Confirm Settings

D

Dyrseve989

Well-known member
ok, i have jumped around with settings in alot of different threads, but here it is all in one thread, I am looking for the best picture quality, starting with camera settings all the way through to DVD product - Im gonna list exactly what settings i use and id like feedback on anything I have to worry about

Note: This is for a film where I want a true 24p DVD result, and I would like the image to be 16:9

NTSC DVX100A Settings
- F6 24pa
- Shutter Off (1/50th)
- Scene File
- Detail Level -3
- Chroma Level 0
- Chroma Phase 0
- Master Ped -6
- A.iris Level -1
- Gamma - Cine-Like-V
- Skin Tone - Off
- Matix - Normal
- V Detail Freq - Thin
- Progressive - 24p(adv)
- Aspect Conv - Norm(4:3)

Final Cut Pro 3
Sequence Preset Editor (Render in 8-bit yuv
- 720x480 NTSC DV (3:2)
- NTSC - CCIR 601 / DV - Anamorphic 16:9
- 23.98
- (compressor) DV/DVCPRO - NTSC (quality 100%)
Capture Preset Editor
- 720x480 NTSC DV (3:2) Anamorphic 16:9
- (digitizer) DV Video
- (Compressor) DV/DVCPRO - NTSC (quality 100%)
- (FPS) 29.97
- (Remove advanced pulldown)
Device Control Preset Editor
- (Time Source) DV Time
- (FPS) 29.97
- Drop Frame

FCP4 Export Settings(export as Quicktime Movie)
- (video settings) same as "Sequence Preset Editor"
- (Markers) Compression Markers
- Make Movie Self-Contanied

(Not sure if I should run the video through anything before I throw it into DVD Studio Pro 3 - I have gathered from other threads that I should run it through compressor)

DVD Studio Pro 3
I have no idea what to set these settings at



Any inpput on my problem/question/conformation/i dont know what it is, will be greatly appreciated

-Matt-
 
im no expert, and settings are subjective, bu I will mention that one problem may be ur auto iris.

I believe i read in Barry's book that if you change it from "off" or "0" or whatever it is, it automatically disables manual Iris/exposer. I guess u may be doing a doc or something live, but otherwaise most of us prefer manual control over the iris. :)
 
I was acually advised that I should keep the A. Iris setting at -1 and make sure it is tunred off in the auto setting menu,im not sure the reason why, but I also havent been ableto tell a difference between 0 and -1, so I just as well do it, since it is an experienced filmmaker, thanks for the input
-Matt-

PS - Im kinda hoping I get Barry in this thread, I have a feeling(I am acually 100%sure) hes gonnabe able to tell me exactly what I want to hear
 
Trying to follow what's being asked here -- about A.Iris Level? A.Iris Level tells the autoiris system to bias your exposure towards underexposure or overexposure. It's an "exposure compensation" system. Each digit accounts for about 1/3 of a stop, maybe a hair more. So at a setting of -1, you're telling autoiris to underexpose your footage by about 1/3 of a stop.

It only comes into play if you use autoiris to set your exposure with. If you go fully manual, then it's irrelevant what the A.Iris setting is, because it wouldn't be used.

Setting it to 0 doesn't make anything happen, it just means that there won't be any compensation applied.

For example: let's say that the lightmeter in the camera decides that f/5.6 is the right f-stop. If you have A.Iris set to 0, the camera will set the iris to f/5.6. If you have the A.Iris set to -1, the camera will set the iris to somewhere around f/6.8. It may be "properly metered" at 5.6, but you're telling the camera to underexpose a little, so it'll force the iris to be a little more closed than it otherwise would have been. The range is -4 to +4, and that accounts for about 1.5 stops of underexposure all the way to about 1.5 stops of overexposure.
 
Thanks for the input Barry, ill keep that in mind when I write up my camera settings on location. I think I am making this question more of a statment then a question, so I will reiterate, I am looking for someone who knows the integration of DVX100a and FCP4 well enough to know if my settings(above) are correct for true 24p, and this means the whole process in order to get a 24p exported film, thanks again, and Im hoping to hear from anyone who can help

-Matt-
 
To Dyrseve989:

This is a great idea to keep this tread in one place! I think it will be pretty good if you'll amend the first post(list of settings) in terms if you were agreed for some changes.
 
