poor quality of burned DVD compared to original MINI DV tape

[Randy]

I have no trouble editing video transferred from my Panasonic miniDv camcorder-model pv-gs90p/pc- into VideoStudio 11+. I verified smart proxy ON, output to DVD, 720x480 29.97 fps,aspect 16:9,NTSC. But whether I burn the DVD as a MPEG or AVI file type, the quality of the finished DVD product is poor, has lost detail, low contrast, etc. If I connect my miniDV camorder directly into my TV through my VCR to view the videos, the quality is perfect, so I know that my original source miniDV recording is NOT the problem!
I have extensive knowledge and background in digital still photgraphy but am a relative newcommer to digital Video processing. It seems this should be easier than it is. Perhaps I have not configured VideoStudio 11+ correctly to create the quality of DVD output that I am hoping for.
PS---I have read many of your posts and FAQs and have not hit ananswer that exactly fits my situation.
Thanks for your help !

[Black Lab]

How are you transferring to the PC? Answers to that question and others found here will help to determine the problem.

[skier-hughes]

What format are you capturing to?
What are you project settings
What are your final output settings
How long is the movie?

How did you burn and then play the avi file to your dvd?
What sort of avi file was it?

[Randy]

I am usinga DV interface cable -IEEE1394-to transfer from camcorder to rear of computer. I have tried saving the captured files as both .avi and mpeg, seems to make no difference in output quality. Smart proxy is ON,
output format is DVD, 720x480 29.97 fps, aspect ration 16:9. If have tried this on movies ranging from 10 minutes to 60 minutes running time.
Files are burned to DVD using DVD-VIDEO format. Not sure what sort of AVI file type I end up with.

Thanks.

[Black Lab]

Ok, capturing via firewire is the way to go. You want to capture to DV-AVI, Type 1.

Files are burned to DVD using DVD-VIDEO format.

I'm not quite sure what this means. Can you be more specific?

Sounds like you could benefit by reading some basic info regarding video editing in general and VideoStudio in particular. Please see From Camcorder to DVD with VideoStudio.