video quality

[laurae]

hi all

I've FINALLY done my dvd after many problems with this software.
However, I've found that the quality of the video image isn't as great as when, for example, I play my digital camcorder straigh through the TV.

I don't really get all the jargon with the frame rate etc etc. For future usage - should I change the project settings anf choose the dvd I am using from the list eq 4.7gb/120 minute. Because when doing this project, I just left everthing as it was automatically.

Thanks

[Ron P.]

Hi Laurae..

Congratulations ,

Now sorry to hear the outcome wasn't as it should have been. Your resultant DVD should have been as good a quality. It would seem that you may have edited MPEG, or the resolution was changed, for example from a DVD compliant to maybe a VCD or SVCD.

With DVD-NTSC it should have been captured, edited, and rendered at 720 x 480, and if possible the capturing and editing in DV-AVI format.
While it is possible to edit MPEG format, since it is a "lossy" format, you will have "loss" in quality.

If you want to produce good quality DVDs, the following of the recomendations of those that are well experienced and educated in this field is a must. It also helps to get to understand the "jargon", or just understanding why for us hobbiests, we have to do things this way or that.

Hang in there, it can only get better ...

Regards

Ron P.

[laurae]

no - it wasn't set to vcd, it was on dvd. I had done it for pal as I thought that the english dvd players use pal and not ntsc?

i think the files were mpeg so how do I change this?

Thanks

[Ron P.]

Laurae,

Yes you are correct in using the PAL settings ( I had no way of knowing where you are located)..

Here is how to change it:
Short Animated Tutorial

Regards

Ron P.

[DVDDoug]

...should I change the project settings anf choose the dvd I am using from the list eq 4.7gb/120 minute.

YES. Try a short clip of the same material at the highest-quality setting. That will give you an idea of the best video quality you can expect. (Use a R/W DVD if your player can play them. )

With my set-up (large low-def TV) I start to notice video degradation when I squeeze more than about 90 minutes of video with dolby audio onto a single-layer DVD. Two hours is "pushing it", but usually still acceptable to me. However, the quality that looks fine to me may not be acceptable to a picky viewer with a plasma TV...

What audio format are you using? Two hours with LPCM audio would be noticably compressed / degraded. Dolby AC3 or MPEG audio will leave more space for less-compressed video. All PAL players can play MPEG audio (and LPCM). Most can play Dolby too.

[laurae]

why is nothing ever straightforward?!?!
I'm trying to follow the advice you've given to see if the quality of the video improves. I am adding more video so am in the capture screen. However, it won't let me change the capture format to anything. I tried choosing the dvd I have from the list, then after that failed, I tried choosing anything. After clicking each one, I get a message saying this format is not supported?!

HELP!!!