Converting 720 × 480 Linear PCM, DV/DVCPRO - NTSC to 720p HD issues

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Level 1

13 points

Converting 720 × 480 Linear PCM, DV/DVCPRO - NTSC to 720p HD issues

Hello!

I'm trying to take an old NON-HD documentary I produced from 2010 exported an old out-of-date file format (Linear PCM, DV/DVCPRO - NTSC) and convert to an 720HD file at pro-res, however when I bring it into FCP it looks wavy, pixelated and flickers badly. I tried to check "de interlace" but that did nothing to help. It plays just fine in quicktime and looks good as a non HD 720 × 480 file. The film was edited in FCP 7 and unfortunately I do not have the original footage as it was lost in a hard drive failure years ago.

I greatly appreciate any suggestions on what to do as I have an opportunity to get it streamed through an online streaming service now 13 years later and they want the file as, .mp4, or .mov as a pro res 422 file.

Thank you very much for the help!

-Tony

iMac

Posted on Jan 3, 2023 1:29 PM

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Answer 1

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,816 points

Jan 3, 2023 1:58 PM in response to ohshowprods

If the original looks bad not sure what you can do except for software like Topaz Labs. Check the original frame rate. Sure it isn’t 23.976? In the View menu of the Viewer in the upper right. Show fields. Step through the video when the batter swings.

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Answer 2

Jan 5, 2023 3:01 AM in response to ohshowprods

I use PAL but these settings modified for NTSC seem to work (the old "Our First Snowman.mov" iMovie tutorial .mov as an input):

Preserve both fields and double the frame rate to 59.94fps i.e. bob deinterlace for rectangular pixel 720x480 4:3 interlaced 29.970 FPS DVCPRO NTSC (16:9 and PAL have different values):

File > New... > Project > Custom 640x480 59.94p. Window > Show in Workspace > Info Inspector [cmd-4] > "i" [at upper right] > Settings [at lower right] > Field Dominance Override [at upper right] > Off = Lower First (Deinterlace OFF/ON does not seem to make any difference here). File > Share > Apple Devices 720p... [1080p... does not seem to make a difference], Format: Computer [or AppleDevices], H.264 Better Quality .mp4 [or Apple Devices .m4v and HEVC 8-bit, 640x480 | 59.94fps]. Frame capture of the output .mp4 below.

...

For 720x576 4:3 interlaced 25 FPS PAL I have used:

File > New... > Project > Custom 768x576 50p. Window > Show in Workspace > Info Inspector [cmd-4] > "i" [at upper right] > Settings [at lower right] > Field Dominance Override [at upper right] > Off = Lower First (Deinterlace OFF/ON does not seem to make any difference here). File > Share > Apple Devices 1080p..., Format: Computer, H.264 Better Quality [768x576 | 50fps].

...

16:9 NTSC needs 854x480 and 16:9 PAL 1024x576. I usually try to preserve the vertical resolution to avoid interlacing artifacts but maybe some even vertical integer like 2x (2x480 -> 1280x960 for NTSC and 2x576 -> 1536x1152 for PAL) might be OK.

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Answer 3

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,816 points

Jan 3, 2023 1:33 PM in response to ohshowprods

Scaling up the video m,especially if it’s interlaced, is not going to look good. What’s the frame rate? Make sure the viewer is set to show interlacing. How does the original look in the browser? QuickTime suppresses interlacing.

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Answer 4

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,816 points

Jan 3, 2023 2:13 PM in response to ohshowprods

It sounds like it needs a third party flicker filter. Digital Rebellion has one that’s very good.

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Answer 5

Jan 22, 2023 11:58 AM in response to ohshowprods

A small .dv (or DV-encoded .mov) sample clip might be useful.

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Answer 6

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,816 points

Jan 3, 2023 2:21 PM in response to ohshowprods

You might try the Noise filter or the third party filter Neat. Both are very processor intensive.

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Answer 7

ohshowprods Author

Level 1

13 points

Jan 3, 2023 1:45 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Hi Tom,

Thanks for the reply.

I'm putting the original on 24fps timine film was shot in 24fps, not sure where you set the viewer to show interlacing? The original looks bad in the browser. I'm up scaling however Keeping the original 480 and the letterbox and black bars around the orginal film so it should look just fine. *see image

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Answer 8

ohshowprods Author

Level 1

13 points

Jan 22, 2023 11:10 AM in response to Matti Haveri

Thanks for the reply, I'm not following you, do you then bring it back into FCP and create a new project? This isn't working for my files, this might the most frustrating situation I've dealt with in 20 years.

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Answer 9

ohshowprods Author

Level 1

13 points

Jan 3, 2023 2:11 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

I have two versions, one file 59.94, the other 29.97i. I tried both and changed the timeline to match, however it's still some flickering like old TV unfortunately.

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