When I import an AVI file into MyDVD or MyDVD Express, the video compresses by about 50% which results in a poor quality granualted video play.
Anything I can do to stop the compression.
I figure I can use the fit to disk feature if I need to compress later. thanks

The video doesn't get "compressed" (actually renderd to mpg2) only when you are ready to burn it to a DVD.

How are you importing and from where? Are you capturing rather than importing? Do your editing in Video Wave.

Try GSpot to determine if the video is compressed.

I am importing directly from my C drive. (before that it came from my DV camera.)
From the menu task bar, I am use "add new movie" to import it.

Did you capture via firewire cable as a DV-AVI file?

60 minutes of video captured from a DV camera as avi results in a file of around 13GB. If you burn that avi video to DVD compliant video on a DVD it will be rendered to about 4.3GB and there should be hardly noticeable loss in quality. Perhaps you should explain in more detail what you are doing.

Yes I captured via firewire cable as a DV-AVI file. When I play using Media Player, the quality is excellent.
WHen import into Creator MyDVD 9, that particular file becomes only about half the size and half the quality when played in the preview mode of My DVD. It did not do this in version 8.
I did burn a DVD, thinking it might just be my PC, however the DVD was the same poor quality. It seems to be compressing the video file before I hit the 4.3GB limit.
I would like to bring it into the application, without the size shrinking/compressing. maybe there is an option setting I am missing.
Sorry if this is repetitive and I sure appreciate your responses.

I have a Sony DCR-HC96 minDV HandyCam, and I have never experienced that problem. What is the make and model of your video camera?

Also, does the captured file look okay in Windows Media Player?

Edit, also, if you are looking at the meter below, to see what the file size is, that isn't the size of your .avi file. It is the estimated size of how much room it will take on a standard DVD, once it is encoded.

It looks excellent in Media Player.
my camera is a Sony DCR-HC42

How long in time is that video avi you are using?
What do you mean by "WHen import into Creator MyDVD 9, that particular file becomes only about half the size"? Are you talking about the size on the screen? The preview view is always (in every version) or poor quality and has no relation to the final video on the DVD which I have always found to be almost equal to the original avi video. What quality setting are you using to burn to DVD?

BTW, are talking about Creator 2009 or EMC 9? This is a forum about C2009 not about EMC 9 and its myDVD 9

I am talking about MyDVD that is a part of Creater 9.
The file size goes from 800MB to 300MB. I believe this is what's causing my poor picture quality.
720x480 are my dvd burn settings; however I am not sure.

So this topic is actually in the wrong forum and should be under Legacy EMC Products

All DV avi converted DVD will reduce in size

720x480 is not a quality setting; Best quality, better quality and Normal quality all have that resolution

Oh no. I purchased it a year ago and already a legacy.
You are kind to try to help me.
Have a good weekend

Try this, and see if it makes a difference. In MyDVD, click on Tools/Options, then click in the circle to the left of Software, under Render with. Now, burn your production, and see if the quality is better.

And, report your findings back here, instead of starting a new thread, with the same subject matter.

Sorry, didn't know the thread got moved.
Anyway, I tried your suggestion and it had the same compression result.
Let me know if you have any other suggestions.
I will try some experiments and let you know what I find.
I am sure this is a problem for others.

Could you please post the settings you are using when burning the DVD especially the Quality setting (near the bottom right of the myDVD screen). Your problem has never been reported before

It's set at HQ. (I think you mean the area that tells you how much space you have left for your project)

Yes that is the quality setting (HQ) to which I am referring. I assume you also have the 4.lGB DVD selected on the left.

Another thing you can try is via Videowave.
Launch Videowave and add the avi source file. Then select "output As ...", "output to video file" and for quality select "MPEG-2 for DVD, best quality".
Then play the resulting mpg file and compare it to the original avi file. If the quality is not close then there is something else going on in your system.

Could you also include your system specs, especially video card, in your signature like many of us have here.

I think you're on to something. The quality looks great.
In case you are curiouse:
The AVI file starting is 800MB.
The add movie to MyDVD directly, the size drops to 306MB(HQ) & 308MB(fit to disk).
THe way you suggested using VideoWave, the file drops to 267MB, but the quality is excellent.
I am not technical and does not make sense to me, but the smallest file looks great.
It will take longer, but the quality is worth it.
thanks

Nothing strange about your file size, in fact that is exactly what you are supposed to get except that there should not be any change between "HQ" and "Fit to Disc" since "fit to Disc" does not come into play at stage because the video will fit on a DVD without any further compression. The difference in file sizes between the DVD and from Videowave has nothing to do with different compression (both are rendered to identical format) but is related to the fact that the file size indicated for the DVD includes space taken up for menu and other overhead on the DVD. When you launch myDVD and add the mpg file created in Videowave, the size on the DVD should be almost identical to the size as if you add the avi file directly in myDVD. If not then you are doing something "wrong" in myDVD or there is a problem with your myDVD.