Video Quality is horrible. What can I do ?

Hi Papa John,

I'll try as you suggested and see what happens. Just for the heck of it I
did go ahead and put it on DVD using Nero Vision Express and the quality is
still garbage I guess I was hoping for some type of magic to occur. LOL
!!! I'll let you know what happens with the transfer back to Mini DV.

Thanks,

Duke


"PapaJohn (MVP)" <PapaJohn@CharterMI.net> wrote in message
news:vplgjeiok350d0@corp.supernews.com...

> Duke,
>
> Try exporting the DV-AVI clip you made back to your camcorder and watching
> it on TV. If it's fine, then it's your computer needing more power or a
> tune-up.
>
> There are couple utilities you can use for the export so you don't need to
> do it again in MM2. See the Camcorders.... General page of

www.papajohn.org

>
>
> PapaJohn
>
>
> "Duke" <sorry@spam.com> wrote in message
> news:xixmb.35190$RP2.9664@twister.tampabay.rr.com. ..

> > Hello all,
> > I am new to the world of video editing. I have a Sony Mini DV camcorder
> > that I have been using for a while now. When I watch videos directly

from

> > the Mini DV on my TV the video is great. No jaggies or anything. I
> > captured some video using the DV-AVI (NTSC) settings in WMM. I added a
> > Title, some scene transitions, and credits. I saved it to my hard drive

> as

> > DV-AVI. Now when I watch it in Windows Media Player the video looks
> > horrible. There are jagged lines all over. Especially when a lighter

> color

> > meets with a darker. What am I doing wrong here ? Since these are all
> > digital files I am working with I don't see how I could lose quality. I
> > have VHS tapes that look better than what I have as the outcome of

> capturing

> > and editing this current video. Am I doing something wrong or is this

> just

> > the current state of amateur video editing ? Would I get better quality
> > results using something like Adobe Premier instead ? I wanted to put

this

> > on a DVD, but the current quality of the video wouldn't be worth it.
> >
> > Any ideas,
> >
> > Duke
> >
> >
> >
> >

>
>
>

I've done the same as you and am also somewhat disappointed. It looks jaggy
on my computer, but looks fairly smooth and acceptable on a TV. I think it
is the state of things now. I'm a little afraid of what it will look like
on an HDTV when that becomes the standard, because I've put so much time
into converting my tapes to DVD's.

I've tried a lot of different settings, and it is never a smooth as watching
the original tape on the camcorder or a TV. I have a fast computer (P4 2.5
with 512 MB RAM and a fast and spacious hard disk). I've come to accept
this. The miniDV's do produce better quality than the Hi8 analog-to-digital
conversions, but the difference doesn't blow you away.

Hello all,

I tried putting my finished video back to the Mini DV and the quality is
nowhere near the original DV from which I captured the data to begin with.
I was afraid of what Bob says below being true. If that is the case then it
looks like I will have to wait a little while until things get better on the
consumer end. I don't think my pc is the prob. I have pretty much the
latest and fastest of everything. Just built it about a month ago. The
only thing I can think of is that maybe I need a real capture card. With my
current methods even a normal still photo looks bad after adding to a
timeline and then putting it to DVD. I have a Canon Powershot G2 4.0mp
camera. The pics look incredible on screen and printed, but look like
garbage once put into a video; at least with my current equipment. I am
going to give Adobe Premier a try, but I am afraid I will probably get the
same lackluster results.

Yes Bob I agree with you. If someone were to see this on an HDTV it would
be laughable at best just as it is on a pc monitor.

Thanks for the input from everyone,

Duke

"Robert M. Lincoln" <bob@americanriver.com> wrote in message
news:udIHhI1mDHA.3504@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...

> I've done the same as you and am also somewhat disappointed. It looks

jaggy

> on my computer, but looks fairly smooth and acceptable on a TV. I think

it

> is the state of things now. I'm a little afraid of what it will look like
> on an HDTV when that becomes the standard, because I've put so much time
> into converting my tapes to DVD's.
>
> I've tried a lot of different settings, and it is never a smooth as

watching

> the original tape on the camcorder or a TV. I have a fast computer (P4

2.5

> with 512 MB RAM and a fast and spacious hard disk). I've come to accept
> this. The miniDV's do produce better quality than the Hi8

analog-to-digital

> conversions, but the difference doesn't blow you away.
>
>
>

You mention a 'real capture card'. If you are not using a firewire
connection, you are not getting the full video quality.

