HD quality loss in X4

[leszektrojanowski]

Hi there,

I'm using X4 and I'm very pleased with it. I purchased quite a basic Kodak Zi8 camera around a year ago, which makes decent quality HD movies. Every time when I copy files onto my PC (.mov files in Quicktime), the quality is amazing. It looks real and live.
However, whenever I drag the files into Corel X4, the quality diminishes automatically. (Before even editing).

I was wondering if I'm doing something wrong with the files.

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks!

[teknisyan]

When you say quality diminishes, does this happens when you try to preview the video inside VideoStudio X4? If it does, better check the smartproxy settings by going to SETTINGS > PREFERENCES > PERFORMANCE and see if the SMARTPROXY is enabled.

"Smart Proxy creates proxy files, which are lower resolution working copies of video files. They are reduced in resolution or compression bit rate -- to speed up editing of high definition files such as HDV and AVCHD." smartproxy is handy for those VS X4 users that do not have a powerful computer.

[Ken Berry]

You need to be aware that the VS preview screen is not particularly brilliant. It is really only meant to be a preview screen, not a high quality playback. What is important is how the final product from Video Studio looks after editing and played back on another device or TV... So what are you trying to make with your video?

Also, it would be useful to know exactly what type of .mov file you have -- there are many different codecs which can be used to produce Quicktime files. So please right click on one of the files *inside* VS -- either in the timeline or library window -- and copy ALL its Properties here.

[leszektrojanowski]

I understand that a preview window won't reflect the "proper" quality. All I really want is to burn the file onto a dvd disk.

What steps / settings do I need have without losing quality.

This is a screenshot of one of the files I'm currently working on:

[Ron P.]

You're using a High-Def video clip. Are you wanting to burn a Blu-Ray, Hybrid, or DVD? DVD is now the common name for Standard-Def video disc.

[Ken Berry]

... And by a hybrid disc, we mean do you want to burn your high def original video in high def format (using a Blu-Ray folder structure) but on a standard DVD blank disc...

[leszektrojanowski]

... And by a hybrid disc, we mean do you want to burn your high def original video in high def format (using a Blu-Ray folder structure) but on a standard DVD blank disc...

Yes, I would like to burn my high def original video on a standard dvd blank disk.
Is this possible without losing quality?
Thanks

[Ken Berry]

It depends a little on your original HD properties. If it is AVCHD with a max VBR of 18 Mbps, then your won't have any worries -- that is what VS uses as its bitrate. However, if your camera is a more modern one which uses the new maximum bitrate of 24 Mbps, then yes, your video will not be the same quality, though I suspect you probably would not notice too much difference.

Personally, with hybrid discs, I always use the 18 Mbps max and have been more than pleased with the result -- equivalent to HDV quality. But the downside for some people with this is that you then can only load about 20 - 25 minutes of AVCHD onto a single layer DVD with such a bitrate. That never worries me since none of my projects every goes above 20 minutes. You can fit more video on by lowering the bitrate, but that in turn lowers the end quality.

[leszektrojanowski]

It depends a little on your original HD properties. If it is AVCHD with a max VBR of 18 Mbps, then your won't have any worries -- that is what VS uses as its bitrate. However, if your camera is a more modern one which uses the new maximum bitrate of 24 Mbps, then yes, your video will not be the same quality, though I suspect you probably would not notice too much difference.

Personally, with hybrid discs, I always use the 18 Mbps max and have been more than pleased with the result -- equivalent to HDV quality. But the downside for some people with this is that you then can only load about 20 - 25 minutes of AVCHD onto a single layer DVD with such a bitrate. That never worries me since none of my projects every goes above 20 minutes. You can fit more video on by lowering the bitrate, but that in turn lowers the end quality.

That's great. Thanks for great advice.

But what are hybrid disks? And how do you save a file to a disk?

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

Hybrid discs use a SD type DVD disc but with HD type files……..
Before you go any further do you own a Bluray DVD Player.?

All Bluray and Hybrid discs need a Bluray Player of sorts.

Burning a AVCHD to a standard disc will not play on your normal SD DVD Player.

I have yet to advance to the HD world, after editing my project I would Share Create Disc-Avchd
This opens the Burner Module, create a menu
On the last page choosing the "Create AVCHD" folder will save the disc structure to your hard drive allowing you to play on the PC to check quality. Saving a disc if something goes astray.

Choosing the “Create to disc” will burn to a DVD.

Your project will be converted using the settings under the Project settings cogwheel, lower left.
I would edit these to use Digital Dolby as my audio option.