Possible Quicktime issues

[BernH]

I just came across an oddity in the way Edius is handling SD NTSC Quicktime exports.

I was given some old NTSC TV series masters that were made in Media Composer and was asked to make seamless versions (cut out the bumpers and blacks).

The masters were 29.97i NTSC Prores 422 captured and exported at 720x486 Upper field first, 4:3, so I set up my project to match.

On the original file, QT7 and Media Info agree on the pixel count of 720x486 and QT shows a display aspect ratio/DAR of 4:3 (which would be 648x486 if the pixels were square) (media info reports a 3:2 DAR, but that is common for Media info to mis-report that, as 3:2 is what 720x480DV would be)

When I export from Edius with the new native Prores exporter, I am given files that QT reports as 640x480 pixel count and current size (meaning it is reporting the pixels as square), but Media Info reports 720x486 resolution and a 4:3 DAR, which as noted above would be 648x486 with square pixels.

Using non native QT7 exporter and Miraizon Prores, and choosing the 720x486NTSC settings in the encoder, QT reports 655x486 resolution and current size, and Media info reports 720x486 resolution and a 4:3 DAR.

As a point of reference, I also exported an GVHQ AVI, which Media Info sees as 720x486 resolution with a 4:3 DAR. (QT7 sees this file as 720x486 Resolution and current size, once again meaning it is seeing the pixels as square, but since AVI is not native to QT, I'm not surprised at this)

I have screen shots illustrating all of this in the attached zip file (sorry, more screen shots than the maximum of 5 allows in a post).

Now with that out of the way, there is obviously something funky with the metadata that Edius is injecting into the quicktime in that QT is not reporting the correct resolution and DAR from the project settings.

As it sits, I am unable to continue with this little job in Edius, as the incorrect metadata is causing slight squishing and stretching in display and will probably effect the delivery and processing of this material to the VOD service that it is getting sent to. I am going to have to finish this job in Media Composer, as it will inject the correct metadata.

If others can confirm some of these oddities, perhaps it is an issue that the moderators (Pat and Steve) can put forth to the software engineers in Kobe to look into. I don't know if the same issues are happening in PAL projects, as I don't have any comparable PAL material to test with but perhaps some of our friends in Europe or Australia can check.

I have not noticed any issues with HD material, as unlike the varying resolutions (648x480, 720x480, or 720x486), PAR (pixel aspect ratio - 0.9 or 1.333) and DAR (4:3, 3:2, or 16:9) in SD material, HD is always a PAR of 1:1 (square pixels) and the DAR is always 16:9, and this seems to carry through correctly.

I know the days of production and post in SD are behind most of us, but there are still some people working in SD and there will be times we have to "dust off" some SD material to do something with it, as is my case on this little job.

Pat and Steve, If you would like a small snippet of the source material I have for testing, let me know and I will export a little 10 or 15 sec piece from Media Composer at the office and get it to you.

[GrassValley_PS]

Yes, it would be nice to have some of the original clip to test with.

[BernH]

Originally Posted by GrassValley_PS

Yes, it would be nice to have some of the original clip to test with.

No problem Pat. I'll dig out a piece and send it to you a little later today.

[BernH]

Hi Pat, I just PM'd you a link to a 30 sec sample clip.