up (please correct me if I’m wrong!). Because if I take a sequence that is NDF, and drop it into a DF timeline, the timing doesn’t match up.

Shane

Littlefrog Post
http://www.lfhd.net

[Walter Biscardi]

[Shane Ross] “Because if I take a sequence that is NDF, and drop it into a DF timeline, the timing doesn’t match up.”

Absolutely correct there and the first thing I asked an Apple Engineer in Vegas. “Does FCP 6 support 720p DF?” The answer seemed to imply not when it’s released but it could come in an update later on.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Food Network’s “Good Eats”
HD Editorial for “Assignment Earth”

Read my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi

[Tony]

Walter,

I have to correct you in that Panasonic or Sony camcorders cannot record Drop frame timecode when set to 23.98 or 24P mode. When in either of these frame modes the timecode by default is non-drop frame. This applies to camcorders such as the Varicam, SDX-900, F900, etc. FYI there is no current SMPTE TC standard for drop frame at 23.98 or 24P. The non-drop versus drop frame issue has nothing to do with FCP, as it is a function of the original recording.

In addition even an external vtr recording a HD signal from a camera which is outputting 23.98 or 24P will also not record the tc in drop frame as it must be non drop frame.

Drop frame is possible with Sony, Panasonic and other brand camcorders or vtrs, which are recording in 29.97P or 59.94i frame rates but not at 23.98P or 24P.

At 29.97P or 59.94i frame rates, the user has the option to set the timecode to drop frame or non-drop frame.

It is paramount to understand if you are dubbing 23.98 or 24P original footage to NTSC that, the down converted dubs must be recorded in non-drop frame.

Non drop frame and drop frame timecode are one of the most misunderstood concepts in production and post production workflow and at times it seems only old time CMX on line editors such as myself even remember why there is a need for both.

Tony Salgado

[Rpfloyd]

Ill be doing some testing today with that workflow and will report back any further issues. Thank you all for all your help.