DVD output troubleshooting

[dnestico]

I put together a slideshow with still images and audio. When I output to DVD, the images have horizontal banding; however, when I output to MPEG4 (for play on the computer) the images look crisp. I played with the DVD settings, but can't figure out the proper setting to get crisp images on the DVD. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks
Dave

[BrianCee]

Since you seem to be able to create a video file successfully then why not try making an mpeg-2 file first using basically the same settings as you used for your mpeg4 - test that and if that is satisfactory then open the create disc module with nothing in the project and import that mpeg-2 file and continue to burn the DVD.

Also doing it that way we can point you in the right direction if things are not quite right still.

just a tip to avoid you making a lot of coasters - in the last window of the burn module choose instead to create a disk image file without a disk in your drive.

You can then test that image by playing it in the free VLC player - and finally use VideoStudio to burn that disc image to disk (tools >> burn from disk image) - by it's nature the disk image is what is on a DVD so what you see in VLC will be on your DVD.

[lata]

Hi Dave
What version of Video Studio are you using?

First go to Preferences – edit tab – set Re-sampling quality to “Best”

Then I would use Settings - Make Movie Project/Template manager to create a Mpeg2 template to the following:-

MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Frame-based
(DVD-NTSC), 16:9
Video data rate: 8000 kbps (constant)
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)

Compression tab Speed Quality to 100%

-----------------------------

Frame Based because you are using still images
Constant data rate – I assume the slide show is under 70 minutes and will fit to disc using the maximum rate.
16:9 for widescreen, although 4:3 can be used.

Another option would be to convert the good MP4 video to mpeg2 rather than converting the project,

[dnestico]

Thanks for your suggestions. I tried them, but to no avail.
I am using Videostudio X7 (I upgraded from X6) on a Windows 8.1 machine. I am also using Tiff files.

Thanks
Dave

[lata]

Hi Dave

I have to admit I don’t use Tiff files, Jpegs are shot with the Canon 7D and always produced good slide shows.

Are you able to convert the Tiff’s to Jpeg?

Oh you could try disabling Smart Render, just in case its causing some problems, it would not be used that much anyway.

[BrianCee]

So are you saying that with your project you can make good mp4 files but cannot make good mpeg2 files - that implies you are not using the same settings for both videos

[dnestico]

So I finally am able to create a good mpg2 file for viewing on the computer. But, my DVD's still render very poor. I used the same setting in the DVD menu as I did when rendering the mpg2. I also tried to create a DVD of something I had successfully created in Videostudio X6, but had the same poor results. I can burn HD-DVD's with good results, but they must be played on a Blue-Ray player.

Thanks for your help

Dave

[Ken Berry]

I am now a little confused... Are you comparing the quality of a standard definition DVD to that of a HD/DVD or AVCHD hybrid disc? If so, it is highly unlikely that the quality will ever be even romotely similar. Depending on the exact Properties you used for the hybrid disc, it would normally have a bitrate around twice (or more) that of a standard DVD. Since bitrate is usually what determines quality, it stands to reason that a hybrid disc of the same video will normally be at least twice the quality of the standard DVD -- and given the difference between the format used in the hybrid disc (AVCHD mpeg-4) and standard def mpeg-2, the former will be probably of even better quality than twice that of the standard DVD, particularly on a large HDTV screen...

[dnestico]

@Ken Berry: I am comparing the quality of the DVD made with Videostudio X7 with the one I made with Videostudio X6. Also, the mpeg2 I made, for computer viewing, with Videostudio X7 is adequate, but the DVD I burned has horizontal distortion (The edges look like over-sharpening, but extended throughout the images).

Thanks
Dave