DVFilm Maker - 24P Options


    PRE-EDIT PROCESSING

    The Pre-Edit modes are used after you have captured the video but before editing. Note that Quicktime is always used for true 24P video because there is no standard for NTSC DV-AVI's of 24 frames/sec (and they will make the Windows Media Player bomb out).

    After capturing, open the DV-AVI or FCP Movie File with DVFilm Maker.

    Convert 60i to 24P

      Use this option for standard interlaced NTSC shot at 1/60th sec shutter speed, where you wish to edit at 24P for the purpose of transfer to film or to author a 24P DVD. If this option is selected, all film effects (widescreen, grain, red boost) will be disabled. These effects can be added after editing.


    Convert 3:2 Pulldown to 24P

      Use this option for NTSC which was shot in 24P normal mode with a standard 3:2 pulldown, or with video that originated on 24 frames/sec film, where you wish to edit at 24P for the purpose of transfer to film or to author a 24P DVD. If this option is selected, all film effects (widescreen, grain, red boost) will be disabled. These effects can be added after editing.


    Convert 2:3:3:2 pulldown to 24P

      Use this option for NTSC video that was shot in 24P Advanced mode (Canon XL-2, DVX100 or DVX100A) with a 2:3:3:2 pulldown, or 24P-NTSC archival material created with DVFilm Maker with a 2:3:3:2 pulldown. Convert 2:3:3:2 Pulldown to 24P is the only option that works without recompression of the video data. If this option is selected, all film effects (widescreen, grain, red boost) will be disabled. These effects can be added after editing.


    Output 23.976 Exact

      Use this option to output 23.976 frames/sec Quicktime with 48000 Hz audio, instead of 24.000 frames/sec Quicktime and 48048 Audio. This option works best with editing programs that can set the timeline to exactly 23.976 frames/sec. If this option is not used, then the Quicktime's playback rate is 24.000 fps and the audio playback rate is set to 48048 Hz to keep perfect sync, and the 24.000 frames/sec timeline must be set up for 48048 Hz audio.


    24P or 23.976P - how do I know which frame rate to use?

    • Use the 23.976P option unless your editing software cannot handle the 23.976 frame rate (also known as "23.98"). 23.976P is known to work with Final Cut Pro, and Vegas Video.
    • Premiere 6.0 and 6.5 have problems with 23.976. The problem is that when Premiere exports a "23.98" Quicktime it is literally 23.980 and not 23.976, and so the Quicktime will slip 1 frame out of sync for every 4 minutes. For Premiere 5.1 through 6.5 we recommend 24.000 fps and 48048 Hz audio, and the Quicktime editing mode works best. For Premiere Pro make sure you upgrade to version 1.5 which can edit 23.976 and 48000 Hz.
    • iMovie: iMovie cannot edit at 24 fps, it can only be used to capture and record NTSC DV Stream files. DVFilm Maker will read a DV Stream file directly, and can export a DV Stream file from the File->Export Menu. If you're using iMovie, get Quicktime Pro for editing your 24 fps movie files.
    • Quicktime Pro ($40 from Apple) can be used for very simple 24P editing, but only at 24.000 fps.
    • For all other editing programs, do this simple test: shoot and capture a 20 min clip that has a clapper slate at the very beginning and very end. Use DVFilm Maker to convert to 23.976P. Import the resulting Quicktime into your editing software with the timeline preset to 23.976P, if possible, or 23.98P if there is no setting for 23.976P. Export a 23.976P Quicktime from the timeline, or a 23.98P Quicktime if there is no setting to export 23.976P. Bring the exported file back in and drop it into a 2nd video/audio track. Check the slates for accurate sync. If your editing software cannot handle 23.976P, the tail slate will be off by about 5 frames. If that is the case you have to use 24.000 fps and 48048 Hz audio for editing.

    Delay Audio

      At this time, all Panasonic DVX100 units record the audio 1-2 frames ahead of the picture in 24PA mode. Click here to understand why (requires Acrobat Reader). The Delay Audio feature will allow you to correct the problem. The default value is 1 frame.

      If you have the DVX100A, use 0 (zero) to turn this feature off.

      Negative values can also be used to advance the audio instead of delaying it.




    POST-EDIT PROCESSING

    Premiere or Quicktime Pro users who wish to author a progressive-scan DVD must convert the 24P Quicktime to 23.976P using DVFilm Mutate. The DVD can then be made directly from the 23.976P Quicktime, you do not need to convert to NTSC (the DVD player will do that if necessary).

    Otherwise if an NTSC tape must be made, the post-edit modes of Maker are used after the video has been edited in a 24P or 23.976P timeline, to convert to NTSC for broadcast or digital projection.

    The first step is to export your final cut as a DV-NTSC compressed Quicktime at 24 or 23.976 frames/sec as appropriate and open it with DVFilm Maker.


    Convert 24P/23.976P to NTSC 3:2 pulldown.

      Converts a 24 or 23.976 frames/sec DV (720 x 480) Quicktime to an NTSC DV-AVI or Quicktime which can be recorded out to Firewire using Premiere, FCP, or your video card software. The 3:2 pulldown is the smoothest method and simulates film telecine to NTSC.


    Convert 24P/23.976P to NTSC 2:3:3:2 pulldown.

      Converts a 24 or 23.976 frames/sec DV (720 x 480) Quicktime to an NTSC DV-AVI or Quicktime which can be recorded out to Firewire using Premiere, FCP, or your video card software. The 2:3:3:2 pulldown is not as smooth, but this the best way to archive a 24P final cut if you have to bring it back in later for more editing.


    Flicker removal

      Set to a value 0 through 4 to reduce the flicker effect of progressive-scan video converted to interlaced NTSC, by blending pixels in the vertical direction only.

      0 is for no flicker removal. 4 is the maximum value.

    Film Effects

      The simulated film grain and red layer boost features of DVFilm Maker can be used in conjunction with 24P post-edit processing. These options are in the regular options pop-up and can be fine-tuned in the Advanced Options popup.

      Other options such as the deinterlacer and motion detector mask are ignored in 24P processing and are turned off automatically when you select a 24P option.