Video Studio pro X2- making hi def dvd projects

Dave2550 · Post by **Dave2550** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 8:21 am

I'm new to VS and have enjoyed how easy it is to use. I have completed my project with hi quality photo's and HD video. My question is what are the best settings to choose to keep the high quality should I wish to burn my project onto a DVD in order to play in a DVD player? The tests I've made show a considerable decrease in quality. I think I just haven't found the right settings. Any help would be great. Thanks.

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 9:36 am

Hi

Welcome to the forum

I assume you are intending to make a DVD on a single layer disc.
In order to do this you need a DVD compatible Mpeg 2 file, this is either created in the burner module(share create disc) or by creating a new video file of the project (Share create video File) (recommended)

In order to select the correct video file properties we need to know more information about your source video file.
There is a ¡¥Sticky post¡¦ at the top of this forum that shows what information we need, please have a read. (read before posting)

Ok
What is the source of the video files, camcorder?, what type?
How did you import the files to your pc?
What are the properties of your video file, right click a clip and select properties.

What are your project property settings, (File Project Properties)

Basically more information is needed.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 1:32 pm

But one basic thing, quite apart from all the properties etc requested -- which are important -- is that if your video started life as high definition, then burning to a standard definition DVD is NEVER going to preserve the original quality. It is just not possible. You can get good quality standard definition video, but never with the clarity of high definition. If your project is around about an hour or less, you can use the highest quality bitrate for a standard def DVD which is around 8000 (though some people say to be on the safe side, 7500). But that is about as good as it will ever get on a standard definition DVD...

Dave2550 · Post by **Dave2550** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 5:49 am

Thanks for the replies. My video source is my digital camera with JPEG photo's. The project properties shows the file format to be MPEG in nature. I have created a video file in MPEG format which is about 4 gigs in size for 24 minutes of project. When I play the video file which I saved as HDV 1080i it kept the high quality. But when I shared my project to DVD I used the highest settings possible using am MPEG-2 format with a video data rate of 8,000. I slid the compression bar to 94(quality) and it produced a good DVD but not as clear as the 1080 video file. I had all my photo's on my computer and imported them through the program. I have read Ken's response as well. I just want to maximize my settings to make the best quality DVD. Thanks again for your input.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:07 am

Do you have a HDV camera? (I am assuming you do...) And are you also making a HDV of your projects ... for the time when you get a Blu-Ray burner?

If you happen to have a PlayStation 3, that is an excellent Blu-Ray player and can also play AVCHD hybrid discs, which is high definition AVCHD (which you can convert to from HDV) burned in high def format to a standard DVD. Excellent quality which preserves your high def original. But it can only play in a Blu-Ray player rated to play them. The PS3 is one such... Marvellous!!

Dave2550 · Post by **Dave2550** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:06 pm

en, I am using my Nikon digital camera for the photo's and video as the camera takes HD video. I have a blue ray player here at home but I'm making discs for friends that don't have blue ray equipment. I have rendered my project in HDV and saved it as an MPEG file and it plays in windows media player in high def. My friends want the project so they can play iton a DVD player so this is why I'm trying to produce the best quality DVD for them.

I have made finished my project now and when I go to create a DVD I get the "unspecified error" screen. I have the project settings as MPeg, lower field first, 2 passes, 94% quality with an 8,000 bitrate. Any ideas why I get this error?

Thanks again.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 9:30 pm

If the camera films in high def, then regardless of what type of high def it really is (see final para below), it will be Upper Field First. And a basic rule is that if the video started out with Upper Field First (UFF) then you must maintain UFF throughout a project. You have yours set to Lower Field First, and have to change that.

However, that would not be the reason for that error message. As a first step, I would lower that quality slider to below 94%, which often causes this sort of problem. Some people regularly use it up to 100% with no trouble, but others have trouble burning when it is set so high. I personally leave mine set to the default (which I think is usually 70%).

Next, by the sound of it, you have your project in the timeline and are going straight to Share > Create Disc > DVD. Is that right? If not, please describe your workflow.

I ask because I am just a little bit confused. You say you render your project in HDV and then saved it as an mpeg file. The problem with that for me is that a HDV file is already an mpeg-2 file, only with high definition properties. And then you don't save exactly what kind of MPEG file you "saved" it as (and by "saving" do you mean something different from "rendering"?) Did you save it as mpeg-1, mpeg-2 or mpeg-4? And what do you have in the timeline before you go to Burn the project: the original project files? Or have you started a new project and inserted the new MPEG (whatever it is) in the Editing timeline, and still selected Share > Create Disc > DVD? If you did the latter, then when you start a new project, you don't insert anything in the Editing timeline of that project, but simply choose Share > Create Disc > DVD, and when the Burning module opens, insert your new MPEG there (if it is in fact an mpeg-2).

This question about mpeg-4 is also relevant since I am pretty sure your Nikon does not film natively in HDV/mpeg-2 format, but more likely AVCHD (i.e. mpeg-4), and probably 'AVCHD Lite' (1280 x 720p), though possibly with the extension .mov... But again, here you need to tell us the exact properties of the original files straight out of the camera... (Right click on one if you managed to insert it into the X2 Library window.)