DVD Footage Restoration

[Tecstar]

I have a DVD of some old 1937 film footage. It was obviously taken as a direct transfer from degraded film stock. I have loaded it into Videostudio from the DVD (which VS has loaded as .mpg files) I have applied some sharpening and visual filters and want to export the footage. Is it best to export to DV and then use that to remake a DVD or burn the DVD direct from VS? I am assuming that trying to reburn the DVD will involve some re-encoding anyway, so either way isn't going to make a difference other than having a DV file to archive.

Just wondered if anyone had any thoughts about what I am trying to do with reference to the file conversion aspect and minimising loss of quality.

[BrianCee]

There is no point whatsoever in converting an mpeg to DV and then converting it back to mpeg to burn on a DVD - assuming you mean a DVD to play on a standard DVD player - that way you'll do two unnecessary conversions.

If you have the video in your timeline then just go "Share >> Create Disc >> DVD" and burn what you have to DVD.

Sometimes it suggested you go "Share >> Create video File >> DVD" - this creates a standard mpeg2 video file which you can view before burning - then when you go into the create disc module delete anything already in the burn module time line and import your new mpeg video - this just breaks the whole process into manageable chunks - some users have had problems going straight from timeline to DVD - it seems to tie the processor up a bit - it also allows you to see the final edit (maybe in another application) before committing to burn.

[skier-hughes]

I agree totally with Brian. If you want to hold a back up copy of he file on the pc, keep an mpeg version of it.

[Tecstar]

Thanks guys. So does applying filters result in re-encoding anyway or is it a bit smarter than that?

[BrianCee]

If you do anything at all in the timeline - like applying filters or even just cutting a small piece out of the middle - you must render out a new video file which will contain your new additions and edits.

notice that I said new video file - while you are editing in any way shape or form VideoStudio does not alter or cut your originals at all - the original is always on your computer exactly as it arrived there - so you can use it again if you want to - maybe even try different filters in another project. so when you have done any editing before you can use the final video you must render out a new video file. All edits in the timeline are 'virtual' and not really happening until you render out.

You do not render out a new file after every little bit of editing - only when you have completely finished - if you want a break in editing due to time constraints or personal needs then you do a "File >> save" - this creates a project file with the extension .vsp - this is not a video file but a text file containing all the information about what you have done in the timeline - when you want to continue you go - "File >> open project" and open the vsp file which will re-populate your timeline as you last saved it.

[Tecstar]

If you do anything at all in the timeline - like applying filters or even just cutting a small piece out of the middle - you must render out a new video file which will contain your new additions and edits.

Thanks Brian, I understand all the other stuff in your post reL timelines and project files, but on this point above if I render out a new video file whats the best route to a new DVD?

Current mpg > DV > new mpg/DVD or Current mpg > new mpg/DVD

[BrianCee]

There is no point whatsoever in converting an mpeg to DV and then converting it back to mpeg to burn on a DVD - assuming you mean a DVD to play on a standard DVD player - that way you'll do two unnecessary conversions.

If you have the video in your timeline then just go "Share >> Create Disc >> DVD" and burn what you have to DVD.

Sometimes it suggested you go "Share >> Create video File >> DVD" - this creates a standard mpeg2 video file which you can view before burning - then when you go into the create disc module delete anything already in the burn module time line and import your new mpeg video - this just breaks the whole process into manageable chunks - some users have had problems going straight from timeline to DVD - it seems to tie the processor up a bit - it also allows you to see the final edit (maybe in another application) before committing to burn.

there is no point whatsoever in going via DV

[Tecstar]

there is no point whatsoever in going via DV

Thanks Brian. (even for archival purposes?)

[BrianCee]

no - it is an un-necessary conversion.

mpeg video only has so much information in it - you cannot add useful information by converting to DV - if the information isn't there you can't add it - there is nothing wrong with archiving mpeg if that is what you started with

[lata]

Hi

Just to add a little more info.

A Standard DVD video disc has to use Mpeg2 type video to burn the disc.
One way or another you have to create a Mpeg2 type video.

Your original video files are Mpeg2 as they were extracted from a DVD disc.

After you have edited the project you should convert the project to Mpeg2.
Your best option is to use the original properties of the video.
Share Create Video File-Same as First Video should do just that.

Before you hit the Save button “copy and paste” the details in the lower properties panel, paste them to the forum.

That will tell us exactly the properties of your video file.

DVD to DV, as mentioned this is a pointless exercise, your video files are as good as they will get, converting to DV is not going to improve quality.
Editing using Video Studio may enhance the look, but you are best to retain the original format..

OK

Burn a DVD
So you have created/rendered the project to a Mpeg2 file, it should be small enough to fit to disc and that is 4.3 Gb
You can play this using one of your media players checking the quality.
Now start a new project—nothing in the timeline
Share Create Disc – DVD
From the burner module-Add Media Files—Add the Mpeg2 file created earlier.

[Old Grey]

I have a DVD of some old 1937 film footage. It was obviously taken as a direct transfer from degraded film stock.

On a side note, would the footage be hand held home movies. I'm doing the same thing, but in a more convoluted manner, and was wondering what the film looked like before and after, and what filters you used.

Something like this.
https://vimeo.com/62968193

[Tecstar]

Its 1937 and its film of a public event. It looks professionally shot (as I suppose it would have been in 1937 as I imagine not many people had camcorders!) It is poor quality, with poor definition and detail. What I have added is Sharpen as much as I think as I can get away with and Color Balance. This has made it look less washed out. I cant get it to look great colour-wise because its not great to start with. I keep tweaking the Colour Balance but either it is slightly too green, or slightly too red. I'm just going for a clearer picture and the colors to be as close to looking normal as possible. Of course, any tips greatly received!

[Old Grey]

Its 1937 and its film of a public event. It looks professionally shot (as I suppose it would have been in 1937 as I imagine not many people had camcorders!) It is poor quality, with poor definition and detail. What I have added is Sharpen as much as I think as I can get away with and Color Balance. This has made it look less washed out. I cant get it to look great colour-wise because its not great to start with. I keep tweaking the Colour Balance but either it is slightly too green, or slightly too red. I'm just going for a clearer picture and the colors to be as close to looking normal as possible. Of course, any tips greatly received!

I had a devil with VS anti-shake - my sample clip on the right pane is fairly smooth but then it jerks violently -, hence my hand held camera question. If yours is steady it's not a problem.

In the options panel for the clip there is colour correction - didn't help much for me -, and if your whites are off, there is a white balance where you pick something white in the clip and it adjust everything until white white - which worked -.

With Sharpen, 2 seems ok, 3 just starts to get grainy, 4 and 5 seems like it has too much grain.

There is DeNoise, DeSnow to remove grain - I couldn't get it to work that well - and Detail Enhance

Overall I don't think VS does that good of a job, Power Director seems to work better in this case, and I was wondering if you found something better than me.

[Tecstar]

TBH, its not THAT important for me so i'm not spending too much time on it and so i'm not looking past VS.

[lata]

Hi Tecstar

Each time I have tried to enhance the colour some options work, but can easily over do it reduces the quality even further.

You could keep the old look and use the Duo Tone (I think its called)
Maybe using a sepia look.

I do not think video in 1937 would have been shot in colour, it could have been re-touched during developing.

Even so an Interesting exercise………….