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P2 “squeezed”/anamorphic DVCPRO50 files in Avid
Hi,
I’ve been shooting on a P2 camera at DVCPRO50 (60i) in “Squeeze” mode, which essentially means 720×480 anamorphic. Final Cut Pro works well with these files (it automatically creates 720×480 sequences, anamorphic, with the DVCPRO50 codec), but I’d like to port this to Avid (MC soft). My initial tests with an Adrenaline system have been discouraging: if I do an SD project, I don’t know how to preserve the anamorphic information (not in front of an Avid now, but I don’t recall there being an anamorphic option in the Output settings for SD projects, though there is a downconvert/anamorphic option in HD projects, AFAIK). And if I bring 720×480 DVCPRO50 material (regardless of whether it’s 4×3 or 16×9) into an HD project, the Avid would have to “manufacture” the missing resolution, correct?Any light you can shed would be greatly appreciated as I really want to cut this on Avid!
Thanks,
Jonas -
6 Replies
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The Avid preserves the aspect ratio fine, but it will be up to you to “correct” the footage when you export. Right-click in the source or record video monitor and choose 16×9 to display the footage properly on your computer screen. This will also ensure any Avid created titles are the correct ratio. If you’re exporting through a Mojo or Adrenaline you’ll have to reformat the video for it to display properly. You can use “pan and scan” under the reformat tab in effects. Or you can collapse your final video tracks and simply resize the height to 70% (will letterbox).
If you’re going to author a DVD or file for computer playback, simply choose 16×9 when you export your movie or reference movie. I was a bit confused by how Avid handled anamorphic SD as well, I think it’s pretty swell now as I have the choice of how to represent it when I make my final masters.
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The 70% number is incorrect, the correct number would be 75% for properly sized letterboxing.
Other than that, anamorphic SD is a monitoring issue. Simply right-click on your record monitor and choose 16×9 displays. Done.
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Create an ordinary SD project (NTSC 30i), and either use AMA or “classic” Import P2 functionality to bring it into the Avid.
No need to reformat anything, 720×480 DVCPRO is just fine for Avid. Flip your source/record monitor to 16×9, and set any client monitors accordingly.
What are you exporting to / playing out to?
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Oops!… Thank you Job. I haven’t needed to manually letterbox footage in a while.
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Thanks, David and Job. Exactly the simple advice I was hoping to hear!
As for your question to ultimate output, Job, this is a documentary that doesn’t yet have a “home”. Ideally, it will end up broadcast (which will probably require me to upres to HD) but it will probably live first, and perhaps solely, on the Web.
One other question. I no longer have the original P2 files; because of drive space limitations, I converted them all to Quicktimes via FCP and then deleted the P2 originals. Would you expect appreciable image loss importing these Quicktimes into Avid? Data-wise, the Quicktimes are about 6MB/second.
Thanks!
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When working with P2 in Avid, there is no need at all to convert to Quicktime. It would have been faster and better if you had brought the files into Avid, and kept them at their native resolution. I have no idea what flavor of QT you have converted to (hit CTRL-I in the QT player and it will tell you what codec is used) but from the 6 Mbps figure you mention, it does sound like a severe quality hit, coming from DV, which is 25 Mbps. Also, if you convert P2 media using FCP, you are very likely changing the gamma of the files, even more so if you chose H264, so by now, you are likely pretty far from the original. Sorry.
Drive space is cheap these days. Never throw away your originals. For file based media, have at least two copies at your disposal at all times.
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