Converting MTS tp Mpeg2 - quality issues

[lata]

Hi

I am having problems in downscaling my MTS video files to SD in order to burn a standard definition disc.

The problem shows in many ways, simply poorer focus, wavy lines, square pixels for want of a better description popping up randomly across the screen, it really depends on the screen content as to how bad it looks.

I have used both X6 and X7 with poor results
Tried all settings I can think of and simply running out of ideas.

I have AVS Video Converter that does a better job.

I know there have been others on the forum complaining of similar quality issues with the reply, yes you should expect a reduction in quality when downscaling, If I were to use the Mini DV GS 400 I would get better results.

I have uploaded a few samples, 1min minute long,
Note the vertical lines on the pillars shimmering, the frame breaking down with pixels dancing?

Samples are
1 / Original Sample.m2t………..from original rendered Same as first clip, good quality
2 / Converted using X7.mpg………….tried lots of other options
3 / AVS 8.mpg.................. if video studio created as good I would not be posting this.

Can anyone render the Original Samples file to produce a good quality clip?
To reduce your download time I have provided separate links for each file as you may only need the original.

Original 112 Mb http://1drv.ms/QAnR99

Using X7 45Mb http://1drv.ms/1lI57hw

AVS 8 45 Mb http://1drv.ms/QAnZW2

Thanks guys

[BrianCee]

I've never used Sky drive so I don't know if I've done everything correctly. - I thought I uploaded to onedrive on my PC

I converted your original clip to mpeg and yes there is a loss of clarity and on one occasion it seem to lose focus while panning - but I don't see any other problems

see what you think :-

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=1 ... BA6243!439

[BrianCee]

I have a free copy of PowerDirector on my laptop - so I tried rendering to mpeg-2 with that - although not perfect it is a much better picture than VideoStudio :-

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=1 ... BA6243!441


but I think your AVS wins - downloading now

[lata]

Hi Brian

Thanks for testing that, I do realise that the focus will be a little soft given that we have stripped the video frames of most of the pixels, going from 1920 to 720, I can accept that
The pan to the left looks better, my conversion shows some of those pixels, the pan to the right however still shows a lot, gets worse after 35 seconds, maybe its Heather, that’s the lady that ducked out of the way.

Did you view in full screen, I usually start play then double click the screen.
I have just played on one of my media players and still see those horrible dancing pixels.

Oh SkyDrive and One drive are the same beast, they recently changed the name.
I have never decided which sharing option to use, I did consider the BT Cloud but never used that and wasn’t sure how to share the files.

I think I will be using AVS8 Converter to create the Mpeg2 but still think Video Studio should be upto the job.
It could however be my pc that is causing the problem?

[BrianCee]

Yes I viewed everything at full screen on my laptop - and decided that VideoStudio came out worst and AVS was best - so I have invested in the AVS converter and it will now be part of my tool kit. I still need to convert quite regularly because all the work I do with the school is filmed at HD but a survey of parents showed very few with a blu-ray player - so all the DVD's we sell have to be standard.

[Shim]

Hi,

I have just downloaded and tested the three clips although they are not fair comparisons;

Original m2t file: UFF, VBR 16800kbps, 1920 x 1080
AVS conversion: ???, CBR 6200kbps, 1920 x 1080
X7 conversion: UFF, VBR 6400kbps, 720 x 576

I have rendered 2 files from the original clip (m2t) with VSX2 to compare AVS and X7.

First to match as near as possible to the 1920 x 1080 AVS file
X2 conversion UFF, VBR 6400kbps 1920 x 1080 = Better IQ (colour very noticeable) than the AVS file.
X2 conversion UFF, CBR 8000kbps, 720 x 576 (1024 x 576) = Better IQ than the X7 download version and no pixilation.

I have taken screen shots of the same frames to compare but unsure how to upload the images.

[BrianCee]

To upload images click on "upload attachment" at the bottom of the screen when replying - see below - and follow instructions.

"Choose File"

"Add the file"

"Place inline"

[Shim]

Images too large to post 1920 x 1080 also 1024 x 576

[lata]

Hi Brian

Thanks for the Power Director sample, much better than Video Studio, like you I think I prefer the AVS version seems a little more crisper / better focus.
I haven’t really bothered comparing colours, providing I get rid of those pixels I would be happy. Although the notice at 7 seconds should be red text, AVS seems to retain a little red?

Shim
Thanks for the input here………
First I have no problems in creating HD files, it’s the conversion to DVD Mpeg2 that is causing the poor quality, and apologies I seem to have the avs frame sizes wrong

My mistake the AVS sample should be DVD compliant using 720 x 576 frame size, I was sure I set that, somehow the settings used same as original?
Anyhow I have used AVS again this time with the correct settings and created a suitable video file, little or no difference between 1920 and 720.
AVS by the way seems to use Frame Based, I have tried using this with X7 with the same poor results.

I have now tried rendering using X2 with good results, so why is X7 doing such a poor job, I’ll look at the other versions I have to see where things went wrong???

[erdna]

I mentioned the poor X7 results for HD to SD conversion in the past. I use Koyote HD to DVD convertor (free and best imo). The HD to SD (mpeg-2) convwerws file is in my dropbox for download.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/nclnskn46plwg ... sample.mpg

[Shim]

Not the most scientific testing ever done... All frames taken from 00.00.05.09 (5 seconds / 9 frames).

Image 01 Original m2t VBR 16800kbps 1920 x 1080
Image 02 Download AVS 6200kbps 1920 x 1080 note colouration between orginal and X2
Image 03 X2 VBR 6400kbps 1920 x 1080
Image 04 Download X7 VBR 6400kbps (1024 x 576) note pixilation on the right hand column
Image 05 X2 CBR 8000kbps (1024 x 576)
Image 06 erdna VBR 9000kbps (1024 x 576)

Link to images, view full size and save to your pc to compare the six images in better sequence.
http://imgur.com/a/2wLKS

Hope they are of of some use.

[erdna]

Indeed not scientific at all, but interpreting moving pics w.r.t. PQ is rather difficult without using special equipment. Screnshots don't always tell the full storry. In the past I published my HD testmovie (no motion) which already tells something about concersion quality.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wfssckmhcecud ... 2050i.m2ts

[Ken Berry]

FWIW, I have tried a variety of programs on that original sample, and cannot say I got decent output from any of them. I agree that X7 does not do a good job, although I did not get any obvious pixelation/blocks when I converted it to DVD-compatible mpeg-2 (using Frame Based and 8000 kbps). However, there was some jaggies in vertical panning down the columns, and overall the whole appearances was rather fuzzy. For me, X6 was worse -- with rather curvy blurring in horizontal pans. Colour definition did, however, seem better than X7. I also tried Sony Movie Studio Platinum 12, but that was worse still with pans appearing quite jerky. None of my converter programs produced decent results either, though I don't have the one you used, Trevor.

[canuck]

I used 3 different programs (Roxio Creator 2012, Freemake Video Converter and Corel VS X6) to convert the original sample video to DVD mpeg. None of rendered videos have the pixelation that shows in the X7 conversion. I did not get the "curvy blurring" that you are seeing Ken in X6.

[Jan]

My experience in converting HD files (1080) to DVD files (720) with all CorelVideo Studio versions has always been unsatisfactory. Since many years now I have been using different versions of software from TMPGEnc. This is the conversion done by TMPGEnc Video Mastering Works 5 :
You can download it here :
https://www.dropbox.com/s/iprjoxcujfycq ... ks%205.mpg