Something horribly wrong with FCP and the color red
- Thread starter TheRedMenace
- Start date
kill_me_killroy
Member
i had issues with the colour red, tried different open source codecs and it solved the problem completely, i used the Cedocida codec for my SD dv files, it might work for HD too.
i imagine all your issues are codec related, try some open source packages, im not on a mac so im not sure what kind are out there, but they are free and usually way better than the ones built in to editing programmes and OS.
i imagine all your issues are codec related, try some open source packages, im not on a mac so im not sure what kind are out there, but they are free and usually way better than the ones built in to editing programmes and OS.
I'm looking at the 720p download at:
http://www.apple.com/trailers/lions_gate/bangkokdangerous/hd/
No legos and it looks great.
MacPro, Leopard 10.5.1 and QT 7.3.1 with a nvidia 7300 and ACD 30 inch
TheRedMenace
Carbonite Member
I was using QT 7.4.5 and downgraded to 7.3.1 with no luck.
This sucks
Don't look at the 720 version, look at the SD version.
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Zak Forsman
Major Contributor
wouldn't simple logic dictate that if it happens with one and not the other, it has NOTHING to do with your system.
Luis Caffesse
Admin
Right.
It has everything to do with the codec being used.
(just thought I'd spell out what Zak was obviously strongly insinuating)
TheRedMenace
Carbonite Member
Right.
It has everything to do with the codec being used.
(just thought I'd spell out what Zak was obviously strongly insinuating)
Yeah, but which one effects QT trailers, the DVD player, AND NTSC video firewired in? Should be three different codecs, all of which I deleted then replaced with QT 7.3 versions - same results. Re-installed 7.4.5 and same results.
???
ullanta
Veteran
There are a number of issues to disambiguate here.
As to the blocky reds, I have them in DVX and HVX footage - but it is a BENEFIT, not a problem.
In brief: The "Apple" or "FCP" way of handling DV (and it seems DVCPRO HD) is to maintain all color information as 4:1:1 or 4:2:2 exactly as in the data stream. Most other approaches "smooth" the color when doing any processing. This smoothing makes the image look immediately better, but also causes far more degradation over multiple encoding/decoding/processing stages.
In FCP, to get highest quality when using DV or DVCPro HD, do all your editing and intermediate stages without smoothing, then add the appropriate 4:1:1 or 4:2:2 color-smoothing filter before the final output stage. This will take away the blocky red problems while maintaining best image quality.
The compressed web footage, etc ... probably other issues at play. Strong reds and NTSC have different issues as well.
As to the blocky reds, I have them in DVX and HVX footage - but it is a BENEFIT, not a problem.
In brief: The "Apple" or "FCP" way of handling DV (and it seems DVCPRO HD) is to maintain all color information as 4:1:1 or 4:2:2 exactly as in the data stream. Most other approaches "smooth" the color when doing any processing. This smoothing makes the image look immediately better, but also causes far more degradation over multiple encoding/decoding/processing stages.
In FCP, to get highest quality when using DV or DVCPro HD, do all your editing and intermediate stages without smoothing, then add the appropriate 4:1:1 or 4:2:2 color-smoothing filter before the final output stage. This will take away the blocky red problems while maintaining best image quality.
The compressed web footage, etc ... probably other issues at play. Strong reds and NTSC have different issues as well.
TheRedMenace
Carbonite Member
But I don't know what any of that has to do with anything we're talking about here.
My Mac never had this problem before, many don't have it now. Initially I suspected FCP, then Quicktime - more and more it's starting to look like it's a hiccup in Leopard. I can't prove that yet but I've eliminated everything else.
horseface
Active member
I posted about this a long, long time ago and everybody blamed the HVX. I posted long before Leopard existed. This problem still occurs on my G5, which is running Tiger. I can't be bothered booting it up now to see what versions of everything I have, but I haven't updated FCP or Quicktime in a long time.
Also, somebody applied for a job at my company the other day. Their showreel had a bunch of effects composites they did for a big TV show which I know was shot on Sony HDW-900s. The reds in their show reel exhibited the exact same blockiness as I'm seeing in some of my more saturated footage.
Blah.
Also, somebody applied for a job at my company the other day. Their showreel had a bunch of effects composites they did for a big TV show which I know was shot on Sony HDW-900s. The reds in their show reel exhibited the exact same blockiness as I'm seeing in some of my more saturated footage.
Blah.
Jim Carswell
Well-known member
Running OSX 10.4.11 and QUICKTIME PRO 7.4.5 on a 17inch MacBookPro and Mac Pro w/dual 23" cinema displays. No blocks, no legos, no problems. Looks great.
For what it's worth.
Jim
For what it's worth.
Jim
Jack Fisher
New member
This thread is like, the thread that wouldn't die.
horseface
Active member
It's not leopard. I posted about how I've been experiencing this on my G5 with Tiger.
It's interesting that this could only be affecting PPCs, though.
I'm going to update both my G5 and my Macbook Pro to the latest Quicktime and FCP tonight. I'll shoot something red with my HVX and injest the footage on both machines. Let's see if one is blocky and one is not...
Another random thought - Could this be GFX card related? I've seen some really weird things happening on other machines dues to GFX cards before now.
TheRedMenace
Carbonite Member
Sorry, but I jumped the gun. I found one Intel machine that had the problem (a MacPro) and one that didn't (a Mac Mini). Weird that the mini isn't effected...
I suspected a GFX card first but I've got 4 different Macs in the room I'm sitting in right now - everything from a mini to a dual processor tower and they're all the same when it comes to f'd up reds.
When you're updating maybe you could do it a step at a time and keep checking the reds as you go along. I've been using the trailer for Dangerous Bangkok on Apple.com/trailers. The title at the end and the two guys in the red room near the end are really exaggeratedly bad examples.
bikefilms
Well-known member
bikefilms
Well-known member
OK, here's a grab from my two machines. PowerBook G4 on the left, iMac G5 on the right. Both machines have the same versions of OSX 10.4.11, Final Cut Studio 2, and QuickTime 7.4.5
The video clip lives on a portable hard drive. I mounted it to the PowerBook, took a screen grab, then unmounted it and brought it to the iMac. Took another screen grab.
Hope this helps.
The video clip lives on a portable hard drive. I mounted it to the PowerBook, took a screen grab, then unmounted it and brought it to the iMac. Took another screen grab.
Hope this helps.
electricpig
Well-known member
Have you got 'Use High Quality Video settings where available' clicked in the QT prefs on both machines?
That isn't just your reds, but all your colours.
That isn't just your reds, but all your colours.
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TheRedMenace
Carbonite Member
No actually, it doesn't. This issue is recent.
Yep. Still looks like crap.
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