Pulsing/Flickering Mpeg video using V8

Chaotrix · Post by **Chaotrix** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 7:16 pm

Hi,

When I convert my avi files to mpeg in V8 (using the properties pinned to the wall) the result often has a very noticeable pulse-like flicker every half second. I'm not talking about edge effects. The quality of the entire frame goes from good to bad every half second the entire length of the video. It looks horrible. This also happens if I insert jpeg stills in the video. When I use V7 I sometimes notice the effect in the first few frames but then it "settles down" and goes away and everything looks fine. I would just use V7 but I like some of the new features in V8.

Anyway I was just wondering if anyone had experienced something similar and if they knew what it was.

Thanx,

Philip

Post by **Ken Berry** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 9:36 pm

What are the exact properties of the DV/AVI files you are converting and the exact properties of the MPEG files you are seeking to convert them to?

What patches, if any, have you applied?

What is you computer set-up?

Chaotrix · Post by **Chaotrix** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 3:53 am

Thanx for responding Ken.

The AVI files are DV2 format, captured with a Pinnacle capture card and Pinnacle (Studio

software. I've tried capturing with VS7 & VS8 but even though my system speed is > 2GHz I still get frame loss.

I've applied only the 8.01 general patch.

I have a fast system, LOTS of memory and gigs and gigs of disc space. More details if you need them (and I get them together).

Thanx again for any help/info you have to offer.

Philip

Post by **Ken Berry** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 12:54 pm

To avoid dropped frames in the DV/AVI capture, you might want to capture with Type 1 Encoder, instead of Type 2. Many people experience dropped frames and other problems (flickering video and/or audio) when using Type 2.

I'd still like to know the properties of your MPEG files produced from the DV/AVIs. The sort of flickering you describe could be a Field Order problem. Converting from a Digital source as yours seems to be (since you are capturing DV/AVI), it should be Lower Field First (Field Order A); while from an analogue source, it would be Upper Field First (Field Order B).

Chaotrix · Post by **Chaotrix** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 6:32 pm

Ken,

The mpeg format I'm converting to is NTSC DVD. Quality is set to 100, bit rate variable 8000 max. Lower field first. Non-square pixel rendering is set. Smart Render is turned off. Source is digital DV tape captured to DV2 format using Pinnacle software. The quality of the source avi is excellent.

The effect is very noticeable on still images. That is, JPEGs stills in the project, converted to several seconds of mpeg video.

Thanx for spending time on this.

Philip