progresive or interlaced? frame rate…

[Ryan Holmes]

You’re at a bit of a crossroads. You have a mix of interlace and progressive delivery mediums.

DVD = interlaced
Internet (i.e. computer display) = progressive
Projector = progressive

So you’ll need to decided which one to cater towards. My $.02 on the subject, shoot progressive at best quality. I would probably lean towards 1080p30 over 1080p60. The increased frame rate from 60p tends to look artificial to most people as they aren’t used to seeing it (plus the added transcoding time for having to do frame conversion when you built out your formats since every is displayed in either 24p or 30p).

Interlacing will typically leave you with some ugly results if you pan quickly or there is fast motion in your scenes. I prefer progressive or my workflows. That’s pretty much all I ever shoot. If you do shoot interlaced you can de-interlace it later, but that will soften your image as you’re throwing away 1 field of information. A program like Compressor can de-interlace as well as convert progressive to an interlace format for DVD.

As for FCP X specific questions, you’ll get more help by posting in the FCPX forum. This forum is specifically geared toward “Legacy” FCP, versions 1-7.

Ryan Holmes
http://www.ryanholmes.me
@CutColorPost

[Alex Ojeda]

Hi, Ryan,

Many thanks for your input. Its been of great help. Lots to learn for me. I’ll then go with progressive.

I have compressor, I just dont know yet how to use it to convert P to I or change frame rates. Do you deinterlace the raw format before import to FCP? Or after editing?

Many thanks!

Alex

[Rafael Amador]

I agree with Ryan, I stopped shooting Interlaced five tears ago.

Record; FX(HD): 1920 x 1080/30p (24 Mbps / 16:9).
Forget about 1440×1080. The recording data rates of your camera are too low.
You won’t have any problem to edit that. as it is, in FCPX.
Nothing to deinterlace, and easy to deliver in whatever format you may be asked for.
rafael

[Alex Ojeda]

Hi, Rafael, many thanks for your reply.

Ok. I will go with 1920×1080/30p (FX HD) from now on.

But what do you suggest I do with both video shoots I already have to get the most out of them?

The first I have in 1440×1080/60i and I need the edit of that to be played on the internet and DVD.

The second I have in 1920×1080/60p (PS HD) and I need this to be played on a large screen via projector + PC at an event. High Res.

Should I just transcode to Prores with FCP X, create each project in FCP X with original settings 1440×1080/60i and 1920×1080/60p, and export for this three different outputs? internet, dvd and large projector?

[Rafael Amador]

[Alex Ojeda] “The first I have in 1440×1080/60i and I need the edit of that to be played on the internet and DVD.”
the faster way is to edit that as it is and deinterlace the web version. The DVD is Ok interlaced. You can deinterlace everything and edit progressive; DVDs will look better when played on computers.

[Alex Ojeda] “The second I have in 1920×1080/60p (PS HD) and I need this to be played on a large screen via projector + PC at an event. High Res.”
Not sure if projectors will be able to display 1080p60. Probably i would drop that in a p30 sequence and go.

[Alex Ojeda] “Should I just transcode to Prores with FCP X, create each project in FCP X with original settings 1440×1080/60i and 1920×1080/60p, and export for this three different outputs?”
No need to convert to Prores in for FCPX. Should take the footage as it is.
rafael

[Alex Ojeda]

Many thanks again Rafael! I really appreciate it!

What software would you recommend to deinterlace?

To convert 60p to 30p, I just create a 30p project and drop the 60p footage onto the timeline, right?

Thanks a lot!

[Alex Ojeda]

Hmmm… I drop the footage in the timeline, try to set it at 1440×1080/60i, as the raw original, and it doesn’t let me, it takes it to 1440×1080/30i. Theres no 60i as an option.

[Rafael Amador]

[Alex Ojeda] “What software would you recommend to deinterlace?”

I think de-interlacing in FCPX is OK, but you better ask in the FCPX forum.

[Alex Ojeda] “To convert 60p to 30p, I just create a 30p project and drop the 60p footage onto the timeline, right?”
Right.

[Alex Ojeda] “Hmmm… I drop the footage in the timeline, try to set it at 1440×1080/60i, as the raw original, and it doesn’t let me, it takes it to 1440×1080/30i. Theres no 60i as an option.”
i30 and i60 is the same.
The proper term is i30 : Means 30 interlaced frames.
rafael

[Alex Ojeda]

ok! Great! Many thanks, again, Rafael!

[Ht Davis]

For projectors with a pc attached… Find out what the input line for the projector is. VGA, drop to 30p, or just code as 60i. VGA is at 60hz for the primary standard in the US, or if using NTSC projector, and later versions will support it in progressive modes (higher data rates, more visual data to process and output). If the projector supports dvi, check the refresh rate; you may find 120hz, but I’d be surprised to find very many business models at that level, as most I’ve seen are at 80hz max. 60hz means code to 60i, or 30p, for full compatibility, and if you can test a short video, try 60p. If you are using HDMI, 60hz is the lower end of it. 120hz is standard anymore, with motion estimation, and if you use 60p, it will work as if coded in 120i, estimating the motion and smoothing it out as it projects, though most projectors have a weak motion estimation and you are better off turning it off in some instances (like if you’ve coded in progressive mode).