Loss of quality on multiple insert to timeline.

[spudgun]

This is certainly a big problem for me. If I insert VSP VIDEO files to the timeline, then I can NOT render them into High Definition quality. That is, if I take say 3 individual sequences, previously edited, and try and join them all up in a larger sequence, the quality rendered is clearly inferior, even though I have tried setting the 'Create Video File' protocols to HDV, and even setting the PROJECT PROPERTIES to its native capture, (ie: MPEG2 etc...). What on earth is going wrong here?

There is no problem amalgamating lots of individual captured clips from the LIBRARY into the timeline, editing and then rendering; it is just when I try and combine previously edited VSP files that this occurs. Obviously, this is going to be a HUGE problem if I wanted to make a DVD of different edited segments. Please advise.
Best wishes,
Spud

[Clevo]

Just to clear things up and seek clarifications...

Firstly, VSP are not video files they are Edit Decisions Lists (EDL). Have a look at the file size of thes files and you will see they are small.

However, as long as all the original clips are in their original locations you can VSP (Video Studio Project) files in a timeline... never tried this myself but read about many here who have tried this.

Since you are having issues only when adding VSP files to the timeline perhaps you should try just creating a HD video file first then adding those to the timeline when you want to combine them.

Of course you need to make sure your project properties match your video file properties (right click video file/properties to be certain) if you later intend to create a video file to be same as project properties...

[spudgun]

Many thanks for your input. I USE the VSP files, simply because I have been working on the premise that these are the best, 'purest' forms. Are you suggesting that I should make each 'file' rendered to HD first, BEFORE adding to timeline? I had assumed that doing that would have resulted in further depreciation of quality when the SECOND render took place.

[Ken Berry]

If we are talking about HDV here, and it seems we are, then I personally have found that maintaining its original settings (Share > Create Video File > Same as First Clip) does not produce any visible dterioration after even two renders. I know it must be there, given the lossy nature of all mpeg-2 (and 4). But since the quality is so high to start with, maybe my tired old eyes just can't see it.

It's different with AVCHD, however, since that uses VBR as opposed to HDV's CBR. And I fear that X2 (and perhaps X3), even if you choose the highest output settings in Share > Create Video File > AVCHD, seems to apply a different formula during rendering, with the average and low points being much lower than in the original, even if the MAX rate is still the same... Thus the quality will usually visibly appear worse, even after one render. That is in fact one of the reasons why, with AVCHD, I edit, then jump straight to the burning module (in X2 at least -- I'm not sure I will be doing much jumping to the new X3 burning module! ) That's because in the X2 burning module, middle icon in bottom left of screen, I seem to have greater control over the exact properties applied to the render during the burning process...

[spudgun]

Thanks, Ken.
Belated Happy New Year to you my friend. Yes, this is something of a big problem. Can you suggest some basic workthrough in order to accumulate sufficiant clips, segments, projects or whatever, so that they can all be placed on the timeline and rendered, as in a DVD? I really cant understand why the problem is as it is. Looking at the eventual footage, it seems to have made a Standard Definition, low quality render, even though I have tried several means of getting a HD quality file. The files INDIVIDUALLY render to a HDV 1440 X 1080 quality clip, but COLLECTIVELY in the same timeline, it produces something quite appalling, even though I have tried pretty much everything.

[Ken Berry]

Sorry. I have never tried nesting projects, even for standard definition, let alone HD. So other than rendering individual new HDV clips from each project, and joining those together, I can't think of anything else to suggest...

[spudgun]

So Ken, if you were going to make a DVD for example, made up of footage captured and edited on different days, what would be your workthrough? Would you put in the timeline individual VSP files, or use the individually rendered MPEG's?

[Ken Berry]

I've just said I've never nested VSP files. I open only one VSP and its video clips, transitions etc are loaded into the timeline. I do not insert any vsp into that timeline.