Wondering if my render is a good as it should be

Ulodesk wrote on 4/20/2014, 6:00 PM
I have a number of mini-DV tapes, recorded on a Canon GL-1 over the past decade, that I am now transferring to M-Discs (archival DVDs; hopefully Blu-rays will be out soon). I have done several so far, and although I realize that SD from a small-chip camera is hardly broadcast quality, I would like to have some gauge of whether my rendering is as good as it should be, since I wish to clear my hard drive once the discs are created. My titles appear unduly unsharp, and I simply have no comparison to make for the videos, which are mostly simple interviews. If someone would have a look, I'll be glad to post a representative clip from the rendered file.

I'm using Studio 12 Platinum.


Comments

MSmart wrote on 4/20/2014, 8:46 PM
I believe you mean *could* be.

Any way, you need to tell us what your render settings are. And how were they captured?

For archiving DV-AVI files from your Mini-DV tapes, copying the files to disc as a data disc, not a video disc would be best as you're not loosing any of the original data.

But if they are mostly simple interviews, rendering to MainConcept MPEG-2 (Program Stream) would be sufficient and give you smaller files to copy to disc.

But the key is to create data discs, not video discs.

What do you mean by "My titles appear unduly unsharp? Again, knowing what render settings you used would help.
Ivan Lietaert wrote on 4/21/2014, 1:35 AM
Simply render your videos to 720p mp4 files using the standard template and write them to your archival DVDs.
Ulodesk wrote on 4/26/2014, 4:04 PM
Sorry for delay. Thanks for responses.
In the Main Concept MP4 choices, I see no 720p that is not Sony tablet or HD.
I have rendered a short clip from one of the projects I cited in my first post, using MPEG2 video stream and posted it here, in case you could have a look.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9m1vdh5hny15un1/Isherwood%20insert.mpg

The video quality looks reasonable (bad lighting notwithstanding), but the titles still appear less sharp than I would expect. I created them in MS. Project settings are all standard NTSC SD 720x480.

I am viewing the file in Windows medial player on my computer monitor (1280x1024.) would burning to a data DVD as suggested above make a difference? Is this, perhaps a progressive vs interlaced issue? As you can tell, I remain a novice in these matters.
MSmart wrote on 4/26/2014, 10:01 PM
There will be some softening of interlaced rendered video on a progressive monitor. And if watching it full screen in WMP, will add to the softening. Set the WMP window to the video resolution for best viewing.

The best way to check the quality of your rendered video is to watch it on a SD interlaced TV.

You mention archiving your video, to me, this implies saving it for future editing.
Ulodesk wrote on 4/27/2014, 8:25 AM
Thanks.
As for archiving, I may never get to edit these, and I am in any case no filmmaker; I would like to be, but that must be left for another life. These are historical records that someone may wish to use decades from now. Hence the M-disc archiving, which has the best longevity I have found and fits my shoestring budget.