Michael Slowe
Forum Replies Created
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I have read this thread with interest as I’m making SD DVD’s from an HD timeline. Using BitVice, Compressor (for the audio I think) and Studio Pro 4 the results are reasonable but not that good, certainly compared to tape. I too am finding the colours a bit faded in spite of setting RGB and there are visible artifacts in certain circumstances. Could it be the downscaling to SD that is the problem? It certainly takes a long time (about six hours for fifteen minutes) but that doesn’t worry me, it’s the quality I am worried about. I am using double pass, VBR average 7.5, max 8.5, min 5.5. I suppose it’s just the MPEG compression of DVD’s but frustrating when I see the tape quality.
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You do mean the quality of the DVD don’t you because I find the tapes, both HD and downconverted DV really very good indeed? DVD as it is really worries me, I am banking on HD to improve matters.
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Floh, could the fact that I am using BitVice straight from an HD timeline be the reason I am not over thrilled with the picture quality of the resulting SD DVD’s? Is it BitVice or Media 100 doing the down scaling?
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I use BitVice following Floh’s advice, to make my DVD’s from my Media 100 timeline where I have uncompressed HD. This means that the encoding (2 pass VBR average 7.5) takes a long time but the results are generally good although for some reason I sometimes get ‘noisy’ edges. One other system that a friend of mine uses to make very good DVD’s is made by Canopus but I don’t know theexact name. I still find tape gives by far the best picture quality but of course you need special kit to play it. DVD’s are the thing but let’s hope HD will give us better pictures than we are currently getting.
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Floh, I have been following this with interest. Can this be done with the humble Boris Graffiti?
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Mac, you must be joking! The main problem with Media 100 HD has been the fact that it only provided SDI in and out which limits the decks you can use. Version 11.5.1 now supports Firewire BUT only for DV. I have been having to expensively rent an HDCAM deck to master HD. I don’t think there is any way you can get back to HDV from Media 100. It is rumoured that they might be preparing to support HDV sometime in the future but I wouldn’t hold your breath. The Convergent Design boxes are wonderful for converting but I don’t think they go the other way back to HDV.
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See my reply to a recent post,11 december.
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I make DVD’s (SD of course) from an HD timeline (in Media 100) and am also disappointed with the quality. My process is though probably the best as suggested by many pros. I encode with BitVice (distributed by Innobits) at a Variable Bit Rate (average about 7.5) through a double pass. Then create a Dolby ac3 audio file in Compressor then build and burn with DVD Studio Pro 4. Use best quality DVD blanks (Verbatim 4.7 GB Minus R) and burn at the slowest speed. The results are acceptable but compared with tape masters much inferior. All this should change when we can produce (and play!!) HD DVD’s.
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I am sure that you should follow Keiron’s suggestion and get your VHS material on to DV tape and then digitize through firewire. I do this often and the DV pictures are much cleaner and better than the awful VHS (nearly dead thank goodness!) You should then find that your pictures coming back out from Media 100 are as good.
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Murray, where are you in this wonderful world of ours? If UK I can direct you to two very knowledgable Media 100 dealers. I can’t understand how you have not received better help and advice if you really are in touch with a proper dealer. Maybe the wizard Floh will see your query and then you will get the real knowledge.