Re-rendering a 1920x1080 HD MT2 file to an acceptable SD format for DVD

[Andy3T]

I'm sorry to raise a new query but I can't trace any existing post that exactly covers my query. I'm sure there is one somewhere but I can't track it down. I am trying to re-render a 1.47GB 1080 x 1920 file to an acceptable SD profile to burn to a DVD. All attempts thus far have produced poor and unacceptable results. The project properties for the MT2 file were;

NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
MPEG Transport-Stream Files
24 bits, 1920 x 1080, 29.97 fps
Upper Field First
(HDMV-NTSC), 16:9
H.264 Video
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 18000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 384 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)

I'm dropping the MT2 file into the timeline, hitting the 'share' tab and clicking on MPEG-2 720 x 480 with these project properties;

MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Upper Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 16:9
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 384 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)

I use VS9 Ultimate. I'd very appreciate any guidance. I know from previous posts there any many very clever and experienced contributors to this excellent forum. Thank you very much.

[Ken Berry]

First off, I have moved your post to the VideoStudio forum as it is likely to be seen by far more people in that forum, rather than the one in which your post appeared. That should also attract far more replies.

My own first question, though, is whether you can confirm that the frame size of your original video is, as you posted it, 1080 x 1920 and not 1920 x 1080. That would imply your video was originally filmed in a smartphone being held in portrait mode rather than landscape mode.

You also say that you are using VS9 which is a very old version if you mean that rather than VS X9 or even VS 2019. If it is indeed VS9, then the smartphone format could be the cause of the trouble. You could in that case always try using a third party video converter, such as the freeware Handbrake some of us here use, to convert the original video to 720 x 480 mpeg-2 which should then burn successfully in VS to a DVD.

[Andy3T]

Thank you Ken. My post was clearly misleading and I apologise for that; thanks also for moving the post to the VideoStudio forum. It's a while since I've posted in this forum and I need to re-familiarise myself with its vagaries . The frame size should indeed be 1920 x 1080. I showed it the way that I did because that's the order it appears in the top right corner of the 'Welcome/edit' screen; the footage was shot, in landscape, on my Panasonic HDC HS900 (220GB). The version I have is indeed Vx9 Ultimate and not the much older version, so further apologies. Any further thoughts (with this new info) would be hugely appreciated. Andy

[Davidk]

Perhaps, you could clarify what you meant in your first post by poor and unacceptable results. I note here that rendering an MTS file from 1920x1080 ie FHD to 720x480 SD is going to give substantial reduction in resolution - down by over half, overall. What seemed Ok min the original now looks less definitive, or washed out. If resolution is the issue, then perhaps you should reconsider the format of delivery and possibly choose a usb stick in the MTS file format. Most Tv's will play those now (plug in the stick, choose that connector as the signal source, and then play).

You seem to have the normal trouble spots covered - recorded on a camcorder, tick; frame rate for NTSC - tick. Query - since you live in the UK (your login profile location) why NTSC and not PAL? Or is it that the camcorder is an NTSC unit?

There have been occasional codec issues mentioned with panasonic (I have a V770M and not experienced them, but it appears in posts infrequently). So firstly, I suggest you re-check the manual of the recorder to see if there is anything of note in the recordable formats. If nothing notable appears, then take Ken's suggestion and run the original source file thru Handbrake, and then re-try the DVD process with the handbrake output file.

[Andy3T]

Thanks Davidk for your thoughts. I do understand that re-rendering to SD will produce a marked drop-off in resolution but what I'm getting is a bit like viewing the footage through a layer of clear jelly (absurd though that sounds); this is even before I burn it to a DVD. I am away from home currently - where my camcorder and manual are - and I will check out the NTSC/PAL issue when return in few days. I will comment again then. Thanks again for your help.

[lata]

Hi Andy
So why are you needing to change from HD to SD?
Your audience does not have Bluray player?
You do not have Bluray discs. If so try burning a AVCHD, that uses SD discs with HD content, you could 40 minutes max to a SD DVD
Whilst testing creating a Disc Image ISO will allow you to play using VLC media player to check quality before committing to disc.
Ok
Although you have provided the project properties they appear to be the programs default profile.
I do not have X9 install to confirm that.
What are the properties of the actual recordings.?

I own a pana sd900 version that records using a data rate 16800kbps.
Of course it’s possible your camera does use 18,000kbps
As far as I know the pana 900 can be either Pal or Ntsc as purchased, but cannot use both.

Being Pal It can record to 25fps or 50fps, the ntsc version would use 29.97 or 59.94fps.

