AVCHD to DVD How do you get Best Quality

Tmapper wrote on 7/13/2009, 7:26 PM

I have had a heck of a time getting a decent quality DVD from my Sony SR-11 camera. I have tried all kinds of combination and it still looks like crap. Does anyone have a good formula for this stuff. thanks

Comments

John_Cline wrote on 7/13/2009, 7:51 PM

First of all, you need to define, "crap." That term really isn't very descriptive.

Since you will need to resize the image from 1920x1080 to DVD resolution of 720x480 (or 720x576 PAL), you need to set a deinterlace method in your project's properties. You also need to go to the custom setting in the MPEG2 encoder and run the quality slider up to "31" and select the highest possible bitrate (up to around 8,000,000) that will allow you to fit your content on the DVD. Otherwise, it isn't rocket science to make a good looking DVD using Vegas and DVDA.

MPM wrote on 7/14/2009, 12:13 PM

FWIW, bearing in mind that my workflow isn't terribly popular here...

In XP 32 -- a bit of a lag for me in 7 64 -- I do a simple script, using AviSynth to crop [optional] & resize. Modding interlaced/progressive stuff & other filtering can also be done at same time if/when it applies. Then I use VFAPI to create a fake avi from the script, & import that into Vegas. Vegas sees, edits, & renders from std 720 x 480 on the timeline. Swapping to 480p, 720, or using full rez is a matter of changing the script file, & project & clip properties (if set), keeping the same editing. Alternatively I've rendered intermediates using AviSynth into VirtualDub. Either way I get away from the long render times & relatively poor results I think you get using Vegas or PremPro for re-size, reserving them for where they really have something to offer.

Tmapper wrote on 7/15/2009, 9:37 AM

So am I seeing that Vegas 8 and 9 can't do this on it's own? if that's the case... How lame is that?

ECB wrote on 7/15/2009, 10:10 AM

I also get very good results downsizing HD to SD with Vegas. I have also used Cineform Neo Scene to downsize HD to SD as explained in http://cineform.blogspot.com/2008/12/mastering-24p-dvds-from-hd-using.html.(I used 60i) The Cineform importer uses the Lanzcos 3 scaler same as VirtualDub. I could not see any difference in quality between using Cineform downscaling and Vegas 9. I could see the difference between Premier Pro CS4 downscaling and Vegas. It would help if you posted your settings. "Crap" does not tell me much.

Ed

JohnnyRoy wrote on 7/15/2009, 10:34 AM

> Does anyone have a good formula for this stuff.

A good formula that works for me is:

Project
I set my project properties to match my source media. In the case of my Sony HVR-Z1U HDV camera I use HDV 1080-60i (1440x1080, 29.970 fps) and for my Sony HDR-CX12 AVCHD camera I use HD 1080-60i (1920x1080, 29.970 fps). The later one is probably want you want to use with your SR11.

Render
For rendering to DVD I use the Main Concept MPEG-2 type with the DVD Architect NTSC Widescreen video stream template and render my audio separately using Dolby Digital AC3 with the Stereo DVD template. (You could use the 5.1 Surround if your footage supports it)

I don't tweak anything. I just use the project and render settings that are in Vegas and my DVD's look fine.

~jr

Tmapper wrote on 7/15/2009, 11:45 AM

Thanks JohnnyRoy
I will try your formula and see where it takes me.
Again Thanks
Scott

srode wrote on 7/15/2009, 5:43 PM

I render to AVCHD 1920x1080 with either of the 32 bit pixel options using material from my SR11 and get great results - take that to DVDA and burn a bluray - it works great. Haven't had any luck with the DVD format - but may try the recipe Johnny recommends.

Christian de Godzinsky wrote on 8/17/2009, 11:25 AM

Hi,

Just stubled over this thread in the DVI forum :

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/what-happens-vegas/271329-maximizing-hd-sd-quality.html

I have never got satisfactory results converting either HDV or AVCHD to mpeg2 using the VP8x (main concept) codec (FROM PAL 50i to PAL 50i).

Yes, I have tweaked all possible controls, I have the proper field order, I have also the deinterlace option(s) selected. I have selected the best video quality.

The result is too smooth. To compensate by adding some sharpening to the original helps a little but brings also some additional artefacts. The result is still too smooth considering the original, and what professionally encoded mpeg2 can provide. I get better results from SD AVI files than from these HD files!

I think the above mentioned thread is the final proof that the SCS mpeg2 decored is not up to par, when it comes to converting from HD to SD. This issue has been discussed a lot and there are other unsatisfied users too.

If a freeware codec gives better results than a PRO software - where is the fault? Isn't the conversion from one format to another the thing that is heavily advertized in Vegas PRO? But is it PRO?

Christian