HD Scaling to 960x540@30 fps or 1280x720@24 fps?

Question

HD Scaling to 960x540@30 fps or 1280x720@24 fps?

Wondering what the best way is to get source material (1080i or 720p, 60 fps) onto the ATV with the least quality degredation, two target file options being 960x540@30 fps and 1280x720@24 fps. Based on a little bit of fooling around, seems like former maybe looks the best (my display a large 1080p), latter has better resolution, but picture is a little jumpy, presumably from the reverse 3:2 pulldown that I suppose is happening. I am working with source material from EyeTV, if anyone thinks that makes a difference. And actually, exporting from EyeTV to 24fps might give a smoother result than exporting at 60 fps and doing the 24fps conversion with Quicktime. Not a lot of good information on this stuff out there, which I find surprising. Maybe an opportunity for someone!

MacPro 2.8GHz 8 core, 17" MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.3)

Posted on Nov 25, 2008 5:54 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 25, 2008 6:49 AM in response to Marshall Burchard

Are you sure your source is 60 fps, which eye tv model are you using, eye tv software has an tv preset which does a very good job for me.

Whatever you do, I'd generally stay away from changing the frame rate.

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Answer 2

Nov 25, 2008 9:29 AM in response to Winston Churchill

59.94 fps per stream info in EyeTV, have both a HDHomeRun and an EyeTV 250 Plus, but I think those both pass the same content to the computer.

The Apple TV preset takes 720p and 1080i at 30 or 60 fps down to 960x540 at 30 (or 29.97) fps, and you are right, it looks pretty good. It is just tempting to try and take things to 1280x720 to get higher resolution, but this comes at the expense of the reverse 3:2 stuff since you have to go to 24 fps. Was curious how others were dealing with this choice, sounds like your view that resolution loss better than mucking with odd frame rate conversions.

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Answer 3

Nov 25, 2008 9:40 AM in response to Winston Churchill

PS - Winston Churchill, small story for you. I actually have a book from Winston Churchill that was inscribed to me by same (To Marshall Burchard, with best wishes, etc., signed by him)! OK, it was actually to my Dad, I am a Junior. My Grandad hosted him at a stateside event many years ago and had him jot my Dad a note in his latest book!

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Answer 4

Nov 25, 2008 9:46 AM in response to Marshall Burchard

Changing frame rate wouldn't be something I would do, but I have compared 720p and 540p at 25 fps, 25 fps is our native frame rate in PAL land and unlike 30 fps is accepted by the tv at 720p.

See my comparisons.

I suspect the fact that 540p is exactly half the vertical resolution has a great deal to do with things, but any difference there is, isn't worth the additional work of applying manual settings in my opinion, indeed I'm not so sure the slight difference is in favour of 720p anyway.

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