What Is This Thing, "Field Order???"

[Ray Musicbear]

Can someone please explain to me exactly what "Field Order" is and means? I have never heard this term!

The VideoStudio manual explains "NOTHING" about it!

[rwindeyer]

A TV picture is made up by drawing lots of horizontal lines down the screen. In the early days of TV it was difficult to develop phosphor tubes that would retain the brightness long enough; the concept of interlacing was developed. The picture is constructed by drawing (for instance) all the odd-numbered lines, then going back to draw the even-numbered lines. Two complete scans make up one frame. Technology is better today but the protocol persists, except for High Definition TV.
When collecting and processing video you need to standardise whether you are using Lower Field First (this is the default for firewire capture) or Upper Field First (eg analogue capture). Whatever, keep it the same throughout capture, editing and export.
Computers don't require or use interlacing - they can view an interlaced movie (by using some clever electronic wizardry to compensate), but if your movie was only for computer display you would be better to select frame based.

[Trevor Andrew]

Reading this may explain it a bit.

http://www.ulead.co.uk/learning/video3/page1.htm

or try this site

http://www.mir.com/DMG/

[Ray Musicbear]

Hello Rwindeyer & Trevor!

Thank you, "BOTH" for the excellent reply to my post.

Now I know exactly what "Field Order" is...

You guys have helped much.

Since I am new to this forum, if this is an example of the great
help I will receive here, I am indeed glad to have discovered
it.

I have just recently purchased VideoStuido, and with my great
anticipation and excitement over the soft ware, this forum seems
to be the icing on the cake.

I'll be around here again asking for help, and eventually, through
learning from all of you here, be able to one day help others too.

Thanks & Hugz!