HD to SD workflow WITHOUT jagged/wrinkled edges at DVinfo.net

Tim Bakland · November 5th, 2010, 08:27 AM

Using native timeline from beautiful Canon XF300 footage. I export as a Quicktime movie (full HD). Is there a best down-conversion method to SD such that the SD looks decent (that is, doesn't have those weird jagged edges/wrinkled edges with certain shots)?

The color quality is still beautiful (and better than typical SD footage), but the lines are not as good as if I had just started with SD footage.

I guess what I'm asking is: is there a tried and true HD-SD workflow via Final Cut Pro 7, and/or compressor, and or save-to-quicktime that I'm missing?

Perrone Ford · November 5th, 2010, 08:33 AM

Yes, and this topic has been covered in depth numerous times. I believe the master thread is located in the FCP area of this forum, but it's been some time since I referenced it.

I believe the answer you seek is in "Frame controls" in Compressor, but I am not an FCP user so I don't remember exactly where everything was.

Arnie Schlissel · November 5th, 2010, 09:28 AM

Perrone is correct. You can turn on the Frame controls in Compressor to control how the downconversion is done. You can choose how to treat the incoming & outgoing fields and how scaling is done.

I'd recommend that you run some tests using different combinations and save the best result as a droplet.

Tim Bakland · November 6th, 2010, 08:45 AM

Thanks so much, guys.

I hadn't had luck finding the exact thread that worked and "frame controls" was the missing ingredient, indeed.

Thanks again.

November 5th, 2010, 08:27 AM	#1
Tim Bakland Major Player Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Beverly, MA Posts: 512	HD to SD workflow WITHOUT jagged/wrinkled edges Using native timeline from beautiful Canon XF300 footage. I export as a Quicktime movie (full HD). Is there a best down-conversion method to SD such that the SD looks decent (that is, doesn't have those weird jagged edges/wrinkled edges with certain shots)? The color quality is still beautiful (and better than typical SD footage), but the lines are not as good as if I had just started with SD footage. I guess what I'm asking is: is there a tried and true HD-SD workflow via Final Cut Pro 7, and/or compressor, and or save-to-quicktime that I'm missing? __________________ Event Videography, New England www.timothybakland.com

November 5th, 2010, 08:33 AM	#2
Perrone Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 4,100	Yes, and this topic has been covered in depth numerous times. I believe the master thread is located in the FCP area of this forum, but it's been some time since I referenced it. I believe the answer you seek is in "Frame controls" in Compressor, but I am not an FCP user so I don't remember exactly where everything was. __________________ DVX100, PMW-EX1, Canon 550D, FigRig, Dell Octocore, Avid MC4/5, MB Looks, RedCineX, Matrox MX02 mini, GTech RAID, Edirol R-4, Senn. G2 Evo, Countryman, Moles and Lowels.

November 6th, 2010, 08:45 AM	#4
Tim Bakland Major Player Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Beverly, MA Posts: 512	Thanks so much, guys. I hadn't had luck finding the exact thread that worked and "frame controls" was the missing ingredient, indeed. Thanks again. __________________ Event Videography, New England www.timothybakland.com

November 5th, 2010, 09:28 AM	#3
Arnie Schlissel Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New York NY Posts: 322	Perrone is correct. You can turn on the Frame controls in Compressor to control how the downconversion is done. You can choose how to treat the incoming & outgoing fields and how scaling is done. I'd recommend that you run some tests using different combinations and save the best result as a droplet.