Interlacing when outputting DV-AVI as MPEG4

[andyfranks]

Hi,

I'm outputting DV-AVI files filmed on a Sony A1 in DV CAM as MPEG-4 videos for upload to Vimeo.

The projects and source files are:

PAL (25 fps)
Microsoft AVI files
24 bits, 720 x 576, 16:9, 25 fps
Lower Field First
Matrox DV/DVCAM -- type 2
PCM, 48.000 kHz, 16 Bit, Stereo

I have been outputting to create movies with the following properties:
MPEG-4 Files
24 bits, 1280 x 720, 25 fps
Frame-based
H.264 Main Profile Video: 5000 Kbps
44100 Hz, 16 Bit, Stereo
MPEG AAC Audio: 128 Kbps

I'm using Video Studio Pro X5 trial version.

Should I in fact select / have selected Lower Field First or is Frame Based OK? Is it safer / more reliable to select Lower Field First if that's the format of the source files? What would the difference be?

The videos seem to look OK on my laptop - don't know about Vimeo.

Many thanks, Andy F

[Ken Berry]

Normally, you should use the same Field Order as the original. But more often than not, frame based for the same video should also work. The only thing you really have to avoid is Upper Field First as that will produce unwanted effects like jaggies in vertical lines or fast moving pans.

[andyfranks]

OK thanks, much appreciated.

[andyfranks]

If these videos I've outputted from Lower Field First source files seem to look OK as Frame Based, is there any disadvantage to outputting them Lower Field First to be safe? eg are Frame Based better quality videos generally?

[Ken Berry]

I am not even sure you will be able to set the properties for mpeg-4 to lower field first. I have never tried. You would need to do it through Custom or in Make Movie Template Manager. But if not, and you find the Frame Based output to be good, then of course use that.

EDIT: I have just checked using Make Movie Template Manager. As far as I can see, the only codec setting which allows LFF for mp4 is h.264-HIGH. It also offers UFF and Frame Based. All the others seem limited to Frame Based. But for the sake of completeness, you could try the HIGH codec and see if that is satisfactory as well...

[andyfranks]

Hi,

Both Main and High codecs seem to offer Lower Field First on the drop down menu but neither of them actually output the video when you press OK.

So I guess I'll keep them as Frame Based, upload to Vimeo and hope they look OK.

If they don't, I might come back and ask about other options.

Thanks again, Andy F

[lata]

Hi Andy

Use Frame Based for all your internet work, I mentioned Interlacing because the standard templates used by X5 now use Upper Field, in the past Lower Field was used so the same as DV-Avi.

If you change the field order you will see jagged edges, so if you are to burn a DVD you would use Mpeg2 files then you should use Lower Field.

Flash, WMV, Mpeg4, Mov all use Frame Based

[andyfranks]

Many thanks.

Yes, one of the projects I would like to output as a DVD - it's about two hours long and the project and source footage as I say is :

PAL (25 fps)
Microsoft AVI files
24 bits, 720 x 576, 16:9, 25 fps
Lower Field First
Matrox DV/DVCAM -- type 2
PCM, 48.000 kHz, 16 Bit, Stereo

...shot in DV CAM on a Sony A1.

Can you advise me on what DVDs to buy? eg what brand, GB and speed. And what settings to use after Create Disc? Believe it or not I've never burned a DVD...the process looks a bit daunting.

For the web I've been outputting as
MPEG-4 Files
24 bits, 1280 x 720, 25 fps
Frame-based
H.264 Main Profile Video: 5000 Kbps
44100 Hz, 16 Bit, Stereo
MPEG AAC Audio: 128 Kbps

The file size for the MPEG-4 file as above is 3.57 GB. You mentioned using Mpeg2 files and Lower Field First for DVD. Could you take me through the basic process and settings?

I'd like to make it as secure as possible - ie not possible to copy the film off the Disc, or burn copies of it. Are non recordable DVDs more secure?

Hope you can help - much appreciated.

Many thanks, Andy F

[lata]

Hi Andy

Your DV-Avi project needs converting to Mpeg2, that type is used to burn a DVD.
Two hours is quite long when burning to standard DVD as the disc only holds 4.3 GB of data.

Use Make Movie Templates Manager to create a template to Mpeg Files.

Read my quick guides
http://lata.me.uk/video_studio/guides/q ... e_mpeg.htm

This guide shows the settings you need for creating a template, well nearly.
http://lata.me.uk/video_studio/manager/manager.htm


MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 576, 25 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-PAL), 4:3—You use 16:9
Video data rate: 4000 kbps – Try Variable will reduce the size in Gb.
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)

The quality using 4000kbps will be similar to VHS quality.

Secure DVD so nobody can copy, not possible, not with this software, most DVD’s even copy protected commercial discs can be copied, again not with Video Studio, but many programs are capable of ripping DVD’s

Disc Types I use DVD-R types….

I use a brand using a Ritek dye, always purchase on line from a few outlets, and printable discs, cos my printer will print to discs.
Taiyo Yuden discs are probably the best, you get what you pay for, however I have had no problems with Ritek.
I have used these three sites without problems….

