Poor Video Quality on DVD - Hard Drive Camera - MPEG2

mkropatsch@hotmail.com · Tue Jul 18, 2006 2:04 am

I right clicked on the file properties, they are:

File Format = NTSC DVD
Video Type = MPEG-2, Upper Field First
Attributes= 24 bits, 720x480 16:9
Frame Rate = 29.97 f/s
Data Rate = Variable bit rate (Max 8400 kbps)
Audio Type = Dolby Digital Audio
Attributes = 48000 Hz
Layer = None
Bit Rate = 384 kbps

mkropatsch@hotmail.com · Tue Jul 18, 2006 2:24 am

I burned the clip to DVD, with smart rendering on and all settings identical to the file. It produced the same poor video result

mkropatsch@hotmail.com · Tue Jul 18, 2006 2:50 am

I am unsure of what to do with a couple settings. Under project options - Compression - What media type should I use?

Under preferences - Smart Proxy - What should the settings be?

Post by **Ron P.** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 3:34 am

mkropatsch@hotmail.com wrote:I am unsure of what to do with a couple settings. Under project options - Compression - What media type should I use?

Under preferences - Smart Proxy - What should the settings be?

The compression should be
Media Type: NTSC DVD
You can leave the Quality/Speed slider at the default of 70 or use 100 (user discreation there)
Video Settings: If you have alot of motion and some static you can use the Two Pass Encode. It takes longer but can produce a little better quality.
Variable Bit Rate: 8000 kbps
Audio Settings: Either LPCM or Dolby Digital.

Smart Proxy is used primarily for editing HD video. Since you are not editing HD then ignore this setting.

Ron P.

GeorgeW · Post by **GeorgeW** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 4:08 am

Hi,

Can you post the attributes of your longest video file (from the camcorder), and the actual file size of the video on your hard drive (list the duration and file size)

Also, when you use Smart Render -- how long does the program take to create the DVD? Is it "quick", or is the program taking a while to render?

Regards,
George

mkropatsch@hotmail.com · Tue Jul 18, 2006 4:20 am

For trying to figure this out I am using a 1min 13sec clip.

59,748 kb
2,190 frames

I used Cyberlink power Director on the same clip. It has an option called Cyberlink MPEG Best Technology. This produced a very clear video clip.

mkropatsch@hotmail.com · Tue Jul 18, 2006 4:23 am

Using Smart Render, it only took about 7 minutes to produce the DVD. The finalizing DVD stage took the longest.

GeorgeW · Post by **GeorgeW** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 4:37 am

hmmm, that filesize for that duration works out to less than ~3500kbps (assuming the audio is included).

What settings are available to record on your camcorder, and which setting are you using

Do you have a larger/longer video? VBR might be playing a part in the low bitrate during that short clip...

Regards,
George

mkropatsch@hotmail.com · Tue Jul 18, 2006 4:45 am

I am using the DVD quality setting. The next one higher (the highest) is Ultra Fine. Could the recording quality be the problem, when playing back the video thru the camera and after burning it to DVD thru Cyberlink produced excellent results?

GeorgeW · Post by **GeorgeW** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:03 am

Start a new project, and go directly to the Share Step (create a disc).

Then add your video (original video without edits), and make sure you use the option to "Do not convert compliant mpegs"

Also make sure your project does NOT have any motion menus, or menu fadeouts.

Compile the DVD to folders on your hard drive (don't burn the disc, and don't create an image -- you only want to create the DVD Folders on your hard drive).

This process should be very fast because there shouldn't be any re-encoding going on. Can you try this and let us know how long it takes?

Regards,
George

mkropatsch@hotmail.com · Wed Jul 19, 2006 3:52 pm

I did the clip to DVD Folder. With Smart Proxy on and I made sure that the box was checked to not render compliant mpeg files. Also I unselected the menu creation box. The "convert video of the title" took 2min and 30 sec. Multiplexing took 9 sec. The total 1:13 clip took 2 min and 39 sec.

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 3:58 pm

Turn off Smart Proxy. Turn on Smart Render.

Adding to George's good advice, be sure to manually set the burn properties to match your video file properties, using the gear-shaped icon in the lower left of the Burn window. Press "Change Mpeg Settings," then "Customize." NTSC-DVD is the correct Media Type to select in the Compression tab. Follow the procedure that is detailed in the sticky post at the top of this forum. BTW, I never trust Video Studio's default properties.