X2 DVD Looks Terrible

[fngman]

I don't know if I inadvertanty changed a setting on VideoStudio or on my camera (Canon HF200), but for some reason my rendered DVD's look terrible. I am probably going to upgrade to X3 soon, but would like to figure out what I am doing wrong now. What settings should I look at? This is an unedited project. No menu, transitions, etc...

Not sure what other info I should provide.

[mitchell65]

Have you tried putting the original video file into a viewer and test that?

[Black Lab]

Not sure what other info I should provide.

The clip properties.
The project properties.
The output properties.

[fngman]

The original video looks fine.

The clip properties
AVCHD Video (.MTS)
Data Rate 23718 kbps
Total Bitate 23974 kbps

The project properties
NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 16:9
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
LPCM Audio, 48000 Hz, Stereo

The output properties
Not sure where to find this

[mitchell65]

How did you transfer your MTS file from the camera to the PC. With a Canon you would normally get software to use to transfer from the Camcorder to the PC. Always best to use this. I think you might have transferred by just drag and dropping the files as they are MTS. If you use the transfer software then I think the files will be given the M2TS extension. When you have a file from the Camcorder place it in the timeline, right click on it and go to properties. This will show you all the properties including the frame size. Copy those detail here. Then tell us what you want to produce, ie what do you want to do with the finished file, show on your TV (HD or Standard def), upload to You Tube. Play back on your PC or what?
When you go to Share , Create disc at the bottom left of the screen is a little symbol that looks like a cogwheel, click this and you will see where you can set the properties of your output file

[fngman]

I used the drag and drop from the sdhc card method. But I have always done this. When I return home I will take a look at it.

[fngman]

The software that comes with the camera does not allow me to transfer the files from the sdhc card without dragging it over. Again this is the only way I have ever done it. I will give it a shot with the usb cable.

These are the properties of the clips in the time line
File Format NTSC HDMV
Video Type H.264 Video, Upper Field First
Total Frames 9,840
Attributes 24 bits, 1920x1080, 16:9
Frame Rate 29.97 frames/sec
Data rate Variable bit rate (Max. 22699 kbps)

I want to create a DVD to play on an HDTV.

These are the settings that show up when I click on the cog wheel.
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 16:9
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)

[Ken Berry]

Have you made DVDs with video from this particularly camcorder before, or is it new? I ask because X2 has never been able to handle video from either that model or its predecessor the HF100. And that is because its bitrate uses the new international maximum for AVCHD (which is 24 mbps) which came out after the codec for X2 was written. The good news is that X3 *can* handle that bitrate -- it was one of the first things I tried as a beta tester, using video from an HF100...

[fngman]

Yes I have used video from this camera before. Video quality has never looked this bad. I guess its time to buy x3.

[mitchell65]

I want to create a DVD to play on an HDTV.

Have you a Blu-Ray player or Play Station 3 console?

[Trevor Andrew]

The software that comes with the camera does not allow me to transfer the files from the sdhc card without dragging it over. Again this is the only way I have ever done it. I will give it a shot with the usb cable.

These are the properties of the clips in the time line
File Format NTSC HDMV
Video Type H.264 Video, Upper Field First
Total Frames 9,840
Attributes 24 bits, 1920x1080, 16:9
Frame Rate 29.97 frames/sec
Data rate Variable bit rate (Max. 22699 kbps)

I want to create a DVD to play on an HDTV.

These are the settings that show up when I click on the cog wheel.
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 16:9
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)

Hi fngman

You said earlier -- The output properties
Not sure where to find this..........

The cogwheel settings if this is from the burner module then these are your output properties.
Edit these settings changing the Field Order to Upper Field.

Just a little note on this, From the edit timelines….If you changed the project properties to Upper Field,
when you Share Create Disc-- DVD the output settings match the project settings and would use Upper Field.