Interlace discussion when finishing online progressive

[Dan Powers]

The pause does not show a flicker like in the old days, but it is showing both fields. When playing back at full speed it looks fluid like 60hz, only the motion is obviously not as crisp as 60p. Tried this on three displays, all LCD and one OLED. The resolution actually looks fine which is opposite of what I was seeing in the same tests from early last year. I still had the same test files and am getting different results… I suspect a temporary interpretation bug in an old version…

For many years I worked with 23.98 shot footage that was transfered from film to video at 29.97 with 4:3 cadence. Common practice was for us to work in progressive 29.97 time base and pass the interlace without damage. Only working in an interlaced world when the footage needed to be processed or scaled. Even rendering out a 2997 30p file with 3:2 interlaced fields looked good on air. That was also the suggested workflow in the Quantel days.
I seldom get 23.98 anymore since nobody wants a 3:2 interlaced cadence in their master. (NG for web)
Mastering one file at 23.98, then another at 29.97 with a 3:2 UF added for broadcast masters.
Then the Telestream Flip Factory had the actions backwards in the software. Treating Upper as Lower and Flipping it on file conversion. Stations everywhere using that version of software were airing half res spots for nearly a year. I am the one who proved the bug and got it patched. Poorly handled fields in the post workflow have been a thorn in my side for roughly 35 years. I dont know which will die first. Fields or me.

Dan Powers
Production Services Director
United States Money Reserve
Austin, TX