7 replies to this topic

[DRye]

I have put together a project that consists of three avi files (local soccer games recorded with a Sony DCR-HC46 and imported via firewire cable), several background MP3 files, and a few video transitions.  The project has a starting menu with a preview movie.  I created the entire project in MyDVD (did not use Videowave).  With the quality set to "fit to disk", the file is 4659.1 MB.  When I switch the quality to "HQ", it shows the time remaining to be -37:26; at "SP", the time remaining is -06:36.

When I burn this project to a DVD (have tried image file and folder set), and play it back in a set top DVD player, any action going on (especially in the foreground) is grainy and pixelated.  I have been reading posts and there seem to be a lot of these type issues.  I am trying to get a good quality DVD burned so I can make about 20 copies to give out to the soccer team.

I have updated my video drivers and DirectX.  Is this problem due to the size of the file or might there be other issues causing this?

[gi7omy]

The file size isn't the issue on video DVDs, but the duration is - how long (in time) does your production play for?

As a rough rule of thumb, one hour video = one standard DVD. While Disc Copier will shrink longer productions to fit, there will be a loss of quality - the longer the duration, the greater loss

[DRye]

As mentioned in my initial message, when I use the High Quality mode, the time remaining shows -37.26.  I am assuming this means the play time is 1hr 37min 26sec.  I said there were three vidoes - there are acutally just two.  One is a ninty minute soccer match and the other is a 15-20 minute recognition ceremony.  I have inserted chapter markers where the goal was scored and made that a menu item (three total menu items).
I did this same type DVD last year (the game and the ceremony) with the Roxio software that came with my Dell CPU (Roxio Easy CD and DVD Burning) and the quality was fine.  It is frustrating to purchase new software that you think is going to enhance a project just to find there are so many people experiencing the same issues.
I am going to try to burn just the game tonight and see if the shorter length results in a better quality.  If this is the case, that means I will have to do one DVD for the game and a separate one for the 15-20 minute recognition ceremony.  A total of 40 DVDs for the 20 players.  I would still appreciate any suggestions that may allow me to put both videos on one quality DVD.

[james_hardin]

A 4.7gb DVD holds about 1 hour at best quality. That is a fact of life and nothing is going to change that.

If you put more on it than that, quality suffers.

In the past, best results were obtained by burning at Best Quality to ISO then using Disc Copier to burn the ISO file to disc. It had a better burn engine and reduced quality just enough to fit.

Other factors would be your Source files. If by chance you captured them at less quality than you are outputting at, they will suffer!

Most of us capture as DV AVI at highest quality. Files are large but you can render Down with less loss than trying to render Up.

[DRye]

It sounds like the consensus is "keep it under an hour".  I will try this tonight and see if the quality improves.

[DRye]

I have started from scratch with my project using the "Tips and Tricks for Creating DVDs" post.  I opened my 17.2 GIG AVI file with Videowave and edited the video down to 1hr 5min.  I saved that and opened it in My DVD to add a menu and some background audio.  I saved that in HQ mode and opend Disk Copier to save it as an ISO file.  I burned this ISO file to a DVD and took it to my set top DVD player and still get poor playback quality.  Any time I was moving the video camera to follow the action, the DVD picture gets terribly jumpy.

I have viewed the original AVI with Windows Media Player and the picture is smooth.  I hate to do it, but I am going to try Windows movie maker so I can try to get this project finished.  This is taking way to much time!  If you have any suggestions, please let me know.  I hate to think I spent nearly $100 primarily for the video to DVD function and I can't get it to work.

Edited by DRye, 07 May 2007 - 07:21 PM.

[james_hardin]

Try another but set your Tools – Options to Software Render.

I have had similar results when mine is set to Hardware Render.

[DRye]

James,
Thanks for the advise.  I set the rendering to "software" and it drastically improved the video quality of the finished DVD!  I even added the 8 minute video that I was going to put on a seperate DVD.  The finished product is about 1hr 15min total time and it still looks good.  Thanks so much for the tip.