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HD video to DVD-R quality question

Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 6:32 pm
by bgamd
My experience with videostudio goes back to version 7. I am currently using version 9 with acceptable results from a Sony handycam (standard DV) DCR-TRV 350.
I've just upgraded my camera to a Sony HCR-HC9 (HD) camera and also purchased Videostudio Pro X2 upgrade. I haven't used either yet.
I have a computer that meets the requirements for processing but I do NOT have a blu-ray burner or player. I want to continue using standard DVD-R for a while.

From what I have read in the documentation, it appears that you can capture and edit HD video but if you burn it onto a standard DVD-R, it will be dumbed down to Standard DV quality.
Would any users please comment on their experiences using HD video and burning on a standard DVD-R. Is the quality of the image noticably better than standard DV?
I realize that my new camera may have better optics than the old one and I know that bit rate has a lot to do with it. Just for example, lets use 1 hour of video placed on a 4.7 Gb DVD-R.

Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 8:28 pm
by Ken Berry
This question has has already been covered quite a few times, including quite recently -- see for example http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic. ... 982#170982

Briefly, down-converted video, whether originally HDV or AVCHD looks very good on SD DVD. Not incredibly better than a DVD produced with SD DV, but nonetheless noticeable. However, there is a downside, which is also a downside of the HDV (or AVCHD) original -- namely, a very distracting shimmer in horizontal pans if the panning is too fast. It needs to be verrrrry slow and the panning range kept to a minimum. It does not appear to affect vertical pans or zooms.

While also at this stage not wanting to indulge in an expensive Blu-Ray burner and ultra-expensive (still) Blu-Ray discs, I bought myself a Sony PlayStation 3 which is rated to play Blu-Ray videos and, importantly, what are called hybrid discs -- consisting of AVCHD burned in a Blu-Ray structure but to a SD DVD. They can only be read in certain Blu-Ray players, including the PS3. If you maintain the highest quality AVCHD settings, when converting your HDV to AVCHD, you get excellent output, though in effect you can only burn around 21 minutes of such quality to a single layer DVD.

However, the PS3 can be networked to your computer and you can send your edited HDV or AVCHD in its native format to your HDTV via the PS3. It's brilliant! The PS3 will also play high definition video from a USB stick, and external hard drive connected to it via USB (though the drive has to be formatted in FAT32 not NTFS), or even an archive DVD to which the HD video has been burned as a file. Adds a whole new dimension to your video experience, I assure you, and definitely makes the expense of the HD camera worthwhile! :lol: