Footage Setting Are Changed After FCP Import.

[Ben_McElroy]

I recently shot a concert using my HVX and a firestore. I shot the footage DVCPRO 1080i 24p , and operation type: video cam, frame rate: default. After I imported it to FCP the footage settings in my browser told me the footage was 29.97 fps, and the compressor was DVCPRO HD 1080i60. Why does it change my settings? Am I doing something wrong during the import? Also my footage looks ridiculously interlaced.

[ozduc]

You are not doing anything wrong. In 1080/24p mode the camera records 24 progressive frames into a 60i video stream using the standard 2:3 pulldown. So your video frame rate will be 29.97 and the compressor will be 1080i60, so your settings are correct. You could edit on a 23.98 timeline but that would require a reverse telecine, so it would be better to just edit on a 29.97 timeline. If you shot 1080/24PA it would be easier to remove the pulldown for a 23.98 timeline.

[dougspice]

Hopefully I'm not stepping on your back but I wanted to post that I'm having a similar problem under different circumstances. We've had our HVX for a while and I haven't run into this problem before, so I'm wondering if it's something specific to FCP 5.1.2.

THE FOOTAGE: shot to P2. SD, DVCPRO50, squeeze mode, 24pa.

I copy the footage first of all to the hard drive. Then I go through Import->Panasonic P2 in FCP and find it. I go into settings and "Remove Advanced Pulldown" is checked. Okay. I log and name some footage. I click Add to Queue and watch it go wheeeeeeee!

Now. I open the footage in FCP and discover duplicate frames! I discover that it is 29.97! I discover the occasional extremely evident interlacing! I become concerned.

I open the same footage in Quicktime and confirm the same problem. What to do?

I open the same footage in After Effects and, when I try to automatically Guess 24pa Pulldown, it gives me a suggestion! However, it ALSO gives me a suggestion if I ask it to Guess 3:2 Pulldown. Okay, so maybe it's possible this footage was shot 24p, and not 24pa (although I really don't think so. Is there a surefire way to tell?)

Even if that WERE true, I shouldn't be seeing this horrible interlacing, should I? And why can AE deduce that maybe there are frames to be removed, but FCP can't? Note that there is zero difference between the footage I get from FCP's P2 importer if "Remove Advanced Pulldown" is checked or if it isn't.

90% of the time I feel like I really understand this camera and this workflow. The other 10%, though, I'm just absolutely drowning.

[BenB]

If you right click the clip in your Browser, and go to Item Properies, the Compresor should show as 1080i60. But Vid Rate should show 23.98fps. If not, verify that you had the advanced pulldown turned on in the P2 Import window. I do this daily and have never had a problem. Well, did once or twice, but it was my fault not setting the advanced pulldown properly.

Right click in the heading inside the P2 Import window. Here's the fields you want to have show, just to make sure your clips are coming in properly:
Format
Compressor
Pulldown
Vid Rate
Shooting Rate