Downconverting 1080i50 Prores for DVD in Compressor

Mike Marriage · October 31st, 2010, 02:15 PM

Hi all, I know this comes up all the time but can't figure this out or find the answer.

Project shot on 1080i50 XDCAMHD. I output this as a 1080i50 Prores HQ file. Looks great and is still interlaced. I then need to make a PAL 50i DVD.

I took my Prores file into Compressor and applied the "DVD Best Quality 90m" setting. In the Inspector I then turned frame controls on, resize filter: Better, Output Fields: Same as source, Deinterlace: Better, Adaptive details: ticked/on. The retiming controls I left alone (Rate conversion: fast).

However the .m2v file that is compressed is not interlace, it looks progressive in Quicktime and when played back on a CRT. Anyone know why??

I have just tested with the default "DVD Best Quality 90m" setting and that seems to result in a interlaced file as required. Why was it not reinterlacing before though? Shouldn't "Output Fields: Same as source" make it reinterlace the footage?

Many, many thanks and my first born son to anyone who can answer this!

Craig Parkes · November 1st, 2010, 08:37 AM

Did you check to make sure that compressor was not on auto for field selection for the source, and then incorrectly guessing the source was progressive? Compressor often gets it wrong when left on auto so that would be the first place I'd check.

Mike Marriage · November 2nd, 2010, 05:09 AM

Hi Craig

Thanks, I'll look into that. Do you mean in the "Encoder" menu and then the "Video Format" tab?

Craig Parkes · November 2nd, 2010, 10:30 AM

Hi mike, I think so. I'm on the road at the moment and nowhere near and edit suite so can't say the menu names for certain.

Geoffrey Cox · November 5th, 2010, 02:56 PM

Mike, I had the same problem recently though strangely the other way round - I switched frame controls off from the default 'on' as I thought 'I don't need them on as I'm not de-interlacing' and the footage came out looking awful! So I left the default frame controls 'on' (and all greyed out with output 'same as source' selected) and yes the field setting was on automatic and everything was fine. I know this might not help as it kind of contradicts your experience but I would let Compressor select the settings - leave the defaults alone - and see what happens rather than changing them.

October 31st, 2010, 02:15 PM	#1
Mike Marriage Major Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NE of London, England Posts: 788	Downconverting 1080i50 Prores for DVD in Compressor - URGENT HELP NEEDED! Hi all, I know this comes up all the time but can't figure this out or find the answer. Project shot on 1080i50 XDCAMHD. I output this as a 1080i50 Prores HQ file. Looks great and is still interlaced. I then need to make a PAL 50i DVD. I took my Prores file into Compressor and applied the "DVD Best Quality 90m" setting. In the Inspector I then turned frame controls on, resize filter: Better, Output Fields: Same as source, Deinterlace: Better, Adaptive details: ticked/on. The retiming controls I left alone (Rate conversion: fast). However the .m2v file that is compressed is not interlace, it looks progressive in Quicktime and when played back on a CRT. Anyone know why?? I have just tested with the default "DVD Best Quality 90m" setting and that seems to result in a interlaced file as required. Why was it not reinterlacing before though? Shouldn't "Output Fields: Same as source" make it reinterlace the footage? Many, many thanks and my first born son to anyone who can answer this! __________________ www.mikemarriage.com

November 1st, 2010, 08:37 AM	#2
Craig Parkes Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 444	Did you check to make sure that compressor was not on auto for field selection for the source, and then incorrectly guessing the source was progressive? Compressor often gets it wrong when left on auto so that would be the first place I'd check. __________________ www.afterglow.co.nz

November 2nd, 2010, 05:09 AM	#3
Mike Marriage Major Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NE of London, England Posts: 788	Hi Craig Thanks, I'll look into that. Do you mean in the "Encoder" menu and then the "Video Format" tab? __________________ www.mikemarriage.com

November 2nd, 2010, 10:30 AM	#4
Craig Parkes Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 444	Hi mike, I think so. I'm on the road at the moment and nowhere near and edit suite so can't say the menu names for certain. __________________ www.afterglow.co.nz

November 5th, 2010, 02:56 PM	#5
Geoffrey Cox Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Huddersfield, UK Posts: 469	Mike, I had the same problem recently though strangely the other way round - I switched frame controls off from the default 'on' as I thought 'I don't need them on as I'm not de-interlacing' and the footage came out looking awful! So I left the default frame controls 'on' (and all greyed out with output 'same as source' selected) and yes the field setting was on automatic and everything was fine. I know this might not help as it kind of contradicts your experience but I would let Compressor select the settings - leave the defaults alone - and see what happens rather than changing them.