Christmas Project Gone Wrong!

[Hennessy]

I’ve just edited my first video (in Video Studio 9)and was very excited until I played it back and the quality wasn’t too good (a bit blurry and jumpy and the sound was not quite as clear). I’ve read many postings in this forum, so I hope the information below is enough for someone to help me (not likely on Christmas Eve I know)!

Original File Info (Properties)

• .AVI
• Frame Rate = 30.000 frames/sec
• Data Rate = 6666.74
• Attributes = 24 bits, 320.240


Output Settings:

I clicked on the <Create Video File> then selected the NTSC/MPEG2 option

That's about it - any help much appreciated.

Thank you.

[GuyL]

First, what are your project settings? You can find this under File | Project Settings.

Your frame rate of 30 on the original file and then outputing to NTSC (29.97) will probably cause the problems your are seeing.

If you haven't already, read the sticky notes at the begining and use these guidelines to capture, edit and produce your video.

Welcome to VS 9!

[Hennessy]

Guy, thanks for your help:

My project settings are:

MPEG files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)

I read the sticky notes and will follow these next time. Just one question - since I have already "captured" the video, is it too change the capture settings? Should I just delete my avi files and start from scratch?

Many thanks

[GuyL]

I would start from scratch as you may save yourself problems later.

Set your project settings to the same settings you are going to use for capture. Capture the video, edit anc create. Then have a merry Christmas!

[Ken Berry]

We still require at least one more bit of information: what are you capturing from and how are you capturing it?

I notice that your captured video seems a little 'strange' in the capture settings: first, the 30 fps rather than the more correct 29.97 fps for NTSC. Next, you don't say whether it is DV/AVI (which you capture from a digital video camera or some capture devices) or uncompressesed and five times as large as the already large DV (which comes in at about 13 GB per hour). The data rate also seems low for DV/AVI (normally around 25 Mbps) and the frame size is definitely small: 320 x 240 is the sort of small frame normally associated with mpeg-1 (with which you produce relatively low quality VCDs). It is not even an exact half the size of a 'normal' NTSC DVD frame of 720 x 480. Some of these things would ensure very low quality output to start with. But wait, there's more!

Now we move on to your project settings, which look absolutely normal for an NTSC DVD: full frame size, correct speed setting, high quality bit rate and Dolby digital. The only question mark there is the Lower Field First, since we don't know what the Field Order/source was of your original capture.

But the fact is, you captured in one set of fairly low quality settings, and used another, very high quality set for your project settings. You cannot make a silk purse from a sow's ear: low quality capture cannot miraculously be converted into high quality output. And there is a general rule (though sometimes honoured in the breach rather than in the observance) that your project properties should match your capture settings...

Finally, your output settings: you again don't give us the full set of properties, but what is there already throws yet another spanner in the works since you have selected NTSC MPEG-2 rather than NTSC DVD (if indeed you are intending to produce a DVD). I know MPEG-2 is the normal format for a DVD, but there are different flavours of mpeg-2. And in Video Studio, the big difference is that the 'NTSC DVD' selection naturally gives you all the correct properties for a DVD (assuming you also choose Dolby as the audio format to match the project property setting), whereas NTSC MPEG-2 gives you different properties: notably the field order is changed from Lower Field First in your project properties to Frame Based, which is a further no-no in giving the program yet another chance to mess up the quality of your output. And if you have just selected the ordinary NTSC MPEG-2 and made no custom changes to it, then you will have a different format of audio to the Dolby of your project properties.

So, even though we are missing some important information, and assuming that you are indeed capturing from a digital video camera, I would do as you propose. First, read the recommended procedures a couple of times, and second recapture using better capture properties: DV format using Type 1 Encoder, 720 x 480, Lower Field First, DV audio (which is PCM). Do your editing in that format (i.e. make sure your project properties match the capture properties) and then go to Share > Create Video File, and select NTSC DVD, changing the audio to Dolby if that is what you want. Be aware that if you choose MPEG audio, there is a risk that your final DVD might not play the sound on all stand-alone players since MPEG audio is not part of the NTSC DVD standard.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi
Please check your project property settings again.

File—Project Properties.

Can you confirm that Digital Dolby is used as the ‘audio format’

I ask this as I am unable to select DD as part of my ‘Project Properties’.

Trevor

[Hennessy]

Ken,

Ironically your posting on 15th December helped me solve my problem - it was the cable I was using - I'm very new to this, and was using the USB cable that came with my camera - I changed to Firewire and everything worked as expected.

I haven't completed my project yet, but the quality of the captured data is so much better, that I am "confident" the eventual output will be good. I will print your posting in case I come up against problems later.

Right now I am very happy! Thanks everyone!