Hi,

I'm the assitant editor of a motion picture in Spain. The film is being shot in 35mm but the director also has shot two scenes with a P2 HVX200E camera for plot and aesthetic reasons.

The editor is cutting the film on a MacPro with Avid MC 3.5.2. I'm ingesting and dealing with daylies with an 2009 iMac and an Avid MC 4.0.2

Our problems started when we found out that all the footage shot by the second unit director with the P2 HVX200E was recorded in DVCPRO HD 1080 50i and NOT in 24p.

We need to put that footage into the editor's project so he can cut and mix both materials and, obviously, everything has to be in 24 fps.

We have tried several options:

-Create a 1080 25p project, export the DVCPRO HD 1080 50i footage as DNxHD 36 and import it in the 35mm 24p project, which alters the footage by repeating one frame (or is by erasing one frame?)...eh...not a solution.

-Create a 1080 25p project, export the DVCPRO HD 1080 50i footage as TIFF sequence and import it in the 35mm 24p project, which looks good and in glorious 24p BUT we lose the sound and the TC.

-Upgrade the editor's MC to version 4.0.2 which can 'mix' different framerates, but that doesn't solves the problem, does it? When need a final cut with a timeline with all footage in 24p in order to conform to a D.I.

Our deadline is approaching and we are a little concerned. I would really appreciate some tips or ideas.

Thanks in advance,

Luis Rico

 

 

Luis Rico:

-Create a 1080 25p project, export the DVCPRO HD 1080 50i footage as DNxHD 36 and import it in the 35mm 24p project, which alters the footage by repeating one frame (or is by erasing one frame?)...eh...not a solution.

It would work if you type "IgnoreQTRate True" in the console prior to importing. That would give you a frame-by-frame import, without the pulldown frames.

Luis Rico:

-Create a 1080 25p project, export the DVCPRO HD 1080 50i footage as TIFF sequence and import it in the 35mm 24p project, which looks good and in glorious 24p BUT we lose the sound and the TC.

You can add the TC manually. As well as sound, for which you need to do a separate export, because it will need to be slowed down in order to sync up in your 24p project.

 

Either one of your solutions will be fine, if you take them to the end of the line. Using the Mix&Match feature will not be good for you because you need to go for a DI.

Another option would be to playout the P2 media to tape (with corresponding timecode), then capture that tape into the 24p project with the Film Audio Settings changed to Video Rate during capture. Afterwards, you'd need to switch it back, and perform a sample rate conversion to those clips.

 

Also, there is no 24p on the HVX, only 23.98p-over-60i. That would have even been worse to implement.

You can also consider upgrading to v4 which allows all frame rates and formats to mix in the same timeline. EDLs and lists are supported with clear indication as to original frame rate material.

 

Michael

IMHO that would be a very bad idea if they are planning on any type of filmout. Much easier to maintain picture quality when frame remains a frame, especially between 24 and 25.

And I agree which is why I mentioned the fact that e properly track all sources of original frame rates so you can do a pull list of shots used in final seqwence to do a conversion process into progresive at desired frame rate.

 

Michael

The thing is, the original is probably 25p-within-1080/50i. That's what most folks using the HVX set their cam to. So even though the signal is 50i, the actual picture information is 25p, which translates to 24p not so well.

We are exporting the P2 as TIFF sequence and will add the TC and the sound.

Thank all of you very much for your ideas and tips!!

Luis Rico