How to get non-jerky PAL SD DVDs with the EX1

R

richmondfloyd

Active member
Hi,

I recently purchased an EX1 to be used mainly for filming weddings. I've been playing around with all the settings to try and get the best SD DVD from my EX1 footage. I have been shooting in HQ 720/50P (this seems to down-convert best) as the 25P mode gives a slightly jerky look when panning.

Even if I shoot in 50p tho, when import the footage into compressor and use the DVD 90 settings, I only get the option of 25fps, giving them jerky look.

What is the best way to solve this? Not many PAL DVDs I have have the same jerky look (films being the exception as they are shot at 24p).

For info; I am not using the cameras SD port and instead importing the footage HD into a sequence in FCP and letting FCP match the sequence to clip settings, I am then using compressor to down-convert.
 
Never used FCP, so I don't have any specific insight into your problem, but I shoot 1080/50i when I go to PAL DVD. I edit in Edius 5, and hit print to dvd straight from the timeline. Works perfectly every time. Smooth, no judder.
PAL is native 50i of course, perhaps try a test in interlace. The BBC recommends 720/50i for down convert on the EX1/3 actually, but I haven't tried that yet. Supposed to reduce aliasing. Do you need to shoot progressive for any reason?
 
Thanks for your reply.

I don't need to shoot progressive, but looking at the Vortex DVD (EX1 manual), progressive looks more film like then interlaced. Although, I can probably get this effect through a picture profile instead?
 
Hopefully someone can come up with some good advice here as DVD is what we will be exporting to for the foreseeable future.
 
Judder is always going to happen at low frame rates, it happens on film too. 24 fps is not an ideal frame rate, it's a technical and cost cutting compromise from when audio was first added. It looks ok when projected in a cinema because the ambient light is dark and it leaves an after image in your eyes to smooth it out. When panning film, you stick below certain turn rates to reduce judder as well. http://www.gecko-cam.com/HTML/KNOW-HOW/panning-speed.htm You also increase exposure to produce motion blur.
People assume 24p is great because that is what film uses, but it's actually problematic. Now people associate the 24p motion with an aesthetic and what to emulate that in video, which is fine, but it brings a raft of problems, some of which you are discovering. So what you have to do is treat the shoot the same way film is shot. Slow down your pan rates, and increase your open shutter duration. Try switching off the shutter all together for some faster shots.
 
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