PDW 330 - Problem with SD format for broadcast

[Peter Erfurt]

Hi,

Seeking the collective wisdom of the group.

The TV station I deliver to are using Sony cams but ingest the files in IMX format in SD. Now, I have the PDW 330, and I have delivered 2 clips in SD - DVCAM. When those files are getting processed in their system, the resulting pictures are "hooping" in broadcast.

Talked to a tech guy out there, and he said the DVCAM from a SONY XDCAM disc has the field order reversed, and that's why the end result had flaws.

I then tried to record in HD - but then we have to transfer the files via Firewire - not an optimal workflow. According to the manual should the camera convert the signal out of the Firewire port to DVCAM - but those pictures are brilliant - no hopping in broadcast. Maybe the cam reverses the field order out of the Firewire port during the conversion???

Now, my question is: Is there anything I can do to rectify the field order in SD in the camera (guess not) - or - would it be an idea to record progressive - at least the field order in progressive shouldn't be a problem.

What do you think? Any hints/help would be appreciated - I'm fairly new to this format :-)

[Anton Strauss]

wow, what equipment are they using? changing the field order of a file is a split second operation with any software that i know

the F330 DVCAM should produce correct field order files at lower field first, can you check what their field order is?

and XDCAM HD files are upper field first

[Simon Denny]

I use my Sony PDW f350 everyday and can tell you that DVCAM is lower field and HD is upperfield.

[Peter Erfurt]

Anton & Simon,

Thanks for clarifying that. I will go back to them with the info.

I have also always thought that the upper/lower field was something you basically could deal with in post, and just select the one to use for further processing. But maybe their editors aren't that educated :-)

But what is the big difference then between XDCAM HD/SD and XDCAM IMX, since they have their system (Avid) set up for IMX?

[Alister Chapman]

This is a very common problem with NLE's. If you set up the NLE for non DV editing then it will treat all files as upper field first. Then when you import DV or DVCAM which is lower field first it gets handled incorrectly with the field order reversed. Why on earth DV has the reverse field order to everything else I don't know! One further complication is that many edit suites only have the computer displays or an LCD screen for viewing and these more often than not, won't show up field order errors as they are progressive devices. It's only when the finished edit is broadcast and viewed on CRT TV's that the problem becomes apparent.

A simple "swap field order" filter on the DVCAM clips would as has been said fix the problem.

[Anton Strauss]

if you use Edius as your NLE, you can start an upper field project and any lower field file that is placed on timeline is automatically inheriting the field order of the project, no need to switch anything

I mix and match lower and upper field files all day long, no problem

[Uli Mors]

surely every professional NLE should support DVCAM as well - its a matter of project settings OR reflag your media (if possible in the NLE).

Another Method COULD be to shoot in HD or SD and convert it to IMX MXF in your own NLE.

(from time to time I am using Vegas for this) .

IMX is upper field again.

ULI

[Daniel Larson]

When I edit XDCAM HD clips into Final Cut Pro SD sequences, FCP automatically adds a shift field direction filter. It can be changed to -1, none, or +1. The footage looks good cut together.

Dan