"Duke" <sorry@spam.com> wrote in message
news:1RUmb.50155$Go5.791694@twister.tampabay.rr.co m...

> Hello all,
>
> I tried putting my finished video back to the Mini DV and the quality is
> nowhere near the original DV from which I captured the data to begin with.
> I was afraid of what Bob says below being true. If that is the case then

it

> looks like I will have to wait a little while until things get better on

the

> consumer end. I don't think my pc is the prob. I have pretty much the
> latest and fastest of everything. Just built it about a month ago. The
> only thing I can think of is that maybe I need a real capture card. With

my

> current methods even a normal still photo looks bad after adding to a
> timeline and then putting it to DVD. I have a Canon Powershot G2 4.0mp
> camera. The pics look incredible on screen and printed, but look like
> garbage once put into a video; at least with my current equipment. I am
> going to give Adobe Premier a try, but I am afraid I will probably get the
> same lackluster results.
>
> Yes Bob I agree with you. If someone were to see this on an HDTV it would
> be laughable at best just as it is on a pc monitor.
>
> Thanks for the input from everyone,
>
> Duke
>
> "Robert M. Lincoln" <bob@americanriver.com> wrote in message
> news:udIHhI1mDHA.3504@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...

> > I've done the same as you and am also somewhat disappointed. It looks

> jaggy

> > on my computer, but looks fairly smooth and acceptable on a TV. I think

> it

> > is the state of things now. I'm a little afraid of what it will look

like

> > on an HDTV when that becomes the standard, because I've put so much time
> > into converting my tapes to DVD's.
> >
> > I've tried a lot of different settings, and it is never a smooth as

> watching

> > the original tape on the camcorder or a TV. I have a fast computer (P4

> 2.5

> > with 512 MB RAM and a fast and spacious hard disk). I've come to accept
> > this. The miniDV's do produce better quality than the Hi8

> analog-to-digital

> > conversions, but the difference doesn't blow you away.
> >
> >
> >

>
>

Hi Papa,

I have multiple FireWire ports on my PC. The one I am currently using runs
directly onto my Motherboard. I do not have a Capture Card though.

Do you guys know of any good New Groups for Video Editing not having to do
with Windows Movie Maker ?

Duke


"PapaJohn (MVP)" <PapaJohn@CharterMI.net> wrote in message
news:vpo6mgelguqfee@corp.supernews.com...

> You mention a 'real capture card'. If you are not using a firewire
> connection, you are not getting the full video quality.
>
> "Duke" <sorry@spam.com> wrote in message
> news:1RUmb.50155$Go5.791694@twister.tampabay.rr.co m...

> > Hello all,
> >
> > I tried putting my finished video back to the Mini DV and the quality is
> > nowhere near the original DV from which I captured the data to begin

with.

> > I was afraid of what Bob says below being true. If that is the case

then

> it

> > looks like I will have to wait a little while until things get better on

> the

> > consumer end. I don't think my pc is the prob. I have pretty much the
> > latest and fastest of everything. Just built it about a month ago. The
> > only thing I can think of is that maybe I need a real capture card.

With

> my

> > current methods even a normal still photo looks bad after adding to a
> > timeline and then putting it to DVD. I have a Canon Powershot G2 4.0mp
> > camera. The pics look incredible on screen and printed, but look like
> > garbage once put into a video; at least with my current equipment. I am
> > going to give Adobe Premier a try, but I am afraid I will probably get

the

> > same lackluster results.
> >
> > Yes Bob I agree with you. If someone were to see this on an HDTV it

would

> > be laughable at best just as it is on a pc monitor.
> >
> > Thanks for the input from everyone,
> >
> > Duke
> >
> > "Robert M. Lincoln" <bob@americanriver.com> wrote in message
> > news:udIHhI1mDHA.3504@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...

