Clipwrap: Convert AVCHD to ProRes and de-interlace!

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Level 1

9 points

Clipwrap: Convert AVCHD to ProRes and de-interlace!

i have used Clipwrap to convert AVCHD .mts files into Apple ProRes 422 Proxy, the outcome was an extremely interlaced file in low quality.

i do not know what the original files dimensions were, as the files were brought to me on an HD in some kind of directory structure, that was also not recognized by the Log & Transfer tool in FCP.

How do i effectively de-interlace the ProRes files? i have tried Compressor, but no matter what de-interlace settings i use, the video always ends up staying interlaced!

I have a tight deadline and need to figure this out as soon as possible.
Any help would be appreciated!

2 x 2.8 GHz Mac Pro Quad-Core Xeon, 10 GB RAM, Dual 23" Cinema Display, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Aug 18, 2010 8:23 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 18, 2010 8:25 AM in response to Robs HD

ProRes Proxy is a low-res proxy file used for an offline/online workflow. Have you attempted to let ClipWrap convert them to ProRes LT or ProRes?

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Answer 2

David S.

Level 7

20,636 points

Aug 18, 2010 8:28 AM in response to Robs HD

The Apple ProRes 422 (Proxy) codec is intended for offline editing and contains 30 percent of the data rate of Apple ProRes 422.

That would account for the low quality.

Convert to 422 LT or 422 and examine the video.

What cam the AVCHD footage came from and how it was shot is important.

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Answer 3

Robs HD Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 18, 2010 8:32 AM in response to thrillcat editorial

no i have not! the reason why i am using ProRes Proxy is because it uses less HD space and if i use it to edit in FCP i can export it as ProRes 422 and the quality is the same as having it in ProRes 422 in the first place.
This may sound dumb!

How will using ProRes LT or ProRes help with de-interlacing the footage?

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Answer 4

Aug 18, 2010 8:41 AM in response to Robs HD

Robs HD wrote:
if i use it to edit in FCP i can export it as ProRes 422 and the quality is the same as having it in ProRes 422 in the first place.

You are sorely mistaken on that part.

This may sound dumb!

It did.

How will using ProRes LT or ProRes help with de-interlacing the footage?

It is a higher quality file. Proxy is not designed to be a high quality file. In fact, it may be an interlace-only format.

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Answer 5

David S.

Level 7

20,636 points

Aug 18, 2010 8:46 AM in response to Robs HD

If proxy has 30 percent of the quality of pro res 422, how can you get the other 70% back when you export?

I believe you may want to rethink your workflow.

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Answer 6

Robs HD Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 18, 2010 8:47 AM in response to thrillcat editorial

i know what each file is intended for, but i had a look at an ProRes 422 files exported as ProRes 422 and a ProRes Proxy files exported as ProRes 422 and they looked identical to eachother. Why is that?
even the total bit rate was very similar!

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Answer 7

David S.

Level 7

20,636 points

Aug 18, 2010 8:50 AM in response to Robs HD

It's a proxy offline editing codec that discards 70% of the quality on transcode.

What are you resisting the obvious?

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Answer 8

Robs HD Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 18, 2010 8:53 AM in response to David S.

i understand! i was just wandering why the files looked identical.

What do i do once i have completed my offline edit, how do i get only the files i used to be captured in ProRes 422? i have not figured that out yet.

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Answer 9

Aug 18, 2010 8:54 AM in response to Robs HD

If they looked identical, either the displays are crap or the footage began it's life before ProRes as crap.

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Answer 10

Robs HD Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 18, 2010 9:05 AM in response to thrillcat editorial

i am using an Apple Cinema Display and have imported 5D footage using FCP's Log & Capture tool. to import both as ProRes and ProRes Proxy, how can they look identical, i don't understand! i am going to use the correct workflow, i would just like to know what the worklflow is once i have completed the offline edit?

i accept my mistakes, okay?

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Answer 11

Aug 18, 2010 9:11 AM in response to Robs HD

Did you convert all the clips from the camera?

Do your edit with the Proxy clips. Close FCP. Trash them (or at least move them). Open ClipWrap and have it transcode all the clips to ProRes with the same naming scheme as you used for the Proxy clips. Reopen FCP. When it asks to reconnect the media, point it to the new ProRes clips.

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Answer 12

Robs HD Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 18, 2010 9:22 AM in response to thrillcat editorial

No, i was given the footage in the AVCHD directory structure. i tried using ProRes 422, ProRes HQ and ProRes LT and each file came out looking the same as the ProRes Proxy files, and de-interlaced.

Regarding the Offline edit, what is the point in converting all the files to ProRes 422 again, when only the Proxy clips i used in my offline edit need to be converted into ProRes 422.
i converted the files into ProRes Proxy in the first place to save HD space, but if i need to delete those Proxy files and convert the original footage to ProRes 422 i won't have enough HD space due to the size.

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Answer 13

Aug 18, 2010 9:25 AM in response to Robs HD

Because you don't have the full camera file structure to reconnect smartly.

Hard drives are cheap. DIRT cheap. Buy a bigger, faster one. Skip lunch this week, or don't go out for drinks on Friday. Hard drive space is no longer an excuse for anything at these prices.

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Answer 14

Aug 18, 2010 9:26 AM in response to Robs HD

If you want to know with certainty if they are identical, import the same clip twice, one in each codec. Then place one exactly frame-for-frame on top of the other in a Timeline.

Now apply a Difference Matte to the clip on V2. If the two clips really are identical, all pixels in the resultant image will be 0,0,0 black. Any differences will show up as pixels that are not 0,0,0 black.

Please let us know how this test goes for you.

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Answer 15

Robs HD Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 18, 2010 10:05 AM in response to Brian Conner

i have decided to go back to converting the footage to ProRes 422 instead of ProRes 422 Proxy, i will buy a bigger HD to account for the space issues.

i compared some more ProRes to ProRes Proxy files and i did there was a noticable difference in the red areas. Thanks for your help! Sorry for being stubborn!

Thanks!

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