AlexGg, Im sorry, I had trouble understanding yur post, are you asking if I mind if people tell me settings that differ from mine above?, Thats what I want, I want to know other settings that will change mine above and make my 24p film better quality or more accurate then what I have now

-Matt-
 
Sorry Dyrseve989,

I mean if you will get another settings from anybody here which will make your 24p film better quality or more accurate then what you have now, can you change(reflect) this settings on the first post?
 
A few notes: You have anamorphic set in editor. Are you using squeezed or anamorphic lens?

Capture shoudl be set to Non-drop frames for 24fps.

You should export to DVD Studio pro using compressor (export QT as MPEG-2 might work).
According to DVD Studio Help:
Importing 24 fps Assets
How DVD Studio Pro handles your 24 fps assets depends on whether or not they are
already MPEG-2 encoded:
• If you import 24 fps MPEG-2 assets, they are handled correctly and remain 24 fps when
you build the project.
• If you import 24 fps QuickTime assets, they are encoded as either 30 fps or 25 fps
MPEG-2 files, based on your project’s video standard, and are no longer 24 fps when
you build the project.
To create a 24 fps MPEG-2 asset, you need to use Compressor (included with
DVD Studio Pro) or a third-party encoder that supports encoding 24 fps MPEG-2 assets.
 
ScottDVX100A, very helpful information to me

I use squeeze mode, although I wish I can get the anamorphic adapter, it is a little much for me, should I def import the squeeze mode video with the anamorphic setting on?

Could yo possibly explain why I need drop frame, I was informed that if I used the advanced 2:3:3:2 pulldown removal on my 24p import at 29.97 and then edit on a 23.98fps timeline, when I export I will have true(excellent quality) 24p

Do I have to export the video as mpeg 2, or do i export the video with the settings above, and then bring it into compressor and make it an mpeg2?

Once I import the video to DSP3, how do I check to make sure it recognizes it is 24p?

Thanks for your time on this

-Matt-
 
I don't shoot with anamorphic or squeeze but I think it's supposed to be recognized as squeezed. If you shoot anamorphic you'll have to turn on anamorphic check box. (There are presets for this) Do a search in the help menu for anamorphic and it shoudl give all the details.

Non-Drop Frame timecode is the setting you need when you capture if you want to make sure the numbers on the camera match what it captures.

You can export straight out of FCP into Compressor. Some people prefer to go to QT first but I haven't had problems. As noted you need to make sure the fps is correct.
You can drag QT files into DVD studio but it will treat it as 30fps according to the help file.
So that means you use compressor or QT to save out as MPEG2 if you go 24fps.
29.97 works fine as QT movies into DVD Studio. It'll handle the conversion.

When in Compressor you select your settings. I do mine at 60min highest quality. There also anamorphic version. If you select and check the settings in lower left for fps it shoudl be set to automatic. Now you could force the settings to be 23.98 but it should do the right thing for MPEG-2 files.

Select the clip in the assets window and bring up the Inspector window to get info.
 
Scottdvx100, Im glad your posting on my thread, all very helpful information, I have one more question for you, I have te compresor program, but when I go to the export menu in FCP I dont have any option to export the timeline with compressor, is there something I have to do to make compressor a default export option on FCP4?

Thanks

-Matt-
 
Ok, I have yet another question, On my capture settings I want the frame rate to 23.98, or do I want it to be 29.97, I have posted on here about this before and someone had told me that regardless if I import at 23.98, it will still be 29.97, and that I have to set the timeline to 23.98 in order for it to be a true 24p cut

-Matt-
 
Just use the presets with advanced pulldown removal.
The only fps you should have to set is the sequnce at 23.98 and even that's set with the presets. Everything in the camera is 29.97 so that woudl be the initial capture but when you put them in a sequence they have the pulldown removed making them 23.98
 
Saounds good, you have answered allmy questions, thanks a bunch, If I ever have a problem with this i will know exactly whose post is reliable, thanks again

-Matt-
 
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