Best choice of video format for rendering: an fps issue!

[robspa48]

I have VX7 Ultimate.
Properties of my original clips (coming from Panasonic HC-X920 camcorder) are *.mts files (Video 1920x1080, 24000 Kbps, 50fps)
Properties of project are: MPEG files, 24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 ips; basé sur trame; (DVD-NTSC), 16:9; Video rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps) ;Audio LPCM, 48000 Hz, Stéréo. I do not consider choice of Project properties to be important. Editing is quite straightforward for me. Problems start with "Sharing".
What's the best video format for rendering?
1. If I choose mpeg4, there is no possibility for getting 50fps, default value is 25fps, but panning sequences after rendering in this format are choppy. I get less choppy results with personalized profile using max allowed fps which is 30fps.
2. If I choose AVC/H264, I have the possibility of selecting AVC(1920x1080, 50fps,28Mbps). Of course I get a much bigger file, but this is not a problem. Problems are with sequences where I applied the stabilizing filter Mercalli 2.0; after rendering there is still an ad on those sequences asking for a new video analysis being required...

Finally, what's the best choice for a video format which optimally matches the quality of original clips?
My final use of films is either burning a BluRay or an AVCHD disc or putting the rendered video files on a USB key to be viewed on HD TV.
thanks for your advice
Roberto

[skier-hughes]

You need to set your project properties to match the incoming video file. Go to Settings – preferences (F6) tick Show Messages when inserting first clip.
When making your final movie choose same as project settings.

[lata]

Hi Roberto

You say your video is 50fps, is that 50P (Progressive) or 50i (Interlaced)

If you are intending to burn a Bluray then you have to create an Avchd at (50i) aka 25fps x 1920 x 1080. Bluray 1920 x 1080 does not support 50P frame rates.

As Graham says it is important that you match your Project Properties to your video files properties. Once you have set Show messages, start a new project and add a video file, you should see a message prompting you to match the project properties.

Final output from Share

1 / For USB playback or Computer playback…..top option Same as Project Properties, Same as first Clip can also be used assuming your video is the first clip

2 / For Bluray disc – use Settings Movie Profile Manager – Format AVC/H264 to create a new profile, use the Add option to copy the video files properties, now edit the template changing the Frame Rate to use 25fps.
Using this template to render the project to Bluray compliant video file.
Use the new video to burn your discs.

3 / Mercalli….after applying the filter , Customise Filter – set Compare View to Final Output.

[robspa48]

Thanks to you both for your suggestions.
To Graham: I did what you suggested to do and it works, even if I don't think it is mandatory to choose Project properties to match the video properties; working with lower resolution Projet properties (as I initially did) has the advantage that previewing/playing the video during editing is more fluid because of the lower PC Processor utilization. Whatever your choice in Project properties, you can later choose HD video properties for the sharing process; but in this case I noticed a choppy video in panning sequences because of the fps issue: 50 fps in my original clips, and 25 fps (or 30 at best, it's impossible to choose 50fps for the mp4 format) for the rendered mp4 file. Any solution to that?
To Trevor: my video is 50fps p, not i. I'm surprised tha BluRay doesn' support 50P...

1 / For USB playback or Computer playback…..mp4 files or AHVCD .m2t files also can be played on Computer, but .m2t do not play on USB/TV
2 / For Bluray disc – Sorry Trevor, I didn't rerally understand your procedure...
3 / Mercalli….there is a real problem: each Project format needs proDAD clips to be reanalyzed. In other words, if you change project format because you intend to render in a different video format, you do have to reanalyze all the ProDAD clips in that specific format. Any solution to this problem?
Thanks for your time

[lata]

1 / For USB playback or Computer playback…..mp4 files or AHVCD .m2t files also can be played on Computer, but .m2t do not play on USB/TV, Rename the file to use MPG extension instead of M2t
2 / For Bluray disc – Sorry Trevor, I didn't rerally understand your procedure... Render the project to your video files properties with the exception of 50P, use 25fps. Use the new file to burn a Bluray disc.
3 / Mercalli….there is a real problem: each Project format needs proDAD clips to be reanalyzed. In other words, if you change project format because you intend to render in a different video format, you do have to reanalyze all the ProDAD clips in that specific format. Any solution to this problem? ..... You don't have to change the project properties when rendering to other formats, but the project properties should match your video properties, so yes changing the project properties will reset the Mercalli scan.
Thanks for your time

[trailryder42]

Thanks to you both for your suggestions.
To Graham: I did what you suggested to do and it works, even if I don't think it is mandatory to choose Project properties to match the video properties; working with lower resolution Projet properties (as I initially did) has the advantage that previewing/playing the video during editing is more fluid because of the lower PC Processor utilization. Whatever your choice in Project properties, you can later choose HD video properties for the sharing process; but in this case I noticed a choppy video in panning sequences because of the fps issue: 50 fps in my original clips, and 25 fps (or 30 at best, it's impossible to choose 50fps for the mp4 format) for the rendered mp4 file. Any solution to that?
To Trevor: my video is 50fps p, not i. I'm surprised tha BluRay doesn' support 50P...

