Stuttery footage example
by Jimmy Visser
on
May 28, 2008 at 1:20:11 am
Hi,
I recently posted a thread asking for comments on a workflow (which is copied in below). I've been testing it out and the result is fine apart from occasional stutters in the frame rate. It's very confusing - if it was a problem with the import rate into Avid then surely the whole clip would be affected?
The link below is an example - it starts off smooth and then gets some wicked motion blur and slow frame problems. Any insight on this?
(by the way, the guy is cheating on his pedometer reading!)
Workflow:
Shifting some 24f rough cut reels to Avid. We want to go through the post process in 24fps, if possible. I decided on the following process:
Step1, encode HDV tape, using Canon XHA1 as a deck into an .m2t file using Aspect HD.
Step 2, Use MPEG Streamclip to export the .m2t into a Quicktime Avid DNxHD file. I converted to 1080p24 DNxHD 175 10-bit codec.
Step 3, Import the Quicktime into Xpress Pro. Cut in a 1080p24 project.
Color looks a little strange. We set the quicktime conversion to Millions of Colors+ (as opposed to just Millions), and color levels to 709 rather than RGB levels. Are these the best choices?
Re: Stuttery footage example by David Roth Weiss on May 28, 2008 at 1:43:22 am
[Jimmy Visser]"We set the quicktime conversion to Millions of Colors+ (as opposed to just Millions), and color levels to 709 rather than RGB levels. Are these the best choices?"
Jimmy,
I read your post about a dozen times and I can't figure out where FCP comes into play or what you goal really is, however, I can tell you one thing, using QT Conversion to export to the animation codec Millions of colors+ simply adds an extra 8-bits of wasted information with an unnecessary alpha channel. You're probably already dropping frames using the animation codec, that extra 8-bits isn't helping, its simply increasing your file size and throughput requirements by 20%.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles
POST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW's Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
Re: Stuttery footage example by Jimmy Visser on May 28, 2008 at 1:55:21 am
Gday David,
Sorry - I've been posting slightly different versions of this problem as I've worked thru the process and I didn't want to annoy everyone by posting everything again.
Basically - long story short - we shot a pilot doco on the Canon XH A1 at 1080f24. Problem is, our editor (who we basically have to use) uses Avid and Avid doesn't support Canon's 24f. Hence the need to convert.
I realise my actual question doesn't relate to FCP; however, anyone who's shot with 24f and expected cross-platform compatibility and/or done early post work in FCP before switching to Avid - neither of which are ideal scenarios, I admit - will be familiar with the pain and possibly (hopefully!) workflows and conversions.
Thanks for the tip on millions+... will benefit us greatly.
