Sequence Settings for 1080i/24pA in FCP

Justin Reade

Justin Reade

Active member
I am having difficulty determining what sequence setting to use in Final Cut Pro 5.1, for footage that I have shot in 1080i/24pA.

When I choose the option 1080i/60 with a 29.97 editing time base from the "Easy Setup" menu in Final Cut, the clips import perfectly and I don't have to render (which I don't understand at all, since I shot in 24 frames per second not 29.97). However, when I change the editing time base to 23.98, I have to render all my clips, and any subsequent EXPORT of my footage using Quicktime Movie yields a very CHOPPY and SCREWY .mov file. Shouldn't footage shot in 1080i/24pA NOT BE REQUIRED TO RENDER when I'm in a 23.98 timebase? Therefore, I'm totally confused in that department.

I also realized that when I choose 720/24p with a 23.98 editing time base from the "Easy Setup" menu in Final Cut, I have to render my clips (obviously), but the exported quicktime movie is PERFECT.

What the hell setting is correct for 24pA footage shot in 1080???? Shouldn't there be an Easy Setup setting for 1080i/24p with a 23.98 timebase. Would seem logical to me, but it's not available........

Thanks for the help.

Justin.
 
You're most of the way there. The thing is that 24pA stores the 24p in to a 60i signal. You need to conform your footage (apply pulldown) to make the 24p-in-60i into pure 24p. Yes, you clicked the remove pulldown frames button in the Import P2 window...it doesn't work with 1080. :furious3:

Do it in CinemaTools, or use the FCP shortcut under "Tools" (but be aware that FCP deletes your original file). And yes, it should be a sequence preset, here's hoping they clean all this up in the next version.

-b
 
Indeed! My mind has been so wrangled of late trying to figure this out, I managed to find a thread deep in the caverns of this site and located the Cinema Tools solution. Thank you VERY much for responding, however!! I don't honestly know what the heck I'd do without the support of this site.

The Cinema Tools reverse telecine function has worked perfectly (especially the batch reverse feature, which lets you do multiple clips at a time). Now, all of my 1080 clips are a true 23.98 rather than 29.97, and do not require rendering in a 23.98 timeline! YAY! Why the advance pulldown function in FCP 5.1 does ABSOLUTELY nothing for 1080/24pA footage is beyond my comprehension, especially when the white papers and other literature that I have read from Apple seems to indicate that it does.

I guess, in a very literal sense (i.e., by way of Cinema Tools), it "does" work and they are not lying per se, but that would certainly be a shady and elusive interpretation...

:)

Thanks again.

Justin.
 
Objection!

j/k Justin :)

Taggin this thread, very very very informative.

I agree with you, not sure where i would be without this site.

Just got our HVX200 last night and was curious about this as well.
 
Cynic821 said:
Taggin this thread, very very very informative. I agree with you, not sure where i would be without this site.
Click to expand...

Ditto. I don't know where I'd be without this site. I know I'd be a LOT more frustrated!
 
Im already somewhat frustrated after watching for 6 months the beautiful footage everyone is making, and when we shot last night, all the noise and grain !!!! it was like being back in DV. Had a GL1 then GL2 and got rid of them about 4 months ago for the MBP and now have the HVX200 and i feel like im starting all over.

GUnna need tips on how to get good blacks and vibrant colors....but thats for another thread.

I hate being annoying so im making a text file of my questions, organized and what not, be easier to answer for barry and co.
 
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