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DV footage goes dark when compressed to MP2…. Why?
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No, It means that the file I compressed to mp2 using Compressor got dark. But, the files I simply exported using Quicktime conversions (QT reference and Sorensen 3) were compressed using DVD Studio Pro. They bypassed Compressor all the way and therefore bypassed the problem.
Danny
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My concern with using compressor to make adjustments in color and gamma is that it’s not WYSIWYG. I built a preset using compressors color adjustments, but it took many trys and lots of guess-timation to hone in on something that was close. I would also worry that making adjustments in the color adjustment dialog might introduce additional compression artifacting and loss of saturation. To be honest, I’d rather the Manufacturer fix the problem than me. I’ll try to get it right in the edit and leave it up to them to get it right in the conversion.
Thanks for the input,
Danny -
Danny, does this happen with both 1-pass and 2-pass encoding? Reason I ask is b/c I use 1-pass to bypass the 2-pass artifacting bug and I haven’t noticed any shift in gamma or colour (I’ll have to check some stuff I’ve done) and I *usually* have a decent eye for such things.
G5 Dual 2.7 GHz
2 GB RAM
OS 10.4.6
FCP 5.0.4
QT 7.0.4 -
The one pass is what I did my testing with. But, I think it happens in two pass mode also. Not for sure though.
Danny -
Thanks.
And, just out of curiousity, how did you go about capturing/monitoring your results? Is the colour shift obvious on a standalone DVD player also (as opposed to the Apple DVD Player)?
G5 Dual 2.7 GHz
2 GB RAM
OS 10.4.6
FCP 5.0.4
QT 7.0.4 -
I color check my project on a calibrated broadcast monitor, then check the final DVD on the same monitor using a consumer DVD player…… and I check the DVD on my home system. Each monitor was set up with NTSC bars.
I’m a real picky person when it comes to accurate calibration. I used to shoot tranparencies for catalogs and magazines.
Danny -
Great, thanks a lot for the info, Danny. I’m going to check my past DVD’s as soon as I get a chance. I certainly don’t like the idea of colours changing this drastically. I probably assumed in the past that any shift was due to the projector or consumer monitor being used at the time. I’ll be paying closer attention now.
G5 Dual 2.7 GHz
2 GB RAM
OS 10.4.6
FCP 5.0.4
QT 7.0.4 -
Jon,
Sorry I didn’t reply to your post. I figured I’d just give you a call and say thanks, like always…… Jon just lives 20 minutes down the road from me for those of you who were wondering 🙂
Danny -
This is a little late, but this is an issue I was faced with two years ago when using compressor for a High Def show. The Director of Photography was VERY” upset with the blacks and the gamma when we did our test DVD. We all went round and round with this and finally discovered that when the high def goes to tape it changes the gamma and black levels because in the MAC way of doing things FCP changes the gamma and black levels to match the monitor so that we see it correctly. When it goes to tape those levels are automatically changed. When it goes to DVD IT IS NOT CHANGED and as a result when you play it back on a DVD player and Monitor the gamma and black levels can look very bad. It is even worse with High Def than DV. Only people that know what they are watching for will notice the shift in DV to DVD.
After my colorist did the mathematical calculation he changed the gamma and blacks in Final Cut Pro, compressed it using compressor and DVD looks great! I’m surprised that after several years someone else discovered this!
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Dennis, I know Danny really well and I’m not surprised that he discovered the gamma issue. He’s one of the most calibration-obsessed people I’ve ever met. Good thing, too.
I believe he was originally going to name his first child “Blue-Only” since “SMPTE” just sounded silly…
In the end, his wife won out and they went with “Chris.”
Jon
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