Pixelization problem

[lhuffmanjr]

I am new to video editing and using VS 7 (I will be upgrading to VS10 soon). I am using a Sony TRV019 mini DV camera and using firewire to transfer video to my PC (Dell 620D). My problem is that I see minor pixalization (twice in a 33 minute video) once I have burned my project to DVD. I do not see any pixelization when using the preview pane in VS7. The pixelization is very brief and not in a fast action scene (my son's christmas play). My capture settings are below.

NTSC drop frame: 29.97 fps
Microsoft AVI files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 4:3, 29.97 fps
Field Order A
DV Video Encoder: Type 1
DV audio: NYSC, 48,000 kHz, 16 Bit, Stereo

[heinz-oz]

Surely, these are not the properties of your final mpeg2 render but, as you stated, your capture properties. What bitrate did you use to encode the mpeg for DVD? Many players are choking on anything over 8000 kbps. Does it also happen when you play the DVD on a different player?

[Ken Berry]

And how and when did you convert the DV/AVI into DVD-compliant mpeg-2: by going, as is recommended first to Share > Create Video File > DVD. Or (not recommended) jumping straight from the timeline to burning module: Share > Create Disc > DVD. If you did the latter, then for many people, quite a lot of problems arise because you are asking a great deal of your computer if you do it this way.

[lhuffmanjr]

Please review the properties of my final mpeg2 render below.

Format: 24 Bits, (720 X 480)
Compression: NTSC DVD, Fileld A, Variable bit rate (max: 8000 kbps)
Frame rate: 29.970 fps
Audio Format: MPEG Audio Layer 2
Attributes: 48000 Hz, 16 Bit, Stereo.

I played my DVD in another DVD player without pixelization. The video was excellent. I burned my DVD as recommended, Share > Create Video File > DVD. Since the problem only appears on my DVD player, would you change any of the settings above or stay with the orginal configuration? Thank you for the help.

Larry

[Ken Berry]

The fact that it plays correctly on another player but not your own indicates that indeed your player may be the culprit. As you may know, not all players are created equal. Some, particularly at the higher end expense-wise, and big brand names, tend to be more finicky about what they will play. Some don't like home-made videos at all. Others don't like particular brands or types (preferring + to - or vice versa); or the colour of the dye used; or the speed at which the burn was carried out. And yet others, as Heinz has already usefull pointed out, don't like discs with high bit rates.

You could, if you wished, reduced the bitrate you use to encode your mpeg-2 from its current max of 8000 kbps to, say around 7500 or 7000 without any really noticeable diminution in quality. Burn it at a very slow speed to ensure the laser has time to embed a firm signal. (We recommend no higher than 4x, but you could try it even lower than that if your disc and burner allow it.) And you could burn it to an RW disc so you wouldn't be wasting a normal disc. (This would in any case ensure a slower burn.)

I meant also to ask whether the pixelation occurs always in the same spots in the video, or does it vary? And if it is at the same spots, then does it occur during or immediately before or after transitions or cuts you may have made in the original video?

[lhuffmanjr]

Thank you for your fast response Mr. Berry. The pixelation always occurs in the same two spots. The first pixelation occurs about 2-3 minutes after the first transition or beginning of the video. The second pixelation occurs about 30 seconds after the beginning of the first transition in the second scene. Basically, the pixelation occurs in the beginning of both scenes (clips). I use a color clip with a black background for my title. Then I use a fade transition to begin each scene. I use this for all clips or scenes in my video but the pixelation only happens on the first two.
Again, Thank you Mr. Berry for your help. The user web board has really helped me with my editing my first video.

Larry

[Ken Berry]

No. That doesn't help. Other users have very occasionally reported pixelation glitches associated very closely with certain transitions -- and by closely, I mean within a second or so of the beginning or end of the transition.

So I would now fall back on trying a slightly lower bitrate and see if that works on your player.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Boys

One thing I noticed about the Mpeg properties

Format: 24 Bits, (720 X 480)
Compression: NTSC DVD, Fileld A, Variable bit rate (max: 8000 kbps)
Frame rate: 29.970 fps
Audio Format: MPEG Audio Layer 2
Attributes: 48000 Hz, 16 Bit, Stereo.

I always thought LPCM Audio, 48 KHz, Stereo was the norm for NTSC, or is it insignificant.

Just a thought

Trevor

[Ken Berry]

I had already considered that. But while mpeg layer 2 audio might not be part of the NTSC DVD standard, I couldn't see why the audio should affect the *video* playback, even if it were only on one machine.

But yes, it is probably also worth trying i.e. to use LPCM audio instead.