Bigpockets http://www.bigpockets.co.uk/cat.php?sea ... able+DVD-R

http://rivieramultimedia.co.uk/inkjet-dvd.html

http://www.cvbmedia.co.uk/dvd-r-minus.html

Price about 20p per disc, buy 50


If you have never burnt a disc then read my guides, they were written for earlier versions of Video Studio but the workflow is practically the same. Even starts with using DV-AVI

[andyfranks]

Hi,

Thanks for this - I will look at your tutorials. It seems the safest option is to create the MPEG 2 file first, then burn it.

In terms of DVDs - what speed? I have found some DVD-R Verbatim 4.7GB 16x speed 120 mins - are these any good do you reckon? Don't mind buying more.

Thanks, Andy F

[Ken Berry]

Verbatim is usually an excellent brand, so go with those if you can't find the Riteks. (I also mostly use Riteks -- though I haven't found them here in New Zealand since I moved from Australia 2.5 years ago. But luckily I brought a large supply with me!! )

As for speed, the Riteks I have allow me to burn at 4x, and we usually recommend to people that they should burn at a relatively low speed to allow the burning laser that microsecond longer to embed the signal more firmly into the disc. With 16x blanks, you may not have the 4x option, so use 8x instead.

There is one glitch with this. Burning using VS (any recent version) does not allow speed selection. It always uses maximum speed -- so with 16x discs, it burns at 16x. That is perhaps the major reason I seldom use VS to burn an actual disc. Instead I untick 'Create Disk' on the final page of the burning module, and select instead 'Create DVD Folders'. This creates a Video_TS folder which is identical to what you will find on commercial video DVDs, with files in it with .vob, .bup and .ifo extensions. Two other advantages of using this method are that you can first preview the Video_TS folder using software DVD players to check everything is OK before you actually burn to disc; and second, you can burn as many copies as you like from the Folder. The downside is that you have to use a third party program to do the actual burn. I use Nero or Ashampoo Burning Studio, but you can also use the freeware ImgBurn.

You can instead of selecting DVD Folders, select Create Image File which creates an ISO file which you can actually burn to disc using a utility which comes with X5. Nero and a variety of other programs will also burn ISO files to disc. However, only a limited number of software DVD players can play ISO files without first 'mounting' them as a virtual drive. However, the freeware VLC Player will allow you to play ISO files without any fiddling around.

But above all, don't be scared about the burning process. DVD blanks are fairly cheap these days (and Riteks decidedly so compared to Verbatims), so you won't be breaking the bank if you make a mistake or two at first. But after only a couple of successes, you will feel as though you have been burning DVDs forever. So good luck!!!

[lata]

Hi Andy

Speed, generally we advise to use a low speed when burning a DVD.
4X or 8X, however you may not have any option in choosing a speed when burning a DVD. I purchase 8X, and as I say Ritek, Printable, two reasons I don’t like the manufacturers text/details printed on my discs, and I have a printer that prints to disc.

I choose the Disc Image option, play the file using VLC player then burn the file to disc. It takes under 10 minutes to burn an ISO.
Creating a DVD Folder is the same process.

You should burn a disc using Video Studio using the Mpeg2 file.
X4 does not provide means of burning ISO files.

Creating anMpeg2 file first.

The program needs a Mpeg2 file to burn the disc, if you do not create it the program will and overall it will take the same time to burn the disc.

By creating the file first you have the option to play and view the quality before committing to disc, same goes for the ISO.

[andyfranks]

Many thanks, both of you. Does VS11 have adjustable speed for the DVD do you know? Many thanks, Andy F

[lata]

Hi Andy

The only version I do not have is VS 11.

I am not sure if any version allows you to set the burn speed, I don’t even look, just use the default settings, but as I say I do buy 8X discs.

If you wish to test the Burner Module and create a menu, from the last window choose to Create a Disc Image or DVD Folder rather than burn a Disc.
The files will contain all that is burned to the disc and can be played back on the PC.
Saves on making those coasters.

[andyfranks]

OK thanks.

Few more things, many thanks:

With VS Pro X5, how do you select the type of image that gets taken when you take a snapshot of the project eg JPEG, PNG etc?

I've uploaded videos to Vimeo. They were filmed in DV-CAM on a Sony A1E and captured as:
PAL (25 fps)
Microsoft AVI files
24 bits, 720 x 576, 16:9, 25 fps
Lower Field First
Matrox DV/DVCAM -- type 2
PCM, 48.000 kHz, 16 Bit, Stereo

For Vimeo I outputted them and uploaded them as:
MPEG-4 Files
24 bits, 1280 x 720, 25 fps
Frame-based
H.264 Main Profile Video: 5000 Kbps
44100 Hz, 16 Bit, Stereo
MPEG AAC Audio: 128 Kbps

Unfortunately they are all stuttering badly. Any thoughts? Is that just to do with my PC / connection?

Also, should I upgrade the videos to 1080p from 720p? What are the pros and cons? Does it matter as they were filmed in DV CAM and captured with the settings above?

Many thanks, Andy F