Removing Duplicate frames from 720p60 (720p30)

H

hatchmo

Active member
Is there any way to remove duplicate frames from a 720p60 clip so that you end up with a clip half the size (720p30)?

At the bottom of the “Import Panasonic P2” window, the check box “Remove duplicate/adv. pull-down frames” incorrectly implies that it will strip a 720p60 clip of all its duplicate frames, turning it into a 720p30 clip. But the check box does nothing. When you import a 720p60 clip, you get the same results whether you check the box or not.

The Panasonic Plug-In called DVCPro HD Frame Converter… is actually just a frame doubler. After conversion, a 720p60 clip can be dragged into a 720p30 Sequence without requiring rendering. I get that. But the resulting file is stretched to twice the duration of the original clip. It plays at half speed. The file size isn’t reduced at all, which suggests no duplicate frames were removed. It is, in effect, a frame duplicator.

So, if I have a 720p60 clip, is there any way to convert it to 720p30? I want to halve the number of frames, not double it.
 
The FRC is definitly not a frame doubler. It reformats all origially flagged in-the-camera frames to match the frame rate you're editing in. Nothing is doubled at all. The file size won't change. It only changes metadata and stripps flagged frames in a method that allows you to take advantage of the over and under cranking speeds in 24p or 30p modes. It also won't work properly if you first use the advanced pull down when you ingest. It only works for over and under cranked alt frame rates. It won't do what you're trying to do.

Since 720p60 is simply going to be converted to native 720p60, you can't use these tools to make it something it's not. You'd have to export it as 720p30 and reimport.

What is the frame rate of the Sequence you're trying to edit in?

These two tools you're using will not make a clip something it's not ment to be in the DVCPRO-HD metadata. Export it using quicktime convertion or Compressor.
 
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Currently, we're shooting everything in 720p30. However, there are a few hours of legacy clips that were shot in 720p60. As you know, mixing the clips in the same Sequence is a rock-and-a-hard-place. If you drag everything into a 30fps Sequence, the 60p stuff must be rendered before you can edit. If you drag everything into a 60fps Sequence, all the 30p stuff must be rendered before you can edit.
I was looking for a way to batch convert the clips shot at 60fps to 30fps to cut down rendering and avoid that Big Red render status bar.
By the way, I still don't understand why anyone would use the Converter plug-in. It deletes all the audio tracks and doubles the length of your clips. So to apply it to 20 or 30 clips in a Timeline is problematic, to be kind.
(The "and then becomes dinner" line gave me a good chuckle. Is that yours?)
 
Batch Export is your answer. File > Batch Export

In the Browser, highlight only the clips you want to convert (cmd+click). Then go to File > Batch Export, set your export settings and destination ONCE. Click the Export button, poof, done. You can export them all to the same folder, then just import that folder into your Browser. It's really easy, and a great feature in FCP.

FYI, my Quad Core G5 does those various formats without having to render. I get the orange render line, but playback is plenty good for editing. So I don't have to render until I'm totally done.

But I think Batch Export is what you're looking for. Hope this helps!
 
Hey guys, I actually use cinema tools and do a batch conform of the 60fps footage to 30fps or (25 in my case). Then import into FCP. Works very well for us.
 
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