Best Settings?

[spudgun]

OK, I am capturing in HDV, and burning Standard Definition Discs, whilst maintaining the original HDV quality file for future burning on BluRay.

What, however, are the BEST settings for the Project settings, when capturing best quality? So many options, Video data rate, (variable or constant?), and at WHAT KBPS??? Frame based or lower/upper first?, Audio Frequency?, 70 quality or more in compression speed?

Obviously, when burning the disc, the protocols can be selected, but the project settings themselves seem very varied.

Advice please.

[Ken Berry]

With HDV, you don't set the capture settings -- they set themselves. It's like DV in that regard (though of course quite different in others). Once you select HDV as the capture format, you don't change anything. You will get mpeg-2 video, UFF, 1440x1080, 16:9, bitrate of 25000 kbps, mpeg layer 2 audio 48000 Hz 16 bit stero 384 kbps. You edit it with the same properties and if you are producing a final HDV format file, you use the same in Share > Create Video File.

When downconverting this new HDV file to SD mpeg-2, I maintain the above settings apart from frame size (720 x 576/480 PAL/NTSC) and lower the bitrate to VBR 8000 kbps. I tend to leave the Quality slider where it is, but I will use a two pass encode in this particularly conversion.

[spudgun]

Many thanks Ken.
Presumably you make these changes AFTER you have finished editing?, and presumably you adjust the project properties immediately before SHARE and CREATE DISC?

I have also read previously that you advise a slower burn speed?

Best wishes.

[Ken Berry]

I too capture and edit in HDV in its native captured format. At the end, I use Share > Create Video File > HDV to produce my final edited HDV file (which separately I use both to export back to my HDV camera and also to convert to AVCHD for burning to a hybrid disc).

I then start a new project to clear the timeline, and insert my new HDV files into the Editing timeline and choose Share > Create Video File > DVD to convert it to standard def mpeg-2. If I only have an hour of video, then I accept the default settings implicit in the choice of 'DVD'. Otherwise, if I want to change any of the settings, I choose Share > Create Video File > Custom and change the settings to what I want. And I let the new mpeg-2 be created.

Then I create a new project again. 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 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 and you thus won't have to change any settings in the burning module. Then build your menus and burn.

And yes, I and quite a few others here recommend a low burning speed, well below the maximum rated speed of your disc. I use 8x or 12x rated discs but burn at 4x. If you use 16x or 18x or higher, then use 6x or 8x... The idea is merely that the slow speed allows the signal to be burned more firmly into the disc, thus allowing a wider variety of stand-alone players to play it. A less firmly embedded signal will cause some reading lasers to jump, skate or even stop...

[spudgun]

Ken, you are surely worthyof a medal for your continued efforts on this Forum.

ALAS!! I have encountered a NEW problem. The last 2 occasions when I have shot footage, upon checking my PROJECT settings, I find that they are appear to have set themselves at, NOT MPEG-2, but MPEG, (DVD-PAL), 720 x 576, WITH A data rate at 8000kbps MAX, and utilising LPCM audio!!!!

What did I do???!!!

If I adjust these settings, (to MPEG-2) it does seem to maintain its expected quality but I am disturbed by this development. Even if there is NO project in the timeline, the Project settings display the above data.

If I click on 'NEW PROJECT' I then check the settings and it is reverted to 'DVD-PAL' MPEG!! What is going on?

[spudgun]

[quote="Ken Berry"]I too capture and edit in HDV in its native captured format. At the end, I use Share > Create Video File > HDV to produce my final edited HDV file (which separately I use both to export back to my HDV camera and also to convert to AVCHD for burning to a hybrid disc).

Ken. (I bet you wished I'd never joined the Forum!!!!); when creating the Video file; Share.....Create Video File...... can I not then select 'SAME AS PROJECT PROPERTIES', as I onlycapture and edit in High Def?

[Ken Berry]

Those DVD-PAL settings are of course the default SD DVD project settings.

Listen, to sound a bit heretical, the only things that really matter are the capture properties and the end properties used to render a new video or burn to disc. In essence, I just about always ignore Project Settings. They change nothing during the editing process. Your captured HDV is not somehow or other automatically and magically converted to SD using the Project Settings while you are still editing. Those default settings would only apply in Share > Create Video File if you left them unchanged. But they do not affect the actual editing.

