Steppy Edges / pixelated edges after exporting (H264)

[Michiel Geluykens]

So I exported as Apple Prores 422 1080p25
but the export gives me, when I play it using quicktime player on my macbook, a skippy file… It doesn’t “flow” smoothly.
What did I do wrong?

[Michael Gissing]

Your drive may not be fast enough to play that file.

[Tom Brooks]

Sometimes you get away with not doing it, but there’s always a point to matching sequence settings to source clip properties.

[Michael Gissing]

[Tom Brooks] “but there’s always a point to matching sequence settings to source clip properties.”

Agreed. But this project was done with the original H264 clips instead of converting to ProRes so it isn’t good practice to do that in this case. The project is finished and a 24 hour deadline for a cinema screening is trying to be met. The project needs to get to a PAL DVD which will be interlaced so under these circumstances, there isn’t time or need to change the sequence to none and then create an interlaced mpeg2 for a DVD.

The main issue here appears to be monitoring. I advised against introducing any further variables which may create a new problem in a tight time frame. My advice is always to transcode from H264 and decide, depending on the delivery item, if 50i is needed rather than 25p. On previous projects, I have found that the 7D footage, converted to ProRes422, drops into a 50i sequence without any issue which means broadcast deliverables and SD DVDs work without any issue as well.

[Michiel Geluykens]

It all worked out in the end: my final export as Apple Prores 422 25p worked perfectly, without any skips or steppy edges and it looks great. The screening was a huge succes (it was a screening for a school jury, including Belgian director Stijn Coninx, the jury and the other students loved it.)

I want to thank you guys for the help!

[Michael Gissing]

Thanks for the positive feedback Michiel.