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Format conversion
We are shooting a film where we will need converting several video formats, as it will probably be shot with a different cameras. None of them will be 24p types, so our objective is to shoot as much as possible in 50i.
The common cameras to all shooting will be one or two Sony Z1, set at 1080/50i. Conversion from that to 24fps, in transfer or in projection, should be easy and cheap too, with minimal aberrations.
It was suggested to me that these conversions could be done using Apple’s Compressor, but I am not familiar with FCP or this program.
Can someone tell me a bit more about its capabilities and final quality?
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9 Replies
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Hi Carlos,
Compressor is a very good because you got full control of the process, but can be very, very slow. Try the Nattress Format Conver plugin. You can apply it directly in FC. I’ve never used it but I read many people in this forum talking very well about it.
Cheers,
Rafael -
I am not sure if Nattress will convert 30p to 50i. Will it?
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I haven’t tried it Carlos. Some times I have to convert some clips and them I use Compressor or Shake. But if I would need to transfer a bunch of clips I wouldn’t hessitate one minute. There is an article of Marco Solrio in The Cow: Nattress Standart Converter Plugin. Have a look and decide by yourself.
Cheers,
rafael -
The Marc Solorio reviews sounds really good. Apparently results are better than with Compressor.
Next questions is that the 30p images I mentioned would be shot with a JVC HD10 camera, their first HDV camera and full of limitations.
What I wonder is if Nattress deals with HDV images too, and how does it do it with images from the HD10.
Carlos
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Graeme Nattress is my favorite video-guru. Have a look to his web-site, or make him the quetion. Nattress is a very nice guy really willing to help the people with their quetions. If his plugin do not work for your purpose he will tell you strait away. Honest guy.
Cheers,
Rafael -
Yes, I have heard about Graeme’s good will.
I already did put my question on their e-mail. Let’s see what he says.
In any case I will pass on all this info to the project’s editor, as I do not use FCP, only Avid.
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Suerte.
rafael -
You may want to shoot everything at 29.97 and then use the Nattress plugin to come down to 24p which is really 23.98. I believe, 24p is a much cleaner downconvert from 29.97 as they are multiples of each other. Also, all of the camera’s would be at the same framerate (you’d use 60i for each). If I’m not mistaken, Graeme has said that it’s much more difficult to do the 50i to 24p than 60i. It seems easier because it’s only one frame off, but that’s misleading. Double check at http://www.nattress.com.
The look should also be more consistent with everthing shooting at 60i, than mixing 30p with 50i (even bringing them to 24p).
I’m not sure if there would be any issues with the GOP structures, the Z1 uses long GOP and the Canon short GOP – but that may be overthinking it.
One thing you should do, is shoot a short test with both cameras and the different frame rates and check out your workflow. Even if you need to spend money to rent the cameras to do this, it will save SO much time in post. Test. Test. Test.
Did I say test? There is no substitution, and it’s better than being in post going “it’s not working/looking the way we thought it would.”
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Graeme has just said that I can’t use Nattress to convert 30p onto 50i or 25p, certainly not 24p. He says that Compressor might work, but it would take lots of time rendering.
Sorry if I did not make things clear or you didn’t get my point. The images I am most worried about are those coming from a JVC HD10 camera, that only outputs 720/30p. I can’t make that into 29.97 or any other rate.
Also I am thinking of doing 1080i/50 and do no conversion at all involving software of any kind, except for that that will convert the 50 fields into 25 film frames. I have no intention of converting 25 into 24.
The cameras we have access to are two Sony Z1, no any other cameras that can do 24p straightaway. No JVC HD110, Pana HCX200 or Canon.
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