URGENT: Rendered Video Levels

[Paul Dickin]

Hi
How is the ident bug generated? Is there a font involved (rather than a graphic)?
Because I’ve had exactly this problem with FCP’s (5.1.4. DV-PAL codec) Text generator, which with some seraphed fonts goes over the top when rendered, even if the peak white level is a way down low 90%. The Typewriter effect is unusable because of this.

[Randy Lee]

I agree that the Broadcast safe, or Color Correct 3-way, or whichever filter you use to bring levels down, should be the last one rendered, just to be safe. Nesting is a good way to accomplish this.

I wonder, though, what would happen if it were the first one applied (with the others off, and bring your levels down to 95% or so), then you added the rest after. Does this problem still pop up? It seems like in Final Cut if there is anything going on besides just a clip with no effects or filters, or anything on the tracks above it, the levels shown are always wrong until you render, so you’re best off correcting the plain clip, then adding graphics, effects, and the rest. Then if you need to color correct again at the end for colors, but not legal levels, feel free. I’m not sure that this would work, but it might.

Does anybody with more experience make it a point to work this way? Would this work? I’ve always wondered, because working around the scopes being wrong has always been a bit of a pain. Not a major problem, but something that should really be fixed. (Apple, you hear that? Professionals want a professional app. Thats why we’re not using Imovie.)

[Chris Borjis]

[Paul Dickin] “Because I’ve had exactly this problem with FCP’s (5.1.4. DV-PAL codec) Text generator, which with some seraphed fonts goes over the top when rendered, even if the peak white level is a way down low 90%. The Typewriter effect is unusable because of this.”

I have found the default text generator useless, so I only use the Boris 3d one included.

[Dylan Reeve]

You recognise the lovely Jaquie eh?

The stacked effects in the ‘TV Look’ are (from top down):

Sharpen
3-Way Color Corrector
Bad TV (adding some scanlines and a little noise)

We’ve tried various things, but in the end it’s the Color Corrector that’s messing it up. Turning the others off and rendering only the Color effect and the levels are completely different between rendered and preview output.

I have tried stacking a Broadcast Safe on there, but it has a very noticable hard-clip on the highlights which. I miss the nice rolloff of the Courtyard Sheriff legaliser I used to use for SD programs.

We’re going to try rebuilding the effects a little to see if that improves it.

[Scott Sheriff]

Check to see if the ‘Range Check’ function was on during color correction. The range check seems to clip the levels when on, giving false scope readings.
Scott