Here's how I converted my 50i 4:3 footage to a 16:9 anamorphic NTSC
29.976 progressive DVD (with somewhat satisfactory results!)
Since some of my clips are shot 16:9 anamorphic and some shot 4:3 full
frame, I decided to go with a 16:9 anamorphic DVD--that way the DVD
is compatible with both HDTV and regular (full frame) TV users.
Here's how I did it:
1. In FCP create a DV PAL Anamorphic Timeline from the Easy Presets.
Then in the Timeline Settings (hit: apple+0) set Compressor to ProRes
422 10-bit UC.
2. Transfer all the edited clips and graphics from my 4:3 PAL 50i
FCP timeline to a PAL 50i anamorphic 16:9 timeline. This way I can
use the "action safe" and "text safe" parameters
to resize the 4:3 footage. Some of the 4:3 footage I left pillar-boxed,
some I stretched out (to 133.33%) to fill the wide screen frame --
you can really do anything you want! For example I stretched out
all the interviews for consistency and pillar-boxed all the 4:3 aspect
ratio film clips.
What's great about FCP 6 is that all you have to do is drop the clip
into the timeline and it will automatically size it to fit.
Some of the clips I had to bump up to 102% so I wouldn't get dead
pixel distortion at the top and bottom of the frame. This "dead
pixel distortion" can also apply to footage shot on 16:9 anamorphic
because when played back on a full screen 4:3 TV, with black bars
at the top and bottom, the dead pixels can vibrate or look really
ugly! So check your clips because not all of them have that issue!
3. Export your QT PAL 50i Pro Res Movie. My 40 minute doc was about
12GB.
4. Your next objective is to create a QT NTSC 25P Apple ProRes 422
Movie
--Open your new PAL 50i QT Movie in Compressor. Create an asset that
is Apple ProRes 422/Current Frame Rate. Set "Frame Controls" to
ON. Set Everything to "Best" and "Output Fields" to
Progressive.
--In "Geometry" set frame size to 720 x 480 and "Pixel
Aspect" to NTSC CCIR 601 DV (16:9)
Now export project.
4. In FCP create a DV NTSC Anamorphic timeline from the Easy Presets.
Then in the timeline setting (apple+0) set the compressor settings
to ProRes 422, frame rate to 59.94, below the frame rate control
set "output
fields" to NONE and then to 10-bit UC in the next tab.
Place your new QT NTSC 25P Apple ProRes 422 Movie on the timeline
and export that to your hard drive.
Be aware that the 59.94 frame rate is going to multiply x 2 your project
file size. However, I find that this is the KEY to a successful PAL
to NTSC transcode that does not a) soften the image quality and b)
create all sorts of nasty ghosting affects and jittery affects due
to new frames being introduced. After all these tests, I was shocked
to find that FCP itself did the best conversion.
5. Open your new NTSC 59.94 16:9 ProRes Movie in Compressor. Then,
apply your MPEG2 and AC3 assets on the clip and export. Make sure
that the video format is NTSC, Frame rate is set to 29.976, Aspect
Ration set to 16:9 and Field Dominance set to Progressive. A good
average bit rate for multiple DVD players is 5.5 and Maximum Bit
Rate set to 7.2. Of course 2 Pass VBR is good and set Motion Estimation
to "Best."
Rock and Roll!
Larry Jordan is a post-production consultant and an Apple-Certified Trainer in Digital Media with over 25 years experience as producer, director and editor with network, local and corporate credits. Based in Los Angeles, he's a member of both the Directors Guild of America and the Producers Guild of America.
The information in this article is believed to be accurate at the time of publication. However, the author assumes no liability in case things go wrong. Please use your best judgment in applying these suggestions.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. This newsletter has not been reviewed or sanctioned by Apple or any other third party. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are mentioned here for editorial purposes only.
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