Workarounds for 23.976 fps and 48K??

[smashprod]

I am a film composer and use DP 4.61 and the DTP. I am starting to get a lot of indie film projects coming in that were shot on high-def video where the picture editor and the sound crew are all working at the 23.976 frame rate, with a 48k sample rate. I am currently working on such a project, and they don't have the budget to make me a 29.97 DVCPro. The window-burns on my Quicktime DVCPro files are all at the 23.976 rate. Currently I can run my session at the old video rate of 29.97 (the DTP is referenced to house video sync), but of course the frame numbers in DP don't match the frame numbers in my Quicktime video window burn. I know that DP has not implemented 23.976 yet, but I don't want to work in ProTools. For all you editors out there- is there any way to set up my MoTU system so that I can run at 23.976, and have DP display the same TC numbers as my video? For example, what would happen if I used a PAL blackburst generator set to 23.976 to drive the DTP and set both the DTP and DP to 24 fps? That may be a dumb question, but I'm a composer, not an editor

David Mansfield

[m2]

I'm a composer only as well but the bottom line is that frame rate is NOT supported. Drag. ProTools does support 23.976. Until there is support from MOTU on thses HD rates there is currently no work around to get the numbers to sync up. I've tried it.

[dynamix]

I've just been asked to do some audio sweetening on a project with this 23.976 frame rate.

Bummer...

[willtompkins]

They don't have the budget to make a 23.98 Quicktime? That sounds kind of incompetent on their part. Do they know what they're doing, because it's not rocket science to convert 23.976 to 29.97, nor does it really tap into the budget. Most likely, they're using FCP? If so, with Nattress Film Effects or Standards Conversion ($100), you can easily render a 23.98 movie into a 29.97 timeline with the proper cadence. Then render a new TC burn-in and export to whatever Quicktime format you need. You should really reassess the situation with them because they should deliver you the proper format, especially when it's really not that hard. Like you said, you can use a 23.98 movie on a 29.97 timeline, but the TC won't match up. You can at least be assured though that your printmaster will be in sync, granted that you have a 2-pop as a reference. The only other option is to use something like Gallery's VirtualVTR Pro for a real-time burn-in, but it costs $1600! It's a far cheaper option to convert the video beforehand. It is pretty unfortunate DP hasn't implemented 23.98 yet, I thought this would at least be a new feature in version 5.

-Will

[Frodo]

...It is pretty unfortunate DP hasn't implemented 23.98 yet, I thought this would at least be a new feature in version 5.

-Will

You know, I have to scratch my head sometimes. If I had to choose between releasing native VI synths in MAS format or HD frame rate compatibility-- common sense would dictate that HD frame rate compatibility in mid 2006 would be a no-brainer.

DP5's VI's are "cute" but they are far from mission critical. Either MOTU doesn't see HD as a priority or perhaps common sense really isn't all that common...

[m2]

You know, I have to scratch my head sometimes. If I had to choose between releasing native VI synths in MAS format or HD frame rate compatibility-- common sense would dictate that HD frame rate compatibility in mid 2006 would be a no-brainer.

DP5's VI's are "cute" but they are far from mission critical. Either MOTU doesn't see HD as a priority or perhaps common sense really isn't all that common...

Well unfortunately it shows us that the money is in the home enthusiast crowd, who would find that stuff just more exciting that paying for an upgrade that was all about features that probably only affects a smaller part of MOTU's buyer demographic. That's not to say that DP doesn't have a lot going on for the pros but I don't believe we keep them afloat.

[magnetman]

I agree that MOTU has really done the users a grave disservice in not supporting the 23.97 frame rate. I'm engineering on a film score for a major studio, and the cutting room is adamant in not wanting to conform the picture to industry standard, i.e., 29.97 NDFTC.

This is only going to happen more and more, as I can tell by the panicked calls I am getting from composers using DP.

I can only hope that it will be rectified / released in DP 5.02.

Michael Stern
Scoring Mixer

[smashprod]

Yes, that's defintely the case. There's no reason that composers can't be provided a 29.97 copy of the picture, but sometimes, since music is the only department working at 29.97 they don't want to do it. This will happen more and more.