Shoot 29.97i or convert for deliverable?

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
October 2, 2023
4 replies
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I have a proposed upcoming project under early discussions. It's for a non-profit, where the more likely destination is client web use. But, if possible, it would be pitched to public TV.

Local public uses NPB standards, everything in 29.97i drop-frame. Of course that's 59.94.

That would not be my primary choice to shoot in. But I know a workable practice has been shoot 24p, edit, then take to Ae and do 3:2 pull-down.

Is that still the best thing, other than shooting in interlaced?

This topic has been closed for replies.

R Neil HaugenAuthor

Legend

Thanks for those responding ... but perhaps I'd also like @Jarle Leirpoll , @Warren Heaton10841144 , and @Michael Grenadier to opine? I do like a range of experienced thoughts. The more the merrier ...

Everyone's mileage always varies ...

M

Michael Grenadier

Legend

Just finished a pbs cutdown. I was told to deliver 29.97, but the piece was mastered as 24p Gonna see if 24p will be accepted... I've mentioned this to the client, but as usual, radio silence. Not sure what the best way to add pulldown to make it 29.97... If I remember correctly not a simple process to get the best quality, bwdik...

M

Michael Grenadier

Legend

Pull-down comes from moving film down through the transport mechanism during the telecine process. The Standard Handbook of Video and Television Engineering by Jerry Whitaker and Blair Benson has very detailed diagrams of the process. It is also discussed in the After Effect User Guide > Importing Footage > Importing and interpreting video and audio.

Thank you for pointing out that referring to reverse 3:2 pull-down as "pull up" can cause confusion. I'll try to use the proper name rather than slang in the future. It also gets called reverse telecine or inverse telecine.

Removing 3:2 pull-down is specific to i29.97 footage that has 3:2 pull-down present in the first place and restores the original p23.976. The process does not apply to footage that is i29.97 to begin with.

and removing pulldown can be a tricky process particularly if you don't know the correct cadence AND assuming that there haven't been any edits done of the 29.97 material. AE (and I think Premiere) allows you to remove pulldown if it can successfully figure out the cadence which is NOT always possible (the voice of experience speaking). What's interesting is many dvd players can remove pulldown and play out progressive 23.976 footage if the pulldown flag is set properly when encoding the film.

Remote Index

Hello R Neil Haugen,

I think your proposed workflow is best and will give you most long term flexibility.

I suggest shooting 23.98p or 29.97p and doing a conversion at the end or their specific delivery requirements. (I haven't used AE to do conversions before.)

R.