Detail Settings for NTSC-Only Playback

J

Jay_Blanchard

Well-known member
Hi everyone--

After about 50 posts, I decided I might as well sign up under my real name, instead of "Guest"

Out of curiosity, what detail settings are people using for 24p Normal footage, meant only for NTSC playback?

Thanks, Jay
 
Re: Detail Settings for NTSC-Only Playback

I'm getting ready to shoot a series on either the 100's or 100A's or one of each. It's ending up NTSC for television. Curious as with previous question, what settings people would recommend in the menu. (we're shooting at 24p normal).

Thanks,

r
 
Re: Detail Settings for NTSC-Only Playback

The consensus is that -4 is the ideal setting. This has the least sharpening without losing data from the CCDs. I wouldn't go any softer than -4. I do from time to time shoot -2 if I want more detail and don't mind the sharpening, but I probably should do it in post rather than in camera.
 
Re: Detail Settings for NTSC-Only Playback

I was just reviewing footage I shot with -4 Detail and on an NTSC monitor, side by side with BetaSP footage, it looks extremely soft. Is there any reason not to go as high as, say, zero? I know anything in the pluses is risky because of DV's edging issues, but do you think this would be a problem at zero?

I'd try a test myself tonight, but I'm not going to have access to the camera.
 
Re: Detail Settings for NTSC-Only Playback

The detail settings are there for you to experiment with and see what you prefer.

DVFilm recommends -3 for something that's to be transferred to film. I compared the DVX (using DVFilm settings) against the JVC HD1, and I was aghast at how soft the DVX looked side-by-side with that horrid JVC. Yet, after blowing it up to HD resolution, I can definitely see that the -3 was the right setting to go with.

However, if you think it looks soft, jack up the detail setting to a level you like. If it's for NTSC small-screen viewing, set it wherever you like -- there is no "right" or "wrong". Go to 0, go into the pluses, if you like what you see, keep it. If not, go back to the negatives. Don't worry about "technically you shouldn't because there's edge enhancement" arguments... just try it out and see what you prefer. The great thing about video over film is you can get an immediate response and know what you're working with. (hopefully you have access to a proper high-resolution broadcast monitor, as well as a really lame poorly-calibrated television, so you can see how the settings will perform across the spectrum of potential viewers).
 
Re: Detail Settings for NTSC-Only Playback

Interesting, DVFilm used to recommend -4. K Street also used -4.

Barry is correct, shoot whatever looks the best to you. I think the only true rule is if going film then ideally shoot around -3 or -4. Also, if shooting blue/green screen keep it as soft as possible, I always use -4. This makes it much easier to key, edge enhancements can reek havoc while keying. But shoot whatever looks good to you. I almost always try and get the best looking picture as possible while shooting (instead of deferring to post) except for the detail level figuring I can always sharpen to get the same thing but if I soften in post I'd lose info.

I guess it's the purist in me that always shoots on the soft side to avoid edge enhancement. I don't like the idea of something adding noise to the picture, I also keep sharpening completely off on all my television sets ;D. I've never done any tests or heard of any, but I wonder how the in camera sharpening compares to sharpening done in post. I imagine it's probably fairly close to the same thing, it'd be an interesting test.
 
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