Field Order When Converting HD source to DVD

[SCDVD]

This is a confirming question. When using video from a HD camera which records top field first, it is my understanding that it should be left top field first when converting it to a DVD. There is nothing about the DVD spec that says it has to be bottom field first is there?

[zoobie]

I think you're right...keep the field order it came in
to be sure, view your mpegs on a tv before burning to see how they behave

[SCDVD]

Related to that, is there a problem if some segments of a DVD are bottom field first and others top field first? Here's the problem. The source videos are from two camera; one is top field first, the other is bottom field first. How is this best handled? Is there a way around this such as multiple title sets when the video is authored?

[zoobie]

I think you'll be ok by keeping the field orders of the segments as they are
again, test these on a tv before burning
sometimes, when editing, the field order get switched
if so, you'll see problems in high action scenes with the mpegs...but only on a tv

[SCDVD]

How do you handle a situation when there a two cameras each with a different field order when using clips from each one to edit to a single video. I'm talking about two cameras taping one event.

[racer-x]

You can always convert the TFF footage from the HD cam to BFF by clipping one scan line from the bottom and adding one black scan line to the top. This will effectively convert the field order. There are filters for Virtualdub that can do that as well as Avisynth. That would be the ideal way to handle footage from two cameras with different field order.

Or you can have the HD Cam down convert the footage to mini-dv. That will produce mini-dv footage that is BFF standard..............................

[manono]

Yeah, you probably do want to make them both the same field order. Which it is doesn't much matter. Although most DVDs are TFF, there are no rules about that, and I've seen plenty using BFF.

AviSynth can do it pretty easily. If you need instructions and sample scripts, just ask.

[zoobie]

I still don't think you need to switch fields...at all