Smoke Ext1 SP1 - NTSC export still not right

[BrianBuongiorno5346]

Has anyone been able to solve this dilema yet?  

I've had lot's trouble with exporting NTSC clips that are proper Field 2 (lower) dominance.  Normally, I would downcovert (resize) my HD clip from 2398 and then add pulldown.  This creates a F1 upper dominance file.

When exporting in Smoke 2013 EXT-1, I would try and choose F2 as the output option, and it would indeed create a F2 source that was flagged as lower.  However, when playing this clip in Final Cut 7 to check it, it always looks field inverted.  The only solution I've found was to output the F1 clip to tape and then recapture it using FCP in as a lower field F2 clip.

I read in the release notes for Ext1 SP1 that this bug was fixed, but I have tried it and get the opposite result.  When I export an NTSC F1 file using the media hub and select F2, it is flagged as "upper" in FCP7. When I choose F1 in the Smoke Export option, it is flagged as "lower" in FCP7, BUT, the clip plays back properly.  

So I am thinking that either the F1 designation in Smoke is now backwards, or the "lower" flag that is shown in FCP must be wrong.

Every NTSC downcoverted spot that we do has to be uploaded to DG Fast Chanel or Extreme Reach as a lower field dominance quicktime file.   Therefore, it is really a must that we get this issue sorted.

I'd appreciate any input or work-a-rounds that some you may have come up with.

Thanks,

Brian 

[BKM]

Curious if you are using the 720x486 or the 720x480 NTSC output?  When we did SD and also uploaded to DG Fastchannel we always had to adjust as well. a 480 clip shjould gice you proper field 2.

[BrianBuongiorno5346]

Hey Brian,

I'm using 720x486.  You're saying that you are resizing to 720x480?  Interesting.  Doesn't that cause a slight aspect ratio shift?

Thanks,

Brian

[BKM]

I think we actually just cut off 6 lines. At one time, early on, DG wanted 720x480. Actually they wanted 720x512 so they could add some data to the file. Not sure what they do now.

[BKM]

720x486 is F1 and 720x480 is F2. 
I am so glad I don't have to deal with NTSC Sd anymore.

[BrianBuongiorno5346]

OMG ... I wish!

I tried exporting the SD 720x486 clip as NTSC DV 720x480 F2 using "center/crop" and that did give me the correct F2 lower result. I'll send it on to DG to see if it passes their gatekeeper.

Our ER person tells that the MPEG file needs to be 720x512 for VBI purposes, so either way it has to get converted to something other than 720x486.

It is still strange though, that Ext 1 SP1 reverses the upper-lower flags on the export. Don't you think?

-B

[BKM]

Yea, not sure whats that is about since I don't touch SD. We do all of our HD to SD conversions via Telestream Flip Factory for broadcast air in house.