Interlaced, progressive - give it to me straight

[tommy99]

I have read and read about this but I still don't totally get it.

I am using Vegas 5 to capture DV from my camcorder. I am then frameserving it to cinemacraft SP to create a DVD compatible files.

The DVD will be played on a regular 32" television right now. However, there will be a time when I will play it on an HDTV ready television

My question is: How do I render/encode the file for compatibility on both? What settings do I make in CCE now? Does pulldown come into effect at all?

As I've understood bought movie DVD's, when you play them on a HDTV ready television using component cables, you can press progressive on the DVD player and it will play in progressive mode (480pi) for a better picture.

This is basically what I want to do now - create home movie DVD's that show perfect on a regular television now and compatible with an HDTV television later.

Much appreciated!

[trevlac]

You should make interlaced DVDs from DV, and rely on your HDTV to adjust the image for proper progressive display.


Here is my logic .... (US logic btw ... different for PAL)

When a movie is shot on film, it is progressive. There are 24 full frames shot every second.

When a movie is shot with (most) DV, it is interlaced. There are ~60 1/2 frames shot every second (NTSC).

To get a 'perfect' picture, you need to play film on a progressive monitor and DV on an interlaced monitor.

When you watch a film on a std TV ... there is a slight jerky motion because of the conversion from 24 frames to 60 1/2 frames. We are used to it.

So ... converting an interlaced source (DV) to progressive (via some deinterlacing) will lower it's quality ... unless you have a very good method. Enjoy the full quality on a std TV and count on your HDTV to do the conversion for you when the time comes.

[NamPla]

I agree.

I always wondered, tho', how do they make 24fps into 25fps (for PAL TV)? Do they slow it up a fraction?

And what about NTSC? Do they speed it up to 29.97 or 30fps, or slow it down to 23.97 or ... bloody hell!

So confusing!

I can never "see" any "jerky" motion on my TV set when I watch movies...!?

[skeg64]

Yep, they play an extra frame every second to make it 25fps. This speeds it up by about 4%. They then have to lower the pitch of the audio so it doesn't sound squeaky. PAL movies are always 4-7 minutes shorter than the theatrical version depending on the running time.
NTSC is converted to 29.97 fps on playback using 3:2 pulldown. This method "creates" an extra frame every 4 frames. The extra frame is a blending of two of the four frames.

[lordsmurf]

I can never "see" any "jerky" motion on my TV set when I watch movies...!?

For the first time ever, I saw some on THE HAUNTED MANSION intro.
Usually, it's near impossible to see.