PAL into 23.98 timeline

I am working in a 23.98 timeline and have some PAL 25fps footage that I am using. A conversion was done to Apple ProRes 422 HQ and the footage is "skipping" is there an effective way to convert this footage (I have the RAW) to make this footage play nicely? I tried Compressor with the same result.

Another clue - I also notice that in the originally converted version the audio is out of sync by either 3 frames or 7 frames ...

Lastly - THIS is why you hire a DP.

Thanks All!

FCP 7.0.3
OSX 10.6.8

the simplest was to turn 25 into 23.98 is to "Conform" it in Cinema Tools.
you can do individual clips, or a batch conform

this keeps every frame as a frame, and makes the clip play slightly slower.
this is a vey smooth seamless way, BUT if you need to sync to another camera, then the speed issue will be a problem.


what is the original format, and what was it converted to?


nick

PAL at 25fps converted to Apple Pro Res 422 HQ 23.98

well there's the problem.

how was it converted to 23.98?
you can't really fit 25 into 23.98 smoothly.
and depending on what tool was used you will get varying degrees of "skipping"

if syncing to another camera isn't an issue, re-export, but don't change the frame-rate,
then conform in CT to 23.98

and depending on your original format you don't necessarily have to export, or convert to ProRes,
you could just conform the original files.
what codec are they?


nick

XDCAM EX1080i 50

I didn't convert so not sure. I believe Compressor was used for some of it
Thanks for your help!! It hasn't been visible in FCP but now exporting for sound design it is showing up on other monitoring systems

can you use the Conform to Sequence or the Conform 25 to 24 option for this??

oh, so you have edited already?

as i say, conforming will alter the playback speed.
will that be ok?

XDCam EX, eh? well you do need to convert that to Prores first.

to do this conform you have to use Cinema Tools
you can open an individual clip in CT, then at the bottom right of the window it is in, there is a "Conform" button
OR
go to the CT application menu, and use Batch Conform

conforming in CT is an instant process.


to be clear, what you need to do to overcome the skipping is to re-transcode your original files,
conform them
then re-edit the shots into your timeline (replace edit is good for this)
timecode will be a rough guide only, you will have to eye-match



nick

So Nick,

I have duplicated the master clip and opened with CT - the conform buttons are not highlighted and I am not able to make any changes in CT. I tried to open from within FCP and directly with CT with the same result.

Am I missing a step?

So I should transcode the EX to Apple Pro Res 422 in PAL 25fps and then conform in CT then replace edit and eye match in FCP ...

Sonds like a long night ahead lol and crying simultaneously

that's all correct.
when you transcode, don't alter the original frame rate

it's all simple work, but time-consuming


nick

Just did a test and it worked so thank you Nick.
I did another test in an attempt to maintain the timecode. I brought the original into a 23.98 Motion Project and exported it as a movie and it seemed to work as well. Is that possible?

I am hoping to save timecode but realize it may very well be impossible ...

well bringing the 25fps XDCamEX into a 23.98 timeline is possilbe, but you will definitely get skipping.

FCP will simply drop or add whole frames to make up the difference.


nick

Yeah FCP is definitely dropping frames - but the Motion version (Motion being far superior in time remapping) seems to be working ... I'll need to test it in the morning on a different monitoring system to make sure, but at first glance it MIGHT be a quick fix option ... I'll let you know what I learn ...

And thanks again for the guidance

i dont see where the "quick" part comes in.
wouldn't this take just as long or longer than the conforming option?


nick

you are right - there is no quick fix

You can skip Cinema Tools if you use Compressor.

To convert the footage to 23.976, if you are transcoding to ProRes, go into the encoder tab, and set frame rate to custom and 23.976. Then go into the Frame Controls tab, turn it on, and at the bottom of the tab, set "so source frames play at 23.98 fps". Submit.



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