Pixilated GoPro Hero4 Video when DVD Created

[Jan1954]

We downloaded our GoPro Hero4 video into GoPro's video editing software. We edited the videos (2) and then uploaded them into Video Studio Pro X8. I have not used the Pro X8 yet, but was familiar with using my previous version Pro X5. When we burned the video onto the Memorex 16X 4.7 gigabyte DVD, using Pro X8, the DVD was nearly full, but everything burned onto the DVD. However, when we played the DVD video on our big flat screen (Sony Bravia) the video was all "pixilated" for use of a better term. The same thing happens when playing the DVD on the computer. The video was shot underwater, with lights. Was it the GoPro, or Pro X8 that caused the problem? When we loaded the videos into Pro X8, they were MP4 files. When you save in Pro X8 it makes you save the file as an AVI file. I have Windows 7, 64 bit operating system. What can we do to solve the problem? Oh, I also watched the Corel Tutorial about changing the Preferences, tried to make all those changes in Pro X8 and then burned the DVD again, but it did not seem to change the poor quality.

[Jan1954]

I forgot to mention the Corel tutorial I found on changing preferences was using the Pro X7. Don't know if that matters.

[lata]

Hi

You do not give any details of your original video files properties, I assume they are High Definition, maybe 1920 x 1080. Right click your video file and choose properties - what are they?

Converting / downscaling those to DVD (Standard Definition 720 x 576(480)) will reduce the quality.
Playing them back on a large screen will definitely show the poor quality.
You should consider burning the HD video to Bluray disc.

You have another option to create a video file using the same properties as your originals, (or at least HD) then copy to a USB memory stick to play on your TV, I assume the TV has USB.

Video Studio

You mention AVI files, are you using the trial version.
If so that version a cut down version, so much that it is causing a lot of quality issues.
However as far as I can remember should be able to render to Share - Mpeg4, choose an option similar to your original video properties.

View the option for Same as Project Properties, if you can change to Same as First clip. Then try that, may not be available but if is will render using your video files properties.

So are you using the trial X8

[skier-hughes]

How long is the movie?

[Ken Berry]

We downloaded our GoPro Hero4 video into GoPro's video editing software. We edited the videos (2) and then uploaded them into Video Studio Pro X8.

I am also interested to know why you did this i.e. edit the video in the GoPro Studio program. VideoStudio can accept and edit Hero footage without any prior editing in another program. (I have the Hero 3 Black Edition.) Given that mpeg-4 is a lossy format, editing in Studio and producing a new video which you then put into VS already represents one degree of quality loss. Then down-converting it to standard definition DVD-compatible mpeg-2 inevitably involves a further and quite substantial degree of quality loss. Hence the pixelation...

You have another option to create a video file using the same properties as your originals, (or at least HD) then copy to a USB memory stick to play on your TV, I assume the TV has USB.

This is what I do these days with all my high def video, including of course the Hero, although I also have a Blu-Ray burner should I want to use that option. Outputting as high def mpeg-4 using the H.264 AVCHD codec preserves the original quality of the video and thus plays beautifully on big HDTV screens.

[Jan1954]

Hi everybody! I just got back from my volunteer job and saw these posts. I will reply to them with the info requested, but it will take a little time to research all this.

My first off the cuff answer as to why we used the "free" GoPro Studio Video was that it was there and I thought maybe it would be easy for my hubby to create his video. Big mistake. You can't create a DVD with the software! So I plan to remove that software after I get this mess cleaned up.

Also, I bought ProX8 in August. This is no excuse, but I have a video in ProX5 that I wanted to complete, but video editing has been low priority for me. So I need to catch up (study) ProX8. I miss having a manual in my hands as I work with software. Heck, I was born in 1954!

I don't know why my only option was saving the video in ProX8 as AVI, but that was the only option when I hit save. I figured it was because I brought over the completely edited (with titles and music) mp4 video file into Pro X8. I have to get to work on these comments! Thanks.

[Jan1954]

The GoPro video file information: File type: MP4; Frame width: 1920; Frame height: 1080; Data rate: 30187 kbps; Total bitrate: 30316 kbps; Frame rate: 59 frames per second.

So (per Ken Berry) I need to go into ProX8 and use the H.264 AVCHD codec. Right now, under the Preferences that I set the other day before I burned the DVD a second time, I have these properties under Video proxy options: MPEG-4 Files; 24 bits. 1280 x 720, 29.97 fps; Frame based; H.264 High Profile Video: 4000 Kbps; 44100 Hz, 16 Bit, Stereo; MPEG AAC Audio: 128 Kbps. Also I have selected under Create Proxy when video size is above: 1280 x 720.

So do I load the original GoPro mp4 files into ProX8 and start editing from the beginning, and that will solve the problem? Or do I have other issues in my ProX8 Preferences that I need to change?

[Ken Berry]

My comments were addressing the suggestion of not making DVDs but making high def video for playback via a USB drive on your HDTV. The best way of doing this is going to Preferences > General and ticking the box beside "Show message when inserting first clip into timeline". Then start a new project and insert one of your GoPro files into the timeline. You should now get a message asking if you want the Project Properties to match those of the clip. Say yes. Do your editing, and when that is finished, you go to Share and at the very top, tick the box beside "Same As Project Settings" and press the blue Start button after giving the new clip a name. You will then get a finished video of your project with identical high quality properties as your original footage.

If, on the other hand, you still want to make a DVD, you could use the new high def mpeg-4 but down-convert it to DVD-compatible mpeg-2 and burn that to disc. But bear in mind the above comments about inevitable loss of quality in doing so.

