Bad output quality on the DVD

[jif03]

I'm new to this forum and I'm looking forward to to participating here
I use the VideoStudio Pro X4 to edit my videos.

This time I have some problems with the quality of my finished projects.
I have tried to burn my project as both DVD and AVCHD.
On DVD the quality was really poor with grainy picture.
The AVCHD disc was much better but there was lots of "strobe" in the movie. Especially where I have added transitions and text fields.
I hope someone has an answer to this problem .
I'm pretty sure it has something to do with my settings.

My raw video-files is HD video (MTS-files).
I also use the proxy tools to make the editing go smoother. I think my computer should handle this without the Roxy, but it doesn't.

I use this settings for my project: Settings --> Project Properties:
Edit File Format: MPEG
PAL (25 fps)
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 576, 25 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-PAL), 16:9

Create Disc --> AVCHD:
MPEG files
24 bits, 1920 x 1080, 25 fps
Lower Field First
(HDMV-PAL), 16:9
H.264 Video
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 16000 kbps)
LPCM Audio, 48000 Hz, Stereo

Create Disc --> DVD:
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 576, 25 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-PAL), 16:9
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
LPCM Audio, 48000 Hz, Stereo

Best regards.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

and welcome to the forums

Can you give details of your original videos properties.?
How long will the final video be?

HD video generally uses Upper Field order, I notice that you convert to Lower Field that may cause the strobe issue.

With the video in the library or timeline , right click and select properties, whet are they?

[jif03]

Hi and thank you trevor andrew.

My video will be 30 minutes long.
I did change the Field order from upper to lower because I have experienced previously with DV video that this should be lower field.
I didn't know that it should be upper field on HD. But I think I tried this with my first output on DVD without any better results. But I'm not sure and will try this again with upper field instead of lower field.

When I right click and select properties, you are absolutely right about upper field.
This is what the properties are:
VIDEO:File format: PAL HDMV

VIDEO:Video Type: H.264 Video Upper Field First
Total Frames: 234 Frame(s)
Attributes: 24 bits, 1920x1080, 16:9
Frame Rate: 25.000 frame/sec
Data Rate: Variable Bit Rate (Max. 21999 kbps)

AUDIO:Audio Type: Dolby Digital Audio
Total Samples: 449 280 Samples
Attributes 48000 HzLayer: None
Bite Rate: 256 kps

[Ken Berry]

These days, DV is about the only interlaced video which uses Lower Field First. So now you have to change your various settings to reflect the true field order, which for AVCHD is *always* Upper Field First if you are not dealing with true progressive video which is akin to Frame Based.

As for having to use SmartProxy, that too could be attributed to the wrong field order since, indeed, your computer is certainly powerful enough not to need SmartProxy. I have to add, though, that some users of earlier versions who had the then new i7 machines have had to disable hyperthreading while using VS to get it to operate smoothly. That could also be the case with you, though I didn't think it was supposed to happen with X4...

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

To complete your project you have two options.

1 / Share - Create Video File choosing a DVD Mpeg2 option.
This will render the project to a Compliant Mpeg2 suitable for burning a DVD, you can play the file to view its quality before burning a DVD.

To burn a DVD , start a new project Share Create Disc-Add your video file.
Create the menu and burn a disc, The video will not be re-rendered.

2 / Share Create Disc, will export the project to the burner module. The project will be rendered to a temporary compliant Mpeg file, this file being used to burn the disc.
The properties used will reflect the project properties, you can view and change them under the Options Cogwheel.(Project Settings)
Or make sure they are correct from the editing stage.

The important bit is to set the render properties correctly.

As your video is 30 minutes long, these are the properties I would use:-

MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 576, 25 fps
Upper Field First (because the original uses Upper)
(DVD-PAL), 16:9
Video data rate: 8000 kbps (constant bit rate)
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R) (as original)

Edit your project properties to match these settings………
Use Make Movie Templates Manager to create a template, this may come in handy.

If you wish use Variable bit rate make sure you select Two Pass Encoding.

Ok that’s a standard DVD

For AVCHD Disc
Same process as above, render the project to Avchd PAL HD – 1920
Start a new project-Share Create Disc-Avchd-add video.
Or
Share Create Disc AVCHD, Project will be rendered, check render settings are as original. However the bit rate may limit at 18000.

[jif03]

Thank you both for your answers.

I have already tried some of your advices earlier.
I did make a videofile with both DV and Blu-ray quality. Both where much better than the disc I did make earlier in DVD and AVCHD standard. Still there is some "strobe" where I have the text fields and transitions". It seems to be worst where the text fields are placed.
I did also put these video files into a new project and created a new menu and burned it out on a DVD and AVCHD disc. I can live with this results but it's a little bit annoying when I know that this could be so much better.

