DVDs look like degraded VCR tapes

[rapunzel]

The source video (from my Tivo) is fine. When I play it on the computer, it looks great- just as if I were watching it on the TV, so I know that what is transferring to the computer is fine. However, after processing it through Roxio, & burning it through Roxio (which was enough of a hassle, after dealing with an mpeg2 codec that initially wouldn't activate itself, & then coming up with a blasted 80004003 error) I FINALLY get the thing working & burning & it looks horrible- like a badly degraded, old VCR tape. I can't believe I went through all that & the quality is so miserable.

 

Someone suggested it was the codec being used by Roxio, so I looked up what codec was running during the video & wouldn't you know it, it's the infamous "Roxio MPEG2 Video Decoder" that they made me spend 2 days trying to activate. Is there a different codec it should be using? Is there a way to specify which codec you'd like it to use? When I used to burn DVDs on older versions of MyDVD they used to look much better- not this pixilated, horrific-looking thing. I'm open to all suggestions.

[mikiem]

The source video (from my Tivo) is fine. When I play it on the computer, it looks great- just as if I were watching it on the TV, so I know that what is transferring to the computer is fine. However, after processing it through Roxio, & burning it through Roxio (which was enough of a hassle, after dealing with an mpeg2 codec that initially wouldn't activate itself, & then coming up with a blasted 80004003 error) I FINALLY get the thing working & burning & it looks horrible- like a badly degraded, old VCR tape. I can't believe I went through all that & the quality is so miserable.

 

Someone suggested it was the codec being used by Roxio, so I looked up what codec was running during the video & wouldn't you know it, it's the infamous "Roxio MPEG2 Video Decoder" that they made me spend 2 days trying to activate. Is there a different codec it should be using? Is there a way to specify which codec you'd like it to use? When I used to burn DVDs on older versions of MyDVD they used to look much better- not this pixilated, horrific-looking thing. I'm open to all suggestions.

There are many potential causes...

 

The encoder included with EMC9 is roughly the same as what you'd get paying $500 - $600 for editing software. There's better codecs, there's worse, but you should get results similar to the originals. For optimal results you should generally plan on 1.5 hours per DVD, though 1.75 hours will usually work -- the closer you get to 2 hours the more degradation will become appear. Over 2 hours it's usually very apparent, and you should be using dual layer [doesn't hurt to use dual layer over 1.5 hours for that matter]. This is all because to squeeze more video into a DVD sized file, you have to use more compression. More compression means less data from the original is kept. That's about it re: the encoder.

 

I'm not experienced with Tivo files, so I can't say whether they normally need any extra processing, &/or if Videowave/MyDVD might have any extra problems with them. You don't mention whether you are doing any editing, trying to cut or merge files, deinterlacing, or anything else... IF you could post that sort of info, maybe someone could offer more help.