DVD resolution worse than analog

[jklucero]

Here is my problem and I just need to know where to look to diagnose if there is a problem.

I use VS Pro 2X and I still use an old Sony handycamDCR-TR310 8mm NTSC digital camcorder for all my stuff. I'm not buying anything new in the near future.

Here is my problem:

When I burn to DVD after capturing video the quality of the video on a 1080p television is bad. MY Blue-Ray player upsizes DVD resolution but it looks like a low resolution WMV file.

I understand that this is not an HD video being played on an HD TV so the quality will not be steller. The reason for posting this question is that I have played a DVD, from the same setup, I made a year ago with a DVD I just made and the older DVD is much better resolution. This only affects video not titles or images or anything else.

Here is what I have changed since last year:
- I use the proxy feature in VS for editing video
- I burn DVD to 16:9 now instead of 4:3 but I have changed back and no fix at all

Assuming the camera is still good and the quality of the DVD burner and media are the same could there be something in VS Pro X2 that is changing my resoultion or quality from capturing, editing to burning? Maybe I changed something and did not know it. Where should I look?

Thanks everyone.

[DVDDoug]

What bitrate (kbps or Mbps) are you using? A bitrate of around 6000kbps should be good, and will allow about 90 minutes of video & AC3 audio on a single-layer DVD. (If you try to squeeze 3 hours on a DVD, you will probably notice quality loss.) Double-check your resolution too (it should be 720x480 for NTSC).

Your results shouldn't be that bad, but there is always some theoretical quality loss with any conversion, and digital limitations/weaknesses are different from analog limitations/weaknesses... So you you do get the worst of both worlds.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

Start by looking at your capture settings.
What video format are you using DVD-Mpeg2.?
If so then you have to set the capture properties.

I assume the camera to be analogue, and would use Upper Field.

Once you have established your capture properties, again I assume you are capturing to Mpeg2, you should keep these settings throughout the editing to burning the DVD.
Your Project Properties should also reflect the video properties.

Recommended:-
When you have completed editing, Share-- Create a Video File same settings.
Then from a new project Share Create Disc—Add Video File.

If you proceed to the burner stage with the project in the timeline then it will be re-coded/rendered to a Mpeg2 prior to burning the dvd. This uses the settings seen under the options cogwheel, make sure they are correct. By correct I mean same as capture properties.

[Ken Berry]

Sorry Trevor, but the camera is a Sony Digital 8 -- with a stress on the 'digital', and capture from it is via Firewire in DV/AVI format. (I have a similar DCR-TRV340 in my collection...) So all our 'old' rules about editing in DV (which is of course Lower Field First), then converting to DVD-compatible mpeg-2 only after editing is finished, apply...

But it depends on exactly what he has captured, and how. If it is analogue source material -- say, from an older analogue-source 8mm or Hi-8 video which his camera can play directly, as well as Digital 8 tape -- then the captured video will definitely be poorer quality than digital 8 video, regardless of its being captured in DV format via firewire, and despite using high quality bitrate. At best, the quality will resemble decent VHS video. And believe me, that does not look wonderful on a large HDTV screen, regardless of upscaling by the player... (I have a 42inch full HDTV 1080p Samsung, and it was the very noticeable drop in quality of my 'masterpieces' which drove me to high def video in the first place...)

I suspect the quality might even be worse if he has captured direct to mpeg-2...

[Black Lab]

Here is what I have changed since last year:
- I use the proxy feature in VS for editing video
- I burn DVD to 16:9 now instead of 4:3 but I have changed back and no fix at all

Why are you using the proxy feature? That is for working with HD files.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Ken

Thanks for the info, it would be nice if we knew exactly how jklucero captured and what properties he used.
Otherwise we are just guessing.

[jklucero]

OK let me get you the capture settings as I do not have them memorized. I know it captures in AVI though but the funny part is I have always captured in AVI format.

To answer a question, I am using smart proxy becuase I capture 20 minutes of video and I am using an old machine so I figured it might speed up the editing process of that large avi file.

Ok this is a good point to start at; check the capture settings. I'll get back to you guys but it really looks like I have to go HD.

Thanks

[jklucero]

Sorry Trevor, but the camera is a Sony Digital 8 -- with a stress on the 'digital', and capture from it is via Firewire in DV/AVI format. (I have a similar DCR-TRV340 in my collection...) So all our 'old' rules about editing in DV (which is of course Lower Field First), then converting to DVD-compatible mpeg-2 only after editing is finished, apply...

But it depends on exactly what he has captured, and how. If it is analogue source material -- say, from an older analogue-source 8mm or Hi-8 video which his camera can play directly, as well as Digital 8 tape -- then the captured video will definitely be poorer quality than digital 8 video, regardless of its being captured in DV format via firewire, and despite using high quality bitrate. At best, the quality will resemble decent VHS video. And believe me, that does not look wonderful on a large HDTV screen, regardless of upscaling by the player... (I have a 42inch full HDTV 1080p Samsung, and it was the very noticeable drop in quality of my 'masterpieces' which drove me to high def video in the first place...)

I suspect the quality might even be worse if he has captured direct to mpeg-2...

Ken,

I'm confused about the ability of the camera after your reply. I was under the assumption that everything I tape is digital to the new 8mm tapes I use because there is no other media to save digital on that camera. Am I correct?

Thanks Ken

[Ken Berry]

Thanks for the info. But my point was to wonder whether you were actually filming with the camera and using a digital 8 cassette; or whether you were using the camera as a capture device, and linking it to, say, an analogue VCR to transfer, say, an old analogue video collection to digital format. So can you please give us more detail on exactly what you are doing... I also assume from what you say about always capturing in AVI format that you are using a Firewire (Sony i-Link) cable, which ensures the highest capture quality. But again it would be useful if you could confirm this.

Incidentally, the DV format I mentioned is, to be more exact, DV/AVI so I think you are OK there...

One thing you might want to try, though, is to either use Windows Movie Maker, and capture with that using Firewire and DV/AVI; or else download and install a small freeware program a lot of us here use called WinDV, which as the name implies, is only for capturing DV/AVI from mini DV or Digital 8 cameras using firewire/i-Link...

[jklucero]

Thanks for the info. But my point was to wonder whether you were actually filming with the camera and using a digital 8 cassette; or whether you were using the camera as a capture device, and linking it to, say, an analogue VCR to transfer, say, an old analogue video collection to digital format. So can you please give us more detail on exactly what you are doing... I also assume from what you say about always capturing in AVI format that you are using a Firewire (Sony i-Link) cable, which ensures the highest capture quality. But again it would be useful if you could confirm this.

Incidentally, the DV format I mentioned is, to be more exact, DV/AVI so I think you are OK there...

One thing you might want to try, though, is to either use Windows Movie Maker, and capture with that using Firewire and DV/AVI; or else download and install a small freeware program a lot of us here use called WinDV, which as the name implies, is only for capturing DV/AVI from mini DV or Digital 8 cameras using firewire/i-Link...

Thanks Ken! I am using it to shoot video to the 8mm tape not as a capture device. Once I am finished I capture using the VS Pro 2X capture feature using the firewire interface to AVI. I also have to note that I am not using the Digital zoom capabilities of the camera only analog.

Thanks Ken

[skier-hughes]

Now we know the input format, we need to know what you are outputting to dvd, how long is the movie, what settings are you using?

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi jklucero

I know I am being a little slow here but can you confirm that you are capturing to DV-Avi
When you capture using VS you select the capture format, you should select DV not AVI