blurred DVD

[TVF]

I'm relatively new to all this.
Using Pro X3. I capture from DV camera using DV setting. I edit in AVI project properties. When I convert to MPEG and burn to a DVD the result is not very clear-not a sharp image.
Should I capture or edit in MPEG? Our projects are for Public Access TV broadcast.
Thanks

[Ken Berry]

I am moving this to a more appropriate forum since it is really about Video Studio X3.

When you convert your DV to mpeg-2, what are the mpeg-2 properties you use? How long is the project? If it is an hour or less long, then you need to use a bitrate of 8000 kbps to maintain high quality and fit on a single layer DVD. If it is 90 minutes, then a 6000 kbps bitrate will still give you good quality and fit on the DVD. If the project is 2 hours, then you need to use a bitrate of 4000 kbps, but the quality would not be much better than VHS video tape.

[TVF]

Ken,
Thanks for your reply.
The shows are less that 60 minutes.
The standard Video Studio X3 mpeg properties rate is 6000 kpbs. I don't know where to change it.
Would it be better to capture and edit in mpeg-the bitrate is 8000?

[Clevo]

No... keep capturing & editing in DV-AVI. Keep that as your Archive copy (Master) and keep the DVD standard mpg2 as your Access copy. While neither version is strictly speaking, broadcast quality you should always capture the highest quality you can.

in X3 when creating a DVD there is a cog wheel icon in the burning panel, click it and you will see where the option is to change the bit rate.

As for why is it blurry...it's hard to guess without seeing what you have to work with in the original video. The standard drop is significant enough from DV-AVI (Type 1) to DVD standard

[Ken Berry]

TVF -- it is strange that you say the "standard Video Studio X3 mpeg properties rate is 6000 kpbs". In the 8 or 9 years I have been using VS (since version 7) the default Project Properties have always had a bitrate VBR max. 8000 kbps. And that remains the case unless you change it.

Anyway, to change that in X3, go to Settings up in the top left hand corner of the X3 screen, and select Project Properties. Then click on the Edit button in the dialogue box which appears. A new dialogue box will appear with three tabs. Click on the Compression tab and change the Video Data Rate (about half way down that box screen) to 8000 kbps.

I certainly agree with Clevo that you should continue to capture and edit in DV format. But when you have finished editing, select Share > Create Video File > Same As Project Settings. That way you will get a DVD-compatible file of high quality which will fit on a DVD if all your projects are under an hour.

Now, Clevo said:

in X3 when creating a DVD there is a cog wheel icon in the burning panel, click it and you will see where the option is to change the bit rate.

In saying this, I am assuming he was talking about using Movie Factory 7 SE as the burning module. In fact, we don't know what you are using to burn your DVDs. But if it is Movie Factory 7 SE, you don't need to do as Clevo suggested and change the bit rate there. That is because you have already produced a high quality, DVD compatible mpeg-2 in X3. You insert that file into the MF timeline. But in fact you should still go to that cogwheel Options icon down in the bottom left hand corner of screen. When you click on it, make sure the little box beside "Do not convert compliant MPEG files" is ticked. Leave everything else in that screen alone, including in the Properties box up top. That way MF will not convert your mpeg-2 once again since too many conversions of mpeg-2 can cause degradation in quality.

[TVF]

Ken,
"standard Video Studio X3 mpeg properties rate is 6000 kbps". That bitrate is in the mpeg share mode. The project properties in mpeg is 8000.
I did a test project that i had captured in DV format and edited it in mpeg project properties. The result was significantly better-however the audio wasn't good.

[Ken Berry]

That is also strange since all my Share > Create Video File > DVD options still have 8000 kbps as the default bitrate... apart from the direct mpeg-2 option, which you should not be using...

Nevertheless, try using Share > Create Video File > DVD 16:9. You should still be getting LPCM audio which is absolutely rock-standard and the same audio as in your DV original video. If so and it is not sounding right, then try using the Dolby option.

[Ron P.]

I agree with Ken, VS's default for NTSC, DVD (MPEG-2) video file is:
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
LPCM Audio, 48000 Hz, Stereo

The above properties were taken from VS X3, Share>Create Video File>DVD>NTSC, for a project containing a DV video file. I also checked back through VS 10, and all have the above default settings.

[TVF]

So what you all are saying is that I should not be using mpeg2. Only burn a dvd in that format?
I'll try another test project.
Thanks

[Ken Berry]

Yes, that's it! You have to select Share > Create Video File, then either DVD, if you are using some other format or even mpeg-2, or Same As Project Settings if you know your project settings are DVD compatible...

Just be aware -- to explain why you *don't* select Share > Create Video File > MPEG-2 if you are wanting to burn a DVD -- that not all types of mpeg-2 are fully compatible with the DVD standard but can be used for other purposes.

[TVF]

I did another test & I think I've got it - thanks to you all.