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I need the best input output method, workflow, settings and specifics for media generated from the Sony HXR-NX5U.
Ladies and gents:
I have been using FCPX and Compressor 4 for the past week. I’ve completed 4 jobs. I’m quite happy with them. My οnly issue was fiddling with system settings, fps, NTSC to PAL (because I have this need), VBR vs CBR, quality, p vs i, one pass, two pass, etc.
I have had success but I’m not quite sure if I could output anything better than what I’ve got. I’ve done various trial and error sample test runs, but I was wondering if this community could help me with what the best, most crisp, and non-choppy outcome would be for DVD burning. Primarily from NTSC (which is what my camera is) to PAL DVDs. (Both 1980 and 1280, should anyone be able to reference both.)
Thanks in advance,
BT
Fighting the funk!
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8 Replies
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When you say NTSC are you shooting 29.97? Have you thought about shooting 23.98 and doing the “traditional” speed change to 25fps for PAL?
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Yes, I am shooting in 29.97 fps, 1920 x 1080 (1080i). And no I have not tried the traditional speed change from shooting in 23.98.
So, secondly you suggest I shoot in “AVCHD FX (24Mbps) 1920×1080/24p” and then do the “traditional” speed change. Please elaborate on the “”traditional” speed change”.
Also how will I handle the footage I already shot in 29.97 – so it is not choppy.
Thanks,
Bill
Bill T.
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Shooting in in 24 (23.98) fps allows one to use as is or add pull down for NTSC.
For PAL one just changes the speed (optical flow for example) so the 24fps clip is 25fps.
It’s about a 4% speed change that people generally don’t notice. One would pitch shift as well as needed.
This is very common. It allows for 24fps to be the “universal” frame rate, making NTSC and PAL use easy.
I believe it’s how must films (24fps) are shown on PAL frame rate TV.
I believe people find the results better than trying to get 29.97 into PAL.
I call it “traditional” because this method goes back to film days as far as I recall. -
Craig,
Thanks for the detailed information. I will surely try your suggestions with 23.98; actually on a shoot tomorrow.
As for my secondary question. How do you suggest I handle my current media with FCPX and compressor – my result is choppy, especially on pans.
Thanks,
Bill T.
Bill T.
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Make a new setting in Compressor
Encoder button Video Settings – Compression Type – Apple Pro Res 422 HQ
Frame Rate 25fps
Frame Controls button Rate Conversion – Best (High quality motion compensation)Test by making a selection about 10 seconds before to about 10 seconds after a pan (since this is the most challenging area)
Do a test render.
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Craig,
You have really been a great help, but plea know this I am new to the Mac world and if there is something obvious I’m bypassing please let me know.
However, I am having the worst experience with Compressor 4 in conjunction with FCPX. I just can’t get a perfect DVD authored. There is always some kind of problem; i.e. the video quality is bad, the audio quality is bad, there is some sort of skip, or the footage is choppy.
My best results are with Toast but the output is lower quality than Compressor 4 and it is a shame to lose it since I am shooting with such a beautiful camera. Although the only deliverable product that I made thus far was with Titanium. 1. Do you know of any other authoring programs that better that Titanium and not Compressor? 2. Do you have a tried and tested workflow? Any more help would be greatly appreciated.
I also tried everything you said but I could not find the compression type in Compressor? I only found the file format which does not have the apple pro res option, just mpeg 2, mpeg 4,etc…
Bill Tsolakidis
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In essence of more specifics and in conjunction with my prior message please note the following:
My workflow:
1. Shot with a SONY HXR-NX5U in 60i 1920 x 1080.
2. Copied entire archive to Desktop
3. Rewrapped sony .mts files to .mov files with Clipwrap (because I can’t import the .mts’ natively into FCPX!) followed by import. (not proxy)
4. Edited about 1 hour of video on to the timeline in a 1280 x 720 23.98p project.
5. Share > export media > Apple ProRes 422 (HQ)
6. Imported and burned to compressor with the suggestions as Craig stated above.My result: A high quality resolution video with great sound – that skips and freezes at about 2 minutes into the video. Also there is a bit of jerky frame motion.
My only success burning has been with Toast Titanium in almost any format I exported, producing video and audio quality that is drastically diminished no jerky motion in PAL! (this would have been fine if I could get the video and audio quality better. I’ve moved the settings to best everywhere and 9 ~VBR and 9 CBR)
Please let me know of any suggestions so that I may successfully create a 100% perfect DVD.
Do I need the right combination? …is it Apple’s software? …I don’t think it is my brand new iMac 27″ 3.4 Quad, 12 GG RAM, 2GB GPU…? …I use Verbatim DVD-R media with many prior successful burns…? The only thing I think I have left to try is Encore….I’ll let you know…but please help on my workflow….thanks. I’m trying!
Thanks,
Bill Tsolakidis
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I just produced my first almost perfect DVD. Quality is still suffering, but no skips or bumps.
Bill Tsolakidis
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