p/c/n/u/b meaning
p/c/n
We assume the following telecined stream:
Top fields: 1 2 2 3 4 Bottom fields: 1 2 3 4 4
The numbers correspond to the progressive frame the fields relate to. Here, the first two frames are progressive, the 3rd and 4th are combed, and so on.
When fieldmatch is configured to run a matching from bottom ('field'=bottom) this is how this input stream get transformed:
Input stream:
T 1 2 2 3 4
B 1 2 3 4 4 <-- matching reference
Matches: c c n n c
Output stream:
T 1 2 3 4 4
B 1 2 3 4 4
As a result of the field matching, we can see that some frames get duplicated. To perform a complete inverse telecine, you need to rely on a decimation filter after this operation. See for instance the decimate filter.
The same operation now matching from top fields ('field'=top) looks like this:
Input stream:
T 1 2 2 3 4 <-- matching reference
B 1 2 3 4 4
Matches: c c p p c
Output stream:
T 1 2 2 3 4
B 1 2 2 3 4
In these examples, we can see what p, c and n mean; basically, they refer to the frame and field of the opposite parity:
- p matches the field of the opposite parity in the previous frame
- c matches the field of the opposite parity in the current frame
- n matches the field of the opposite parity in the next frame
u/b
The u and b matching are a bit special in the sense that they match from the opposite parity flag. In the following examples, we assume that we are currently matching the 2nd frame (Top:2, bottom:2). According to the match, a 'x' is placed above and below each matched fields.
With bottom matching ('field'=bottom):
Match: c p n b u
x x x x x
Top 1 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 2
Bottom 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
x x x x x
Output frames:
2 1 2 2 2
2 2 2 1 3
With top matching ('field'=top):
Match: c p n b u
x x x x x
Top 1 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 2
Bottom 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
x x x x x
Output frames:
2 2 2 1 2
2 1 3 2 2