Right field order

[pelix]

How can I be 100% certain that I have the right field order(bottom or upper first) when converting an avi interlaced to mpeg 2? Is there any utility for this?
Thank you!

[curritch]

Previous posts have stated that bottom field first is always used for miniDV data. They have also stated that top field first is used for analog.

The miniDV statement is unambiguous for footage originated by a miniDV camcorder. I'm still a little uncertain what to do when VHS video (analog) is digitized by a miniDV camcorder. Is this considered DV or analog.

[Scheif]

Analog video -- meaning video digitized by a non-DV (non-firewire) capture card -- is often top-field-first, but not always.

And analog video digitized by a DV camcorder (mini or otherwise) or other device (e.g., Canopus ADVC-100) would be DV and thus bottom-field-first.

[MrKGB]

the best method i know of is:
1. open your file in tmpgenc
2. in settings->advanced set some field order
3. go settings->advanced->deinterlace->method
4. select even-odd (field)
5. start scrolling frame by frame

if the movement is smooth, you have field order correct, if not - change it and try again.