freaking fields

[headexplodes]

Hi,

All i want to do is archive some DV-AVI on to a dvd without loosing too much quality. So... it seems logical to encode to mpeg2. I can do that fine using various methods, but my big problem is maintaining the fields from the original DV.

When using premiere pro (w/ adobe media encoder) or TMPGEnc, I cant seem to encode a 25fps mpeg2, while maintaining the original fields from my DV-AVI. When I play my DV-AVI, it runs smooth because (in my understanding) it plays at effectivley 50fps? I'm no expert tho :S When I run the resulting interlaced mpeg2, it runs much jerkier (less fps)

All i want to do is NOT loose the extra fields through de-interlacing, since I may want to be able to slow the video down at a later date, and still have the smothest video possible.

Is there a way, or even another format that, will allow me to keep the existing fields (or run at 50fps) and still be much smaller than my DV-AVI?

THANKS!!

- Robert.

[insleys]

Hi,

If you encode using the Media Encoder in Premiere, make sure you select 'Interlaced' mode and 'Lower field order'. Your encoded MPEG-2 will maintain both fields but the video will be still be 25fps.

When you burn to DVD and playback on a set-top DVD player, it will playback the interlaced frames at what is effectively 50fps as it only displays even and then odd fields on each consecutive frame (or what is really a 'half-frame').

Playback on a PC with something like PowerDVD will use a method called 'field bob' to merge the interlaced fields so it can playback on your progressive computer display. This playback will of course be 25fps but should still look smooth.

If the playback is still jerky, maybe you need to try 'Upper field order' when encoding. This tells the encoder to take the other set of fields from the DV file first when creating the interlaced frame.

If you STILL have problems, then try adding a filter to swap the fields before encoding. I had this problem once with a file captured from VHS, but never with DV.

Hope this all helps.

Steve.

[headexplodes]

thanks for the tips! will try them when i get home.