Important that the project properties match the video, Video Studio does this for us using the Show Messages option.

So what are the properties of the original recordings.
Right click a clip on the library or timeliness for properties, create a jpg image of that panel to attach here.

[Andy3T]

hello; thanks so much for your input. I always have successfully rendered to the default Bluray profile and produced excellent quality finished projects. On this occasion I am trying to chieve a 'reasonable' quality SD version to burn to a DVD for a friend who does not have a Bluray player (nor a TV that would accept a video file via a USB stick). As I mentioned in my previous text I won't be in a position to check my Panasonic until I return home but, given what you say about frame rate, it does look as though my camcorder is set to PAL as looking at the properties of the source footage (attached) it shows 50 fps. Interestingly the project properties I have always used seems always to have been set at NTSC without any apparent deleterious effect on the finished project. Could this be what's causing the problem in creating an SD version? Given the total length of the footage is only about 15 minutes I am tempted to try the 'SD discs with HD content' route you suggest but would you kindly enlarge on that please? Thanks again

[lata]

Hmmmm

The change from Pal to Ntcs will not do you any favours.
In addition the frame order will be Progressive when using 50fps aka 50P
Using ntsc at 29.97 is using interlaced.

1 / First I would start the project again setting the project to use the properties as your video, a frame rate of 50P.
2 / complete the editing
3 / render to same as project or same as first clip to create a HD video, p.ay to check quality.
4 / start a new project adding the new HD video
5 / share to render to Mpeg2, I think you will have to set properties to use 25P, not interlaced.
Not sure if DVD supports 50P, I will check that....

Andy
I have installed VSX9.5, interestingly the program used ntsc by default.
Going unnoticed will mix up your profiles.
You should go to preferences (F6) to change the TV Standards to use Pal.
Now when you choose share mpeg2 you will get the 720 x 576 Pal options.

[Davidk]

Going the AVCHD file on an SD disk route isn't going to be a good solution, as altho you can burn it, it needs a blu-ray player to play back.

[Andy3T]

Thanks DavidK and Lata. I have now re-rendered the file as in Lata's point 3 above, which is fine but I notice that several 16x9 stills I have inserted have been rendered in a roughly 4x3 aspect ratio, 'squashing' the content of these images. I can't move on to points 3 & 4 until I have sorted this problem; thanks again in advance.

[lata]

Hi
Images should retain their aspect ratio.
Taken with a standard camera may be using a 2:1 ratio so would not fit the entire screen, unless you set vs to do that.

I would use an image editor to crop the images to 16:9, 1920 x 1080.
You say “squashing the content” are you saying the images are distorted?

Did you start a new Pal project or just updated the ntsc project to Pal?

[Andy3T]

I did start a new PAL project as you kindly suggested. The still images are exactly 16x9 anyway and they rendered perfectly when I rendered as an ntsc project. I've just noticed that several video clips have suffered the same fate. I've been inserted 16x9 still images in projects for years and never had this issue before when rendering as an ntsc project.....weird . Here's a screengrab of one of the still images plus another of a squashed video clip. Thanks for your help and patience.

[lata]

The images look normal to me but difficult to see if they are distorted or not
Right click an image for properties, what are the pixel dimensions?
Are the images on the overlay track, select image, right click preview screen for Fit to Screen, then Right click for keep aspect Ratio.
If they are on the top track a double click will open the options panel, Resampling Options to keep Aspect ratio

Post updated
Apologies I misunderstood that you were referring to squashed video clips a d not images.
Very strange..

[Andy3T]

Thanks again for your input/advice. I just had a 'light bulb' moment...........the issue is NOT with the rendered PAL file, at all, but with the media player. Since a recent laptop update the media player has defaulted to 'Films & TV'. I've just played the rendered PAL file on both VLC and Windows Media Player and 'Bingo', there's no problem at all. I'll now see, over the weekend, if I can successfully complete numbers 4&5 from you suggested list of actions. Again I am hugely grateful for your help; this really is an excellent forum.

[lata]

Hi Andy
I checked the Mpeg2 DVD profile it does NOT support 50P the best you can do is use 25P
However the program defaults to using 25fps (50i) interlaced UpperFieldFirst, You should create your own profile to use 25P, also suggest using a Constant Data Rate rather than variable given the short duration of the movie.
........
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 576, 25 fps
Frame-based aka Progressive
(DVD-PAL), 16:9
Video data rate: 8000 kbps (constant)
Audio data rate: 384 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)
........
When you finally get to the burn disc stage its important to avoid Convert Title as that may revert the frame order back to interlaced.
Some info here https://lata.me.uk/corel/all.htm