Bonsai With Pro Res
Lately, I've been shooting HDV 1080i 60 footage with my V1U, and capturing it into FCP 6.0.2 using Pro Res. I then edit and render my timeline, and export the timeline directly into Compressor, using the Best Quality 2-pass DVD settings for whatever time limit I need. These files are imported into DVDSP, and I then produce SD DVDs.
This is all standard procedure, mentioned often in this and other forums. My SD DVDs have been looking OK, but not great. Especially not great on my Sony 60" SXRD TV, which shows every flaw. But, my customers have been happy, so maybe I'm picky.
Today, I decided to retry the now 2-year old Bonsai method (without the blur), with some modifications.
After editing (but NOT rendering) my Pro Res timeline, I created a new sequence. I used the (Matrox) MXO DV50 NTSC 48khz Anamorphic sequence preset, DVC PRO50 NTSC compression setting, lower field dominance, and used the Bonsai-recommended 'faster(linear)' motion filtering setting under the sequence settings video processing tab.
I copied my completed Pro Res sequence into this new timeline, and then exported it directly into Compressor as I've usually done. Used the stock 2-pass preset. After building and burning a DVD with the resulting files in DVDSP, I popped it into my DVD player, and watched it on the SXRD.
There was a huge difference; much improved in every way. Far less pixelation, jagged lines, motion artifacting, etc. I also played it on a Sony 36" CRT television, and the improvement was dramatic there, as well. I can't believe I hadn't tried this workflow before; it's a significant enough difference that I will be using this method from now on, or at least until something better comes along. standard DV footage.
I noticed that after Compressor has finished its encoding, the timeline will begin rendering, probably because Auto-Render is checked in preferences; this rendering seems to take a very long time, but it can be cancelled, since the compression has finished.
I'm looking forward to redoing a few earlier projects to see what improvement there will be.
One question, though, for those that have made it this far: I'm not familiar with DV50; what is the difference between it and the regular DV NTSC anamorphic settings? I'm planning on trying some samples using that setting to see if there is any difference in quality.
This is all standard procedure, mentioned often in this and other forums. My SD DVDs have been looking OK, but not great. Especially not great on my Sony 60" SXRD TV, which shows every flaw. But, my customers have been happy, so maybe I'm picky.
Today, I decided to retry the now 2-year old Bonsai method (without the blur), with some modifications.
After editing (but NOT rendering) my Pro Res timeline, I created a new sequence. I used the (Matrox) MXO DV50 NTSC 48khz Anamorphic sequence preset, DVC PRO50 NTSC compression setting, lower field dominance, and used the Bonsai-recommended 'faster(linear)' motion filtering setting under the sequence settings video processing tab.
I copied my completed Pro Res sequence into this new timeline, and then exported it directly into Compressor as I've usually done. Used the stock 2-pass preset. After building and burning a DVD with the resulting files in DVDSP, I popped it into my DVD player, and watched it on the SXRD.
There was a huge difference; much improved in every way. Far less pixelation, jagged lines, motion artifacting, etc. I also played it on a Sony 36" CRT television, and the improvement was dramatic there, as well. I can't believe I hadn't tried this workflow before; it's a significant enough difference that I will be using this method from now on, or at least until something better comes along. standard DV footage.
I noticed that after Compressor has finished its encoding, the timeline will begin rendering, probably because Auto-Render is checked in preferences; this rendering seems to take a very long time, but it can be cancelled, since the compression has finished.
I'm looking forward to redoing a few earlier projects to see what improvement there will be.
One question, though, for those that have made it this far: I'm not familiar with DV50; what is the difference between it and the regular DV NTSC anamorphic settings? I'm planning on trying some samples using that setting to see if there is any difference in quality.
Mac Pro 2.66/12GB/X1900XT/Sonnet E4P/30"+23"ACDs, Mac OS X (10.5.2), 2 Sonnet Fusion 500Ps/14 WDRE2 500GB/Matrox MXO