1 / For USB playback or Computer playback…..mp4 files or AHVCD .m2t files also can be played on Computer, but .m2t do not play on USB/TV
2 / For Bluray disc – Sorry Trevor, I didn't rerally understand your procedure...
3 / Mercalli….there is a real problem: each Project format needs proDAD clips to be reanalyzed. In other words, if you change project format because you intend to render in a different video format, you do have to reanalyze all the ProDAD clips in that specific format. Any solution to this problem?
Thanks for your time

It sounds like you're trying to do manually, by not matching project properties, what enabling Smart Proxy in preferences will do automatically, yet still leave your project properties matched. Smart Proxy makes a low res version for editing without you having to lower your res in project properties. Then all editing gets applied automatically to the full HD version when rendering.

As for Mercalli, I've had that headache too. It's best to adjust your workflow so that you do all your editing, cuts, etc. then run Mercalli last. Any editing, cuts, resolution change, etc. will break the Mercalli effect and it will have to be run again.

[robspa48]

Thanks Trevor, I did change the extension from .m2t to .mp4 and now the file plays fine on usb tv.
Thanks Trailryder42: you are perfectly right, silly me, I had completely forgotten to enable smart Proxy which is the solution to my problem!

Last issue I raise: after final editing of the project I would like to render it in different video formats, namely 1.AVCHD or BluRay for DVD burning in HD (very large files) 2.MP4 for diffusing it on YouTube at HD (smaller files) 3.DVD for DVD burning copies for friends who do not have a BluRay player.
As I understand well, for every format I would have to change the project properties before rendering and rerun Mercalli every time for the relevant sequences, right?
And what about choppy panning sequences whenever I adopt a format with a lower fps than my 50fps of the original clips?

Once more, thanks for your patience and your time
Roberto

[lata]

Hi Roberto

No do not change the project properties ..........
Your project properties should be set the same as your video files properties.

Before you render anything go to Preferences (F6)-Edit Tab - change the Resampling Quality to use Best.

1 / For Bluray, the disc holds 25 Gb, use Share – Bluray that will create a high quality Bluray compliant file, use that file to burn a Bluray disc,
How…………
Start a new project, nothing in the timeline, Share Create Disc, Bluray.
The burner module opens, now Add your video file created above.

I did mention using Movie Profile Manager to create your own profile using the original video files properties, then edit changing the frame rate to 25 fps.

The above Bluray / MTS file can be your stock output file, converting that to other formats may be better than rendering the project again.


2 / If you wish to burn a AVCHD Hybrid disc then you should render using Share AVCHD, this will reduce the data rate thus reducing the files size, a DVD holds 4.3 Gb your AVCHD using say 18000kbps will allow for approx. 30 minutes to disc.


3 / To burn a DVD first using the Bluray video created above render / convert to Mpeg2
That will create a new video suitable for burning a standard definition DVD.
The data rate used will control the file size, 8000kbps will allow for 75 minutes of footage to the disc, creating a file at 4.3 Gb (just less than)
How long is your project?

To burn the DVD disc, start a new project, Share Disc – DVD, opens the burner module, add your video file here.

4 / For MP4 try the profile MPEG-4 AVC (1920 x 1080, 25p, 15Mbps), what you actually use may depend on the file size and download times.

Just to sum up

Render the project to Bluray MTS file, play that to check quality, this is your main output file.
Use that file to convert to fit a AVCHD disc 4.3 Gb
Use the same file to convert to DVD Mpeg2
And again to render for YouTube.

[robspa48]

Hi Trevor,

thanks again, I'm going to try your suggested workflow. Once I get the mts file how shoud I convert it to the other formats? Using a third party software? If this is the case do you have any preferred software to suggest?
Roberto

[robspa48]

My project is 1h16min long...

[lata]

Hi Roberto

Once you have rendered the project to a Bluray Mts file you have two options.

Option one…………

Render the project again to MPEG2, that will create a file suitable for burning a DVD.
Your project is 76 minutes, that is on the limit of what will fit to disc, make sure you render to Mpeg2 using digital dolby, that will help in reducing the files size below 4.3 Gb. Otherwise reduce the Data Rate to 7500kbps

Option two….
Start a new project, insert the new MTS file to the timeline and Share - Mpeg

You mentioned AVCHD disc, did you intend burning the project to DVD using HD settings, your project is to larger for burning to AVCHD disc.