Difference between CS3 and CS5 program monitor playback
wonderspark Jan 3, 2011 9:09 PMHello, all ~
I've found ten to fifteen threads regarding an issue whereby the program monitor appears pixelated in CS5 when it did not in prior versions of Premiere. I have both CS3 and CS5 Production Premium, and having played with DVCProHD files in both versions, I've noticed some behavior that makes me wonder what the difference is. Here are a few of the threads that seem most relevant:
http://forums.adobe.com/message/2970256#2970256
http://forums.adobe.com/message/1747808#1747808
http://forums.adobe.com/message/2662873#2662873
System info:
2009 Mac Pro 3.33 GHz Quad Core Xeon W3580
ATI Radeon HD 5870 GPU from Apple
3x1TB internal RAID 0 for video files
640 GB internal HDD for OSX 10.6.5
Dell G2210 for monitor #1, Apple 30" Cinema Display for monitor #2
The video files were shot on an HVX200, DVCProHD P2 mxf media, 1080/24p setting. The file properties show these files to be 1080i, 29.97 (24p), which I'm told is called "60i over 24p" or something like that. I'll admit that the exact nature of the file type is a little over my head, but that's another part of the issue that I've yet to find consensus on. Some say 24p is actually better in 720p mode on this camera, and others say 1080i is better, but that you're throwing away data for the same quality. Whatever. I only add this info to assist those that know everything about this format.
I also have some MOV files exported from After Effects CS3, where I used the original P2 files, added effects, and exported animation codec files at "best" settings.
Finally, I have a THIRD set of files, which are P2 files (MXF) that I created by exporting from Premiere CS3. THESE are the files that are giving me some problems in CS5, and cause me to ask about the difference from CS3.
(Ok, there are also files of a fourth type that give me no problems whatsoever, and those are MPG files exported from a friend's PC laptop using the PC version of Pr and Ae CS4. Of all the files, I expected these to give me grief, but they are fine!)
I converted the CS3 project to CS5, and the only files that look pixelated in the program monitor are those P2 export files from CS3. In CS3, all files play flawlessly, smoothly and I could not be more pleased by the look from import to Blu-ray disc export. I watched the Blu-ray movie on a brand new 3D-HDTV, and it's perfect. Now, playing this project in the new CS5 version is just as smooth, just as sharp when playing the original P2 files and the AE exported MOV files, but those "export to P2" files from CS3 look pixelated in CS5, while remaining perfect in CS3.
Does anyone have an idea what causes this difference in playback quality in the program monitor, for just the P2 exported files?




