Top First Field order for MP4 export

Hi, I'm back :-)

I created a new preset:

chose MPEG-4, named it MPEG-4 interlaced;

Then with the preset selected, I made the necessary adjustments:

From then on, it is just a matter of using this preset.

I am thinking that perhaps you were using one of the presets that are already provided, and that may not allow for some changes... just a guess, but if you can create a new preset, you should be fine.

To clarify, please: can you confirm that your project interlaced?

And... do you really need interlaced output? Why?

Unless you are required to provide an interlaced file, there is no reason to use interlaced. Interlaced is a relic of old analog broadcast and should have died with it. Any current TV will have to deinterlace before showing it, anyways...

Sorry, since I subscribe to several forums and your post appeared in my e-mail, I mistakenly thought it was about Final Cut Pro (since there is very little traffic in this Compressor forum).

I don't think I ever used Compressor to make an interlaced file, I will have to do some testing.

Radas_cz wrote:

I exported file to MXF without any problems with Top First. Still no luck with MP4 file though...

Were you using a completely new preset for mp4 or trying to reuse an existing one? If the latter, I'd try creating a new preset and change it to interlaced before using it on any batch.

I experimented a bit, and whether it lets me change the field order or not depends on what settings are chosen.

For example, if I fill the frame size with 3840 x 2160 it locks the Field order as Progressive.

When you create a new preset, leave the frame size at Automatic, and change the frame rate to 29.97.

Does it let you change the Field order? I am able to set it to Top First, and then it stays that way, even if I later change the frame size.

Are you trying to change the settings from a batch? If you add a preset to a batch, and then try to change, it does not let you.

Select the preset itself on the left hand side, not the batch:

Could you post a screenshot of the preset without anything in the batch pane that shows the settings. It should look like this

I just did a quick test, creating an interlaced project, exporting as "Computer", and the resulting file is interlaced, as was to be expected.