field order switched mysteriously in virtualdub

[arcorob]

I have been capturing AVI using virtualdub from a HI 8 to AIW 128 pro.

All my settings are the same as always and yesterday, was capturing SAME video, same clips. When I brought into Video Factory, the clips said FIELD ORDER BOTTOM...Thats strange, it always says top.

I rendered to avi (and it wanted bottom) so I left that and it was fine. Fed to TMPG and when it said JUDGING FIELD ORDER it selected Field A ? That part is normal but not for a clip that started bottom.

What has changed in Virtualdub on me ? I tried SWAP FIELDS and no change on capture.

Any idea's ?

[chaseru]

I think encoders have a hard time guessing field order especially after using filters.

If I have virtualdub perform a 3x3 average TMPGEnc says my NTSC DV is top field first; without the filter TMPGEnc properly indicates that my DV source is bottom field first.

I guess as a follup question: does anyone know whether filters can change the field order of the source video?

[arcorob]

Yes..TMPG can...But not for the better. If the field order is wrong, it is wrong. That is why it is important to keep track.

My biggest issue is on captured ANALOG video like mine, it should be UPPER. Yet, it myseriously switched....DUH. But TMPG did find it better to use upper. Even though my CAPTURE told me lower. Heres the kicker.

I tried encoding BOTH ways. TMPG was right.

Just when I thought I had a process down.... At the same time, my best DVD player is somewhat erratic causing me to second guess my burned disk.

Seems my wife tried to play a disk....While another ws already loaded. Door closed, loaded, SCREECHED and she quickly got it out.

Hasn't been the same since...SIGH