Capture frame rate

[juniet]

Can anyone tell me how to increase the Capture frame rate when capturing from a Camcorder? I am assuming this would be the answer to my problem as I am capturing from a DV camera to Ulead VideoStudio 10.0. During editing the picture quality doesn't seems that bad but once I create a DVD an play it back on a the TV the picture seems jerky on all moving images. Slow zoom and panning is tolerable but anything else is hard on the eyes.

The capture options are all greyed out (apart from capture to library) and is set to 25.000 frames/sec. However for test purposes I can set this up to 30.000 when I select my web cam for instance.

Can anyone help?

[skier-hughes]

PAL is 25fps and that's it.

I suspect you need to look at the settings you used for making the dvd as the compression you have used is too much for your movie.

What did you capture from?
Connected how?
What file type did you capture as?
What settings did you use?
How long is the movie?
What settings did you use to make the dvd?

[heinz-oz]

The symptoms you describe are usually due to the wrong field order setting when capturing. DV-AVI (from a MiniDV camcorder) is usually lower field first whereas analog capture, more often than not, is upper field first.

Frame rate certainly has nothing to do with it unless your camera is PAL (25 fps) and you are working with an NTSC (29.97 fps) template.

The capture module usually determines what the source format is and sets the frame rate accordingly.

As already said before, we need more detail on what you intend to do with what equipment and on what platform.

[drossaards]

I think I have the same problem. I use a miniDV camcorder. Project properties AVI , PAL, 25 fps, Lower field first, DV encoder type1.
For creating DVD I use the HQ (60 min / 4,7 GB)
When creating a DVD and looking on TV I sometimes see a double image (shadows) with fast moving objects.
I only want to create DVD from my own camcorder, no special effects.
How can I get clear video?

[Ken Berry]

If you captured in DVD format, then it will have been Lower Field First. Make sure that your project properties, or properties when burning the DVD, also use Lower Field First.

[juniet]

Hi All
I would appreciate some more help with my jerky picture issue (again).
I am still capturing from a Sony mini/DV camera into Ulead VideoStudio 10.
Playback whilst editing is fine, all the way through to me adding chapters and the creating menu's.
However after waiting approx 3hrs for it to burn 1hr video footage onto DVD, I am disappointed with the poor jerky picture
when I play it back on either my PC or stand alone DVD player.

I did raise this issue at the forum sometime ago but I didn't get it resolved, so I reverted back to my stand alone DVD recorder.
At the time I was advised to ensure the Frame type settings are set to "Lower Field First" which I did but it made no difference.
I've also tried Upper field first but to the same result.

I was a bit vague in my 1st report so I'll try and give you as much info this time.

I am in London, England.
I am coping from a: Sony mini/DV camera into Ulead VideoStudio 10.0.
The PC I am using is a: HP Pavilion Intel(R)
Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz, 1GB of RAM

MS Windows XP
Home Edition
Version 2002
Service Pack 2

I am currently saving the captured video files onto an external hard drive, in the hope that this would help the
performance of my PC (but it doesn't do anything much really).

This example below is in Upper field First but putting it to Lower doesn't make any difference.

Project Properties

File Name G:\DVD Projects\Aug 07-\Trowbridge 27 08 07.VSP

File size: 48.5KB (49664 bytes)
Version 10.00
Duration 00:08:57:10

Project template properties
Edit file format: Microsoft AVI files


PAL (25 fps)
Microsoft AVI files
24 bits, 720 x 576, 4:3, 25 fps
Upper Field First
DV Video Encoder -- type 1
PCM, 32.000 kHz, 16 Bit, Stereo


Project options:

Ulead VideoStudio:
TV Standard: pal [25 fps]
(box ticked) perform non-square pixel rendering

General

Datatrack: Audio and Video
Frame rate 25 fps
Frame type: Upper field first
Frame size Standard 720x576
Display aspect ratio 4:3


My Settings when burning the DVD.

In the Template manager:
TV System: Pal/secam Disc Type: DVD
Available Disc templates: GQ 4.3 (dolby Digital)


MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 576, 25 fps
Upper Field First
(DVD-PAL), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 4000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)

when I click Edit:
General:
Encoder Driver Ulead MPEG. Now Encoder
Frame Type: Upper Field First
Frame size Standard 720 x 576
Display aspect ratio: 4:3
Compression:
Media type: Pal/DVD
Speed - Quality: 90
Video settings:
No boxes are ticked but- Video Data Rate: Variable 4000kbps

Q1 Can anyone help in spotting my mistake?
Q2 What Frame Type should I be using for capturing from a Mini DV camera "Upper or Lower"?
Q3 Are there any patches or fixes for this problem.
Q4 Should it take over 3hrs to burn a 1 hr DVD?
P.s. Not that I am bragging or anything but my stand alone DVD Recorder takes about 15 mins to burn a 2hr DVD. (The quality is supurb, but then you don't get any of the effects that you get with the VideoStudio packages)


Awi your reply.
Juniet

[Ken Berry]

Q1: I think so.
Q2: I already said in the thread above that if you are capturing from a mini DV camera, it will ALWAYS be Lower Field First, no ifs, no buts... That is the nature of the beast. So drop any use of Upper Field First with such video here and now!!!
Q3: no patches needed. It is a rock standard function of VS to capture proper DV format video (using lower field first). Also a standard function to convert that DV into high quality DVD compatible mpeg-2. Thousands of us do it every day using Video Studio!
Q4: Yes and No! Conversion and burning times are always dependent on computer resources. Your computer has more than enough resources for a job like this, and I would have to say that conversion and burning times (3 times real time) is well within the range of what is required for a job like this with a computer like yours.

