HDV:What You NEED to Know 2nd Edition

     Following the much-anticipated release of the HVR V1 camcorder, filmmakers and videographers alike have been enjoying progressive-scan recording at 24p and 30p.  Like the DVX100 and XL2 series of cameras, Sony packages the progressive signal into an interlace stream, ie, you’re seeing the 24p or 30p “look,” but it’s playing back at 60i, or 29.97 fps.  The pulldown must be removed using software tools. Some NLE systems are able to remove the pulldown automatically, just as FCP does with 24p video shot with the Panasonic DVX 100 camcorder. Once the pulldown is removed, the source video is pure 24p.

     At this time, Final Cut Pro (FCP) cannot natively remove this 3:2 pulldown from the HDV source. 

     There are currently two options: one is to use the Apple Intermediate Codec (AIC), which iMovie HD and Final Cut Express users are already familiar with, to capture the footage into a non-HDV codec, which is still high definition (HD), and then use Cinema Tools to do a Reverse Telecine.  Keep in mind, the clips will be MUCH larger, as this is a lesser compressed HD format.

     The other option is to capture and edit in native HDV on an HDV 1080i60 timeline. Once you’re done with your editing, you have some options to change the edited program into another intermediate codec.  Adam Wilt (www.adamwilt.com) has had great experience using DVCPro HD and removing the pulldown, but I have chosen to use another codec prior to invoking the Reverse Telecine.

     Graeme Nattress, developer of some excellent FCP plug-ins (www.nattress.com), developed a method allowing filmmakers and videographers using the HVR-Z1u in 50i, to get the footage to 24p.

     He advised editors to finish the cut in HDV 1080i50, then create a new timeline, and use sequence settings to change the QuickTime Video Settings to Photo – JPEG . Set the quality to 75%.  Use a deinterlacer, either in FCP or one of Nattress’ excellent deinterlacer plug-ins.  Render and go to File, Export, QuickTime Movie (NOT QT Conversion). 

     Using Photo – JPEG at 75% quality will create an 8-bit compressed YCbCr HD file that isn’t very large in size.  Setting the quality to 100% will create an RGB file, and will involve a conversion. Many editors don't have the hard drive space or speed for uncompressed HD, therefore Photo – JPEG is used as it is an I frame only delivery, offers high quality, low file size, and can usually be played back in real time.

     Once the QT movie has been created, right-click on the new clip and select Cinema Tools.  From there, click on Conform and select 23.98 fps; once it’s completed, re-import into FCP and create another timeline similar to the 50i Photo – JPEG one, except the frame rate (Editing Timebase) should be set to 23.98 fps.

     Using Photo – JPEG as a start, we can remove the pulldown easily from V1u footage, with the image staying very clean with the Photo – JPEG codec.

Here are the steps:

1. Capture and edit in native HDV 1080i60.
2. Once you’re done with the final render, select all on the timeline, then copy it.

3. Create a new sequence/timeline and set the QuickTime Video Settings, in the sequence settings, to Photo – JPEG and set the quality to 75%.  Keep the frame rate/Editing Timebase to 29.97 fps/60i.
4. Paste the project into the new sequence, render, then go to File, Export, QuickTime Movie, but do NOT use QuickTime Conversion.
5. Once the movie is created, right-click on clip and select Cinema Tools.  Go to Reverse Telecine and a window will pop up.

This is an example of an interlaced frame.

6. In Cinema Tools, you will need to find the “A” frame before you can begin.  To find it, find the first frame of Interlacing, which looks like a “horizontal comb tooth” effect, if you will.  Make sure this isn’t the very first frame of video; go in a second or two.  Once you find it, go back two frames, and that’s the A frame.

7. Set Cinema Tools as follows: Capture Mode should be set to F1 – F2, Fields should be set to AA and Style 1, Conform to 23.98.  Then click Okay.  It will create a new movie that has removed the pulldown.

8. Import this clip into FCP and create another new sequence/timeline.  Set the QT Video Settings to match the previous Photo – JPEG settings, quality at 75%.  Change the frame rate/Editing Timebase to 23.98 fps.  Put the clip in, render, then export.

     If you do not wish to use Photo – JPEG, you may try Uncompressed 8-bit, or DVCPro HD (1080i) codecs and follow the rest of the instructions.  It's important to stress that you should only export as a QuickTime Movie, not a QT Conversion.  The Conversion isn’t as clean as a QT Movie. Final Cut Pro Movie many who have used older versions of FCP will be familiar with this process.

thanks to Graeme Nattress for his help, along with Patrick Speicher for the use of his HVR-V1U   Additional help: Matt Beers, Pat Sammon and Jim York.

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