Preferences: Display DV Time Code, Video Quality,Preview LCD

[David Rodgers]

I am having an issue with the quality of video on the preview window when I am using "Project" to preview the video. When I change to "Clip" the video quality is much better.

I have the option "Display DV Time Code" selected and it seems that this is what is giving great quality playback but only on the clip preview.

I have an LCD monitor, for preferences I have "Best" for playback, my settings are:

NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
Microsoft AVI files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First
Video data rate: 3364 kbps
LPCM Audio, 48 KHz, Stereo

Not sure why the video data rate is set so low, I have read Mr. Hunter's preferred settings, but since I have already started to do some editing and I have set the project properties to the desired settings, I can't really add more video clips to the time line to re-set project properties to match.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I am using a 2.4 Ghz P4, 768 RAM, 160 GB HD, 256 MB FX5500 Video Card.

Thanks,

[Ken Berry]

Not sure what might be causing your problem because normally, the Clip preview would be the lower quality one. However, as you have noticed yourself, the bitrate is extremely low for DV capture and if from a digital source would at best only have the quality of mediocre VHS in playback and final DVD. Did the settings you list come from one of the clips you are using, or are they shown in Project Properties for that particular project? If the latter, have you actually tried raising the bitrate in those settings? If they were for the video captured, then I would suggest you might have to re-capture and make sure that Project Properties are set to 8000 kbps beforehand.

[THoff]

You can safely ignore the bitrate information that UVS 9 displays for DV AVI files, it does not appear to be accurate (to put it mildly). DV is 25Mbps, and for the DV files captured from my camcorder, it consistently displays the bitrate as being just under 3700Kbps.

[David Rodgers]

Thank you Ken and THeoff,

THeoff,
So you are saying that once I set my project properties to a higher bit rate, I don't need to worry about the clip properties?

I am wondering if this is why I am getting very low resolution and a bit of choppyness when I preview the project. The only strange thing is that if I view just the clip with DV time code displayed the playback quality goes way up.

I don't remember setting the bit rate properties when I captured and thought that this could be the problem.

Thanks for your help!

[Trevor Andrew]

I am having an issue with the quality of video on the preview window when I am using "Project" to preview the video. When I change to "Clip" the video quality is much better.

I would expect this. Playback in clip mode is always better tham preview mode.

I have the option "Display DV Time Code" selected and it seems that this is what is giving great quality playback but only on the clip preview.

The Time code only shows in clip mode and should not be the problem of poor quality.

I have an LCD monitor, for preferences I have "Best" for playback, my settings are:

NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
Microsoft AVI files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First
Video data rate: 3364 kbps
LPCM Audio, 48 KHz, Stereo

Not sure why the video data rate is set so low, I have read Mr. Hunter's preferred settings, but since I have already started to do some editing and I have set the project properties to the desired settings, I can't really add more video clips to the time line to re-set project properties to match.

Are these settings the clip properties or the project properties?
Where did you get these figures from?

How did you capture your video???????????

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I am using a 2.4 Ghz P4, 768 RAM, 160 GB HD, 256 MB FX5500 Video Card.

Thanks,[/quote]

[David Rodgers]

Trevor,

These are the clip properties, I have set the project properties to the "suggested settings" with the video data rate at 8000. I captured using firewire DV/AVI.

I would like to know if the clip properties will be a problem for the final DVD video quality, even though I have changed the project properties. If I have to re-capture the video with different settings it's not a problem.

Thank you,

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi David

If you are not confused then I am.

Start a NEW project

From File/preferences/tick/show messages when inserting first video………..

Then

Capture to ‘Format DV’ Just a few seconds will do. (20 second)

You will see an info window to change project settings to match video settings.

Select details to view.
Select ok/yes

The project settings will be changed to reflect your captured clip.

A thumbnail of your captured clip is placed in the timeline, right click and select properties.
These are the properties of your video clip, and should be the same as your project settings. (file/ project properties)

Edit your video.

When finished Share –Create Video File-
Select one of the DVD options

Select a save location and name (this render process will take some time)

Read My Quick Guide to DV-AVI from the link below

Trevor