But that brings us back to Q1!! The fact that you are taking that amount of time in the burning module indicates quite clearly you have just put your whole video project into the burning module in its original DV format. That means that the burning module has to convert the DV to DVD-compatible mpeg-2, convert your menu to video format, multiplex the audio and video and actually burn the disc. And do all this on the fly. The actual burning is perhaps the shortest part of the whole process and is pretty standard across computers of all types and dependent only on the rate speed of the disc and the burning speed you chose (e.g. burning one hour of video to a single layer DVD at 4x speed will take 14 to 15 minutes regardless of the computer or burner brand.)

Some computers have difficulty with all these tasks being thrown at them at once. So we have developed a recommended procedure which breaks it up into separate stages which are less demanding on computer resources. In particular, since you are starting off with DV format, which is the highest quality of standard definition video possible, then you edit using that same format, which is what you are apparently doing.

BUT -- and it is a big 'but'!! -- when you have finished editing, you first convert the DV project to DVD-compatible mpeg-2 (Share > Create Video File > DVD) before you even think about opening the burning module.

But the main cause of your problem is almost undoubtedly the fact that in the conversion you are using a low quality bitrate of 4000 kbps. Even at its very best, this will only give you quality roughly equivalent to VHS video. For conversion of DV quality video into a similar quality mpeg-2 for a DVD, you should be using a bitrate of around 8000 kbps (and of course Lower Field First). Note, though, that a bitrate of 8000 kbps will only allow you to burn around 1 hour of video to a single layer DVD, or about ten minutes more if you use a more compressed audio format like Dolby or mpeg layer 2 audio.

Note also that after you produce your new mpeg-2, you go to File > New Project. Don't worry about giving your new project a name. The objective is just to clear the timeline of your current project.

Once that is done, you select Share > Create Disc > DVD. The burning module will open. Use the Add Media button at the top to insert your new mpeg-2 in the burning timeline. Then go to the middle of the three icons in the bottom left of the burning screen. There is a little box beside the words 'Do not convert compliant mpeg files'. Make sure that box is ticked (it usually is by default). That way, your already compliant mpeg file will not be re-encoded. Then build your menus and burn. That burning process should now, in these circumstances, only take around 25 to 30 minutes maximum.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi juniet

How are you connecting the camera to the PC.

You should be using Firewire and selecting DV as the capture format.
This copies/transfers the data to your pc.

Are you using Firewire??????????

Read my Quick Guide to DV-Avi from the link below.
Do a short test capture.

Ps:- row 8 and 9 when you get to viewing the project properties, use your mouse to highlight the right panel, (Video Properties) then copy and paste to the forum

[juniet]

Ken
Your are a Star! That did the trick . I've changed the Frame type back Lower Field first and increased the bitrate to 8000 kbps. I even created my projects to Video Files too before I burnt it to DVD. Not sure what element actually fixed the problem but I'm re-doing all my previously jerky DVD the same way. Thank you for your help.
Trevor
I am connecting via Firewire, Thank you for that link it got lots of useful tips that I'll have to check out but for the time being I am happy to see a smooth picture.
I'll let you know if I get into any more problems with the next batch of burns I do.
Juniet

[juniet]

Hi, I am using Ulead VideoStudio 10.
Can anyone tell me how do I get the effect of "Fade to Black" at the end of a project?
After I capture and edit my project, I go into Effect and can select any effect ok providing its in between frames. [i.e Effext - F/X - Fade to black].

The problem is, I want to be able to "Fade to Black" at the end of the last frame, but I cant figure out how to do it. (It would also be nice if I could fade into the first frame as well)
Can anyone help with this?

[Ron P.]

Just place a black color clip at the very end of your timeline, and insert the Fade to Black transition between them...

[erdna]

Field order for DV capturing are different for PAL vs NTSC. See
http://www.fxguide.com/fxtips-158.html

[juniet]

Thanky you, that works. (why didnt I think of that ???)

[lancecarr]

Just a note on the reference to field order in the post by erdna.
No offence intended but that is simply incorrect.
A PAL DV cam and an NTSC DV cam invariably record lower field first.
Also most DVD cams such as those that record MPEG2 to dvd almost always use Upper Field First whether PAL or NTSC.

The important point is that if your original material is Upper Field First then maintain those properties throughout the ENTIRE editing to output process for DVD. Same goes for Lower Field First source material.

[Ken Berry]

I totally and utterly agree, and cannot believe anyone -- even as long ago as 2003 which is when that reference came from -- could have suggested it. I have used 4 successive PAL mini DV cameras, and all used Lower Field First for DV captures. Moreover, since being on this forum and its predecessor since 2002, I have never, repeat never, heard anyone suggest the contrary whether for PAL or NTSC.

Even more to the point, I now use a high definition HDV camera which films to mini DV cassette in HDV mpeg-2 format. That uses Upper Field First. But -- and it's an important "but" -- it can also be set to record in standard definition DV format and it uses ... ta dah! ... Lower Field First like every other PAL or NTSC camera filming in DV format...

Grrrrrrrrr! I hate silly disinformation like that!!!