Rendering "Share" Quality

[Tesla99]

I'm filming with a GoPro Hero7 and film at 16:9 2704 X 1520 59.94 FPS and Data rate at 57751 kbps MP4. I have a 4K monitor and this looks very good. I want the edited video to be at the same quality as the recording. If I pick default settings, rendered video is about 1/3 the file size of the original video, video quality a noticeably lower. Now when editing, there is project properties which I assume is just for the editing window, so that doesn't affect the "Share Properties" unless you pick "Same as Project Settings"

On the Share screen, I have been experimenting with the "MPEP-4" choice, then "new Profile options" under "properties". I pick MP4, I can't change the "User-Defined" frame size and have to use standard, I find 2560 X1440 as close as I can to my frame size in 16:9. I pick a frame rate of 59.94 FPS. Now come the hard part, "Compression" what video type do I pick? There are 7 choices and no documentation. I have been experimenting and sometimes get files bigger than the original file I started with. I have been setting the "Video data rate" to my original file 57751 kbps. The video can look as good as the original, but it sometimes takes 7 tries to get it right, and rendering can take 20+ minutes each time.

Is there a way where it can read the metadata of the original file and set that for the default of the "Share" rendering? Is there an easier way to set up the "Share" rendering?

[tletter]

Is there a way where it can read the metadata of the original file and set that for the default of the "Share" rendering? Is there an easier way to set up the "Share" rendering?

Yes, when creating a new project, allow VS to match the properties of the first clip.

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

[Ken Berry]

When you start a new project, and put the first clip from the GoPro into the timeline, do you get a message asking if you want the Project Properties to match those of the clip? If not, then first check Preferences > General to make sure that the box saying "Show message when first video clip is inserted into timeline" is ticked. If the box is ticked and you did not get a message, then what codec did you use to produce the clip? (Right click > Properties). More recent GoPros can be set to film in the excellent though demanding H.265 codec which produces smaller files but excellent quality. However, for me at least (I have a GoPro 9), I don't get the message with them.

But if you *do* get the message, then when you get to Share you can choose either "Same as Project Properties" or "Same As First Clip". And the rendered video should now look the same as the original.

[Tesla99]

I checked the box "Show message when first video clip is inserted into timeline" (it wasn't). Then I got the message, "Want the Project Properties to match those of the clip?" I said yes, got the correct resolution in the upper right corner 2704*1520, looked good. Next went to "Share" and checked "Same as Project Settings" and clicked "Start" I get the message "The frame size (2704 X 1520) of the video file does not match the settings and therefore cannot be trimmed [18706:1:1]" It will not render the video. I didn't do any editing on the video, it was a short 4-second clip for testing.

Any ideas?

[tletter]

I get the message "The frame size (2704 X 1520) of the video file does not match the settings and therefore cannot be trimmed [18706:1:1]"
Any ideas?

1. Try rendering using "Same as First Video Clip". Does the same error message appear?
2. Run your 2.7K file through a video transcoder.
3. Post your "4-second clip" so that others can test it.

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

[Ken Berry]

Ah! Sorry! I keep forgetting that GoPro has that frame format that VS does not like. I just did a quick film with my Hero 9 using that frame size and my preferred H.265 codec. I got the usual message about matching the Project Properties to those of the video, but when I chose "Same as Project Properties", I got the same message as you. (For tletter -- Same As First Video Clip is greyed out.)

I tried a couple of alternatives under Share > Custom, though I used 2560 x 1280 as the frame size. I left the bitrate at just over 60000 kbps, but also tried dropping it to 20000. But in the end the result I was most happy with was full 4K at 3840 x 2160 at 50 fps and bitrate of 65000. The quality was excellent and the frame size appears to fill the screen in the same proportion as the original. The conversion used the H.264 codec and the end size was just a fraction smaller (130 MB) than the original (134 MB). The clip ran for 18 seconds and rendering was only around twice that which I thought was fair. I had hardware encode enabled, but SmartRender and hardware decoder disabled.

In practice, I avoid that frame size and have my Hero set to either HD at 1920 x 1080 or more usually 4K at 3840 x 2160. I nearly always use VS for my editing so want to avoid VS not liking some aspect of my video formats.

[Tesla99]

Ken, Thanks for testing it out, I went with your recommendation, 4K 3840 x 2160 at 60 fps (50fps wasn't a choice) and bitrate of 65000, it looked like the original. The reason I film at 2704 X 1520, that is the highest resolution a Hero GoPro 7 will film with steady shot, 4K is all shaky. I will be looking for the Hero11 when it comes out in the fall.