Using VLC to correct first line flicker

[newvlcuser]

I've searched the web and this site for an answer to this question but have found nothing yet that answers it, so I'm posting about it.

I'm currently in the process of importing many tapes of digital video from my old Sony camcorder into my Mac laptop. The video is being automatically acquired in DV format.

When playing these tapes back in the camcorder or with the camcorder hooked directly to a TV, they look perfect. When I play back the imported DV video on my Mac laptop screen or stream it from the Mac to my TV, the very top line of the DV video flickers. I think there's a technical name for this (maybe "first field flicker", or something like that?) and it seems to be quite common.

I've read some articles that say that this is part of the DV import file and there's no way to get rid of it on import, so the situation needs to be handled post-import with a variety of methods. Some people use video editing software to crop out the top and bottom row of pixels in the imported video file to get rid of the flicker and save it as a new file. Other people put a black mask over the top and bottom line of the video in the video editing software and save it as a new file. Neither of these methods is optimal because it creates a ton of extra storage needs to store what amounts to two versions of the same hour of video.

I downloaded the VLC player because of it's many playback options, so I was hoping to find some type of option within the software to get rid of that flickering top line upon playback on the computer. I thought the de-interlacing option would do it, but I've had no luck trying all the different options.

My question: Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get rid of this top line flicker upon playback of an imported DV video, WITHOUT creating a new version of the video with some type of permanent crop or mask applied?

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks you!

[mederi]

You can use Cropadd video filter. I do not know Mac, but on Windows I can create a desktop shortcut icon of VLC with additional CLI options or a batch file. Then it is also possible to use the video filter permantently in VLC preferences or temporarily in Effects and Filters control panel.

[newvlcuser]

@mederi - The Mac version of VLC has a Video Effects panel listed under the Windows top bar menu item (I don't know why I didn't think to check there) and the effects panel has a cropping tool in it. Fantastic! This completely solves my problem. Thanks so much for your tip that led me in the right direction.