dv avi pal video output on computer is a fragmented file

genie wrote on 4/5/2005, 12:48 PM

Hi,
I have outputed a 70 minute timeline in Vegas as a windows avi PAL format video to my hardrive. I have then transferred it to tape on my dv camera.
The camera to tv output seems to be perfect but when I defrag my computer the computer leaves it as a large block of red which is a fragmented file. Is this simply because of the large file size - about 16mgb so the computer can't handle it?
The only other worry is that my newly downloaded windows 10 player does not play the video with any great quality. I have looked for a PAL/NTSC setting on it but there does not iniitially appear to be one? Does this suggest a problem with the file or with the player?
Any comments will be welcome!

with thanks,
the Genie

Comments

Liam_Vegas wrote on 4/5/2005, 1:01 PM
Windows [MEDIA PLAYER] does not play DV AVI files well at all. It doesn't handle the pixel aspect ratio or the high-ish bt-rate... resulting in what you describe.

How does the video look on the tape? I bet it looks great.

Not sure why you cannot defrag the AVI file. Usually that only happens if the defragger finds some file that it thinks it should not move (some O/S files). How much space do you have on your drive? If it is too low (below 10%) then defragging usually is not allowed at all.

Do you have another drive available (external). Copying the file to another drive (which is defragged) will normally result in a nicely contiguos file.
Chienworks wrote on 4/5/2005, 1:15 PM
I wouldn't worry about defragging the file. Your hard drive can fetch fragmented blocks faster than needed to keep playback going smoothly. All you are accomplishing by defragging is to waste time and add wear & tear to the head, the spindle motor, and the platters.

Media Player by default plays DV files at half-resolution. Go to Tools / Options / Performance / Advanced and move the "Digital video" slider all the way to large on the right. This should substantially increase DV file playback quality.
B_JM wrote on 4/5/2005, 1:29 PM
or use "media player classic"
genie wrote on 4/6/2005, 2:31 AM

thanks for all your help. Yes the tape output to tv does look brilliant and the hard drive is getting full - 150gb hardrive with only 20gb left as free. And thanks for the tip on setting up windows 10.

take care,
the genie