Analogue File Format from a Digital Video Cam???

[Gwenn]

Hi People

Since I can't find anything about this issue on the forum, I'll assume that no one has noticed this yet.

Users of JVC GZ-MC200 camcorder, please tell me if you noticed the same thing.

I used this camcorder to video my stuff during my holiday. It records MPEG2 video clips directly onto a 4gb Micro Drive. I transferred the files to my portable hard disk during my vacation, and when I'm home, I transferred them agian from my portable hard disk into my PC using the USB cable that came with the portable hard disk.

I launched VS10+. Before importing anything, I set my Preferences and Project Settings to comply with videos taken from a digital source. I mean, the JVC is a DIGITAL camcorder, right?

My Project Properties are set to Lower Field First, as recommended by all the very useful tutorials posted on this forum.

I then imported one video clip. I got a message to ask me if I wish to set my Project Properties to be same as the video clip so that Smart Render can be performed. I said, "Yes". This is because I read on this forum that the best way to ensure no loss when importing into VS10+ is to import and edit using the same properties as the original unedited videos.

So now, I have the clip sitting nicely on my timeline waiting for my editing work.

I checked the Project Properties. Guess what? My original unedited video clip has a "Upper Field First" property, therefore making my VS10+ follow that property!

Isn't this odd? I thought all digital video cams should record in Lower Field First?

Because of this issue, I have to edit and burn my movies for my TV all in Upper Field First. I'm now testing the result to see if there's any degradation.

If someone has experienced this before, please help me shed some light on this issue.

Thanks.

[heinz-oz]

It doesn't really matter which field comes first. the digital ones usually have the lower field first but there is no rule to it, the same with analog having upper one first.

As long as you keep the field order in line with what you get from your source files, all is well.

[lancecarr]

Digital DV cams usually have lower field first.
Most of the cams such as the DVD cams and the hard drive cams are recording MPEG2's and usually have upper field first.
And like Heinz says just keep whatever properties you have throughout the process.

[Gwenn]

Thanks everyone!

Here's an update:

I imported the source files into VS10, did my editing, then went to Share>Create Video File to output my results. For this step, I chose the same properties as the source files, ie Upper Field First. I did it this way for 5 files, producing 5 MPG files to be my Chapters 1 to 5.

Next, I made my DVD menu in VS10 using digital images and sounds stored in my hard drive. Then I went to Share>Create Video File>Create DVD. For this step, I checked Smart Render, as well as "do not render MPEG compliant files". I assembled the 5 MPG files into my 5 chapters onto my DVD menu. However, this time, instead of following the properties of my original unedited source files, I put to Lower Field First. My reasoning here was that I wanted VS10 to render only my DVD menu which was made entirely from digital sources, so I should choose Lower Field First. My 5 chapters being rendered once before will not be rendered again with the Smart Render turned on.

I output to result onto a test disc and played it on my set top DVD player and Sony DRC television.

Guess what? I couldn't see the slightest bit of degradation.

I suppose if the end result was tested and measured there may be differences shown up in the charts and number, but to the naked eye, the process I went through didn't affect the image quality one whit. I'm also thinking that since my camcorder isn't a professional one to begin with, perhaps there isn't much quality to talk about in the first place!

I expect things will have to be done differently after I upgrade to a professional level camcorder.