HMC and Final Cut Pro workflow - need help

[LINZAC]

Hi, I am trying to use the HMC40 to film sit down intervwiews for the highest quality DVD - 30 minutes I can make short of Blueray. I am going crazy, I have FCP 7 and need to figure out the workflow settings.
I have camera now in PH 1080/60i
I just to a standad transfer in default Log and transfer
the DVD burning has been using the droplet for Best Video 90 Minute MPEG 2 60 mbps 2-pass with dolby sound.
The Video files I capture look great, but the Final DVD has Jagged lines, and striping that were not in origional file.
This is driving me crazy.
I am using a 2009 I mac.

Can someone please suggest the following:

1. Settings on the camera for video quality
2. Best way to transfer to FCP and any settings I need to make.
3. After Editing, best settings or codacs in compressor for final product.

Thanks in advance for all the help.
Jeff

[Superfresa66]

The fastest way i found to do this (and still looks good) is by editing everything in HD, once done export a DV NTSC anamorphic file with compressor (this will down-res HD to SD) and once in SD compress that file for DVD (with the same setting you were doing)

The problem is that you're going from HD to SD-mpeg2 and that causes quality problems... i do the same workflow as mention on a daily basis!

Hope that helps!

[LINZAC]

Thanks , this might help me relax and get some sleep tonight.
is the export a DV NTSC anamorphic file with compressor a droplet or a setting I choose? (I am still new at this and still a little lost?)
Also after much reasearch and finding the panosonic AVCHD editing guide, I changed Camera settings to ph 1080 30P and A/V Sequence preser settings to Apple Prores 422 HQ 1920x1080 30p 48khz and Capture Preset to HDV-Apple ProRes 422 HQ
do you think that will help or shoud I go beck to origional settings?

[Superfresa66]

1) those settings depend on your final output, but in reality any of them would work just fine for SD DVD

2) For FCP you need to log and transfer, AIC (Apple intermediate Codec) or ProRes would work for SD work,
AIC has a smaller file size and would probably be better for SD, but if you plan to apply a lot of filters for example "Color Correction" then ProRes would be better for that!
Once you drop your first video file to your timeline, fcp will check if your settings are correct. If they're not it will ask you if you want to change it to match the clip (hit yes so they match)

Edit away as you will any other project...

3) After editing export to "Compressor" and on settings pick Apple/Other Workflows/Advanced Format Conversions/Standard Definition/DV NTSC Anamorphic
(this will down size HD to SD) pick your destination and compress

Once Compressor Finishes, grab the file you created and bring it back in compressor... this time you will pick the DVD setting you were using before


I know is an extra step than just going from the HD timeline to DVD but it yields the best/fastest results...

I hope this more detail guide helps!

[LINZAC]

Thanks, in FCP 7 I think I have to share to compressor, export no longer goes there
I will play with this tonight

[LINZAC]

Well underway, should it take 3 hours to do a 12 minute conversion?

[Superfresa66]

3 hours for 12 minutes? Mmmmmh well it depends on the amount of stuff you're doing to your video. On my Intel Quad it takes me anywhere from realtime to double-time on the projects that i do to downsize from HD to SD.

Yeah if you're using FCP7 you have more options to capture your footage on... I like ProResLT, you also have some changes to compressor... and you're right, you have to share. I guess i should have asked what version you were using before.

I personally use FCP6.0.5 and also FCP7

[LINZAC]

Just a cross dessolves, and adding some still pictures.
Could it be that my origional files were so big?

[Superfresa66]

on your timeline what color is on top of your footage? gray, light blue, green, yellow, orange, red???
i think you might have the wrong setting on your timeline...

[LINZAC]

Mostly Grey with a few light blue sections

[Superfresa66]

how much ram do you have on your system? are you working everything on the internal harddrive or external drives?
Those things make a big difference!!!

[LINZAC]

Got a message " Failed: Could not make DVD because there was no target that is an Mpeg-2 Video Elementary Stream.
Any suggestions?

[LINZAC]

Founf File and burned based on your suggestions, better, but still a little rough around the edges. Is there an interlace setting I should try?
4 GB Ram I mac, Scratch files are on externel drive.

[Superfresa66]

Glad it's better... keep in mind it's SD video... maybe post a frezze frame

[LINZAC]

So if I film in SD and edit in SD and do compresser MPEG-2, will I have better results?
If so, wht setting should I use on camera to shoot video.

[Superfresa66]

????? as far as i know you can only record in HD, if you want the full HD quality you will have to Burn a Blu-Ray Disc.

[LINZAC]

I found this on Ken stone. Have you tried this method, do you think it might help results?
http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/hdv_timeline_to_sd_dvd.html

[LINZAC]

Is it better to do filming in 1080 i or 1080 p for bettre final results?

