Apple M8728Z/A User Manual - Page 29

Working with NTSC Video

Page 29 highlights

Working with NTSC Video The original frame rate of NTSC video was exactly 30 fps. When color was added, the rate had to be changed slightly, to the rate of 29.97 fps. The field rate of NTSC video is 59.94 fields per second. NTSC video is often referred to as having a frame rate of 30 fps, and although the difference is not large, it cannot be ignored when transferring film to video (because of its impact on audio synchronization, explained in Synchronizing the Audio with the Video). Another issue is how to distribute film's 24 fps among NTSC video's 29.97 fps. The most common approach to distributing film's 24 fps among NTSC video's 29.97 fps is to perform a 3:2 pull-down (also known as a 2:3:2:3 pull-down). If you alternate recording two fields of one film frame and then three fields of the next, the 24 frames in 1 second of film end up filling the 30 frames in 1 second of video. Note: The actual NTSC video frame rate is 29.97 fps. The film frame rate is modified to 23.98 fps in order to create the 3:2 pattern. ABCD AAB B B C C DDD Field Field Field Field Field Field Field Field Field Field 121 2 121 21 2 3:2 Pull-Down Before (23.98 fps) A B CDA BC DAB C DAB C DA BC DAB CD A A B B B C C DDD A A B B B C C DDD A A B B B C C DDD A A B B B C C DD D A A B B B C CDDD A A B B B C CDDD After (29.97 fps) One second As shown above, the 3:2 pattern (actually a 2:3:2:3 pattern because frame A is recorded to two fields followed by frame B recorded to three fields) repeats after four film frames. Virtually all high-end commercials, movies, and non-live television shows use this process prior to being broadcast. Chapter 2 Before You Begin Your Film Project 29

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Working with NTSC Video
The original frame rate of NTSC video was exactly 30 fps. When color was added, the rate
had to be changed slightly, to the rate of 29.97 fps. The field rate of NTSC video is 59.94
fields per second. NTSC video is often referred to as having a frame rate of 30 fps, and
although the difference is not large, it cannot be ignored when transferring film to video
(because of its impact on audio synchronization, explained in
Synchronizing the Audio
with the Video
).
Another issue is how to distribute film’s 24 fps among NTSC video’s 29.97 fps.
The most common approach to distributing film’s 24 fps among NTSC video’s 29.97 fps
is to perform a 3:2 pull-down (also known as a
2:3:2:3 pull-down
). If you alternate recording
two fields of one film frame and then three fields of the next, the 24 frames in 1 second
of film end up filling the 30 frames in 1 second of video.
Note:
The actual NTSC video frame rate is 29.97 fps. The film frame rate is modified to
23.98 fps in order to create the 3:2 pattern.
Before (23.98 fps)
A
B
A
BB
C
C
D DD
A
B
C
D
A
D
A
B
C
D
A
B
C
D
A
B
C
D
A
B
C
D
B
C
AABBBCCDDDAABBBCCDDDAABB
CCDDDAAB
B
B
C
C
DDDA
B
A
BB
C
C
DD
B
D
A
B
C
D
A
A
B
B
B
C
C
D
D
D
Field
1
Field
2
Field
1
Field
2
Field
1
Field
2
Field
1
Field
2
Field
1
Field
2
3:2 Pull-Down
After (29.97 fps)
One second
As shown above, the 3:2 pattern (actually a 2:3:2:3 pattern because frame A is recorded
to two fields followed by frame B recorded to three fields) repeats after four film frames.
Virtually all high-end commercials, movies, and non-live television shows use this process
prior to being broadcast.
29
Chapter 2
Before You Begin Your Film Project