HDLink Field Dominance for Resize Video at DVinfo.net

Wayne Johnson · September 18th, 2006, 08:08 AM

I converted an M2T file to AVI using the new 4.2 HDLink. My hope was to produce a resized video for burning to a DVD without letterboxing. I specified "NTSC 4x3 centered" under resize video and got an AVI file that had clipped the wide screen exactly as I desired.

When I burned the video to a DVD, however, I noted the same artifacts that I get when the field dominance has been reversed (readily apparent during pans). Does HDLink retain the upper-field-first dominance when producing the NTSC file? As near as I can tell, AVI files don't seem to contain a flag specifying field dominance, or if they do, most programs don't use it.

I had big hopes for the HDLink "pillarboxed" conversion, but unless I'm seeing artifacts that don't exist, I can't use it in its present form.

Can anyone enlighten me?

Thanks,
Wayne

Tim Bucklin · September 18th, 2006, 01:37 PM

Hi Wayne,
Sorry, that was a bug that did not reverse the field dominance when going from 1080i to 480i. It's fixed and should be in the next build.

Wayne Johnson · September 18th, 2006, 04:09 PM

That was quick! Thanks! Wayne

Wayne Johnson · September 20th, 2006, 06:25 AM

I don't see it in the update log for 4.21. Can I assume it's there anyway?

BTW, no one has ever answered my question about whether the field dominance can be determined by a setting in the video file. I just output an m2T file and specified lower first instead of the standard upper first. I'm assuming the old HDLink will now convert to a correct lower field first NTSC avi file, but...???

Thanks,
Wayne

David Newman · September 20th, 2006, 08:43 AM

The assumes as easy, M2T HD is upper field first, NTSC is lower field file first, now works correctly.

Wayne Johnson · September 22nd, 2006, 02:48 PM

My tests indicate no change with 4.21. My test of 4.20 specifying an M2T file with lower field first and then an HDLink convert did fix the stuttering problem. Are you sure the fix got in 4.21?

David Newman · September 22nd, 2006, 03:24 PM

It testing that myself and it worked, I will check again.

Wayne Johnson · September 27th, 2006, 09:43 AM

I've verified that I'm using 4.21 and repeated my test using LFF M2T output from PPRO. It produces correct results, meaning the field dominance is not being changed going to 4x3 Centered SD.

[I'm assuming incorrect field dominance when pans and zooms have mind-altering stutters and when a pause will show "streaks" at motion boundaries. Am I wrong?]

Thanks,
Wayne

David Newman · September 27th, 2006, 09:47 AM

No, however I won't trust the Adobe Media Encoder for M2T exports, particularly for filters. This has been a problem in the past. Just export to CineForm HD AVI as UFF, then export that to NTSC LFF, it works fine (and it is a higher quality solution.)

Wayne Johnson · October 2nd, 2006, 02:50 PM

You are correct. It works perfectly. BTW, I assume you meant "convert" to NTSC, not "export". Also, I had trouble trying to convert Cineform HDV AVI until I figured out that either the input file can't be named .avi or Split Scenes has to be checked in order to force the output file to be named -001.avi.

David Newman · October 2nd, 2006, 03:30 PM

Wayne, You also have the option to convert into another folder, but it is true we can't convert to the same filename.

Wayne Johnson · October 3rd, 2006, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Newman

Wayne, You also have the option to convert into another folder, but it is true we can't convert to the same filename.

I can't find the option for another folder. Somewhere in Prefs?

Thanks,
Wayne

David Newman · October 3rd, 2006, 09:56 AM

Yes, in Prefs under "Capture Location" there is a check box "Use Capture Location for converted files."