> > > I've done the same as you and am also somewhat disappointed. It looks

> > jaggy

> > > on my computer, but looks fairly smooth and acceptable on a TV. I

think

> > it

> > > is the state of things now. I'm a little afraid of what it will look

> like

> > > on an HDTV when that becomes the standard, because I've put so much

time

> > > into converting my tapes to DVD's.
> > >
> > > I've tried a lot of different settings, and it is never a smooth as

> > watching

> > > the original tape on the camcorder or a TV. I have a fast computer

(P4

> > 2.5

> > > with 512 MB RAM and a fast and spacious hard disk). I've come to

accept

> > > this. The miniDV's do produce better quality than the Hi8

> > analog-to-digital

> > > conversions, but the difference doesn't blow you away.
> > >
> > >
> > >

> >
> >

>
>
>

In a different News Group it was metioned to me that Windows Movie Maker is
just not designed for high quality video editing. This person seemed to
think I would achieve better quality results using something like Adobe
Premiere. I am going to give that a shot.

Fingers crossed,

Duke


"PapaJohn (MVP)" <PapaJohn@CharterMI.net> wrote in message
news:vpo6mgelguqfee@corp.supernews.com...

> You mention a 'real capture card'. If you are not using a firewire
> connection, you are not getting the full video quality.
>
> "Duke" <sorry@spam.com> wrote in message
> news:1RUmb.50155$Go5.791694@twister.tampabay.rr.co m...

> > Hello all,
> >
> > I tried putting my finished video back to the Mini DV and the quality is
> > nowhere near the original DV from which I captured the data to begin

with.

> > I was afraid of what Bob says below being true. If that is the case

then

> it

> > looks like I will have to wait a little while until things get better on

> the

> > consumer end. I don't think my pc is the prob. I have pretty much the
> > latest and fastest of everything. Just built it about a month ago. The
> > only thing I can think of is that maybe I need a real capture card.

With

> my

> > current methods even a normal still photo looks bad after adding to a
> > timeline and then putting it to DVD. I have a Canon Powershot G2 4.0mp
> > camera. The pics look incredible on screen and printed, but look like
> > garbage once put into a video; at least with my current equipment. I am
> > going to give Adobe Premier a try, but I am afraid I will probably get

the

> > same lackluster results.
> >
> > Yes Bob I agree with you. If someone were to see this on an HDTV it

would

> > be laughable at best just as it is on a pc monitor.
> >
> > Thanks for the input from everyone,
> >
> > Duke
> >
> > "Robert M. Lincoln" <bob@americanriver.com> wrote in message
> > news:udIHhI1mDHA.3504@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...

> > > I've done the same as you and am also somewhat disappointed. It looks

> > jaggy

> > > on my computer, but looks fairly smooth and acceptable on a TV. I

think

> > it

> > > is the state of things now. I'm a little afraid of what it will look

> like

> > > on an HDTV when that becomes the standard, because I've put so much

time

> > > into converting my tapes to DVD's.
> > >
> > > I've tried a lot of different settings, and it is never a smooth as

> > watching

> > > the original tape on the camcorder or a TV. I have a fast computer

(P4

> > 2.5

> > > with 512 MB RAM and a fast and spacious hard disk). I've come to

accept

> > > this. The miniDV's do produce better quality than the Hi8

> > analog-to-digital

> > > conversions, but the difference doesn't blow you away.
> > >
> > >
> > >

> >
> >

>
>
>

Duke,

I use both Movie Maker and Premiere. The visual quality of saved movies is
the same with each. DV-AVI format is pretty much plain vanilla. In fact
Premiere and MM2 use the same codec to render to movies on my computer.

If you mean editing features, yes Premiere has much more than MM2. That's a
different story than pixel dimensions and colors.

Depending on what I want to do, I'll move a video clip back and forth
between Premiere and Movie Maker - using DV-AVI format.

PapaJohn

"Duke" <sorry@spam.com> wrote in message
news:cKXmb.50445$Go5.815435@twister.tampabay.rr.co m...

