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Losing a lot of quality for DVD PLEASE ADVISE SOON!
Hello all,
This is my first post. I came here, because I am at my wit’s end. Here is my story (please pardon my jumping around and incoherent-ness, as I have been awake and working on this problem for almost 36 hours)…
I was given footage (almost three hours that need to be edited to 2.75 hours) in mpeg-4 format. I was asked to edit the footage, create a dvd and create a bluray.
The info for the original footage…
DImensions: 1920×1080
Codecs: H.264, AAC, MPEG-4 ODSM, MPEG-4 SDSM
Total Bit Rate: 19,078
File Size: 661.9 MBI cannot easily edit this footage in FCP, so I used Compressor and converted the footage to Prores 422.
ProRes 422 Info:
DImensions: 1920×1080
Codecs: Apple ProRes 422, Timecode, AAC
Total Bit Rate: 198, 409
File Size: 12.01 GBI was able to easily edit this footage, and come up with a really nice production. The problem is, I am noticing a very large difference in image quality between the MPEG-4 and ProRes 422. The ProRes is much more muddied and soft than the original file.
Now, I know I am going to lose quality when I compress for DVD, and that DVDs only hold 8.5GB (I am using Dual Layer) but should I be able to notice such a large difference? The client has asked me to try to fix this problem. Is there anything I can do? Like I said, I have been up for almost 36 hours working on this, and I am lost.
Any help will be much appreciated.
Thanks!
Matt -
9 Replies
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[Matt Scherrah] “The ProRes is much more muddied and soft than the original file. “
Where are you seen that?
On FC’s Canvas set at 100% and full quality playback/
rafael -
Hello Rafael,
Yes the canvass is set to 100%. I had burned a “review copy” of the production. The first criticism the client had was the poor quality.
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A plain transcoding to Prores shouldn’t produce any picture degradation.
I don’t know what to recommend you beside trying other option for transcoding: MPGStreamclip, 5DtoRGB,..
rafael -
Thank you Rafael, I am trying MPEG Streamclip now. I am thinking that the client is comparing the compressed DVD quality with the RAW footage she gave me. I am going to try mpeg streamclip and see if I get better results. I have also tried adobe media encoder with similar results to COmpressor.
Thanks!
Matt
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[Matt Scherrah] ” I am thinking that the client is comparing the compressed DVD quality with the RAW footage she gave me.”
Then the problem might be on the MPEG-2 compression.
If the H264/Prores conversion is good, and the MPEG-2 cmpression too, you can get a very good picture on the DVD.
Of course, never as the original.
rafael -
Rafael, I am assuming I should be looking at the bitrates of these clips. Am I correct? And are the bitrate of the 422 clips high enough to give optimal quality? (I have the bit rates posted in the original comment on this thread)
Matt
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Hi matt,
That data-rate is correct.
A first generation Prores is virtually uncompressed quality so you shouldn’t see any degradation.
I understand that you have edited that on a sequence matching the footage settings.
Any issue with interlacing/progressive?
Is all your workflow progressive?
rafael -
Yes, all workflow is progressive, but it is not 1st generation. I am working from pre-compressed mpeg4 files, that I had to convert into prores422 in order to edit in FCP. I think that is why I am seeing degradation. I explained to the client that the quality loss is because it is being re-compressed for the DVD, and that the footage will be much higher quality for the Bluray.
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An SD downrez is always going to look worse. And squeezing 2:45 onto a dual layer dvd – there’s going to be some hit involved with that as well. There’s a reason Blu-Ray came around.
Without knowing your client, I would be inclined to make it look more “consumer.” Mild sharpening, a bit more contrast/saturation, see what feedback you get in response.
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