September 18th, 2006, 08:08 AM	#1
Wayne Johnson Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Becker, MN USA Posts: 60	HDLink Field Dominance for Resize Video I converted an M2T file to AVI using the new 4.2 HDLink. My hope was to produce a resized video for burning to a DVD without letterboxing. I specified "NTSC 4x3 centered" under resize video and got an AVI file that had clipped the wide screen exactly as I desired. When I burned the video to a DVD, however, I noted the same artifacts that I get when the field dominance has been reversed (readily apparent during pans). Does HDLink retain the upper-field-first dominance when producing the NTSC file? As near as I can tell, AVI files don't seem to contain a flag specifying field dominance, or if they do, most programs don't use it. I had big hopes for the HDLink "pillarboxed" conversion, but unless I'm seeing artifacts that don't exist, I can't use it in its present form. Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks, Wayne

September 18th, 2006, 01:37 PM	#2
Tim Bucklin Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Solana Beach, CA Posts: 112	Hi Wayne, Sorry, that was a bug that did not reverse the field dominance when going from 1080i to 480i. It's fixed and should be in the next build. __________________ Tim Bucklin CineForm Software Engineer

September 20th, 2006, 08:43 AM	#5
David Newman CTO, CineForm Inc. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California Posts: 8,095	The assumes as easy, M2T HD is upper field first, NTSC is lower field file first, now works correctly. __________________ David Newman -- web: www.gopro.com blog: cineform.blogspot.com -- twitter: twitter.com/David_Newman

September 22nd, 2006, 03:24 PM	#7
David Newman CTO, CineForm Inc. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California Posts: 8,095	It testing that myself and it worked, I will check again. __________________ David Newman -- web: www.gopro.com blog: cineform.blogspot.com -- twitter: twitter.com/David_Newman

September 27th, 2006, 09:47 AM	#9
David Newman CTO, CineForm Inc. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California Posts: 8,095	No, however I won't trust the Adobe Media Encoder for M2T exports, particularly for filters. This has been a problem in the past. Just export to CineForm HD AVI as UFF, then export that to NTSC LFF, it works fine (and it is a higher quality solution.) __________________ David Newman -- web: www.gopro.com blog: cineform.blogspot.com -- twitter: twitter.com/David_Newman

September 18th, 2006, 04:09 PM	#3
Wayne Johnson Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Becker, MN USA Posts: 60	That was quick! Thanks! Wayne

September 20th, 2006, 06:25 AM	#4
Wayne Johnson Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Becker, MN USA Posts: 60	I don't see it in the update log for 4.21. Can I assume it's there anyway? BTW, no one has ever answered my question about whether the field dominance can be determined by a setting in the video file. I just output an m2T file and specified lower first instead of the standard upper first. I'm assuming the old HDLink will now convert to a correct lower field first NTSC avi file, but...??? Thanks, Wayne

September 22nd, 2006, 02:48 PM	#6
Wayne Johnson Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Becker, MN USA Posts: 60	My tests indicate no change with 4.21. My test of 4.20 specifying an M2T file with lower field first and then an HDLink convert did fix the stuttering problem. Are you sure the fix got in 4.21?

September 27th, 2006, 09:43 AM	#8
Wayne Johnson Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Becker, MN USA Posts: 60	I've verified that I'm using 4.21 and repeated my test using LFF M2T output from PPRO. It produces correct results, meaning the field dominance is not being changed going to 4x3 Centered SD. [I'm assuming incorrect field dominance when pans and zooms have mind-altering stutters and when a pause will show "streaks" at motion boundaries. Am I wrong?] Thanks, Wayne

October 2nd, 2006, 02:50 PM	#10
Wayne Johnson Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Becker, MN USA Posts: 60	You are correct. It works perfectly. BTW, I assume you meant "convert" to NTSC, not "export". Also, I had trouble trying to convert Cineform HDV AVI until I figured out that either the input file can't be named .avi or Split Scenes has to be checked in order to force the output file to be named -001.avi.

October 2nd, 2006, 03:30 PM	#11
David Newman CTO, CineForm Inc. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California Posts: 8,095	Wayne, You also have the option to convert into another folder, but it is true we can't convert to the same filename. __________________ David Newman -- web: www.gopro.com blog: cineform.blogspot.com -- twitter: twitter.com/David_Newman

October 3rd, 2006, 09:56 AM	#13
David Newman CTO, CineForm Inc. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California Posts: 8,095	Yes, in Prefs under "Capture Location" there is a check box "Use Capture Location for converted files." __________________ David Newman -- web: www.gopro.com blog: cineform.blogspot.com -- twitter: twitter.com/David_Newman