Newbie capture settings question

[Keithchr]

Hi. My VideoStudio 8 handbook says in the capture section:

The Change Field Order dialog will appear... "Choose upper Field First or Lower Field First depending on your video source".

My video sources are PAL MiniDV connected by Firewire card and also a Miglia Analog to digital converter for my PAL Video8 tapes.

I am wanting to convert these after editing to Mpeg 2 for DVD.

My question is: How do I know which is the correct field order for capture, upper field first or lower field first?

Many thanks for any help.

[daamon]

Hi Keithchr,

It's highly common for DV footage to be lower field first. As you converting ro digital from analog, that'll probably be the same too.

If, in the unlikely event, that is wrong - you'll soon know coz the playback on the TV (i.e. not sure if it shows on the PC monitor coz it's progressive, not interlaced) will look like a load of horizontal lines having a party - especially when panning left to right is happening.

[Keithchr]

Thanks Daamon..Quick reply much appreciated. I suppose there is no way for telling the field order other than by trying a small clip done with LFF then UFF.
Thanks again.

[daamon]

No problem.

Yeah - This question pops up every now and again, and I've never seen a tool mentioned that can tell you this info.

So, yes, as you say - a quick trial is on the cards. I'd strongly recommend trialling LFF. Give UFF a go just to see the difference - if only out of curiousity.

Don't forget - view on a TV just to be sure...

[bunyip]

TMPGEnc has a go at guessing the field order when you use the wizard but it doesn't always get it right - try it on several of your captured files and see if it reports the FO consistently.