Loss of Image Qaulity After Rendering

[aljretired]

My standard definition camcorder shoots in MPEG2. When I play the clips back directly from the camera on our 44" TV, the image quality rivals standard definition from ComCast. However, after capturing in Studio Pro X3 and rendering the same clips to any format; DVD, YouTube, etc., there is a considerable loss of image clarity and sharpness. When I asked my Instructor for a video editing class I'm taking in July, he answered:

"The quality of your finished product depends on the video file format you choose when you export it. If you export as an AVI, it should look as good as the original footage."

Do you have a choice as to the file type when you export? It seems X3 chooses the format for you depending on whether you're exporting to YouTube (MPEG4) or to a DVD which requires a special format so it will play on DVD players. What is an AVI file and how do you select it when exporting?

w/r,

aljretired

[DVDDoug]

DVDs are MPEG-2. Assuming your camera shoots DVD-compatible MPEG-2, you can select "Do Not Convert Compliant MPEGs", and the video should not be altered.

However, assuming you're editing, most editing requires the video to be de-compressed and re-compressed. You can use the Smart Render option, and the MPEG will be re-rendered only where necessary (during transitions, or where a color adjustment filter is used, etc.)

If your original MPEG-2 is not DVD compliant, you can "minimize the damage" by using a high bitate (as high, or higher than the original). Commercial DVDs typically have a bitrate in the ballpark of 5000-6000kbps. (At 6000kbs, you can fit about 90 minutes of video and Dolby audio onto a single-layer DVD.) But, keep in mind that commercial DVDs are encoded with "professional" MPEG encoders, and they are compressed once as the final step before DVD authoring. And, most commercial DVDs are dual-layer so 3 hours of high-quality video is no problem.

If you export as an AVI, it should look as good as the original footage."

...What is an AVI file and how do you select it when exporting?

Well... AVI not a single format. It's "container" or "wrapper" than can contain anything from uncompressed video to DV to DivX (MPEG-4). Your instructor was probably refering to DV/AVI, which is what you get from a camera that records to Mini-DV tape. DV is less compressed than MPEG and it's generally considered the best format for editing. But, it's not DVD compliant and the files are bigger than MPEG-4 (you can't fit a movie-length DV/AVI file on a DVD.)

Do you have a choice as to the file type when you export? It seems X3 chooses the format for you depending on whether you're exporting to YouTube (MPEG4) or to a DVD which requires a special format so it will play on DVD players.

Yes, you can choose the format. But, there are specific requirements for DVDs, Bul-Ray, YouTube, etc.

[aljretired]

Where in Pro X3 do I find "Do Not Convert Compliant MPEGs". Is it a setting somewhere?

w/r,

aljretired

[sjj1805]

Where in Pro X3 do I find "Do Not Convert Compliant MPEGs". Is it a setting somewhere?

w/r,

aljretired

That phrase in the editing stage of a video is termed smart render. Here VideoStudio only converts the parts that have been altered in some way such as transitions, overlays, titles, new sound etc. If you turn off smart render then the entire video gets converted.

The Phrase Do Not Convert Compliant MPEGs is found in the authoring stages.
Here you have one or more video titles that you want to place onto a Disc. If the video concerned is in the correct format for your chosen disc (e.g. DVD / AVCHD / Blue Ray) then you don't want your authoring tool to
1. Waste time performing a new render of an already playable video title
2. Suffer possible loss of quality as a result of that extra unnecessary render.

Pro X3 now has more than one authoring tool available at your disposal.
The original but very unpopular DVD Factory Pro 2010
The replacement DVD MovieFactory 7SE

I have long ago given up on DVD Factory Pro 2010, but if you use the much more user friendly DVD MovieFactory 7 then the setting you are looking for is here: