Going Back to Basics - Help Please!

TVPC wrote on 7/7/2010, 6:04 PM
Please don't be annoyed with me - I have performed dozens of searchs both here and online for answers to various questions I have and I still don't feel I've got things right so I'd like to start from scratch and hope that someone here can kindly help me or point me in the right direction:

I'm running win XP, MSHD9 and have a Canon Legria FS200 CC which records in wide format 16:9 - mod/moi files.

What format is the best one to convert the mod files too? I want to put the videos up on you tube, I want the best quality I can get (sharpness and non-jittery) and the videos will also have audio with them.

I use a free programme called Format Factory to convert the files. The software says the files are 720 x 576 but I believe because the software can't read the moi files, it just guesses so should I tell the software the files are '1280 x 720 HD' - the files aren't HD but that appears to be the only option I have to get that file size - assuming that is correct for widescreen 16:9?

At present in Vegas I have to click on each video and change the pan/crop to match output size, I would REALLY like to be able to stop doing that! With up to 20 odd videos making up a 10 minute one it's a real pain, especially if one is missed and I've spent nearly 2 hours rendering it. And yes, I do belive there is a way to change all the vids at once because I'm sure I did it once but I haven't been able to do it again and for the life of me can't find the source I found out how from.

I currently have properties and video render size set to 640 x 360 as it is the only size I have found to fill the screen at UT - despite trying all the sizes that other folk suggest; I hope that will correct itself if I can get some clear advice on the above.

Regarding audio, what bit rate is best? I want it to sound OK but it is background rather than the main thing so I know it doesn't have to be too high but I haven't risked going lower than 66 incase it sounds dreadful. I believe this does increase the file size and rendering size so I'd like to go as low as possible without it being ruined - it is always music only (not singing) if that's relevant.

So many questions I know but hopefully they wiil be easy for someone. Canon et al have a lot to answer for with those darn mod files!

Thank you for your time and patience.

TVPC





Comments

musicvid10 wrote on 7/7/2010, 6:22 PM
Best thing to do would be to upload a clip from your Canon somewhere and let us have a look at it.
Your camera is not US release so there is very little else we could know about it.
TVPC wrote on 7/7/2010, 6:46 PM
Two possibilities here then, either of which I hope will help:

http://www.youtube.com/user/CCArisingForm#p/a/u/0/7KVzgw3foGE

This one is what we're desperate to get right - walks with sound. This was my friends first ever usage of the camera and I am pleased to say he isn't panning so fast and doing such weird shots now! First use of vegas too so I hadn't mastered the video size.



And this is one of mine, wildlife shot with natural sound and on tripod, I'm sure it could be better quality though? Rendered at 640 x 360.

I am due to upload 4 more walking vids in the next 48 hours which I hope will be full size and demonstrate the jitters that we feel they suffer from. If the above aren't any help I'll give a link to the new ones when up.

Many thanks.

TVPC







TVPC wrote on 7/7/2010, 7:00 PM
Oh and all the mod files are currently converted to WMV - I think that's something relevant that I missed.
musicvid10 wrote on 7/7/2010, 7:56 PM
Best thing to do would be to upload a clip from your Canon somewhere and let us have a look at it.

Sorry, I thought it was clear that I was asking for a file from your camera. We couldn't possibly help you with your .mod files unless we have one of them to look at.

If you want help with your camera files, please upload one of them in the original native format to an upload service like mediafire or photobucket, that means not converted by Youtube or you or anything else.

Until then . . .
TVPC wrote on 7/7/2010, 8:43 PM
I just tried photobucket and it doesn't seem to recognise mod files. I believe Google do but can't find a way to upload from my account. Time for bed for me so I will be back within 24 hours and will have hopefully found somewhere to upload a mod file to.

Many thanks.
TVPC wrote on 7/8/2010, 1:03 PM
I've managed to load a 40mb file to mediafire if that helps:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/0dldz4edekn/MOV010.MOD

I'm still trying to find a site where you can actually see it though.
MSmart wrote on 7/8/2010, 1:59 PM
Here's another option for sharing files:

DropBox
TVPC wrote on 7/8/2010, 2:22 PM
The problem is these sites just let you share the files, you can't view them (well, not mod files on mediafire anyway that I can see) and I can't see what use someone downloading my mod file would be as the moi file isn't included and they would then need some software to be able to view it? I'm just trying to do as asked.

I've spent hours trawling the net for a site I can upload the mod file to for it to be viewable but still no luck!
Paul C wrote on 7/8/2010, 2:48 PM
The problem with the files is that the widescreen flag may not be set to tell Vegas Movie Studio to import the files as widescreen.

Widescreen video IS 720x576, but with a different pixel aspect ratio to 4x3 video - converting to 1280x720 is not a good idea, as you will be introducing additional conversions which will only reduce the quality of your video.

If you import the files as they are from the camcorder straight into Vegas Movie Studio, then right-click on the files in the Project Media folder and select 'Properties'. In the Properties box, select 'Pixel Aspect Ratio' and select '1.4568 - DV Widescreen' and the clips should look correct, but without any conversion.

As for encoding to YouTube, search again on the Forum, I believe Eugenia has posted some guides on her blogs, you should be able to find some links.
TVPC wrote on 7/8/2010, 3:01 PM
I have down loaded the google uploader so hopefully I'll get something viewable up in the next 24 hours!

Until then .......
Paul C wrote on 7/8/2010, 3:06 PM
Hi - the MediaFire link you posted before is fine - I was able to download and check the file with no problems. We don't need to be able to view the file, being able to download and import the original file into Vegas is fine.
Paul
musicvid10 wrote on 7/8/2010, 3:51 PM
Thanks for uploading an original file.
I do not want to be able to view your movie online, I hope that is clear. I needed to download it and inspect it with tools with which you are not yet aware. And I got an answer for you in ten seconds.

If you will rename your

This is what I thought from your first post, but I needed to be able to test it before posting a solution. There is no need to convert them to .wmv or anything else.

If you do not know how to rename a file extension in Windows, there are many explanations available on the internet by doing a search.

Good luck, and thanks for understanding that there are reasons for us making specific requests.

If you would like to start learning more about this stuff, I have posted a beginning tutorial here:
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?ForumID=12&MessageID=660127

TVPC wrote on 7/8/2010, 4:47 PM
Thank you. I haven't tried any of it yet but I will. I have read good and bad about changing the file extension to .mpeg so hadn't tried it but I will.

I will follow all your advice over the weekend and if things improve I may have to force you to watch a half decent UT video we've made!

And if they don't, I will be back on Sunday evening (UK time).

Thank you so much for all you have done to try to help us.

TVPC

TVPC wrote on 7/8/2010, 4:57 PM
Opps - those thanks and promise to follow through the advice goes to Paul too. :-)

I will just report back how I get on incase it helps others. Any thoughts on the bit rate for background audio though? - Sorry! Or maybe that's something I should do a search on hey?

TVPC

TOG62 wrote on 7/8/2010, 10:43 PM
The suggested file extension was .mpg not .mpeg.

Mike
TVPC wrote on 7/9/2010, 7:17 AM
Thanks for pointing that out, I just got someone to write me a batch file to change them all so I best change that!
TVPC wrote on 7/11/2010, 5:02 PM
I renamed all the files to .mpg and initially I had no sound and it reported a problem with windows sound mapper. Somehow I resolved that (by shutting down and restarting I think!) and now they work fine.

I haven't rendered yet though and still can't seem to find any advice on the perfect settings for You Tube for a non HD vid in PAL yet but I guess if I play around I'll get it eventually. Did find out that audio should be at 64kbps mind!

Many thanks to all who helped. :-)

TVPC wrote on 7/18/2010, 2:47 PM
I've settled with rendering as a sony AVC mp4, Internet 640x480-30p, do you think this is my best option? I tried 720x576 wmv but the end file was over 900mb.

Here's the first short video I made with these settings if of any help:






Ivan Lietaert wrote on 7/18/2010, 9:10 PM
Turn down the bitrate to 3Mbps. This will bring down the size of the file.

btw, I watched your video. The image quality is fine, but you should work on your camera skills: keep the camera as still a possible (no shakes), and only use panning and zooming shots once or twice. Movies are all about 'movement', of course, so you must film something that is moving: a moving branch, a hiker passing by, gras moving in the wind. But do not move the camera that much!
MSmart wrote on 7/18/2010, 9:48 PM
I know you didn't ask for a critique, but I agree with Ivan, work on the camera skills.

It looks like the intent of your videos is to share the beautiful countryside in your area. Watching the video would have been more enjoyable if you had shot from tripod, panned and zoomed more slowly. For the walking scenes, use a monopod and hold it at the balance point, this is a cheap but effective way to steady the video. I prefer cross-fade transitions between clips when not much action is in the scene. I think cross-fades makes your type of videos flow better (JMO).

Regardless, keep shooting and posting!

Oh, and use shorter music tracks so you can have two or three in the video (of that length). Changing it up helps keep interest.
TVPC wrote on 7/22/2010, 12:10 PM
Thanks for the advice - I'm not the person taking the images or doing the editing, I'm just working the software/PC etc. I have passed it on though so thank you.

I'm still having problems though and I feel I must be getting very tiresome so I apologise in advance. And please let me know if you think I short start a new post:

The video linked to above is rendered to .mp4, 640x480 and the pixel aspects are all set to 1.457 as advised.

Now please could you take a look at this one:



Same settings as far as I can see (and I have checked the 3 settings I've given above and they are all the same) but I'm must have done something different. The first has black borders, not what I want but the second one, although the image fills the screen it is bearly watchable it is so blurred (and the original file isn't).

What settings could I have changed without realising?

I'm wondering that as the original video is 720 x 576, would I get better quality rendering to that size too, although I couldn't do as an .mp4?

Many thanks for your patience.

TVPC