Convert 60i to 60p Revisited

A few questions were posted to me via YouTube on how to do 60i to 60p conversion. In a previous post I showed how to use Vegas velocity envelopes to do time remap effects. But I only mentioned the conversion process in passing with thread links on how to do it. For convenience here are two methods that have worked for me:

Standard Vegas
1) Create a Custom Project with 60p frame rate
File -> Properties -> Video -> Field order: None (progressive scan) -> Frame rate: 59.940 (Double NTSC) -> Save -> Ok
2) Load your HDV clip
3) Enable Smart Resample (this is default)
Right-click on clip -> Properties -> Smart Resample -> Ok
4) Encode video to a 60p progressive format
File -> Render As -> Pick a codec capable of progressive -> Custom -> Frame rate: 59.940 -> Apply -> Give the file a name -> Save

Mike Crash Smart Deinterlace Plugin
1) Create a Custom Project with 60p frame rate
File -> Properties -> Video -> Field order: None (progressive scan) -> Frame rate: 59.940 (Double NTSC) -> Save -> Ok
2) Load your HDV clip
3) Disable Smart Resample
Right-click on clip -> Properties -> No Resample -> Ok
4) Apply Smart Deinterlace to the video track
Video FX -> Smart Deinterlace (you must have loaded the plug-in previously) -> Drag effect to the track (not to the clip) -> Ok (use defaults)
5) Encode video to a 60p progressive format
File -> Render As -> Pick a codec capable of progressive -> Custom -> Frame rate: 59.940 -> Apply -> Give the file a name -> Save

Gotcha
The critical part is to encode in a progressive codec. HDV is interlaced. When using the Main Concept codec go to the Video tab and select Output Type MPEG-2. WMV and MP4 are always progressive.


References:
Glenn Chan's notes on Mike Crash's filter
http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=52097

Simple Cutout Animation with CreaToon

If you're looking for a simple 2D animation package look no further! CreaToon is great for simple cutout animation like talking heads. Before I found this I was going to use Blender 3D and learn all the rigging. It saved me some time coming up with a funny effect I wanted.

CreaToon can take most image formats such as JPEG, Targa, and PNG. I like PNG as it allows for Alpha Channels to make the background transparent. This means I could edit a graphic using Paint.NET then animate it. Attaching the body parts of an animation is easy to follow through the online tutorial. Within half a day I had a minute long voiceover and animation sequence working together for my cutout characters.

With the sequence done I was able to put it in front a green background and export to AVI. Imported into Sony Vegas I applied a Chroma Key reapplied the audio and was all set. CreaToon was also capable of exporting image sequences but this method seemed easier for my style of editing.

References:
http://www.creatoon.com/index.php

Slowmo and Speed Up Effect 300-style

Here's my attempt at the 300 style special effect. It works quite well for the HV20 with its high resolution picture and choice of manual settings. Good light is important to allow TV-500 or TV-250 mode. This eliminates motion blur. Shoot from a stable platform to reduce obvious rolling shutter. Then capture your 60i.

Convert your 60i to 60p using your choice of deinterlacer. Smart Deinterlace based on VirtualDub's works quite well. As for the codec, choose one that supports 60p such as Lagarith/Uncompressed AVI, WMV or H.264. Then feed the clip to an NLE that can do velocity envelope/time remapping. Speed up/ramp up the broad movements while at wide. When you find the terminus of an action, back off a bit then slow down to at least half normal speed (I like to go down to 0% in a V or U for Vegas velocity envelopes). Keep that for a few seconds then return to normal. To accentuate the slow mo portion, use digital zoom to the area of action.

Sony Vegas example:

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/9803/300stylevegassettingsls7.jpg

References:
http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=64785&page=2&highlight=ghost
http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=93587

Sleep is Close Behind

Shot in PF24 mode with Shutter Priority (TV) 6. Camera was inside the car propped against a seat on a monopod and a backpack. Driving was done well within the speed limit trying to avoid large bumps. Captured footage to Sony Vegas as M2T then increased speed to 12x by setting clip speed to maximum (4x) and adding maximum velocity envelope (3x).

Bleach Bypass on HDV

I've been trying out various Bleach Bypass techniques on 60i and 24p footage. It appears source matters a lot. HDV is 4:2:0 while DV is 4:1:1 for NTSC. It appears that DV with its compressed colors is easier to bleach using color curves, saturation, and color overlay. HDV, at least the color rich kind made by the HV20, needs to be desaturated to as low as 20% on the bottom layer. Sometimes it even helps to give a color tinge to the entire clip too. More experimentation to be done!






References:
http://www.finalcolor.com/bleach.htm
http://www.creativecow.net/articles/onneweer_barend/colorgrading_1/index.html
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=14222&highlight=kings
http://www.sundancemediagroup.com/articles/glennchan/levels_in_sony_vegas_part_two.htm

Melancholy of a Travelling Man

Low resolution 320x200 version further compressed by Youtube Sorenson codec.


Shot in PF24 mode mostly in TV 48 with custom effect. Shallow DOF in the opening scene was achieved using 28mm Nikon f/2.0 at full wide. The wild flower scene used the standard lens taking advantage of the shallow DOF inherent in the 1/2.7" sensor. Custom effect was Color Depth 0, Sharpness -1, Contrast -1, Brightness -1. The only shot with color correction was the city lights view from the air. Gamma was adjusted to hide the low light grain.

Things to consider for 24 frames per second

I've almost always shot progressive. It builds discipline. The higher frame rate of 60i has it uses but most of the time I still shoot as if I'm on 30p/24p. Here is a video to help illustrate some of the differences in style when using lower frame rates. 35mm users trying to emulate film style probably learn this as they go along.


Sorry, video unavailable due to Stage6 shutting down.

Original video is 720x400 which can be run fullscreen.
Apologies if DivX player doesn't agree with you.


The two basic rules are:
1) Avoid sudden movements
2) Try to shoot from a fixed position

All these shots were taken with a monopod. In the beginning of the above video I do a relatively slow pan. As you will notice, the fast moving objects like cars and people show a bit of the 24p stutter. Higher frame rates are better for higher movement. If you need to move fast or capture really fast objects look at 60i. Besides the subjects you have to consider your own movement. Panning takes patience and thinking ahead. You have to learn how fast you can twist the video head and appear smooth. And don't try to stop the head too quickly unless its an effect you mean to use. It can be jarring.

In the middle part I walk with the monopod to the middle of the center island. The shock of walking, especially with my flat footed step, can send the camcorder bobbing and yawing all over the place. The stuttering effect of 24p accents this. Unless you're trying to duplicate the beachhead scene from Saving Private Ryan you may not want to move around with 24p unless you have a well balanced base. I've driven in cars with 24p and gotten good video. But walking is always tricky.

In the later middle portion I show 24p sped up. Its a bit of a cheat. I would have used a sky scene but didn't have one. Sped up footage of nature scenes look nice when all the frames are progressive.

In the last portion I zoom in a bit. You have to realize that zooming means that any unintentional movement of the camera results in big movement of the image. So practice the steadiness of your hand. Try to keep a comfortable position so your nervous body movements don't transmit from the monopod/tripod to your camera.

From one amateur to another, have fun working in 24p.