You've done exactly what I cautioned you about -- thought yourself into a hole.
Stop digging.

Dvd field order is not part of the spec. Your hobby software is suspect for a couple of reasons. Read the comments at Videohelp.

You need to take a DVD Master (preferably not an iso) to the replicator for validation by proper means. Even then, Eclipse will show errors that in no way affect playback. In-home validation would seem to serve little, if any eventual purpose. Here's an older thread where I posted more complete information about the files used for replication.
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?ForumID=22&MessageID=679536

[Edited]

People who are confused about creating DVD masters for replication should visit the following site for a lot of in-depth information about how to do it.:

http://www.gearsoftware.com/

By ISO I meant ISO 31818 standards. I didn't make myself clear - sorry.
I have no problem with preparing master disc. I use DDP format for replication.

@OldSmoke
I've tried to render my 1080 25p footage to SD 50i. Unfortunately there is a significant decrease of quality. If I compare footage rendered to SD 25p vs SD 50i, the image has less details and is less sharp. It is mainly noticable on my lower thirds, were the letters became less clear.
Maybe I should downscale HD to SD in a two steps? First render to SD 25p and then rerender it to 50i?

@Peter

You can try that but the result will be the same, that is the drawback of 50i. You can try and apply some filters to correct it in certain areas. Do you have a short clip I can use to experiment? Btw, is re sample enabled on your events or disabled? Since you are increasing the frame rate, I would enable it and set de interlace method to interpolate.

Yes, I will prepare short clips for tests. I will try to link it on the forum tomorrow. Thank you.

@OldSmoke - excuse me the delay. I had my hardware problem - my monitor is damaged - I'm working on my TV, what is not the most comfortable.

Here are samples of DVD videos in 25p and 25i (50i?).
I have redered it with Mainconcept codec. In my opinion intelaced video is significantly less sharp.
DVD PAL progressive:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3p4gbubp32ynkzo/DVD_mainconcept_25p.m2v?dl=0
DVD PAL interlaced:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/xuimlbmzcueojne/DVD_mainconcept_25i.m2v?dl=0

And for referrence - 1080 25p:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ff1rsowygp92ow2/1080%2025p_mainconcept.mp4?dl=0

Smart resample is enabled.

@ Peter

Here is what I get using your 1920x1080 25p file and a DVD Architect template in Vegas.

Try to disable resample but switch on flicker reduction.

@OldSmoke

The quality of your interlaced video is outstanding! There is hardly any difference between my 25p and your 50i video. I would have never figured it it out that I should change just these two switches. Thank you! I owe you a huge beer! :)

I've tried to repeat your rendering settings to get the same results. However I've noticed that after converting HD->SD your output video is stretched horizontally. While my SD output is stretched vertically and seems to be a little brighter.

Here are the frames showing the differences:
1. Rendering with wrong settings. Result = blury
SD, resample = on, deflickering = off
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1eag6r3z98sc4wl/SD_Perer100_wrong_settings.jpg?dl=0

2. Rendering with correct settings, by OldSmoke. Result = fine
SD, resample = off, deflickering = on
https://www.dropbox.com/s/jyby6mcjhhikhlc/SD_OldSmoke.jpg?dl=0

3. Rendering with correct settings, by Peter100. Result = fine, image stretched vertically
SD, resample = off, deflickering = on
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0ohls9p0kmiovyo/SD_Perer100.jpg?dl=0

@Peter100

When you make a link, specifically to Dropbox, try and take out the "s" from https and make it just http.

Edit:
I use this filter package for HD>SD conversions. You will need Sony's "Preset Manager" to install it. All of the settings inside it I gathered from this forum. One of it the Levels FX that will ensure broadcast levels of your video. While it may look a bit "dull" in on your PC, it will look fine on your TV.

I use a modified DVD Architect PAL widescreen template. I use 9500k, 6800k, 4200k for the bit rates, 2-pass and don't forget to tick the "Stretch video..." box.

Here is another one which includes NeatVideo and a bit of sharpening too.

If you have the latest NeatVideo I can give you that filter package too.

@OldSmoke

As the footage was done in 0-255 color range, I use levels preset "Computer RGB to Studio RGB". Also, as a "video limiter" I use color correction curves prepared by Glen Chann (http://www.glennchan.info/articles/vegas/color-correction/tutorial.htm). I set it on Video output FX, to make sure that all my video is in 16-235 color range.

I'm trying to repeat your rendering results, but sharpening causes flickering which becomes visible especially on horizontal objects.
Could you possibly share your settings you mentioned about? I would be very grateful.
Also I have just installed "Preset Manager" and NeatVideo trial.

For the first sample I used this filter package. You can drop the levels fx from the package but keep the rest.

The reason I could use sharpening is because I used NeatVideo first. But I also feel that the initial sample I made is the better one.

One more thing you can try is to set the resolution to 704x576; this is a valid DVD format too.

@OldSmoke
Thak you for your filter package. It contains levels correction+unsharp mask+Convolution Kernel. I disabled levels as you suggested.
The result is quite nice :) (vide rendering 1 - link below). What do you think?
I don't understand fully, why do you use two tools for sharpening. Does Convolution Kernel is for strenghteneing the edges?


During tests I've discovered why my lower third text isn't sharp.
I made two renderings:
1. Downscaling to SD from previously rendered HD file.
Result:
Image: http://www.dropbox.com/s/ahk1vwv2gjh2ok9/SD_from_HD.jpg?dl=0
Video: http://www.dropbox.com/s/wv8v8ki7ydiup4f/SD_from_HD.m2v?dl=0

2. Downscaling to SD from timeline (footage and lower third are separately). The lower third is prepared in Titler Pro 3.
Image: http://www.dropbox.com/s/ahk1vwv2gjh2ok9/SD_from_HD.jpg?dl=0
Video: http://www.dropbox.com/s/nxejwm3vcurij8a/SD_from_timeline.m2v?dl=0

If I downsize to SD from previously rendered HD file, the text is sharp. But if I render it directly from timeline, the text is blurry. Before rendering I resize all elements on timeline to make them fit project resolution - and this causes that the Titler Pro 3 text is blurry. I don't know why, but I just need to keep it full HD on my timeline, despite whole project is in SD resolution.

In reference to our discussion of the 25p vs 50i, I've ordered in the press additional validation of the DVD Video. I gave them to analyze 25p DVD format. Their quality control department said that the video displays correctly. The have tested it on a validation software (don't know exactly what software) and also on many older and newer DVD players and TVs.
So I think I will remain at 25p format, because it is much easier to convert from a source that is also a 25p format.

That is great news! Unfortunately, 30p is not option because all my paid DVDs contain lots of motion.

For the first sample I used this filter package. You can drop the levels fx from the package but keep the rest.
---------------------------
Old Smoke,

I have never used the Sony Preset Manager, but I wanted to try your preset so I installed it in Vegas 8.

When I go to apply the preset it crashes Vegas every time. Does your preset only work in later versions of Vegas? If not, do you know what is wrong?

Thanks,

John

It could be that it only works in later versions, I haven't tried it on VP8. I have that package since VP11 and it works fine until VP13. I could make some screens shots of the settings inside those FX plugins and send you those.

Yes, thanks Old Smoke. I would appreciate that. Then I can create my own chain FX preset.

Regards,

John

Here they are:




Please note that I don't take credit for these settings; the are brain child of some else in this forum but I cant remember who.

Thanks Old Smoke,

Much appreciated.

Regards,

John

Oldsmoke is exactly correct - these settings in an efx chain have been posted in this forum over the years many times and for about as long as I can remember of them being posted.
They should have been part of the original SCS posted product documentation - alas these things just don't get communicated all that well.

I wish we could make things like this a sticky.

OldSmoke, thank you once again for sharing your settings. To tell the truth I was not aware of Sony Convolution Kernel sharpening tool.

Initially I didn't see any positive results of using it. Then I discovered that for sharpening the footage analyzed in this thread, better settings are:

Row 1 | Col 1 | -1.000
Row 1 | Col 2 | -2.000
Row 1 | Col 3 | -1.000

Row 2 | Col 1 | -2.000
Row 2 | Col 2 | 33.000
Row 2 | Col 3 | -2.000

Row 3 | Col 1 | -1.000
Row 3 | Col 2 | -2.000
Row 3 | Col 3 | -1.000

I took the Sony Convolution Kernel settings from this thread:
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/Forums/ShowMessage.asp?Forum=4&MessageID=857348