Recording in Apple ProRes 422(HQ) on the Odyssey7 and Odyssey7Q

In HD there are different frame rates, resolutions and signal structures, all of which the Odyssey recorders can capture.  In order to determine the correct settings for your camera, choose from the parameters below.

Resolution

HD resolutions are 1280x720 (aka 720) and 1920x1080 (aka 1080).

Frame Rate

While there may be many available frame rates to select for a camera's sensor, the video signal output from the camera must be one of only a few possible speeds. Standard frame rates are 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, 59.94 and 60. Note that the fractional frame rates are just shy of the frame rates above them, which is a holdover from standard definition broadcast compatibility. While there are reasons for choosing 23.98 or 24 on cameras that allow both options, for the Odyssey recorders this makes no difference and the Odyssey will auto-detect the frame rate.

Progressive, PSF and Interlace

Historically, standard definition video divided each frame into two fields, each weaved into the other, one representing odd-numbered horizonal scan lines and the other even-numbered scan lines. Thus 30 frames of video was divided into 60 fields. Fields were offset in time so that the image changed 60 times each second, but it was only half the resolution of the entire image. This is known as Interlace video. As technology improved it became possible to deliver complete frames of information, but compatibility was needed with installed video equipment. Progressive Segmented Frames (PSF) represents a complete frame image but splits the information and transports it as if it was a pair of interlaced fields. The PSF format is commonly used in Sony camera systems. Progressive (aka "true progressive") video does away with the field structure entirely and organizes the data of each frame from beginning to end. It is important to know if the video signal coming from your camera is Progressive/PSF or Interlace.

Standard notation is to state the resolution and then the frame rate, separated by p, psf, or i. In 1280x720, all frame rates are Progressive, and are available as 720p50 or 720p60. In 1920x1080, frame rates can be p, psf or i. 24p is where it gets extra tricky.

3:2 Pulldown

24 frames per second is the worldwide standard for motion picture films. However this is not the common frame rate for video. In Europe and other parts of the world, 25fps is common for both film and video. But for countries where 30p video is the standard, a "hack" is needed to transport 24fps material across a 30p video stream. The answer is to divide the 30p into 60i (sixty interlaced fields) and then repeat the material in the 24 frames three times, then twice, then three times, then twice, etc. This stretches 24 frames across 60 fields and is known as 3:2 Pulldown. You can record this but it is difficult to cleanly edit the material and separate out the clean frames. Instead, the Odyssey features a “3:2 PULLDOWN” recording mode which will extract the original 24 frames from the 60i video stream and only record the original material without the added fields.

Some cameras do offer a 23.98p or 24p mode that sends only the original frames in either a Progressive or PSF video stream. It is important to know what your camera outputs so that you know if you need to utilize the 3:2 PULLDOWN extraction function.