ex1 to SD

[Brentmeister]

Hi...doing a show for MTV (dont hate me for that).
Using the EX1 for a studio show that will be output in SD. They want to shoot in HD.

I sold them on using the EX1 because ive loved the look on other studio projects in controlled environments. Everythng looks great in HD.

However when the editor downconverts, the Jaggies take hold for sure. Straight lines are brutal.

Edit is in Most recent version of FCP. He uses Blackmagic Card. Monitors on Ike CRT. Weve tried a ton of stuff during our test week, but cant iron this out.

IM shooting HQ 1080 24p. Show does not need to be 24. Would 60i work? Is this a problem with FCP or vid Card converting progressive stuff to interlaced for output?

Ive read a few blogs with complaints about SD quality of EX1 downed footage... is this an EX1 thing? Would I have more luck with my HVX200 in this situation?

any ideas would be helpful... thanks.

[FrankC]

We should probably get some editors to chime in here...but my 2-cents: Shooting with my EX1 and outputing to SD DVDs is just beautiful. However... I'm shooting at 30p, not 24. I may be wrong, but I can't help but think that forcing the computer to mess with all that 3-2 pull down you've created by shooting in 24fps may contribute to the problems when you output to 30i SD. Indeed, I've never understood why anyone would shoot at 24 unless they're outputting to film. The response I often get is "but it looks more like film". I really don't think so. If it's a film look you want, there are much better ways to get that with Picture Profile settings, or in post with Apple's Color, rather than introduce a bunch of artifacts with 24fps... especially with any camera movements. But that's a big debate.

[Brentmeister]

FrankC
Thanks for reply... I hear ya on the 24p thing. But whether it makes tech sense or not...producers have for years been referring to 24p as a filmy look (thats what made the dvx100 the darling of NY production for years). Ive always thought it looked like strobed video. But Im a mercenary. I put my two cents in and then take direction. (for me the film look comes from by 35mm adapter and zeiss glass...so i hear ya on the color and DOF). BUt regardless...i need to get a solid SD crunch outta this workflow. Ill try 60i i guess.
This situation is an unhappy surprise though. Ive used the HVX200 like this for about two years with no such issue. So im wondering if this editor has a wrong setting or if the EX1 is the wrong tool for the job.

[PerroneFord]

Indeed, I've never understood why anyone would shoot at 24 unless they're outputting to film. The response I often get is "but it looks more like film".

Maintaining the film *look* is different than maintaining film *cadence*. There are a number of DVD/Blu-Ray players and displays that can play 24fps without doing pull-down. Thus, we can shoot 24, and write 24 to DVD, and let the software in the DVD decide if pulldown is required based on what display is attached to the player.

[PerroneFord]

FCP/Compressor is your problem. We spent over a week ironing this out over on DVi. Might want to check the LOOONG thread out over there. I was able to cleanly convert this stuff on my PC, so it's a software issue, not a hardware issue.

Question, do you have the resources to record HD to SxS and hook up component or SDI out and record off board to SD that way? That would likely solve the issue right there. I've done that myself on live events when I had to feed SD displays for the house, while recording HD.

[Jim Kinsey]

again this is the fix I believe and fairly easy to do.... Just an extra step

http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/ex1_sd_output_young.html

JK

[Noel Evans]

Jim, Ive used that process before and it works very well.

[Adam Forgione]

if your editing in HD 60i, output final quicktime (same as source) - bring into compressor with your normal SD settings (i use 8mbp cbr) - under frame controls just make sure "output fields" is set to progressive, not same as source. you'll get the best SD down convert IMO.

If you want to take your raw and go right SD, use the sonyXDCAM Clip Browser - export as - either raw DV or RAW AVI - by far the best downconvert than anything else ive seen.

PS-i use these techniques for 60i 25mbps HDV i assume they will be the same or close with HQ 1080 60i, not sure which way your shooting.

good luck!

[MitchLewis]

When you say you're going from SD to HD....can you be more specific? What format of HD and what format of SD? I've had trouble because I was going from HD progressive to SD interlaced. But I finally found a work flow that works for me.

I posted it on the DV Info.net thread Perrone was talking about.