Does anyone know if DS v8.4 can natively playback DVCPRO 720P 23.98 FPS media?  Also, why the heck doesn't a DS project set to 720P @ 23.98 NOT play to the broadcast and/or client montior (HD-SDI and HD-component)?  I know the hardware supports it because when I reboot the exact system (a dual boot) into Symphony I can create a 720P / 23.98 project, copy the footage right off P2 in MXF format AND then monitor it via HD-SDI and HD-component. 

If Symphony can do it than DS can do it.  Why doesn't DS, the most expensive flagship product, support a very popular and common HD format natively? 

OR.... to follow up my own post... what am I doing wrong?  I often find myself to be equally "buggy" as the software I use.

No.  DS will not spit out 720p/23.98 to a broadcast monitor.   This is because 720p/23.98 doesn't really exist on tape.   The only time you see 720p/23.98 ON TAPE is when it is really 720p/59.94.    However, 720p/23.98 happily exists on P2 and in other file-based workflows. 

We've all asked for things like native P2 support, 720p/23.98 support, XDCAM, XDCAM-EX support, etc. to be included in the 'flagship' system - and I know for a fact they are working on it - but DS doesn't support it now.   Best bet is to ingest into Symphony, layoff to DVCProHD tape (like a 1400/1700), and digitize back in at 720p/59.94

Or do the job in Symphony.  Or MC.  Or Final Cut. =p

You said you're seeing the footage play out of your Symphony.  I believe that 24p projects actually play out of Symphony at 60i w/ a pulldown.  -Don't know why DS doesn't give you this option.  

Check the frame rate on your monitor when you're playing out of Symphony in a 24p project.  I bet it says 59.94.

I've experienced this problem on projects with P2 footage captured at 24pN.  My workaround was to transcode in Symphony to 1080i at 59.94 fps and then move to DS.  (But finishing with a pulldown wasn't a problem for me.)

Yes....  when playing a 24p project out of Symphony, it's going to the monitor as 60p with a pulldown inserted.  I'm not too concerned whether or not there's a pulldown on the monitor... I just want it on the monitor in the first place!  C'mon Avid...

From our experience working in 720/23.98 in Symphony is worthless unless you plan to output a file. The system will add the pulldown to convert to 720/60 but it is inconsistent. The cadence continually changes so removing the pulldown for recapture or encoding is virtually impossible. I guess if this is not important and the playback doesn't bother you.. but this is why we edit 1080/23.98 allowing us to output with or without pulldown and the cadence is spot on.

AY

I'm late to this thread, but does it output to the monitor after the Sequence Preferences are set to Downconvert (it's at the bottom). The downconverted output is officially "for monitoring only" I believe.

This option is not available in 720 23.98. However, you could drop your 720 23.98 into a 1080 23.98 timeline and the Bob would come into play.

Any of the formats with the little bullet next to them, do not utilize the Bob.

Michael