OT: Is MPEG2 DVD lower or upper field first?

Sticky Fingaz wrote on 12/28/2004, 4:53 PM

I am trying a program to do the converting to mpeg2 before importing into DVD Architect, and the program asks if I am converting to UFF or LFF. Weird question I thought because I thought that was only important when dealing with DV. Anyway my source is DV so naturally it's LFF, but what do I choose when going to DVD?

Comments

SonyEPM wrote on 12/28/2004, 5:41 PM

I'd suggest starting with lower field first, "LFF". If this un-named program handles field order correctly ( assuming it does everything right and the source you are feeding it is properly prepared), all should then be fine when bringing these files into DVDA for authoring.

BillyBoy wrote on 12/28/2004, 7:19 PM

I got a question that's somewhat similar. I've always used lower field first to make DVD's played for personal use on a 4/3 standard TV for good old low resolution NTSC crappy US standard TV.

Now that I got a HD TV that accepts progressive scan and a DVD player that feeds progressive scan, should I or not switch to encoding to progressive?

Should I change anything else when making DVD's in Vegas and DVD-A? Different template, frame size, etc?

My eyesight not being that great I can't see a difference.

SonyEPM wrote on 12/29/2004, 7:41 AM

I prefer encoding progressive MPEG-2 for DVD when the source material is progressive, stick with interlaced (Lower First) otherwise.

EX: if I shot 24p footage with HDCAM or a DVX100 I'd encode as 24p MPEG-2, but if I shot with an interlaced camera like a PD-150 I'd encode as interlaced.

The choice is yours to make obviously but keeping the source material's field rate consistent all the way through the production process is generally the right thing to do...unless you are trying to achieve a certain look via a post process.