Another Stupid 1080i/p Question

[Phil Maker]

Forgive me for my oversight, but I've always, always shot in 720 24pn since I bought my camera a year and a half ago. I've only ever had 2 4gb p2 cards to work with, so I never even considered shooting 1080. Now that I have 2 32 giggers, I'm considering shooting in 1080.

I've been tinkering around with 1080i 24p, and it looks noticeably better than 720.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but 1080i 24p is in fact 1080p -- AS IS -- and nothing needs to be done in my NLE to make it 1080p. Right? It's both 1080i and 1080p -- at the same time. Two in one. It's just 1080p on an interlaced signal for 1080i TV's, right?

So if I plan on going to the big screen, I would be fine shooting 1080i 24p, yes? Some people tell me to shoot in 1080i 24pa and then remove pulldown in FCP. Why not just shoot 1080i 24p and not remove pulldown? Wouldn't I be saving myself a step?

[David Jimerson]

There's always pulldown recorded when shooting 1080/24p. It's just like the DVX -- the 24p footage must be recorded in a 60i stream, because of the codec. This is done in either 24p or 24pA.

If you want to edit 24p, which is what you should do if you shoot 24p, then shoot 24pA, yes.

[Phil Maker]

Ok, I shot 24pa, brought it into FCP, clicked on: tools -- remove advanced pulldown. I'm getting a pop up "File does not contain frames encoded using advanced pulldown". What am I doing wrong?

[Barry_Green]

You are correct that 1080/24p is progressive. But when working with FCP the right choice is to use 1080/24pA mode and have FCP strip out the pulldown. Yes 1080/24pA is better than 720/24p in terms of sharpness and detail and being less compressed.

1080/24P mode is not the right choice for FCP since it has embedded pulldown that FCP doesn't automatically remove. 1080/24pA is the right choice for FCP.

[David Jimerson]

Ok, I shot 24pa, brought it into FCP, clicked on: tools -- remove advanced pulldown. I'm getting a pop up "File does not contain frames encoded using advanced pulldown". What am I doing wrong?

Are you sure you shot 24pA?

You should probably post a note in the FCP section.

[Phil Maker]

Yes, it was definitely 24pa. I'll try it again, then post in FCP. Thanks all. I have been arguing with my brother that 24pa is better in FCP who disagrees. He's a music vid director for MTV so of course he's never wrong.

[Phil Maker]

You are correct that 1080/24p is progressive. But when working with FCP the right choice is to use 1080/24pA mode and have FCP strip out the pulldown. Yes 1080/24pA is better than 720/24p in terms of sharpness and detail and being less compressed.

1080/24P mode is not the right choice for FCP since it has embedded pulldown that FCP doesn't automatically remove. 1080/24pA is the right choice for FCP.

So does FCP automatically remove pulldown when shot in pA mode?

[Phil Maker]

Barry? Anyone?

[Barry_Green]

I don't use FCP so I can't give a definitive answer. It was my understanding that it did, but one of our students shot 24pA, set up a DVCPRO-HD 1080/24pA timeline, imported footage and -- glitchy interlace frames. So obviously he did something wrong; I'm pretty sure this is supposed to happen automatically. I'm sure an FCP expert will weigh in soon.

(separately -- is there any way this guy can strip out the pulldown now, after the fact?)

[David Saraceno]

page 56 of the Final Cut Pro 6.0.2 pdf manual entitled "Working with High Definition and Broadcast Formats" details work flow for 1080/24pa footage.

Might want to start there.

The document is part of the on line help menu in FCP.

[Barry_Green]

Thanks David, I'll point 'em at it.

[Chris Santucci]

(separately -- is there any way this guy can strip out the pulldown now, after the fact?)


You can use Cinema Tools to do a "reverse telecine." I've never done this with the 24pa footage, but I have with the Canon footage. It's easy.

.