Recording Graphics to Video Problems

[LapisLaser]

I'm trying to document our graphic shows on video. I'm using a t2i with an ND filter, and the results are looking really good on the camera and in the imported videos. HOWEVER, if I import the vids in to Final Cut Pro X, or upload them to youtube, then I start seeing all kinds of framerate issues, which aren't there in the original video. Also, if I play the video on a 4K monitor that i have, the same thing happens. I get lost images and framerate conflicts. I'm just trying to figure out how to remedy this. Do i need to convert the videos before trying to edit them? What's the best format? obviously a better camera would probably be ideal, but the video looks pretty good until i try importing to final cut or youtube. Any help would be appreciated.

[araugh]

Graphics shows are really tough to capture. The variable framerate of the laser typically means that even simple graphics and high speed scanners that have a 90hz refresh rate can look weird with brighter retrace lines or in the case of slower graphics blank lines.

2 things you can try that work decently. First is to try to sync up the frame rates of the cues to the camera. This may result in the effect in real life looking awful, but being pretty smooth in the camera. While looking at the camera feed try adjusting your scan rate control on each cue and see how it affects your video.

The other thing you can try is frame averaging. I'm not familiar with Final Cut but our video guy uses Premiere and has the ability to average a few frames of video across eachother and I'm sure Final Cut would have this feature too. This looks great for static graphics or slow moving things, but as soon as you have anything moving quickly unfortunately you start getting double lines and ugliness.

One more thing you may consider is using LD2000. Pangolin says there's a feature for genlock in there so you can have all your frames start in sync with a generated sync signal. It's an awesome and effective old school way of doing it, but requires very simple graphics or fast scanners (or both) to look good.

Good luck!