Question about frame rate

Be careful. Are they asking for 1080i59.94? Because that is 29.97. The "i" indicates INTERLACED, and that means 59,94 FIELDS per second...2 fields per frame...30fps, at 29.97.

If they are asking for 720p59.94...then that is 60fps. "p" means PROGRESSIVE, so the number means FRAMES per second.

-Shane

The footage I have is interlaced 1280x1080 @ 29.97 fps

OK, that is DVCPRO HD 1080i60... it is running the 59.94 that they are asking for...no? Can you post their requirements? 1080p59.94 is NOT a delivery format. No broadcaster I know of wants that, because they cannot play that format. Nor can BluRay DVDs play that format. 60fps is 720p only.

I will de-interlace with the fcp filter.

Why? You shot interlaced...they didn't say to de-interlace it, did they?

What do I do about the frame rate?

Nothing...it is correct. Please re-read my above post. 1080i59.94 runs at 29.97fps.

-shane

With interlaced footage the image has those lines. Shouldn't I de-interlace it to smooth out the image?

If you didn't want interlacing, why did you shoot interlaced? Those lines are something you see on COMPUTER MONITORS, but not on TVs. Computer displays can't show interlacing properly, but TVs can. Every sporting event is interlaced. As is the news, ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT, OPRAH, Ellen, Fox News, CNN...all that. It looks fine. But again, if you didn't want interlacing, why did you shoot interlaced?

If you DE-INTERLACE, what you are actually doing is throwing away half your resolution. One field will be tossed completely, so you'll be getting a lower resolution image. So I advise against doing this.

The network didn't ask but this is the first episode that was shot interlaced. Shouldn't I deliver one that is de-interlaced?

Why? Again, if you didn't want interlacing, why shoot interlaced? That is a creative subjective topic. The LOOK of a show. That isn't what we are talking about here. FRAME RATE. Just know when they ask for 1080i 59.94, it is 29.97 fps. If that's what they want, that's what you deliver. 1080p at 59.94 is a format that no one takes as a mastering format.

So I should leave the fps at 29.97 when I output?

YES.

shane

Don't know if I'm helping here, or just muddying the waters...

In broadcast television, the abbreviation "fps" has two meanings based on the context in which it is used.

29.97 fps = frames per second
59.94 fps = fields per second

Furthermore, in broadcast television, 29.97 frames per second is 59.94 fields per second. So, two ways of referring to the same thing.

While it's possible to render 59.94 frames per second, you would usually only do this if generating computer generated graphics and you wanted to render a full frame for what will eventually become a field when assembled or superimposed into your video cut.

For further clarification (and I think it was already mentioned) you can look for either an "i" or "p" in the delivery specs (as in "720i" vs. "720p").

Sometimes it can be easier to ask, "What Easy Setup should i be using"? (Sometimes, but not always.)



-Warren

Boy, they did everything different on the last show, huh? The others must have been PRORES for editing...and this is definately DVCPRO HD. You will need to convert the DVCPRO HD to ProRes using Compressor....making sure that the frame dimensions are 1920x1080.

As for the interlacing, ask the producers what they want to do. And warn them that deinterlacing means cutting the resolution in half.

Shane