FCP HD24p Quicktime Size? Help!!!!

[Ed Dooley]

Don’t know a lot about DVCProHD (Walter’s the resident genius on that), but the simple
answers are:
DVCProHD records to tape at 960×720, the deck plays it out at 1280×720. Apps see it as
1280×720. I think you’re on to something with the aspect ratio setting in AE. As an anamorphed
file, 1.33 would be the ratio to see it properly in AE.
Ed

[Randy Van patten]

So is there a way to convert my file to 1.33 when I export of FCP? Randy

[Ed Dooley]

What version of AE are you using? AE7 has a native HDV 1080i60 preset, which presumably
sets the aspect ratio correctly. I’m guessing if you have an earlier version you have to set it
manually.
Ed

[Randy Van patten]

Thanks Ed, I guess I am a bit confused still. My clips are now at 1260×720 in AE 7. When I go to render out my final render I should choose the 1080i codec? I guess I need to brush up on my HD terms. Seems as though I am working with 3 different sizes by the time I am done. I was rendering out using the DVCPROHD 720p60. I guess I’ll experiment with all of them. Suppose I should export my clip I am having an issue with out of FCP at 1080i instead of the 1260×720? Thanks, Randy

[Shane Ross]

[Randy Van Patten] “When I go to render out my final render I should choose the 1080i codec?”

No, because then you will have a 1080i clip, and not a 720p one.

HD can be plenty confusing…I am still learning it.

DVCPRO HD is an anamorphic format, so it is squeezed 960×720…when you put it into the timeline, FCP unsqueezes it to full sized 1280×720. If you send this signal to an external monitor, it too will be squeezed, unless you have a monitor with a 16:9 option to unsqueeze it. Also, DVCPRO HD is a 720p60 codec, because that is how it records onto tape…720p59.94. If you shoot 24p, then the footage is flagged at 23.98 and advanced pulldown is applied so that when you capture it, FCP extracts the 24 frames from the 60 frame tape. Even if you shoot 24PN which is 24 real frames of video, not 24 frames on a 60 frame tape, the codec is called 720p60. Because it is based on the tape format.

ALL IS GOOD…no worries.

Now, when you work on this footage in AE, make your settings 1280×720…export out at that resolution. The exported footage won’t be flagged anamorphic so it will drop right into the sequence and work just fine. I’ve done this lots…trust me.

Shane

Littlefrog Post
http://www.lfhd.net

[Ed Dooley]

Sorry for confusing the issue with the 1080i Preset comment. I sat down to the COW from reading “March”
at 11:PM (after a long day!). I was trying to say that AE7 deals with *HDV 720* footage through a preset and by
just selecting that everything should be fine. And as Shane has reported from experience, that’s the case.
Ed

[Randy Van patten]

Thanks for the info. I never did export the original footage out of FCP. I just took the capture sratch QuickTimes and imported them into AE. Everything seems to be working good. I just had something else I was working on in FCP for which I did want to export and I want to make sure I choose the correct settings.

Should I be concerned with any interpolation in AE 7? Or so I keep it on NONE? I know when I work w/ Beta or DV or interpolate to Lower Field First.

Thanks for your help, Randy

[Ed Dooley]

You mean Interpret Footage? Yes, you should use it for the best quality. Here’s what Adobe says:
>>>If you want to use interlaced or field-rendered footage (such as from NTSC video) in an After Effects project, you will get the best results if you separate the video fields when you import the footage. After Effects separates video fields by creating a full frame from each field, preserving all of the image data from the original footage.<<< Ed

[Randy Van patten]

I have always done that with Beta and DV footage. I choose Lower Field First. Does that also apply to DVCPROHD 24p footage?

[Ed Dooley]

Wait a minute, don’t do it! This thread is a few days old so I forgot you have 24P footage. Of course the P
stands for Progressive, no fields!
Ed