NTSC film standard editing bugs

clement5 wrote on 6/27/2019, 12:08 PM

The NTSC film standard is approximately 23.976 fps, but exactly 24000/1001.  In addition the standard DVD frame size is 720x480 with either 4:3 aspect ratio, or 16:9.  This poses difficulties for MEP.  When selecting AVI output, if the codec is changed (advanced option), the frame rate and aspect ratio are modified.  It is possible to reset the aspect ratio to the correct value, but not the frame rate.  This causes problems with correct frame time alignment and also with sound track alignment.  I have reported this to Magix support, and they have reproduced it.  The solution is to export uncompressed AVI, and then use a program such as VirtualDub to create the desired codec.  Unfortunately VD does not properly set the aspect ratio.  Yes NTSC actually supports other standards, but when you detelecine a DVD you get 24000/1001fps.  In either case MEP should exactly support the video frame rate and not change it by default.  I have not tested other frame rate videos.

In addition there is a glitch in exporting uncompressed selections of 24000/1001fps video.  The initial frame is OK, but when the actual final frame in the export is different from the selected frame.   For example the final frame might have been selected as 0:04:00:01.  Sometimes the final frame is what has been selected, but sometimes it is one frame short.  If the result is reimported into MEP the end of the import lines up at 0:04:00:01, but sometimes at 0:04:00:00.  One workaround is to always export one more frame than desired, and then cut off the extra frame later.  Of course you can export it and then reimport the result to see if it is correct, and then reexport if needed.  UGH  This has also been reproduced by Magix support.  Support has waffled about this being a bug.  While it may be an unintended artifact, it is a bug because programs should work exactly as requested, not randomly.  I don't know if this happens with other types of videos such as 24,25,30000/1001... videos.

There are other glitches in selecting output.  If you select parameters for the output, and then click on "advanced" options, some of your original settings are gone.  For example the file name or 3D settings are reset.  Most parameters stay the same from one output to the other, but the 3D settings do not.  It seems that some of the file output parameters are not stored as part of the project.  These are certainly nuisance problems which require much vigilance.  Apparently nobody in the design team has checked to see if file output parameters are handled in a consistent fashion.  Since I work with both 2D and 3D, I have accidentally output a 2D video as 3D and vica versa.  Consistency makes programs much more user friendly.

Comments

johnebaker wrote on 6/27/2019, 2:08 PM

@clement5

Hi

Please continue this topic in your previous topic on the same issue.

This will avoid split responses and members will see what has already been suggested.

John EB

Forum Moderator

 

 

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