So to recap, I capture my HDV in its native HDV format and using its default settings. I ignore what VS says are the default project settings. I don't even look at them, and I certainly don't change them to emulate the HDV settings -- though of course you can if you want. Then I do my edits, cuts, adding transitions, titles, background music and voiceovers. Then I choose Share > Create Video File > HDV and accept the default settings which just happen to match the default capture settings. Or if producing an SD DVD, then you can use Share > Create Video File > DVD or Custom, depending on what settings you want there.

But one way or the other, the default Project Settings affects none of this. They are really meant only to make things simpler for relative newcomers to video editing so that everything is kept constant from go to whoa.

If you change the Project Properties, however, and they are 'standard' HDV settings which match the native HDV properties, then yes, of course you select Share > Create Video File > Same as Project Properties.

[spudgun]

Ken. As always, I am both humbled and grateful for your advice. Whoever said that a little knowledge was dangerous, was probably right, because my knowledge on what I am finding to be a potentially complex topic, (editing), is VERY little indeed.

HOWEVER, your clear expertise instills confidence because, I am forever reading elsewhere on other forums that VEGAS, FINAL CUT & other such editors are far superior to Videostudio, and yet to see someone of your calibre using, endorsing and advising to such a proficient standard on Videostudio, it makes me conclude that it isn't just the simple, cheap, "poor mans" editor that it so often is made out to be.

[Ken Berry]

You're most welcome. In fact, I am just finalising a HDV project on VS11.5+ as we speak. I have to say I remain impressed with it overall, though as with any program, there are times when I want to chuck it in the bin!!

I confess I sometimes use Adobe Premiere Pro 3 for certain projects. But it is a quantum leap up the learning curve. And on high def stuff, believe it or not, VS11.5+ does a better and more extensive and flexible job!! In fact, the first two high def projects I did were on Adobe, but then I discovered various shortcomings in its high def editing relating to its output formats, and scampered quickly back to VS11.5+ where I have remained ever since! That's not to say VS is perfect. It's not. But it does a darned good job at a fraction of the price!

[spudgun]

Well, I don't truly know how well Videostudio fares against other editors. I do know that someone kept harping on about VEGAS to me, especially concerning its "superior colour grading", so I downloaded a trial version of Vegas Platinum 8, and I can't understand a bl+++y word of it!!

I WOULD certainly like to improve my skills, certainly with regards the colour grading. I don't know exactly what projects you undertake, Ken, but how do you rate Videostudio 11+ in terms of its 'Colour Correction' facility?, or do you simply never utilise the 'hue, saturation, gamma etc.....

[Ken Berry]

No sorry -- I have never had to use any of them. Just very occasionally adding the Brightness filter to darkish interior shots, but I do that fairly sparingly too!

The one thing I would say is that if you think the colour balance as seen in the VS preview screen looks dark or a bit washed out or both, then that is (usually) only the preview screen. I tend to simply ignore that and rely on the final product which I have always found is fine, much brighter, clearer and good colour balance.

[radman2020]

I want to capture in HDV from my canon hv30 recorded in HDV.

I only have the options of DV, MPEG and a few others...but not HDV.

Is something wrong?

[Black Lab]

I want to capture in HDV from my canon hv30 recorded in HDV.

I only have the options of DV, MPEG and a few others...but not HDV.

Is something wrong?

Please don't double post.

Answered here: http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic.php?t=32836

[radman2020]

thanks.
was afraid my question would be buried in this thread so I started another thread... sorry

Prob is, starting a new thread doesn't alert those subscribed to this one where someone might have and answer.

not starting a new thread leaves this one buried, possibly not seen by someone looking at the big topics.

I know you think people who double post are rude but there is an innocent reason it happens.

hoping that answer solves my problem...but still would like to know what settings to put if I have to pick manually..... DVD NTSC ac3 Hq 16_9 for best quality?

what is AC3 exactly? some settings are the same except for the lack of ac3

[Black Lab]

Prob is, starting a new thread doesn't alert those subscribed to this one where someone might have and answer.

You piggy-backed onto a thread that really had nothing to do with your problem. That will lead to more confusion than help. If you have something to add to an old thread that's fine. But don't start a new question on an old thread, then turn around and start a new thread with the same question. See, now I'm confused.