HD, Frame Rates and standards
by Robert Clegg
on
Nov 25, 2008 at 11:32:35 am
Hi All,
I am sure I am trying to oversimplify a more complicated problem but i am hoping the answer is simple..
We are working on a project that will be delivered in HD And SD Formats and used in the UK (PAL).
Some of the assets we have received to use are in 29.97 frame rates and anything we create will be 25fps frame rates.
The question is what do we build a project in - ideally we would build all in 25fps rate as the end result will be this and won't cause any problems when producing final formats. However the existing assets that are 29.97fps are rostrum rotations so any drop frames or rate changes become obviously jerky straight away.
We could build all at 29.97fps but when we come to create SD formats we are going to end up using NTSC DVD settings which is a lesser resolution and may not play on certain DVD Players.. And if we transfer at the end to 25fps we are still going to see jerkiness?
Hope this makes sense and anyones help would be most appreciated? Am i missing something fundamental..
thanks in advance to all.. we have so much work to do and need to start it but if we start down the wrong route i fear we would have to start again!..
Re: HD, Frame Rates and standards by Ty Audronis on Nov 25, 2008 at 7:37:37 pm
Wow, you have yourself quite a little catch .22 there...
Ok, I'm not sure what to tell you here. You're better off letting your editing software convert the footage for you to 25 fps (they always have better algorithms) than you are doing everything in 29.97 and letting your DVD authoring set it to PAL frame rates for you. What are you using?
Another option...
The best one (if time allows) is to do it in your compositing software (i.e. Aftereffects), and try some frame blending techniques, etc. Unfortunately though, in the end, you're not going to be able to use that 29.97 frame rate for PAL, and I'm not sure what the previous poster means by universal, maybe he knows something I don't. However, if you're going to PAL, you're gonna have to hit 25fps sooner or later, and better to do it at the beginning of your production than at the end with your cheapest software (the authoring software).
Good Luck!
Ty Audronis
Supervising Editor, California Academy of Sciences/Morrison Planetarium
Re: HD, Frame Rates and standards by Dave LaRonde on Nov 25, 2008 at 7:57:06 pm
[Ty Audronis]"...I'm not sure what the previous poster means by universal, maybe he knows something I don't. However, if you're going to PAL, you're gonna have to hit 25fps sooner or later..."
NTSC DVDs are regularly played in PAL DVD players with no problems, assuming the optional region code (Asia, Europe, N. America, etc.)is either compatible or isn't set.
So if the project goes exclusively to DVD, it might not be a problem. If there's any chance whatsover it will be used someplace other in PAL-land than DVD, 29.97 is problematic.
There's a plugin for FCP called Nattress Standards convertor that can do NTSC-PAL, and I understand that Apple Compressor can also do it... never tried it personally.
Dave LaRonde
Sr. Promotion Producer
KCRG-TV (ABC) Cedar Rapids, IA
Re: HD, Frame Rates and standards by Ty Audronis on Nov 26, 2008 at 12:08:57 am
Ah, ok... useful to know. However, it still freaks me out letting the least advanced out of all the technology being used do the conversion. Although the DVD player may play the DVD, it will convert it to 25fps for the TV. I still say do it in your edit suite. The plugin Dave is suggesting is a great idea...
Ty Audronis
Supervising Editor, California Academy of Sciences/Morrison Planetarium