[LINZAC]

This is frustrating.
I am still getting strobing and jaggeded lines, although minor (Syair stepping?)
Maybe it was a mistake to buy a Hi Def camera. I need to deliver more acceptable DVD's to my clients. If I get a professional SD camera, will the final results be a better dvd delivery for these interviews. Is there anything I am missing to do?

[wilsonedit]

I have heard that there are quality issues with the newest version of Compressor in FCS3. This might be what's happening to you. I've made a number of DVDs at various frame rates going from HD straight to MPEG-2 SD files with no intermediate SD file without quality problems. But I'm still using Final Cut Studio 2.

[LINZAC]

OK so I ended up Log and transfer transferring 1080 30p (Shot on Panasonic HMC40 SDcard) to Apple Pro Res 422 HQ and edited, compresser to dolby sound and Mpeg-2 double pass. I am letting compressor create the DVD with DVD authoring.
Ginal result is acceptable, but all edges are not perfectly smooth (slight jaggedness) and some strobing. I know that there should be better results (Am I wrong?) before compressor Image looks great on my 23"Monitor. I think that for now this will have to do unless someone has better suggestion and getting better results. I am playing back on DVD player on 52" samsung HD TV. Wilsonedit and Superfresca66, are either of you having slight jagged edges on final product? and what resolutuin do you shoot at?
I am willing to try everything again from scratch if better settings are suggested.

[wilsonedit]

That's how I'm doing it, Linzac and I'm not getting jagged lines or strobing. I've made DVDs from 1080p 24, 29.97 and 30p material as well as 720p 24 and 30. But I'm still on Final Cut Studio 2.

[Cranky]

OK so I ended up Log and transfer transferring 1080 30p (Shot on Panasonic HMC40 SDcard) to Apple Pro Res 422 HQ and edited, compresser to dolby sound and Mpeg-2 double pass. I am letting compressor create the DVD with DVD authoring.
Ginal result is acceptable, but all edges are not perfectly smooth (slight jaggedness) and some strobing. I know that there should be better results (Am I wrong?) before compressor Image looks great on my 23"Monitor. I think that for now this will have to do unless someone has better suggestion and getting better results. I am playing back on DVD player on 52" samsung HD TV. Wilsonedit and Superfresca66, are either of you having slight jagged edges on final product? and what resolutuin do you shoot at?
I am willing to try everything again from scratch if better settings are suggested.

I would suggest against using 30p for DVD or Blu-ray distribution. Neither is supported by respective video standards. You can get proper 30p playback on better devices that can process 2-2 pulldown correctly, but sadly most players/TVs cannot handle 2-2 pulldown.

If your target platform is TV then use either 60i or 24p, these rates are much better supported. Most modern players and TVs can handle 2-3 pulldown. After researching the topic for about two years I am still not sure whether DVD-video allows native 24p or not. It seems that it does not allow it, and at best video is recorded as 24p with field repeate (pulldown) flags. Usually DVD players obey the flags, but other players are able to make use of lower-level 24p footage.

24p strobes more than 30p, but usually looks better resolution-wise. 30p will still stobe more than 60i.

If you deliver on BD, render your 30p in 720p60 with frame repeat, this is your best bet. If you deliver on DVD-video then you have no other choice as to render with 2-2 pulldown and to pray for the customer's player handles it properly.

[Superfresa66]

Try doing a test with 1080-60i PH or HA footage, and do the same previous workflow... i usually do 60i.
Now I don't know about the FCS2 vs FCS3 compressor difference, I haven't done a full HD to DVD project on FCS3 (is not installed on my main systems, it's on a laptop i use for Same Day Edits) but the work that i do on FCS2 doesn't have the problems you describe, but then again i use the HMC150 not the HMC40 (don't think it makes a difference, but you never know)

All i can say for now is try the 60i

[LINZAC]

What is the difference between 1080-60i PH and HA footage? (I set my camera to PH for now)

[LINZAC]

Also want to mention how much I appriciate all the help and suggestions.

[Superfresa66]

PH vs HA, well it's just a bit-rate difference. PH has the higher information rate, so it's better. How much better? well is really hard to tell them apart (i'm talking only about 1080-60i, not the other flavors of PH)

PH is the best option, so you should be good!

[LINZAC]

I will experiment tomorrow and have some results

[LINZAC]

Created new DVD based on suggestions. Much Better. I might have been expecting too much being that I am used to all video and tv is now HD and my apple 23" shows HD quality. The picture on my 52" is clear with minimal strobing and mininal jagged around the edges. I am pickey and a perfectionst and I think that at this size in SD it is a good pucture.

[Superfresa66]

I'm glad you figured it out!... don't forget to create cool stuff and post it on the "Screen Grabs/Footage HMC150" http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/forumdisplay.php?f=149

[Cranky]

If you don't have a better player, then 30p will strobe (30 images per second) and will have twice lower vertical resolution (stair-stepping). 60i will not strobe, but will show noticeable interline flicker when downscaled to standard def (high def interlaced is tolerable). 24p will heavily strobe unless extra care is taken. Either way you are screwed ;-)