DV to DCP

[paul.desilva]

Hey all,

This is more of a general DCP question than specific to DCP-o-matic but hopefully it's relevant.

I'm editing a feature that was recently shot on miniDV (Canon XL1S) and we're intending to eventually submit to festivals which means finishing in a way that could be printed to DCP if needed.

Our footage is: 720x480, 29.97fps, and .91 pixel aspect ratio

I would think the best DCP settings to target would be: 1998x1080 (pillarboxed), 30fps, pixel aspect ratio of 1

My first question is: I've read some things that say 30fps may not be supported by all digital cinema projectors (especially older ones). Should we actually target a 24fps output or a 30fps output? Is this older projector issue fringe enough that we should go with a 30fps master and just make a 24fps DCP if it's ever required?

My second question is: When during the post process would you recommend making these conversions?
- Upscaling to 1080 seems like it could easily happen at the very end so I'm not concerned about that.
- Converting 29.97 to 30fps seems like it would cause more sound sync issues if done prior to editing rather than at the end. I realize this conversion would require adding additional frames. Am I right that it would mean adding only 1 duplicate frame around every 33.3sec? That seems within reason but maybe that math is wrong?
- Converting from .91 to 1 pixel aspect ratio seems like something that should happen before going to color, but this also seems like something that could simply be done at any point during the edit since it doesn't actually have a material effect on the footage.

Any help would be appreciated!

[RSV]

I don't know where to start with that.

Who is still filming on DV on these days, especially when considered to show on festivals?

Anyway, DaVinci Resolve (Studio) is doing a very good job in frame rate conversions. For DCP I would do it that way in a 24p timeline. Then the de-interlacing topic is done too with that. Otherwise 3:2 pulldown is the keyword.

Good that you are already aware of the PAR topic. You need to have an eye on this during the entire process!

I would edit the movie in a DV conform timeline with the native fps and resolution and export it that way. Then doing the frame rate (and maybe the resolution) conversion in a new 24p timeline. DoM can upscale too and detects the PAR but I do not have any experience with that.

PS: An AI upscale could be an option too for this but that is an other story...

[Carsten]

The resolution of the XL1S is really bad for a cinema presentation. You should maybe investigate into one of the latest developments in advanced upscaling algorithms, be they classic or AI based.

You should edit and create your master in 720/480 and 29,97fps. Then first do a straight 1998/1080 30fps SMPTE DCP in DOM. That is straight forward, nothing special to adjust in DOM, other than to ignore the warning about 30fps being non-standard.

Chances are high that a festival is nowadays able to play a 30fps DCP.

Then you should probably target the upscale and frame rate/pulldown conversion in an additional step in order to create a second or third DCP.

Did you work interlaced or in frame mode with the XL1S?

- Carsten