Project Property Settings

[edrizz]

I am looking for some help with Project Properties. I have always just used the default and am hoping that it has not affected the quality of my projects. The manual says the "Project Properties dialog box determines the appearance and quality of a project when it is previewed on-screen" so I am thinking that is does not have to match the video file input quality and does not impact the output video qualtiy, but I want to be sure. Also, my video camera records 1080/60p, 28 Mbps (VBR), 1920x1080. I don't see optons like this and so tried to create a new one but was unsuccessful.

Any help is greatly appreciated... Ed

[edrizz]

One additional related question... is it better to set the Project Properties to match the type of video being used in the project (AVCHD, AVI, etc.), or to the type of video that will be used in the output project (DVD, Blu-ray, etc.)?

[BrianCee]

If you tick the "show message" box in preferences then when you put an HD film in the timeline a message will pop up asking if you want to set project properties to match the video - saying OK will set properties to match the video

but in the long run - apart from perhaps just the aspect ratio I have never found that project properties have much affect on anything - it is what you set when you render your output video which is the most important (in which case do not use the option "same as project properties"

[lata]

Hi

Matching project properties to the video file is supposed to help the program Smart Rendering.
Indeed the message window indicates this.
Video Studio can automatically match those properties for some types, but not all.
Try with your files to see if they are compliant.

You mention recording using 60P, if your target is to be DVD or Bluray discs then 60P is not used.
Instead 29.97fps NTSC or 25 fps for Pal is the industries standard frame rate.
Bluray however can use 60P providing the frame size of 1280 x 720 is used.

Effectively your original video files will be rendered to use 29.97 fps (30fps) that removes 50% of your frames.

The quality will / should be Bluray quality.

My camera can also record to 50P, but for most of my recordings I use the correct rate for burning a disc, for me 25fps (29.97fps for Ntsc) I don’t see the point in recording to 50P just to render to the lower rate.
I think Bluray should support 50/60p discs –maybe sometime???

Indecently my video files are suitable for burning a Bluray, so I guess my input properties are the same as my output properties.

My Quick Guides
I have started updating my Quick Guides, they will eventually show the workflow I use from Camcorder to Disc.
I have a couple of sections available, the 2 / Insert to Timelines describes the Show Messages….maybe worth a read.
The opening page gives my recommended workflow details.
Select the link below

Much more work to do, the site needs a clean up, but will get there in the end.

[edrizz]

Thanks for the info. I ticked the "show message" box in preferences and the project properties were created to match my video perfectly!

Regarding my camera settings, if I am going to make a Blu-ray disc and it is going to go down to 29.97 when rendered, would it be better to record in 60p or 60i? These are the only options that my camera has as I can't record at 29.97.

[Ken Berry]

29.97 (or 30 fps) is in fact the same as 60i...

[lata]

Hi edrizz

That is the million dollar question, I don’t know.

First I feel that I should record to the correct rate for the disc, 29.97fps (25fps Pal)

I know my camera (Pana 900) records to Bluray compliant video files and I could burn a disc without converting or rendering the files.

Testing…….
Normally I used 25fps although I have recorded to 50P as a test, a couple of holidays, (you would use 60P)
I did not come to any conclusions regarding quality differences. The final video files when rendered back to 25 fps (50i) looked ok to me.

I would first render the project to same as first clip, that would produce a 50P video using the original properties.
I think the renders were faster doing 50P rendering that using 25 fps (50i)

I would then convert the 50P to 25fps to create a file suitable to burn a disc.
That is converting Progressive to Interlaced, maybe Progressive 25P could be used, another option.

The advantage of recording to 50P (60P) is that you are recording to the best quality the camera can do.
I know Ken Berry chooses to save his files to the hard drive, playing them directly on the tv rather than burning a disc. That is probably the way things will go, I am sure Ken will comment on his approach.

I am on holiday in a few days, plenty of recording opportunities, I still have not made my mind as to 50 or 25fps recordings.

If you are happy with your workflow in recording to 60P and the quality of the final disc is ok then I would continue to do that.
You do have the option to try 29.97fps recording just to see how it goes.

[edrizz]

Sounds like a coin flip. I will try both and compare.