5 replies to this topic

[aappaa]

Hi everyone,

My setup:
Roxio Creator 2009 Special Edition (purchased in retailed box from Costco)
Vista Ultimate SP2 with all updates
Video card: laptop NVidia GeForce 8400M GS
Video source from HD camcoder (HDD) with true 1080p - when played from camera, gives pretty nice quality.
Watching at HDTV, if necessary, using PS3 as a player.

The problem:
I am trying to assemble all my footage in a chaptered movie.
Whatever tool I use from Roxio (MyDVD, CineMagic, VideoWave), all of them request to convert camcoder files into the editable format. The only format they offer though is mpg (mpeg2 I assume). When I proceed, video quality noticeably drops from HD to a badly ripped DVD-like.
Even when I export the project to AVCHD 1080i/720p or DivX HD, the video never gets the same quality as the original, not even close.

Can someone tell me what I am missing, and how I can import _real_ HD video to Roxio?
I saw some postings about BD plug-in, but could not figure out if it is in my Roxio or where I am supposed to get it from.

Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks!

[Jim_Hardin]

It is a Proxy file, don't worry about it, the programs know what to do with it.

As I recall the SE can only do AVCHD (?) and DVD's. What are your output goals?

[aappaa]

It is a Proxy file, don't worry about it, the programs know what to do with it.

As I recall the SE can only do AVCHD (?) and DVD's. What are your output goals?

In MyDVD, SE offers DVD through AVCHD (HD on standard DVD) projects.
In VideoWave, it provides export to the whole array of formats including Blu-ray options.
I am open to any output format as long as it can be played on a standard player, such as BD, HD DVD, etc, but not PC, and keeps the quality close to what I can see when I play video directly from my HD camcoder.

So far, I have tried to export short movies from VW to AVCHD 720 and different DivX - never got a good view when compared to the original.

What would you recommend?

[sknis]

Did you ever hear the old saying you can't make a silk purse out of a pig's ear?  Not quite the same but you are starting with the silk purse, ripping out the seams and then making a cloth purse out of it.  It will never look right !

1) How did you get the videos from your camcorder onto your computer?  If you plug in your camcorder, you can then just copy the video files to a folder on your computer.

2) If you are going to play the video on a STANDARD DVD player, your only option is 720 by 480 resolution.  Higher resolution including 720 is considered High Definition.  With these high definition files, you can only make a Blu-ray disc or an AVCHD disc.  You can burn a AVCHD disc with your computer but you will need a blu-ray player that will play that type of disc.  As for blu-ray, you would need both a blu-ray burner and player.  

3) If you chose anything else, the video will be rendered down to the 720 by 480 for a standard DVD. HQ setting will be at a higher bit rate but same resolution.   Of course,  that will be a lot poorer quality than the 1080 resolution that your camcorder is creating.

4) Blu-ray players are now reasonably priced.  Consider getting one to play AVCHD discs.  You can get about 35-40 minutes of HQ video on a single sided standard DVD with no change in your computer.

[aappaa]

Did you ever hear the old saying you can't make a silk purse out of a pig's ear?  Not quite the same but you are starting with the silk purse, ripping out the seams and then making a cloth purse out of it.  It will never look right !

1) How did you get the videos from your camcorder onto your computer?  If you plug in your camcorder, you can then just copy the video files to a folder on your computer.

2) If you are going to play the video on a STANDARD DVD player, your only option is 720 by 480 resolution.  Higher resolution including 720 is considered High Definition.  With these high definition files, you can only make a Blu-ray disc or an AVCHD disc.  You can burn a AVCHD disc with your computer but you will need a blu-ray player that will play that type of disc.  As for blu-ray, you would need both a blu-ray burner and player.  

3) If you chose anything else, the video will be rendered down to the 720 by 480 for a standard DVD. HQ setting will be at a higher bit rate but same resolution.   Of course,  that will be a lot poorer quality than the 1080 resolution that your camcorder is creating.

4) Blu-ray players are now reasonably priced.  Consider getting one to play AVCHD discs.  You can get about 35-40 minutes of HQ video on a single sided standard DVD with no change in your computer.

I see your point and totally agree, but it seems you did not read my original question.

Answering your questions:
(1) Video from camcoder I got as original files transferred to computer using backup utility included with camcoder. Files have weird extension (mts), but Roxio seems to be able to recognize and convert them to mpg.

(2) I have both a DVD player that outputs HD video as 1080i via HDMI cable and a BD player in PS3. I tried to export my video to both AVCHD and DivX, was able to play all these formats, but video quality was real bad compared to the camcoder playback.

(3) I understand it. I am just concerned whether I'll be able to get a good quality video on the disc or Roxio downgrades my original video while converting to the mpg format to be used in its tools.

(4) I have PS3 that plays BD and connected by HDMI cable to my HDTV. Its OK with me to buy BD recorder as long as you assure me that Roxio 2009 SE will generate video with quality close to original, and I don't need to buy/search additional software/plugins for this.

Thank you,
Alex

[Jim_Hardin]

So your basic goal is to be able to watch HD video by some means

I suspect you are killing yourself by not simply following the program as intended???

I assume you have a DVD RW available – if not, get one or 2.

Here is the LAW on playing HD: Blu-ray – AVCHD on DVD – that's it!

Now the possible exceptions…   DivX, mp4 and a couple others that are dependant on your Player!!!

Frankly those file on a Data Disc are OK in your own home, but if you try to distribute them they are fraught with compatibility issues…

Good example is a Holiday video I make each year. I end up outputting it a 3 DVD's and starting this year an additional 3 AVCHD or BD. If I went by using the aforementioned files only one or 2 in the 6 would be able to view them!

So you need to decide What Format is going to work for you. Do some reading to see what your Players will use Keep in mind that the next Player may not be able to use it   Roxio dropped DivX output in Creator 2010 dispite it's popularity throughout the world.

But DVD and BD are here to stay!

AVCHD??? It lost the battle, so it may go away… Hard to predict as it seems to have found a home in camcorders

Plan A: Make a AVCHD on DVD (RW?) and try it!

Quick test – MyDVD – File – New AVCHD (w/menus) – Add Movie (one mts file) – Burn.

Don't tinker, don't get cute, use the defaults for a simple test!

Does it Play?

How's it look? (HD only works with HDMI cables!)