[skier-hughes]

My first off the cuff answer as to why we used the "free" GoPro Studio Video was that it was there and I thought maybe it would be easy for my hubby to create his video. Big mistake. You can't create a DVD with the software! So I plan to remove that software after I get this mess cleaned up.

Leave it on, it will possibly contain codecs that are useful. It's size shouldn't take up much space.

The GoPro video file information: File type: MP4; Frame width: 1920; Frame height: 1080; Data rate: 30187 kbps; Total bitrate: 30316 kbps; Frame rate: 59 frames per second.

So (per Ken Berry) I need to go into ProX8 and use the H.264 AVCHD codec. Right now, under the Preferences that I set the other day before I burned the DVD a second time, I have these properties under Video proxy options: MPEG-4 Files; 24 bits. 1280 x 720, This won't help if you are changing the video size from 1280 to 720. 29.97 fps; Frame based; Also your video is 59.94 frames a second and I assume frame based, this setting is only 29.97 fps frame based, that's half the info thrown away.
H.264 High Profile Video: 4000 Kbps; Unless you have typed wrong, you have gone from a bitrate of 30187 to 4000 this will most likely be the biggest cause of problems, as 4000 is VHS tape quality bitrate. 44100 Hz, 16 Bit, Stereo; MPEG AAC Audio: 128 Kbps. Also I have selected under Create Proxy when video size is above: 1280 x 720.

What length in minutes is your video? A high quality dvd will be around 60 minutes and 8,000Kbps.

[Jan1954]

Thanks Ken and Graham, etc. I will leave the GoPro Video Software on my system. My 2011 Sony Bravia HD TV has an HD15-HD15 cable (analog RGB) and the audio input to hook up a laptop to it. It also has the typical HDMI input. The Bravia manual say the USB port is for service only unless you are connecting the optional BRAVIA external module DMex (the x is superscript). I have no idea what that means. I have updated the software using a USB stick, so that is probably what it is referring to. I need a smart TV...

The video is about 1 hour and 11 minutes.

I changed the ProX8 Preferences, based on a Corel Tutorial where a person is setting up preferences in ProX7. So I was just trying to match up with what he did. It did not help the quality, and I was working with the GoPro video that was already edited and saved for uploading into ProX8.

I just went back into preferences and made some changes. See attached. Is everything OK now? There are 3 screen prints in the attached file.

I have ProX8 open now, so I will select the tutorials that are found under the Help tab. Then I'll check back for your comments. I will also go to the links Graham provided and will study Ken's comments so I don't repeat the same mistakes.

We will start from scratch with the original video data in ProX8, once I correct the Preferences in ProX8 based on more input from everyone. Thanks!

[Ken Berry]

Those properties look OK to me -- though the Video Data Rate of 40,000 kbps in the third image is possibly a little too high, given that the original video is only around 30,000 kbps.

But why are you doing it that way when I have already explained the simple way of matching Project Properties to those of your original clips, and then outputting in exact those properties using "Share > Same As Project Properties"?

[Jan1954]

I wanted to get the Preferences right first (for future videos?). Then I thought I would follow your instructions on matching Project Properties to the original clips, since it is done in Share, which is where I burn the DVD. I have to start over with the original video mp4 data in ProX8, edit, and then match the project properties in Share. Or that is my understanding of Corel. All I have done in Corel (starting with my first Corel video editing software years ago) when the video was ready was select the number of DVD's to burn, select Normalize Audio, and then burn the DVD. So I will match the 30,000 kbps and look into your instruction to match the Project Properties.

[Ken Berry]

No, matching the Project Properties is for the editing phase. It also helps make playback smoother while editing in Project mode. Then it simplifies the Share process once you finish editing by enabling Same As Project Properties.

And note that Share is not in this case for burning: it's to produce a new video clip of the project, not a disc. If you want to burn a disc, you have to go back to Share again, choose a disc option, and insert the new video clip manually in the burning module when it opens.

[Jan1954]

I matched the Project Properties and all the video clips are loaded for editing. Once the editing is complete, I will go to Share and produce the video clip of the project. Then once I decide what to do next (burn a disc, etc.) I will go back into Share. I guess I will know by then what "inserting the new video clip manually" means by then. I did look at some of the Corel tutorials, but they did not cover this technical part (frame, bit rate etc.) of the process. I will watch the tutorial(s) on the Share process before starting that phase. I hope there is one on the Share process!

[Ken Berry]

I guess I will know by then what "inserting the new video clip manually" means by then.

Normally, if you open the burning module while the project is still open in the Editing module, the *project* file (***.vsp) opens automatically in the burning module timeline. It looks like a video but is only the text file telling the program where the video clips in it are stored, and what editing has been done to them. It is NOT a DVD-compatible or Blu-Ray-compatible video file. If you continue with it in the burning timeline, it will be again converted as part of the burning process, and sometimes this does not work.

Instead, we recommend first producing the DVD or Blu-Ray compatible file as described above. When you have replayed it and are satisfied that it is how you want it, then you go to Share and select either DVD or Blu-Ray as the output. When the burning module opens, if there is anything in the module's timeline (viz. the vsp file), delete it. Then in the top left of the burning screen you click on the Insert Video button, navigate to where your new compatible video file is located and select it. It will then appear in the burning timelines. This is manually inserting the new clip.

If you click on the cogwheel-looking Options icon in the bottom left of the burning screen, the little box beside "Do not convert compliant MPEG files" should be ticked. If it isn't, then do so. That way you will avoid having your new clip rendered again, which would cause some quality loss since MPEG is a lossy format, and also because the burning/conversion properties might not be the same as those of your new clip.