I have not been able to find a solution for this yet - and don't know if there is one.

I have an HD project (1080i/59.94 full of XDCAM EX and some HDV ftg) that is ready to go to the broadcaster.  One bit of info received late last night was the broadcaster specs for digital submission.  Here they are:

Quicktime file using codec DVCPro HD at 1080i (1280x1080 resolution)

Upper field dominance

29.97 frame rate

Audio: 16-bit Integer (Little Endian), stereo, 48.000 khz

I have created several test files that meet all the specs except for the 1280x1080 resolution.  I made a video mixdown using DVCPRo HD MXF and then exported that with custom format options to get the right audio specs, custom dimensions of 1280x1080, changed to 29.97 frame rate but it still comes out as a 1920x1080 file.

Any ideas / help would be greatly appreciated.

Patrick Rebmann

I would double check that this actually is the format they want, maybe they have a small sample file that they can send to you.

The format seemed odd to me as well.  I have found out the broadcaster uses FCP for their in-house stuff  - perhaps this is one of the reasons for the DVCPro HD format.

I'm currently waiting for the work day to start in sunny California so I can get some more facts from the source.

PR

1280x1080 is a valid DVCPro HD resolution; it's a "Thin Raster" codec, so it gets unsqueezed to 1920x1080 upon playback. 1440x1080 is much more common, of course. Try this workflow: Create a new project, select "1080i/59.94" as the format and "1280x1080" as the raster dimension (I can select it in MC 5.0.3, hopefully you have it in your version). Open up the bin from your original project that contains your sequence. Open your sequence, do a video mixdown to DVCPro HD, and then do a same as source quicktime export. That should give you the correct format and dimensions.

Also, if you check your output file in QuickTime player, it will automatically unsqueeze the file and report it as being 1920x1080. Try downloading VLC player (videolan.org), it can play the file in its squeezed form, and if you click on "Tools -> Codec information" it will show the actual resolution that the file is recorded at.

Marcus - thanks for the response and help.  It seems my older version (3.1 now) of MC does not have the same options as MC5.  When I open a new project in 1080i/59.94 my only raster options are Standard (which turns to 1920x1080) and HDV (which defaults to 1440x1080).  The other issue seems to be the only mixdown (and transcode)option in the HDV raster format project is DNxHD TR 145.  I still seem to be stumped.  But! Only 1/2 hour to go 'til work time in CA!

Thanks again for your help.

PR

Aha!  I was not aware the QT player would unsqueeze.  I may be looking at false info.  I'll check the vlc player.  Thanks!

PR

On a side note - is it me, or is the DVCProHd codec available on mixdowns only in a 1080/59.94 project? I cant do a DVCProHD mixdown in my 1080/23.98 project.

My understanding is that the DVCPro HD codec is limited to what actual DVCPro HD cameras and decks can handle - i.e.: 720p 50 or 60, and 1080i 50 or 60. The Panasonic 24p DVCPro HD cameras add 3:2 pulldown when they record, so the actual stream is recorded as 60p or 60i.

out of doors:

Aha!  I was not aware the QT player would unsqueeze.  I may be looking at false info.  I'll check the vlc player.  Thanks!

 

PR

Patrick, were you able to get your video output and delivered?

Marcus,

output and delivered!  Now my fingers are crossed that QC at the broadcaster doesn't call today.

So I must have been smoking something the other day when I said there was no option for DVCPRo HD in a new project on MC 3.1.

The next morning I tried it and, just like you suggested, there it was!  The rest went smoothly - loooong output time - but the VLC player did show me the true raster of the file.  Thanks again for your help.

Now I hope to move on to my next project - convincing the broadcaster to accept DNxHD.

PR