Help capturing squeeze mode image from tape

[alarew]

My footage looks decent in squeeze mode when played on the tape deck and output to the monitor (bypassing FCP), but when I caputure footage with the anamorphic 16:9 settings in FCP, the colors displayed in the widescreen view on the NTSC monitor are muted and the resolution is worse.

I realize one loses resolution when using squeeze mode, but we didn't expect such a difference between what appears on the tape and what we can capture in FCP.

Can anyone correct or advise? :crybaby:

Thanks!
Wendy & Albert

 

[proffit]

Be sure to use the right anamorphic settings when capturing with FCP. I think it's not even possible to use "wrong" settings (resolution, format etc.) if you're digitizing NTSC video with FCP.
As NTSC has a lower native resolution, it might be that squeezed (and then un-squeezed) NTSC video reveals the lower resolution easier than PAL. I have been watching PAL DVX100 footage shot in squeezed mode, and I don't see that much difference between letterbox or squeezed, when I watched it on a good mid-sized Sony CRT television. A better professional monitor or hi-res LCD might reveal the difference. Anyway, for me even the squeezed mode on PAL DVX beats the PD150/170 normal video quality anytime.

You could try to color correct the muted colors a little bit, if that helps.

Also, there will be differences in how you monitor from FCP to external monitor. For the best quality use a professional video converter box with digital or component signal possibility. If you use Apple's mini-DV -> video converter box, be sure to use the Y/C (S-video) signal. The worst you can do is plain composite video signal.