Convert 1080/60p to 1080/30p ???

[NewTwoVideo]

Hello Everyone,

I would like to convert 2 videos from 60fps to 30fps to make them more playable on older Blu-ray Players and older Flat Screen TV's.
Here is the information about the videos:

Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media
Codec ID : isom (isom/iso2/avc1/mp41)
File size : 109 MiB
Duration : 3 min 28 s
Overall bit rate : 4 389 kb/s
Writing application : Lavf58.45.100

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L4.2
Format settings : CABAC / 3 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, Reference frames : 3 frames
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 3 min 28 s
Source duration : 3 min 28 s
Bit rate : 4 078 kb/s
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 59.940 (60000/1001) FPS
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.033
Stream size : 101 MiB (93%)
Source stream size : 105 MiB (97%)
Writing library : x264 core 155 r2901 7d0ff22
Color range : Limited
Color primaries : BT.709
Transfer characteristics : BT.709
Matrix coefficients : BT.709
mdhd_Duration : 208258
Codec configuration box : avcC



Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media
Codec ID : isom (isom/iso2/avc1/mp41)
File size : 31.0 MiB
Duration : 2 min 13 s
Overall bit rate : 1 957 kb/s
Writing application : Lavf58.45.100
Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L4.2
Format settings : CABAC / 3 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, Reference frames : 3 frames
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 2 min 13 s
Bit rate : 1 820 kb/s
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 60.000 FPS
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.015
Stream size : 28.9 MiB (93%)
Color range : Limited
Color primaries : BT.709
Transfer characteristics : BT.709
Matrix coefficients : BT.709
Codec configuration box : avcC


Searching on the forum, I found these two threads...
https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/343680-How-do-I-convert-60fps-to-30fps-to-halve-file-size
https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/399162-Cut-every-other-frame-in-60fps-to-make-same...on-30fps-video

So my questions are the following:
On a Windows 10 machine, am I better off using VidCoder or ffmpeg ?
If I use ffmpeg, is the following still a usable command line?
ffmpeg -i input.ts -vf "fieldmatch=order=tff,decimate=cycle=5:" -c:v libx264 -c:a copy output.mp4

Thanks for any guidance.

[servese]

Wouldn't making the video 60i result in less quality loss? (and still make it blu-ray compatible)

[NewTwoVideo]

I am a video novice, so I do not know which would be better?

I am certainly willing to convert to 60i and try it. What free program would do that conversion with the least quality loss?

[davexnet]

If you're comfortable with it, perhaps you should post a video sample of the source for more directed advice.

[ProWo]

Use clever Ffmpeg-GUI.
Load your video, click main, click convert video stream, click continue, change the fps field from 60 to 30, set CRF to 18, leave all other settings as they are, click convert.
If done, click multiplex, deselect the old videostream (h264 in blue), select the desired container (mkv, mp4), click multiplex.
All done.

[servese]

That would halve the frame-rate though. Interlacing the video would result in less quality loss (still some loss, but not as much.) Alternatively the OP could downscale to 720p and keep the video at 60fps.

[NewTwoVideo]

...<snip>... Interlacing the video would result in less quality loss (still some loss, but not as much.) Alternatively the OP could downscale to 720p and keep the video at 60fps.

Which conversion would result in less quality loss? Using 720/60p or 1080/60i ?

[johns0]

Use vidcoder and set the fps to 30 and encode.

[servese]

720p in most cases, especially if you've got a lot of motion in your video (trying to watch the footy on TV in 1080i is not an enjoyable experience!)

[ProWo]

That would halve the frame-rate though. Interlacing the video would result in less quality loss (still some loss, but not as much.) Alternatively the OP could downscale to 720p and keep the video at 60fps.

The OP's videos are progressive, not interlaced. So interlacing them wouldn"t bring any benefit.

[NewTwoVideo]

Okay. Thanks guys.
So I will try VidCoder to convert to 1080/30p and compare it to 720/60p.
Would I use VidCoder to convert to 720/60p also, or would that be better done with a different program like clever Ffmpeg-GUI?