> In a different News Group it was metioned to me that Windows Movie Maker

is

> just not designed for high quality video editing. This person seemed to
> think I would achieve better quality results using something like Adobe
> Premiere. I am going to give that a shot.
>
> Fingers crossed,
>
> Duke
>
>
> "PapaJohn (MVP)" <PapaJohn@CharterMI.net> wrote in message
> news:vpo6mgelguqfee@corp.supernews.com...

> > You mention a 'real capture card'. If you are not using a firewire
> > connection, you are not getting the full video quality.
> >
> > "Duke" <sorry@spam.com> wrote in message
> > news:1RUmb.50155$Go5.791694@twister.tampabay.rr.co m...

> > > Hello all,
> > >
> > > I tried putting my finished video back to the Mini DV and the quality

is

> > > nowhere near the original DV from which I captured the data to begin

> with.

> > > I was afraid of what Bob says below being true. If that is the case

> then

> > it

> > > looks like I will have to wait a little while until things get better

on

> > the

> > > consumer end. I don't think my pc is the prob. I have pretty much

the

> > > latest and fastest of everything. Just built it about a month ago.

The

> > > only thing I can think of is that maybe I need a real capture card.

> With

> > my

> > > current methods even a normal still photo looks bad after adding to a
> > > timeline and then putting it to DVD. I have a Canon Powershot G2

4.0mp

> > > camera. The pics look incredible on screen and printed, but look like
> > > garbage once put into a video; at least with my current equipment. I

am

> > > going to give Adobe Premier a try, but I am afraid I will probably get

> the

> > > same lackluster results.
> > >
> > > Yes Bob I agree with you. If someone were to see this on an HDTV it

> would

> > > be laughable at best just as it is on a pc monitor.
> > >
> > > Thanks for the input from everyone,
> > >
> > > Duke
> > >
> > > "Robert M. Lincoln" <bob@americanriver.com> wrote in message
> > > news:udIHhI1mDHA.3504@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> > > > I've done the same as you and am also somewhat disappointed. It

looks

> > > jaggy
> > > > on my computer, but looks fairly smooth and acceptable on a TV. I

> think

> > > it
> > > > is the state of things now. I'm a little afraid of what it will

look

> > like

> > > > on an HDTV when that becomes the standard, because I've put so much

> time

> > > > into converting my tapes to DVD's.
> > > >
> > > > I've tried a lot of different settings, and it is never a smooth as
> > > watching
> > > > the original tape on the camcorder or a TV. I have a fast computer

> (P4

> > > 2.5
> > > > with 512 MB RAM and a fast and spacious hard disk). I've come to

> accept

> > > > this. The miniDV's do produce better quality than the Hi8
> > > analog-to-digital
> > > > conversions, but the difference doesn't blow you away.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >

> >
> >
> >

>
>

Duke" <sorry@spam.com> wrote in message
news:xixmb.35190$RP2.9664@twister.tampabay.rr.com. ..

> Hello all,
> I am new to the world of video editing. I have a Sony Mini DV camcorder
> that I have been using for a while now. When I watch videos directly from
> the Mini DV on my TV the video is great. No jaggies or anything. I
> captured some video using the DV-AVI (NTSC) settings in WMM. I added a
> Title, some scene transitions, and credits. I saved it to my hard drive

as

> DV-AVI. Now when I watch it in Windows Media Player the video looks
> horrible. There are jagged lines all over. Especially when a lighter

color

> meets with a darker. What am I doing wrong here ? Since these are all
> digital files I am working with I don't see how I could lose quality. I
> have VHS tapes that look better than what I have as the outcome of

capturing

> and editing this current video. Am I doing something wrong or is this

just

> the current state of amateur video editing ? Would I get better quality
> results using something like Adobe Premier instead ? I wanted to put this
> on a DVD, but the current quality of the video wouldn't be worth it.
>
> Any ideas,
>
> Duke

Are you SURE you captured and exported with DV-AVI and not one of the low
quality WMV settings? You shouldn't see any quality loss when capturing and
exporting with DV. The only difference would be the way it looks on your
monitor compared to your TV. Do you have a decent monitor and graphics
card? DV-AVI video looks beautiful on my computer. I wish I could leave
all my vids in DV-AVI but they just take up too much space. Take a look at
the video just after capturing, does it look bad then?