Burning for TV--too many options

[lata]

What make/model of the Sony Bravia do you have?

Can you tell us your tv model, I have a Sony 43xf8796

You should be able to google and locate a manual for the TV and see whether it supports NTSC, it will certainly support Fat 32 with the 4 Gb limit
https://helpguide.sony.net/tv/faep1/v1/en/04-01_02.html

I would create a couple of short video, a few minutes as a test, Mp4, Mpg, and Mov.
I would render that to my pc hard drive then copy to the USB stick.

Plugin the USB to the pc, I also used the TV default media player, does take a bit of time to see the USB but once recognised should play the video.
If it does not support a particular video format they well simply not show.

and no I do not know the difference for exFAT, never used that format.

[Ken Berry]

Another format to test is .mkv (Matroska) which is pretty common these days. But some TVs, especially older ones, won't play it even if they play the other formats. Mind you, it is easy enough to convert to one of those other formats.

[Jan1954]

I see that exFAT is the default option when formatting the Sandisk disk. The video I created (exFAT referred to above) that I put on the Sandisk is 11.8 GB.

I have another question now. Is the Video Studio MPEG-4 better quality than the AVC/H.264? I see the Video Studio AVC/H.264 is a "Trasnport-Stream" file and it is (HDMV-NTSC), 16:9. Should I select that instead of the MPEG-4?

[lata]

I found some details regarding Bravia and USB and NTFS, as you appear to own a 2017 tv should support ntsc.
https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/supp ... s/00232003
Avoid losing your files by backing up all your media files stored on a USB device. Sony cannot accept responsibility for lost or damaged data stored on a USB device.
Most BRAVIA models supports FAT16, FAT32 and exFAT file systems only for USB playback.
Newer BRAVIA models (2013 onwards) support FAT16, FAT32, exFAT, NTFS file systems.
Depending on the file, playback may not be possible even for the supported formats.

As for the video format, you should choose the same as the original video format if that is suitable.

[Jan1954]

I went ahead and created the movie on the Sandisk (exFAT) with the AVC/H.264 format (although Video Studio says that format is: HDMV-NTSC, 16:9. Does that matter? It was recognized by the Bravia. The quality is much better than the DVD. I read on-line that ACV/H.264 is better quality and uses less space than MPEG-4, but would like to hear opinions on that!

One thing I noticed when starting the movie after putting the flash-drive into the Bravia. I selected "Media Player." But dumb me, wanted to use the remote "select" button. NO. You have to hit the "Play" button on the Bravia remote. The "Select" button just gives you the option to look at the movie details or delete. Not sure what the delete would do.

[tletter]

I read on-line that ACV/H.264 is better quality and uses less space than MPEG-4, but would like to hear opinions on that!

Suggest that you create a test video and render it using both types of video encoding standards, and then see what you think. Please let us know the results of your testing.

tletter
https://www.youtube.com/user/tletter

[lata]

Hi Jan
I think there may be some confusion regarding NTSC and NTFS, apologies if I am wrong
Both very similar initials.
NTSC (National Television System Committee) is the TV standard used in the USA and other countries, the main difference you will see is the frame rate of 29.97 or 60fps
These are the types of video that you will be creating.
I live in Pal country ( UK) which uses 25fps or 50fps.

NTFS (New Technology File System) is the type of filing system our computers use for our hard drives.
A usb memory stick is similar to a hard drive in that it uses either NTSF or Fat32
Fat 32 was the original format which limits file sizes to 4 Gb.
Many devices, TV set may still need to use Fat32.

Jan
I mentioned in an earlier post that as a test I had rendered several short video samples to various formats, MTS, Mov, MPG, and MP4,
Using a short video makes rendering quick, the Bravia TV recognised all these formats
I then used a 5.5Gb video on a USB (NTFS) that was also recognised.

Ans what format! of course you are looking for quality, I would suggest using the same format as your original video file, Can you tell us what that is?

Using the “Media Player” if you have several video files on the USB then all will show as individual thumbnails, you can then select which one you wish to play (arrow keys), and yes it does appear to show the video details prior to playing, at least that is what I see.

As for formatting the USB, that will delete all content, allowing you to choose a format NTSC, Fat32 or exFat, you only need to do that if you wish to change to another format.
As exFAT appears to allow for 11Gb of video I see no reason why you should change.

[tletter]

As exFAT appears to allow for 11Gb of video I see no reason why you should change.

For all practical video creation purposes, the maximum file size of exFAT is unlimited at 16EB.

tletter
https://www.youtube.com/user/tletter

[Jan1954]

Wow. Good information from everyone since the last time I checked. I got sidetracked preparing for a trip in the Trinity Alps Wilderness Area, but postponed it today due to smoke and new fires.
Trevor: When you brought up NTSC and NTFS, I was not aware there were two NT's or what the abbreviations meant! Thank you. When I selected "Share-Play on the Computer" in Video Studio, the AVC/H.264 properties referred to (HDMV-NTSC), 16:9, and lists 29.97 fps. The Share-MPEG-4 properties does not list HDMV-NTSC.
I thought all the properties of the movie I recently finished is MP4. But I now realize that the Olympus Tough TG-3 video camera my husband also used has the property MOV. Does that cause a quality problem? That movie is the one I burned to a DVD and was not happy with. So I did select AVC/H.264 when I rendered it to the USB stick. That is where I saw the Video Studio "HDMV-NTSC" I referenced above. I will render it to the MPEG-4 and compare that to the AVC/H.264 movie. Now for more stuff. We were using the GoPro (MP4) underwater and it flooded. I liked the quality of that video and Ken Berry gave me instructions on creating the GoPro movie in Video Studio. Now we have a Sealife (MP4) for video/pics underwater. After my last "above water" video recorder (new Panasonic with built in hard drive) got stolen in the Galapagos, I have not replaced it. The Olympus Tough TG-3 video camera labels its video files as MOV, which I see is a Quick Time Movie File. I guess that is a format compatibility/quality problem with MP4 files? The vacations often include the Olympus MOV files as well as the Sealife or defunct GoPro MP4. My husband got the small Olympus for hiking the Pacific Crest trial, so he uses that and the Sealife. The Olympus is getting worn out, so I guess I have to tell him it is time to get a better "above water" video camera! I don't like using the Canon camera video option since it is too cumbersome, but I love the picture quality. I do want another video camera, but then I'll have more videos to render to movies!

