Is 23.976 the correct timeline setting?

[Indyreel]

I've spent the past two weeks trying to figure out the correct proceedure for GH1 footage brought into Avid, using a PC.

I've learned that many consider files converted to Neoscene avi (thereby removing the 60i wrapper) the way to go, if you want the best footage possible.

So, here is what I think is the correct proceedure.

(If anyone knows for sure, please correct me where needed) ​

Thanks.


Step 1 (Converting your GH1 1080/24p footage to a Neoscene avi file)

1) Open neoscene and click "convert"
2) Click "Select files" tab
3) Click on the file you want and then click "OK"
4) Click on the 'Prefs" tab and you'll see a new window open
5) Click "Automatically convert to CineForm Intermediate"
6) Click the "Quality" option and choose "High"
7) ? UNcheck the "I-frames only" box <???
8) Click the "Convert to 24p" option
9) Choose your target directory, via the "Browse" tab
10) Click "OK" and the "Prefs" window will close
11) Now click the "start" tab and a new window will open
12) Click the "Use ffdshow. (always)" option
13) ? Click "OK" and your GH1 footage will transcode to a Neoscene avi file (and your
60i wrapper will be removed) <??? I hope


Step 2 (Establishing correct Avid MC5 project settings)

1) Open Avid MC5
2) Click "new project"
3) ? A new window pops up. Click the "format" tab and I think you choose the 1080p/23.976 option. < I tried the 1080p/24 option and it gave me ghost images
4) ? In the "Color Space" tab, I think you click "YCbCr 709"
5) Then press "OK" and the "open project" window comes up
6) Click on the project you just created and press "OK"


Step 3 (Bringing the Transcoded footage into MC5)

1) Right click on the "new project" bin
2) Choose the "link AMA files" option
3) Click on the file you want then click "open"
4) The file will automatically be added to your bin

*At this time you can drag and drop the file directly on the timeline and start editing, or you can transcode the Neoscene file to a DNxHD format (which I heard makes editing easier on the computer.

 

[Svart]

I'm using Neoscene on PC and I don't have "I frames only" or the "use FFdshow" stuff you speak of.

Your color would probably RGB as well.

But yes 23.976 is the correct framerate.

I would NOT transcode again to DNxHD. Cineform is already an intermediate editing codec. No need to lose more data transcoding again.

 

[Indyreel]

I'm using Neoscene on PC and I don't have "I frames only" or the "use FFdshow" stuff you speak of.

Maybe I have the latest version.

Your color would probably RGB as well.

Are you saying I should choose RGB instead of YcbCr ?

I would NOT transcode again to DNxHD. Cineform is already an intermediate editing codec. No need to lose more data transcoding again.

That's what I thought, but when I edit with the Neoscene file, it seems to tax the PC and skipping occurs. Also, I thought I read that trying to output to DVD etc when using the neoscene file is limited, compared to DNxHD.

 

[Indyreel]

anyone?

 

[Svart]

ok I took a look and updated to the newest neoscene. Looks like I now have an "I-frames only"box. I'd say check it.

Scratch the RGB comment. After looking around, Cineform is YUV.

My cineform file seems to run smoothly. Not sure why yours doesn't. Sorry I can't help more, I use vegas.

 

[Jesse Brauning]

Vegas is a bit more format-agnostic than Avid is. You're going to get the best performance editing DNxHD while in Avid. Everything else in your workflow looks good to me as well. It's exactly what I've been doing.

 

[DrDave]

I frames only is smart rendering for Vegas. Check it if you are using Vegas and you want smart rendering.

 

[Indyreel]

I frames only is smart rendering for Vegas. Check it if you are using Vegas and you want smart rendering.

I'm using Avid. Will checking the box give me the best final product?

I'm not worried about file size, I just want the best final product I can get.

 

[CColton]

I also use Avid MC5. Transcode to DNxHD. DNxHD is the exact same visual quality as lossless, without the huge size. When DNxHD first came out, Avid went around to professional editors and had them compare DNxHD footage and lossless image quality and the editors could not tell which one was lossless. Transcoding to DNxHD will NOT lose quality, but WILL definitely make MC5 edit much much much much faster. Everything in MC works better if your HD footage is DNxHD, since the codec was designed for post production, and the codec and MC5 were designed to work together seamlessly. I transcode all of my footage to DNxHD and I never have it skip or anything. I tried importing 1:1 at first and the performance was terrible. Import to DNxHD, with the highest bitrate available (in a 1080p23.976 project, this will be DNxHD 175 X).

 

[Indyreel]

I'm using Avid. Will checking the "I Frame" box give me the best final product?.

Does anyone have an answer for this?

Also, when I transcode to Neoscene, the "ffdshow" options show up. Does anyone know if it will degrage the footage in any way, if I choose use the ffdshow option?