footage recording requirements for a 1080i 29.97fps final movie

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footage recording requirements for a 1080i 29.97fps final movie

hello everyone!

I am sure you will know better than me as this is a basic question...but need to confirm with more experienced editors...OK, so I need to deliver for a broadcaster a 1080i movie and they specify that "the field rate for both standard and high definition is 59.94 fields per second. The frame rate for high def is 29.97 frames per second".

so, 2 questions:

1) I know that this will be shot with a Sony Handycam HD AX-2000, and that shoots HD(not sure if 1080p or also 1080i?), but should I specify them they need to shot at 1080i and a certain frame rate? or is ok if they shot at 1080p? can i easily import progressive footage into an interlace sequence in final cut7?

2) "high definition is 59.94 fields per second": this has nothing to do with fps, correct? even if they shot at 60fps I can always export a QT 1080i at 29.97fps...I don't have to ask them speficically to shot at 59.94?

hope you can answer me these questions!! thanks everybody!

Final Cut Pro 7, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on May 2, 2014 6:09 PM

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Answer 1

Shane Ross

Level 8

43,110 points

May 2, 2014 7:42 PM in response to ecasas

1) Yes, you need to tell the shooters to shoot 1080i 59.94...that's 1080i that runs at 29.97fps. 59.94 indicates that they are shooting INTERLACED, and not PROGRESSIVE.

2) 59.94 fields per second has EVERYTHING to do with fps. It tells you that it's an interlaced, 29.97 format. Not a progressive, 29.97 format. 60fps would be 720p60 (a common HD format) or 1080p60 (an uncommon HD format). They should NOT shoot 1080p60...no 1080 at 60 FRAMES per second.

This is a VERY confusing spec, and needs to be done away with.

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Answer 2

ecasas Author

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May 3, 2014 5:38 AM in response to Shane Ross

thanks for your fast reply! I will let them know.

I have a last question for you, they also might have some old footage we will add into the sequence, if that is 1080p (progressive), can I easily add to my interlaced sequence or is not going to let me do it or look bad?

or I guess I have to transcode the 1080p somehow (with compressor probably?) and then import into fcp?

thanks again!

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Answer 3

May 3, 2014 9:46 AM in response to ecasas

progressive footage will be fine in an interlaced sequence. The look of movement will be slightly different but may not be noticeable.

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Answer 4

ecasas Author

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May 4, 2014 7:46 AM in response to Michael Grenadier

Sounds good then, all clear. Thanks so much Michael and Shane for the clarification!

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Answer 5

ecasas Author

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May 5, 2014 7:08 AM in response to Shane Ross

Ok guys! so I have a new question right now for you....

Apparently we have to sue an old sequence (to match exactly some movement done before), and the sequence is progressive, and it has progressive footage 1080p, so the shooters told me they are shooting 1080p for sure...

My question is, if I have to deliver 1080i, what is the best way to do so? as we are doing all progressive in fcp7, I am thinking after rendering the QT from progressive sequence, so I have to send it to compressor and export an interlaced sequence from there? if so, what settings eactly will I be using?

Also, is it crazy to re-import a progressive sequence into fcp7 and place it into an interlaced squence, then re-export a final QTi?

Anyway, my question will be: how do you export an interlaced QT from editing progressive in fcp7?

THANK YOU!

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Answer 6

Shane Ross

Level 8

43,110 points

May 5, 2014 12:08 PM in response to ecasas

Just cut the progressive footage in an interlaced timeline. it won't magically change the footage to interlaced...it'll still be progressive. Both fields will be the same, instead of interlaced, where both fields are different, thus why it looks smoother. You shot progressive, no way around that look. But if you cut in an interlaced sequence, and export an interlaced master, it'll be tagged as and interlaced Quictime file. If they complain that it looks progressive...well, you shot progressive. Can't change that.

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Answer 7

ecasas Author

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May 5, 2014 12:27 PM in response to Shane Ross

Hello S!

thank you: so i just set up a 1080X1920 in fcp7 and by default is telling me it's a 1080i (HDTV), is this normal and should i ignore it?

Iread in other forums that fcp7 just calls it"interlaced" even if it is not when you import progressive footage as frame size 1920X1080....i just want to confirm that it will actually not be interlaced at all....as tehy want me to use a plugin called digital rebellion to convert my progressive to interlaced...

Also, I shoudl set up the se for progressive as the "field dominance" as NONE, correct? And any interlaced QT will read as upper field dominance when you importthe final interlaced QT into fcp?

that will confim all my doubts, hopefully! thank you!

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Answer 8

Shane Ross

Level 8

43,110 points

May 5, 2014 12:41 PM in response to ecasas

>o i just set up a 1080X1920 in fcp7 and by default is telling me it's a 1080i (HDTV), is this normal and should i ignore it?

No, you need to make sure that you have a field dominance set. That is what determines interlacing. 1080 is an interlaced format by default, but it can be 1080i but progressive. Sorry, confusing, but that's how it's labelled.

>Iread in other forums that fcp7 just calls it"interlaced" even if it is not when you import progressive footage as frame size 1920X1080....i just want to confirm that it will actually not be interlaced at all....as tehy want me to use a plugin called digital rebellion to convert my progressive to interlaced...

Correct. And that plugin is to be used IF you already exported a progressive file. If your sequence was progressive. You don't need it if your sequence is Interlaced, and has field dominance.

>Also, I shoudl set up the se for progressive as the "field dominance" as NONE, correct?

NO!! That makes it progressive.

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Answer 9

ecasas Author

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May 5, 2014 12:53 PM in response to Shane Ross

ok! got it,

i was saying i will set up a seq at 1080 with NONE dominance so it will be progressive (even if it says 1080i), then export and use the plugin to make an interlaced from it, this is what they ask me to use instead of seting up an interlaced in fcp, as they say the QT will not be a real interlaced...not sure what is exactly the diffrenece, but apparently this digital rebelion changes your metadata and it converts it to interlaced.....and apparently looks better...they say? did you use it?

anyway, you solved my doubt regarding interlance/prpgressive S! thank you so much!

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Answer 10

Meg The Dog

Level 6

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May 5, 2014 12:56 PM in response to ecasas

MtD

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Answer 11

Shane Ross

Level 8

43,110 points

May 5, 2014 12:57 PM in response to ecasas

Use the settings Meg pointed out...that will export INTERLACED. Or, do it the Digital Rebellion way. All that needs happen is that your final QT be metadata tagged as interlaced.

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Answer 12

ecasas Author

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May 5, 2014 12:59 PM in response to Shane Ross

OK! i know this settings, they just told me specifically not to do that as we are doing pixelation effects....they think it will look bad on an interlaced set up seq, rather will set up prgressive and use the rebellion. But this was a good training!

Thanks to both of you!!!

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