I have also tried to make a small project with only three videoclips and a text field and transitions between the clips. I have changed the settings several times to see if the quality of the finished file is getting any better. But I still have the same problems --> "Strobe" where the transition are and where the text files is.
I have tried to change the settings from MPEG to AVi on "Project Properties", tried without "non square pixel rendering" and "perform smartrender" and also some other settings.
I have also tried to make a DV-file, HDV file, AVCHD-file and Blu-ray file from the same project. But they all ends up with the same "strobe" problem.

I have also tried to run the project without using the "Proxy", but it will not run smooth without the proxy active. I think this is strange because I do have a powerful computer. When I play the videoclips (MTS-files) from the "thumbnail window" or the explorer, they work just fine. The same happens when I play the single clip from the story board. But if I play the "Project" from the story board it runs really bad. The video only picks and stops. So I have to active the "Proxy". Can this be the problem to my case? I don't know...
Maybe I should try to disable hyperthreading. Does anybody know how to do this or isn't this the case?

Thanks again for your good will to help me

[Ken Berry]

To disable hyperthreading, this has to be done in the system BIOS as you start up your computer. But there are a variety of ways to get into BIOS on different computers e.g. pressing the DEL key when the first BIOS messages start appearing on screen. Usually the BIOS messages themselves will tell you how to get into that particular system BIOS with a brief message at the bottom of screen. Anyway, once you get into the BIOS, you just navigate with your keyboad until you see a reference to hyperthreading; then you disable it and save and exit.

[erdna]

Do you see the strobing on a crt or a flatscreen. What is the original format AVCHD? AVCHD lite?

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

Smart Render:-
Can you disable this option when rendering your video files.
I think Ken recommends doing so, which may improve the quality over those transitions.

Non Square Pixel Rendering:-
This should be left as selected

Smart Proxy:-
Affects the playback, but does not affect the final rendering, so would not be a cause for concern.

Project Properties:-
should be set to the options required for the standard DVD.
If you set to Avi then doing Share Create Disc will render the project using the default settings under the Options Cogwheel.

[jif03]

Do you see the strobing on a crt or a flatscreen. What is the original format AVCHD? AVCHD lite?

Hi.

I see the strobing on a flatscreen, both LCD and LED (HD Ready and Full HD).
The original format of my videofile is: MTS-files, recorded on my Sony HDR-CX115E camera.
When I'm making the final videofile I choose the full 1920X1080 format.

[erdna]

I would suggest to pre-render the 2 files separately, and then put them on the timelime with the transistion. Same for the file which needs text: render it first in VS and apply text when you put it back on the timeline.

[jif03]

Hi.

I have tried to make another movie-file in full AVCHD quality and disabled the Smartrender function. This time it was a little bit of strobe (not much but visible) through the whole video and not just where I have put the text fields.

Maybe I should try to remove all of the text field and make a new videofile (in full Blu-ray quality) and then import this videofile to a new project. Then re-enter the text files as erdna suggests.
This might work, but it requires some extra work.

Hmm, this was just a little bit harder than I first thought.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

As you mentioned did you try creating a Bluray file rather than an AVCHD.

If you are gonna remove the Text / Title clips save the project giving it another name.
Then remove text and render.
Open original project to replace video as text will be in position.

[jif03]

Hi Trevor.

I tried to make a AVCHD file after created many Blu-ray files. I thought I should try that as well just to see if it ended up any different.
I do believe that the Blu-ray file was the best.

Thank you for your advice regarding giving the project a new name and remove the text and render.
I will try to do that and replace the video.

But again, thank you all for your help.
I really learn a lot of this.

[jif03]

Hi.

I have finally manage to make a video without the strobe disturbance.
I have used Ulead video studio since I first bought my DV camera back in 2000.
The last version I had before I bought the Pro-X4 version was the Corel Video Studio X2 (Corel Video Studio 12).
What I did was to save my project, which I have edited in the X4 version, to X2 standard (File - save as - File type: Corel Videostudio X2 Project Files).
After I did this I re-installed the X2 version and open this "new" file in this program and made a Blu-ray video out of the project. This time it worked just fine without strobe where I have text fields and transition

But why doesn't the X4 version handle this?
Is it something wrong with the software or can it be something wrong with my computer? I do believe that this has to be a software program since it works fine with the X2 version.
I still have to make the menu in the X4 version to create a disc (I import the finished video back to X4) since the X2 program "crash" when I'm trying to create a disc.