VS9 - video filters not staying applied

[furballs]

This may be a question about applying filters, or it may be a question about creating the video file.

I am following the recommended procedure to the letter, as far as I can tell. I have some video captured on a Hitachi DVD camera. I let VS adjust the project properties when I dragged the clip to the timeline, then checked and set the project properties per the recommended procedure.

Because the video was shot inside, it's rather dark. It looks OK on the screen if i click on the clip, but is very dark when I actually play it.

I find that if I drop the auto exposure filter on the clip, it corrects the problem nicely. It looks fine in the clip preview window, looks fine when I play it, and it looks fine if I go to Share/Project playback.

However, once I create the video file (again following rec. procedure), it's back to looking dark again in the final MPG file.

Interestingly, if I go click on the clip again in the timeline view, it looks fine. Click on the clip in the storyboard view, with the Video tab showing, it's back to dark. If I then click on the Attributes tab and play it, it looks fine. The key seems to be whether the attributes or video tab is showing, leading me to suspect I'm somehow not applying the filter properly. It's just the auto exposure filter, and when I click on 'customize filter' then the key frames, there's nothing to set.

Although it's not recommended procedure, I've also taken the liberty of clicking on the 'create disk' option on the Share tab, and clicking Play on the 'Create Disk' screen - it's back to dark.

So, am I not applying the filter correctly, or am I missing something in the rendering?

Thanks in advance from a newbie.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

I have a similar problem with underexposure.

By applying the ‘auto exposure and auto level’ filters seems to cure the problem.

Everything you have said about the various selections showing dark and light are the same on my system.

When I select ‘Share’ my project in the preview window looks lighter as though showing the filters, as you would expect.
When I render the project or a video clip to an Mpeg the results are ok.

When you view your video in project mode it should show as ok. If this is the case then your problem is in the render stage.

When you select Share Create Video File—select—one of the DVD templates, either Pal-dvd or Ntsc-Dvd (where are you in the world???)
Try it on a short clip.

What are your original clip properties?
What are your rendered clip properties?

Trevor

[furballs]

Trevor, thanks. I added the auto level, which didn't do enough, then I added bringtness and contrast. Now, at least everything looks light in all panes and options, and I can fiddle with the settings until I am happy. I guess the preview is more or less an idea of what it will look like after rendering, and the 'idea' isn't accurate.

Thanks again for your help, you've got me going in the right direction.

PS - I'm in Canada, so NTSC.