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field dominance issues
I have footage from a DVD that has to be edited in FCP. Therefore I want to convert it using “mpeg streamclip” to H.264 mp4 file (by the way, is there any difference between an “mp4 H.264” and a “Quicktime H.264 file)?
Vieweing the “stream Info” in mpeg streamclip tells me
“224 MPEG-2, 720 × 576, 16:9, 25 fps, 8.00 Mbps, lower field first”
when converting to mp4 I am confused that it suggests to “use upper field first for all codecs except DV”. I would think that its best to keep what I get from my source. Anyway, when rendering “lower first” and then importing into FCP the browser tells me that field dominance would be “Upper (Odd)” …strange in my eyes.
As I am editing on a computer monitor only it is hard to see any difference, but this is also about to understand the field dominance issue better.
Of course I can change the settings to “Lower (even)” but I guess I shouldnt do that, or should I? I think FCP tells me what is the actual state of a file, right?
Also I have the problem that I need to render all the audio I get. I matched all settings of my sequence and my footage but still audio needs render.
Any clearance about that from anybody?
thx
Gunnar -
10 Replies
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Well, first of all, you shouldn’t be editing h.264 clips. Makes FCP grumpy, though it is doable (just doesn’t look as good). Export it as DV.
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When I’ve used Streamclip to take footage off a DVD (you have the rights, correct?) I’ve converted it to DVCPro50 if I’m going to edit in FCP. Make sure you select 48kHz for the audio sample rate (not 44.1kHz) as FCP wants to see 48k. If it’s 44.1 you’ll have to render the audio.
John
MacPro 8-core 2.8GHz 8 GB RAM OS 10.5.4 QT7.5 Kona 3 Dual Cinema 23 ATI Radeon HD 3870
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24″ TV-Logic Monitor
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In PAL (720 x 576) only DV is lower field. Convert the footage to the codec you are already editing with if this is to add to an existing sequence.
If you are starting a new sequence and this is the only footage then don’t chose DV unless that is all you can run on your machine. DV50 is better but I would go straight to uncompressed if you have a reasonable machine and decent drives. DVDs are mpeg2. Transcoding via any other codec will increase image loss. If you haven’t the drive space, then consider ProRes.
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So, you mean I should change the dominance (source has “lower first”), right?
Appears strange to me to be honest, but if thats the way to go….thx
Gunnar -
hi,
I chose h.264 because it will be the format I will output to. I thought if I output to it anyways I can make live easy with small files while editing aswell.
But It seemes to be a little sticky in playback in the viewer for example. is that a known h.264 issue? -
[gunnar Kordestani] “So, you mean I should change the dominance (source has “lower first”), right?”
No. Unless I know what codec you intend you edit with. If you are editing DV then and only then should you convert the DVD mpeg2 files to DV codec files which are lower.
All other PAL codecs are upper.
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hi Michael,
maybe we missunderstood each other. My source footage (riped from the DVD) has “lower field first”. Or maybe I have a basic understanding problem about how to handle field dominance in general.
As I already have “lower first” (in my mpeg PAL file) I thought it would be best not to change that because if you do so …. jittering must be the result. Is that not correct?
Im my case I want to output to mp4 and field dominance is not really that important, because I will screen on computer monitor. but I want to understand the whole thing better, that’s why I am asking.
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hm, I gave it a shot in “Apple DVCpro50”. The file runs very well in my timeline and viewer (much better then mp4) but the size is around 5 times as big as the .vob I am staring from. Is there any advantage in this? I mean if any video is already compressed it can’t get any better by using a codec that might lead to better results from the same riginal source, right?
So what would be the purpose to use dvcpro50 for riping a DVD video? (by the way, it is the only material nvolved in my project)
thx
Gunnar -
[gunnar Kordestani] “So what would be the purpose to use dvcpro50 for riping a DVD video?”
DVCPRO50 is edit friendly, meaning it plays and edits well in FCP.
-Russ
Russell Lasson
Ridgeline Digital Cinema Mastering
Universal Post
Salt Lake City, UT -
An advantage of DVCPro50 over DV is in the way it will handle graphics. If you are adding graphics, use DVCPro50. Otherwise, see if DV looks as good as DVCPro50. I’m assuming the final product will go out to the web or DVD. Unless you’re really tight for disk space, I’d stay with the DVCPro50.
John
MacPro 8-core 2.8GHz 8 GB RAM OS 10.5.4 QT7.5 Kona 3 Dual Cinema 23 ATI Radeon HD 3870
ATTO ExpressSAS R380 RAID Adapter, PDE Enclosure with 8-drive 6TB RAID
24″ TV-Logic Monitor
Final Cut Studio 2 (up to date)Pro Tools HD w SYNC IO, Yamaha DM1000, Millennia Media HV-3C, Neumann U87, Schoeps Mk41 mics, Genelec Monitors, PrimaLT ISDN
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