FCP 5.1/HVX-200/1080p 23.98 Delivery

[Jeremy Garchow]

If I were you and needed to output 1080p 23.98, then I would shoot in 1080pA. The downsides to this are there’s no variable frame rate recording as in 720p (if that’s at all important to you), and 1080p will suck up lots of gigs/time on P2 cards and firestore. Also, you will have to worry about removing the advanced pulldown when ingesting in FCP. I do not have FCP 5.1, but I heard that this function was busted, maybe it’s now been fixed on FCP 5.1.1. Test, test, and then retest. If FCP isn’t removing the pulldown, then you will have to rely on Cinema Tools to get your 1080i60 material (1080p recorded in a 1080i stream with advanced pulldown) down to 1080p24. This will require a few extra steps on your part if FCP is still in fact busted. 1080p also requires more bandwidth and more rendering time than 720p. The upside is that you will be working in your desired delivered format and the surprises will be minimized.

If you decide to shoot 720p, then you have to plan on getting it out to 1080p you will then need to find a facility that has this feature, then budget and prepare your time accordingly. Start making the calls right now if that’s your decision.

Jeremy

[Erik Hansen]

Leif,

The “gotcha” that I see is that there are no decks that will record 720p/23.98. There are decks that support 720/69.94 so you will be adding 3/2 on playback and then would need to output 1080p/23.98. There are some DvcProHD decks that can do this, but if you are delivering onto D5… Maybe D5 can do the similar, not sure.

I can’t say for sure whether a Teranex can receive a 720p/23.98 signal, but if there is a model it’s going to be one the more expensive ones.

Depending on your budget, I think the 3 options are 1) shoot 1080p/23.98 and be done (you can always offline in something smaller). 2) Shoot 720p/23.98 and software up-rez. 3) Shoot 720p/23.98, layoff to 720/59.94 and convert from the deck or Teranex.

Depending on your storage (and the possible FCP issues) I would shoot in the format that you are delivering.

Best,
– Erik

[Arnie Schlissel]

If you’re shooting to a Firestore, then you don’t have the option of 720pN. You have to shoot with pulldown, regardless of whether you choose 720 or 1080, so why not shoot 1080, & avoid the extra step? If you do decide to shoot at 720, though, you can do the upconvert yourself if you have a Kona 2 or 3 card. Simply rent a D5 deck, set the card to do the upconvert in the Kona control panel & lay it off to tape as 1080.

Arnie
Now in preproduction: Peristroika (Cosmological Congress), a film by Slava Tsukerman
https://www.arniepix.com

[Gary Adcock]

[JeremyG] ” I do not have FCP 5.1, but I heard that this function was busted, maybe it’s now been fixed on FCP 5.1.1. Test, test, and then retest.”

Nope
this still broken in 5.1.1 you will still need to pass your 108024pA footage through Cinema Tools.
and do it inside of CT!!!!
Unless CT has been set up properly it will set the frame rate to 24 not 23.98 as it should be.

[JeremyG] “If you decide to shoot 720p, then you have to plan on getting it out to 1080p you will then need to find a facility that has this feature, then budget and prepare your time accordingly.”

True but how are you outputting to D-5?
the deck can accept a 720p24 signal and convert it to 1080 23.98 on ingest so you can send the signal direct from your LH card to the D-5 and have it do the work.

Networks want the footage to stay at the Native size and frame rate to stay at the camera originating size as long as possible in the post process

Shoot which ever format works for your project.

and thanks for passing on the AJA complement Leif, the support staff at AJA is the best in the business.

gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows
Chicago, IL

[Jeremy Garchow]

[gary adcock] “the deck can accept a 720p24 signal and convert it to 1080 23.98 on ingest so you can send the signal direct from your LH card to the D-5 and have it do the work.”

So you are saying that the D5 can read the flagged frames and convert that to 1080p24? The LH is outputting 720p60.

[Gary Adcock]

[Leif] “P.S. Mr. Adcock, Will over at Aja Tech. Support said it would be worthwhile pleading for your help in this matter. Any thoughts”

Hey Leif

with the firestore unit the workflow for 720p and 1080 24pA is pretty much the same- if there is not any slo-mmo or effects. because of the nature of the recording you will get the same amount of record time in both formats.

Use 108024pA if there is no need for offspeed content. (see my other post for issues with 1080 24pA)

If there is off speed shoot everything at 720p24 then allow the D5 to convert the signal.( yes with all of the options the current models of the D5 deck (3700b models) can take a 720p24 video stream out of the Kona LH and capture that video as 1080 24psf.

gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows
Chicago, IL

[Gary Adcock]

[JeremyG] “So you are saying that the D5 can read the flagged frames and convert that to 1080p24? The LH is outputting 720p60.”

Correct

However it needs to be the B model of the 3700 deck,
Additionally the 1700 and 1400 series decks can play out a 1080 24 signal from a 720p24 tape.

gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows
Chicago, IL

[Leif]

Thanks Gary!

After much investigation, I’ve decided to go the 720/24p route.

The HVX-200 is set to shoot 720/24p, my sequence is set w/ Aja Kona LH: 720p 23.98 DVC Pro HD and I’ll be outputting the sequence to the Panasonic D5 3700B deck (expensive rental!).

I’m a little nervous about the output up-convert to 1080p 23.98 as I’m not quite sure what the settings should be in FCP 5.1 (A/V Settings/ Video Playback) and the D5 to do this.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

-Leif

[Gary Adcock]

[Leif] “I’m a little nervous about the output up-convert to 1080p 23.98 as I’m not quite sure what the settings should be in FCP 5.1 (A/V Settings/ Video Playback) and the D5 to do this.”

Your FCP setting should not change.

Have the rental house set up the deck to do the 720 to 1080 cross convert upon capture.

gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows
Chicago, IL

[Erik Hansen]

Gary,

I’m having a hard time finding the right settings to do the 720 > 1080 cross convert. Can you do a walk-through, or just some pointers…

Working with a 3700BP if that makes a difference.

Best,
– Erik