Need a Video Converter:

[Joe Marler]

[Ray Sherman] “I came across a large amount of .avi media…camcorder used was a JVC GR DVL9500 tape based consumer handicam….The media is non-widescreen 4:3 720×480 .avi and it appears to be interlaced….”

That is DV — FCPX can import that “in place” and edit that natively with no problems. Using proxy or optimized media is not required. Compressor can transcode it to ProRes before import but I don’t see the benefit of that. By modern standards the DV codec is simple and the resolution is low, so there is no performance problem editing it. Transcoding to ProRes does not improve image quality — that is determined by the camera and codec capture parameters.

The biggest problem with DV content is not image quality per se but interlacing. Some DV cameras shot “matted” 16:9 DV which is another problem but fortunately yours did not. The interlacing issue can be confusing for several reasons:

(1) Some playback software like Quicktime will auto deinterlace under some conditions but not others.
(2) VLC defaults to “no deinterlace” but it can be enabled and has multiple selectable algorithms.
(3) Youtube will auto-deinterlace NTSC DV content, at least sometimes.
(4) FCPX will not deinterlace on export for an NTSC project even if you set the “deinterlace” checkbox in Inspector under Settings.
(5) FCPX *will* deinterlace on export NTSC content in a progressive project IF you set the “deinterlace” checkbox.
(6) If you put NTSC content in a progressive project, don’t set the deinterlace checkbox, then output, the file will be degraded, apparently from discarding alternate scan lines.

Since most of your content is apparently progressive and you want to include some 4:3 NTSC DV stuff, use a 1080p or 720p project and for the DV AVI clips make sure you have the deinterlace checkbox set for those.

4:3 content in a 16:9 project will appear “pillar boxed”. That is expected and you can evaluate how to present that.

When dealing with interlaced content always inspect the output for comb-type interlacing artifacts and for signs of degraded resolution from “discard-type” deinterlacing. Check (1) Using Quicktime Player, (2) VLC with deinterlacing off, (3) After upload to Youtube or Vimeo, and (4) Local playback on mobile devices if that is a distribution method. The final output should be no worse than the original interlaced files viewed in VLC with Yadif 2x deinterlacing enabled.

Test and validate your workflow early on small media samples. Do not do a huge project then find out 20% of the clips are messed up from improper hard deinterlacing that happened several stages up the chain.

[Ray Sherman]

Thank You Joe!! I will forget about re-wrapping and/or transcoding the .avi as you stated. I will follow your suggestions once I get the project up and running and I will certainly test early on for the best output. Currently, I’m re-wrapping my other media in EditReady as well as organizing it in folders. I can’t tell you enough how much I appreciate you taking the time in helping me out. You, along with many others is what makes this forum! Thank you, Ray

[John Rofrano]

I see that Joe already answered your question and I agree. DV AVI files should be fine in FCP X. No need to do anything special.

If you want everything in a QuickTime format, Compressor will simply rewrap DV AVI files as MOV files with no quality loss but as Joe pointed out, there is really no need since FCP X already handles DV AVI files natively.

If the project is HD and the DV files look bad, you might want to try a plug-in like Boris FX BCC UpRez. This will convert SD to HD with “smart” sharpening that can improve the picture quality over just resizing.

Here is training that I did for Boris TV on using UpRez in FCP X and Motion 5 if you want to see if in action:

https://vimeo.com/113612763

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasstsoftware.com

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[Ray Sherman]

Thank You John!! That is one awesome tool…… and great job on the tutorial! Looks to be pretty much straight forward. Cleaning up the media along with placing it in the proper aspect ratio would indeed be a great tool that I could use. I went to their web site but, couldn’t find a price. In addition, I clicked on the “free trial” icon which took me to an “error page”. It may be possible that they are working on their web site therefore, I will check later.
Thanks again John, for taking the time in helping me out and pointing me in the right direction. I can’t tell you enough how much I appreciate it! Ray ????

[John Rofrano]

Sorry I should have given you a pointer to the product page.

Boris FX includes BCC UpRez as part of the larger Boris Continuum Complete (BCC) suite or it can be purchased as part of the smaller Continuum Image Restoration Unit which contains 12 effects including UpRez.

I checked the Free Trial links on those pages and they seem to work. 😉

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasstsoftware.com

[Ray Sherman]

Thanks for the links…… I’ll try the free trial soon and go from there. Thanks again for all your help. Ray