First, download some high definition Mpeg2 HDV files or buy a Sony HD-HC1 camcorder.
Video Studio 9.0, with the HDV plugin installed, will capture in mpeg2 HDV from the Sony. Set Capture properties to frame size of 1440 x 1080, Widescreen (16x9). Since I don’t have an HDV camcorder, I downloaded a WMV file from www.WMVHD.com and converted it to mpeg2 HDV 1440x1080 pixels with Video Studio 9 with the HDV plugin, which decided that the field order was Frame-Based. Then I proceeded as follows:(1) Set up the Project properties by dropping an HDV video clip in the timeline and let VS9 set properties for you. Properties will be close to the following:
NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
MPEG files
24 Bits, 1440 x 1080, 29.97 fps
Frame-based (the HC1 native field order is Upper Field First, so use that for HC1 native video)
(MPEG-2), 16:9
Video data rate: 25000 kbps
Audio data rate: 384 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo (or Dolby)
(2) Edit your HDV video file in Video Studio as usual, making cuts and inserting transitions. Be sure to insert still digital photos in full resolution because they will benefit greatly from high definition format. Do not expect smooth playback in Edit Mode around transitions and you will not be disappointed. Tip: Insert a digital slide of a video resolution chart, so you can compare resolution later.
(3) MPEG2 HDV: Create your project video file in the SHARE tab / Create Video File. If you want to preserve the mpeg2 HDV format, set the properties as follows:
A) Select SaveAs Mpeg
B) Select Custom / Options
C) Check Smart Render and Non-Square Pixel Rendering
D) General Tab: Audio/Video: Frame-based, Width:1440, Height: 1080, Aspect Ratio 16:9
E) Compression Tab: Mpeg2, max quality, Variable Data Rate: 25000kbps. Click OK
F) Name your output file and hit the Save button.
G) Playback your file on PowerDVD, the VLC media player*, or WMP (if you must)
H) Observe that the converging lines on the resolution chart get twice as close before blurring together (Score 6.5 compared to the same project rendered at DVD standard 720x480 – score 3.25).
(4) DIVX HD: If you want to save a lot of file space** you can try a codec with higher compression, such as the Divx6 codec (downloadable from www.divx.com). Select SHARE tab / Create Video File and set properties as follows:
A) Select SaveAs AVI files
B) Select Custom / Options
C) Check Smart Render and Non-Square Pixel Rendering
D) General Tab: Audio&Video: Frame-based, Width:1440, Height: 1080, Aspect Ratio 16:9
E) AVI Tab: Select DIVX 6.0 codec
F) Hit the Configure button and set the following parameters:
- a) Main Tab Certification Profile: “Unconstrained”; Bitrate Based: 8000kbps,
b) Codec Tab: “Insane Quality”,
c) Video Tab: Custom Resize: 1440x1080; Resize Filter: I used “Bicubic Sharp”; Audio: I used Mpeg layer 3 (mp3). Hit OK on the Codec screen
H) Name your output file and hit the Save button. My video rendered a 30 second video in 12 minutes, so a 10 minute video will require about 4 hours… Better try a short video to get all the procedural kinks ironed out before attempting a long masterpiece.
Note: I downloaded the Beta version of the Divx He-3 codec and ran the same conversion test, which ran in 6 minutes flat! Twice as fast. Same quality evident on the resolution chart. File size was slightly smaller at 28MB.
* Download from http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/win/27193
** My Divx file was about 30% (28.8MB) of the size of the Mpeg2 HDV file (97.7MB).
