Converting 24fps to NTSC DV...

I have computer generated animation frames output at 24 fps. I want to
convert the frames to miniDV format, so I need to 1) resize them 2)
change the aspect ratio (square pixels of original images ->
rectangular pixels of video) and 3) change the 24fps to 29.97 FPS. I
assumed I could do this completely in Final Cut Pro, by simply changing
the output sequence settings to miniDV, and rendering. But I've been
told that I would get better results by taking the source clips into
After Effects, and doing the time blending and resizing there, and use
Final Cut Pro only for editing. Does anyone have any opinions on the
matter? Are there any good web documents on converting computer
generated animation frames to video, and how to convert and
account for the different pixel aspect ratios of computers vs video?

Thanks!

 

: I have computer generated animation frames output at 24 fps. I want to
: convert the frames to miniDV format, so I need to 1) resize them 2)
: change the aspect ratio (square pixels of original images ->
: rectangular pixels of video) and 3) change the 24fps to 29.97 FPS. I
: assumed I could do this completely in Final Cut Pro, by simply changing
: the output sequence settings to miniDV, and rendering. But I've been
: told that I would get better results by taking the source clips into
: After Effects, and doing the time blending and resizing there, and use
: Final Cut Pro only for editing. Does anyone have any opinions on the
: matter? Are there any good web documents on converting computer
: generated animation frames to video, and how to convert and
: account for the different pixel aspect ratios of computers vs video?

I would try AVISynth doing it. Go to www.avisynth.org. It's a bit complicated
but should work. I've done the opposite.

--Leonid

 

If you have After Effects you can add your 24 fps source to a new
composition. Set the composition for the NTSC DV preset but set the
comp frame rate to 24 fps. I think AE will take care of the pixel aspect
ratio but you'll probably have to resize the source to fit the
composition. In other words if your source is 640x480 square it will be
fine in a 720x480 rect composition. If your source doesn't match the
frame aspect ratio you'll have to resize and will have black bars around
some of the sides.

The NTSC frame rate will be output when you render the composition.
Under "Render Settings: Time Sampling" set "Field Render" to lower and
set "3:2 Pulldown" to "WSSWW"

I haven't done this in awhile so some of this might be off a little.
You may have to experiment a bit but this is basically how you do it.
You might also lookup "pulldown" in the After Effects help file.

 

Have you tried JES Deinterlacer?

Jan.

 

The aspect ratio is not a problem. As long as your frames are intended
for a 4 by 3 display, then just rescaling them to 720x480 will work
fine. FCP will probably even do this by default when you put the
frames on your timeline.

To change the frame rate you could use Final Cut Pro's time
stretching, but that will look terrible. The correct way to convert
24fps material to video rate is by applying 3:2 pulldown. After
Effects can do this, and there is also an inexpensive Final Cut Pro
plugin that will do it (the name escapes me, sorry). But FCP out of
the box cannot apply pulldown (one of my peeves - Cinema Tools can
remove, but not apply, 3:2 pulldown).

Regards,
Dan