I just realized I opened up another can of worms, MOV versus MP4!?

[Jan1954]

I rendered the movie to MPEG-4 today. I compared it to the AVC/H.264 version. The MPEG-4 version had blank spots, where the screen became black. It happened early in the movie. The MPEG-4 has 3.51 GB and the AVC/H.264 had 4.54 GB. Not sure why the AVC/H.264 had more data.

I like the quality of both, but I think the AVC/H.264 was better. I will not keep the MPEG-4 since it had those blank spots.

[lata]

Jan
sorry about your stolen camera, know how you feel having lost similar in Spain, long time ago now.
Galapagos takes me back to 2011 when we visited, sounds like you have same interests other than the diving.
We had a safari trip booked to Namibia, postponed because of Covid, rearranged for Feb 2022, this week we find the trip is cancelled as company has gone into liquidation. Very disappointing.

Rendering quality should retain the original video quality provided we use the same settings as the original.
We should also set the project properties to the same settings, where possible.
Of course converting from one format to another can result in lower quality but again using similar settings is recommended. Take care with video types – field order – progressive or Interlaced.

Burning a DVD
A video DVD has to use Mpeg2 standard definition, for NTSC, 720 x 480 at 29.97fps the frame type here is also important as interlacing could be used, Upper or Lower field First.
What were the properties of the video used to burn the DVD, I assume HD MP4 or Mov, If your original video is using a progressive frame type the burning process may convert that to Upper Field and that will cause quality issues.
Of course the original may be using 1920 x 1080 resolution, which will also be scaled down to 720 x 480 reducing quality.
So a little more care in controlling the settings when burning a DVD

If the original video was either DV-Avi or Mpeg2 would prove easier to manage when burning a disc.
To avoid creating those coasters I always create a disc image, that saves the DVD to an ISO file, we can play using VLC Media player, and if quality is ok burn the ISO to disc.
Your best option is to render the project to Mpeg2 using appropriate settings
Then use the new Mpeg2 to burn the disc, or rather Iso then to disc
Some details regarding DVD workflows, also includes Bluray
http://lata.me.uk/corel/all.htm

Mov re Mpeg4…. Should not be to much of a problem, again provided same / similar settings are used. MP4 video was in fact first created from Mov, many years ago, some older types can have there extension changed from Mov to MP4 and still work, may not work for the newer types used nowadays.

To help in retaining the original settings the program does use the Messages option to match the project properties, then from Share - Same as First Video Clip or Same as Project Settings can be used.

[Jan1954]

Trevor,
We were in Ecuador and the Galapagos in September, 2011, when my husband's camera/video backpack got stolen (at the end of the trip too). You may remember a lot the Taxis were white pickups. I was mad that all the pictures and video were gone. I could replace the gear, not the video and pictures. We had a small painting, the dive operation's dive video, and the passports in my pack, thank goodness. Too bad about your cancelled trip. We are to go to the Maldives in February, 2022, so I am holding my breath on that one. Decided to go to the Bahamas in November to do some refresher diving, since our dive trips were cancelled. I have my fingers crossed that this late November/December trip doesn't get cancelled AND the hurricane season has ended...

I am making a checklist of your points above. I already had the preferences set so I am asked that question when inserting the first video clip. I need to pay more attention to what the various video formats are so I ensure I have the settings correct for the video. I think a new video recorder early holiday/birthday present is in order! Coasters?? I have been saving the movies as *.VSP, but have not been saving them as disc images. Will read up on that again. I remember that term but did not fully understand if I needed to do that.

I have a stack of unused DVD's that I don't plan to render movies to anymore. I like the USB flash drive since the file size can be much bigger (these SanDiscs are 128 GB). I also have a bunch of CD's that hold each years photos, so there is always something to do to clean house and reduce clutter. Some years (2000 - 2013) have like 7 CD's all labeled. That kept me busy and out of trouble, I guess. Thank you for your input!

[Ken Berry]

I like the USB flash drive since the file size can be much bigger (these SanDiscs are 128 GB).

Just by way of a footnote, those 128 GB USB stick drives are fast becoming only small to medium size. I have about 5x1 TB stick drives (yes that's one terabyte) and two (so far) 2 TB drives, and I've had them for well over a year now. Got them from China for a modest price (via the Wish website), but they all work extremely well. And of course it means you can store heaps more on them too by way of streaming video or photos (or music...or.... or....!)

[Jan1954]

Ken, China!!!! Just kidding.

I read where the life of flash drives is very good, even better if you don't reformat, render more, reformat, etc... I don't plan to do that. At the age of 67, it sounds like they will outlast me, or will be put in the dump after we are gone! I just want to plug these movies into the TV and bore myself and anyone else in the room.

I got the Video Studio 2021 this week. I got tired of the reminder to buy it when exiting Video Studio (I think there is an option to stop those reminders but decided it was time to move forward). The problem is I started a new project, so I am online to research this database about whether I should finish the project, or move it over to VS 2021. Wish me luck.

Since I have all those unused DVD's, I often wonder when the flash drives will be obsolete...

[JohnM20]

Thanks for the tips. I had same questions