[servese]

I know. I was thinking that interlacing the video would allow you to keep both the smooth motion that 60fps brings while also keeping the resolution at 1080p. It's probably more effort than it's worth though, and it'll make the video look a lot worse if there's a lot of motion. I'd probably say 720p60 is the best compromise. But OP should probably also try 1080p30 and see how they like it compared to 720p60.

[servese]

Posted that right before I saw your post suggesting exactly the same thing!

[Sharc]

...<snip>... Interlacing the video would result in less quality loss (still some loss, but not as much.) Alternatively the OP could downscale to 720p and keep the video at 60fps.

Which conversion would result in less quality loss? Using 720/60p or 1080/60i ?

This has been extensively discussed when HD TV was introduced, at least in Europe. Some broadcasters decided for 720p, some for 1080i.
Watching 1080i on the TV depends on the quality of the TV's deinterlacer. These deinterlacers (bobbers) are pretty perfect these days though, driven by the 1080i standard.
Try both and compare. I would however drop 1080p 30 which looses the temporal resolution, but you may try.

Avisynth script to convert 60p to 30i

separatefields()
selectevery(4,0,3).weave() #preserves the field order
#selectevery(4,1,2).weave() #changes the field order

Sidenote: There is sometimes a confusion regarding the framerate number of interlaced footage. Some call it 60i (for 60 fields per second), some call it 30i (for 30 interlaced frames per second). It's the same though: 60 interlaced fields per second.

[Sharc]

The OP's videos are progressive, not interlaced. So interlacing them wouldn"t bring any benefit.

Interlacing to 30i (30 interlaced frames per second, some call it 60i for 60 fields per second) would preserve the temporal resolution and make it playable on devices which reject 60p (level 4.2) but play 30i (which is level 4.1).

[NewTwoVideo]

Hello Everyone,

I tried Vidcoder to convert the one of the files to 1080/30p and 720/60p.
I tried several different quality levels.
In each attempt, I ended up with what looked like a PowerPoint slide show. Audio playing with still images that periodically changed.
There was no option available for interlaced video.

Next I tried clever Ffmpeg-GUI. I downloaded it from this forum.
When I tried to install in on my Windows 10 64 bit OS, Norton Security issued a warning that it had Malware WS-Reputation1 and deleted it all.

Next I tried downloading and installing myffmpeg. During the install it took me to a separate website to get some version of ffmpeg that did not look legit.
I backed out of that one.

Next I took a look at AviSynth, and I realized that this is all way too advanced for me.
I will just ask the person who gave me the files to do whatever conversion is needed to make it more playable.

Thank you to all who answered. I withdraw the question.

[davexnet]

Clever ffmpeg-Gui is clean. Your a/v is just warning you it's not a familiar file to them,
Thus it's poor reputation

[NewTwoVideo]

Use clever Ffmpeg-GUI.
Load your video, click main, click convert video stream, click continue, change the fps field from 60 to 30, set CRF to 18, leave all other settings as they are, click convert.
If done, click multiplex, deselect the old videostream (h264 in blue), select the desired container (mkv, mp4), click multiplex.
All done.

Hello ProWo,

I decided to revisit this problem and I saw that there was a newer build of your program available.

It downloaded without any complaint from my AntiVirus.
I downloaded the ffmpeg files from Videohelp forum and set the directory.
I followed your instructions to the letter.
It worked perfectly !!!

Then I got ambitious.
I tried it on a short 60p .mts file.
It worked but could not output in .mp4 container.
So I output in .mkv
Then I ran MkvToMp4 on the .mkv file.
It repackaged as .mp4 and it plays perfectly.

Thank you so very much for your wonderful program and for the perfect step by step instuctions.
Happy Thanksgiving !!!

[dellsam34]

That would halve the frame-rate though. Interlacing the video would result in less quality loss (still some loss, but not as much.) Alternatively the OP could downscale to 720p and keep the video at 60fps.

That's the worst advice ever, You are worried about less quality from interlaced video but you forget the horrible quality he would get from going 1080 to 720, not to mention that there are no native 720 panels are being sold now, so an upscale is going to be done again by the TV during playback. Way to go!!

[ProWo]

I tried it on a short 60p .mts file.
It worked but could not output in .mp4 container.

Could you post here a mediainfo report (text mode) from this mts file?
Would check this issue.