converting 30p to 24pA

C

cccwong

New member
I was recently hired to shoot a project completely in 24pA. However, every time I turned my DVX off, it reset the camera to 30p. Occasionally, during the shoot, I would forget for a few minutes to turn settings back to 24pA. So here are my questions:

1) Is there a way to capture all the 30p footage to my computer (using FCP 4.5), convert it to 24pA (using Cinema Tools?), and then output all the new correctly-formatted clips back to tape? (I am trying not to seem absent-minded or incompetent to my employers so that they will never know that I accidentally shot in 30p.) Don't know if this matters, but everything was shot in Squeeze Mode. Also, will the flags that accompany the 24pA footage still be there so that the footage can be recaptured correctly?

2) In the event that the footage cannot be easily converted to 24pA, what would happen if someone tried to capture using the Advanced pulldown setting on a whole tape that was mostly 24pA, but partially 30p? Is that a disaster waiting to happen?

Thanks in advance for your help...
 
Next time you should try using the scene file dial... Here's my wild guess: If you convert the stuff using Cinema Tools you'll get a slight slow motion on everything. Looks great, but might not be what you are looking for. For good 60i -> 24p conversion you'll need a plug-in like Nattress film effects or magic bullet suite. Then I'd put everything in a 23.98 sequence, pick the right pulldown in the FCP settings and play back to tape.
 
moebius,
thanks for the info. so, if i buy Nattress Film Effects (which I will) and convert my 30p (captured as 60i) footage to 24pA, then the output back to tape will still have the appropriate flags for recapture? (assuming i choose the right pulldown...)
 
Sorry, actuall it's the Nattress Standard Conversion filter that will do what you want. You'll still loose quality though ... but my guess is, if you put everything in a 23.97 sequence, select 2:3:3:2 pulldown for playback and output to tape it shouldn't be any different from original 24pa ... I haven't tried it though ... Hope it works!
 
moebius,
Since it's such a good deal, i bought both Standards Conversion and Film Effects. I'm sure it will come in handy somewhere down the line. I'll let you know if the output works.

last question, though, and maybe i should direct it to the tech section, but i'll ask anyways: i don't know EXACTLY which footage is 30p and which is 24pA. There is no display for that which I can identify in the DVX menus. do i just have to guess based upon the look of my footage?

thx, chris
 
FCP gives all the information of your captured clip. Vid rate is right between Frame size and compressor. Couldn't you just recapture your footage in pieces if your not sure which shot it is.... assuming you have a general idea where it is on your tape. Then at least you could narrow it down and most of your captures should read 24. Then convert the 30P to 23.98 Good luck.
 
You can't convert between the two and get acceptable results. If you must, use Realtimer or something, but expect to spend a lot of time and money.
 
cccwong said:
moebius,
Since it's such a good deal, i bought both Standards Conversion and Film Effects. I'm sure it will come in handy somewhere down the line. I'll let you know if the output works.

last question, though, and maybe i should direct it to the tech section, but i'll ask anyways: i don't know EXACTLY which footage is 30p and which is 24pA. There is no display for that which I can identify in the DVX menus. do i just have to guess based upon the look of my footage?

thx, chris
Click to expand...

the dvx will tell you what kind of footage you are playing at any given time. in vcr mode, press the counter button (behind the lcd) until you see either 24PA, 30P or 60i where the timecode display normally is.

i just discovered this little magic helper myself. i have a tape of mixed 24pa and 30p footage that i had to capture today and that display thing really helped me out. my mix up was intentional. i was going for the subtle slo-mo thing. works great!!
 
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