[Griff Hamlin]

If that is the case, John, how would I go about doing that sort of conversion to PAR 0.9?

Here is the media info on the file if you want it:
Here is the mediainfo from the source material:
Format : Windows Media
File size : 47.5 MiB
Duration : 1mn 21s
Overall bit rate mode : Constant
Overall bit rate : 4 878 Kbps
Maximum Overall bit rate : 6 294 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 2013-08-08 17:20:57.820

Video
ID : 2
Format : WMV2
Codec ID : WMV2
Codec ID/Info : Windows Media Video 8
Description of the codec : Windows Media Video V8
Duration : 1mn 21s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 6 000 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 3:2
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
Standard : NTSC
Bit depth : 8 bits
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.579
Stream size : 58.4 MiB
Language : English (US)
NumberOfFrames : 2431

Furthermore, when I’ve done that, what’s the best way to cut off 60 pixels from the top and bottom (roughly) to make it 640×360 instead of 655×480?

[Griff Hamlin]

Yup… I know it’s an oddball size, but it’s for real.

This is output from a Roland VR-5 and ends up in a WMV file… kind of a pain in the neck actually. But the VR-5 is so stupid easy to work with other than that I’m hoping to work this out.

I guess I’m too used to still photos. If I have a photo that’s 720×480 I know how to crop it to 640×360 without any loss of quality, just a loss of pixels.

I would think I could do the same thing with Vegas but I can’t figure out how.

[Griff Hamlin]

[John Rofrano] “Now I’m really confused. Originally you said the footage was in Vegas in WMV format. How did that happen if the VR-5 produces MP4?”

Sorry about that… when the VR-5 writes to the SD card it is in mp4 format. If I run mediainfo on that file it is progressive scan. In order to actually edit the file, however, Roland provides a utility that transcodes to wmv (pretty quickly) for editing. Vegas Pro cannot edit the mp4 directly (and Premiere cannot either.)

I can, however, watch the mp4 in VLC and see the interlacing, just as I can watch the footage in wmv format and see it.

[John Rofrano] “How does the camera connect to the VR-5?”
The camera interfaces with the VR-5 via S-Video or BNC connector. Currently I use S-Video because my Sony cameras don’t have a BNC connector.

[Griff Hamlin]

Thanks John. Using mediainfo I can see that my Sony camera is writing mpg2 30i to it’s SD card, and I can only assume that the VR-5 is expecting 30p since it is writing 30p mp4 files to its SD card.

So first, does that seem like a reasonable assumption? And if all that is true, it seems the only option is to use a camera that will output SD in 30p instead of 30i.

Regrettably my Sony is not one of those cameras. There is no option at all to change the framerate, only the size (SD 4:3, SD 16:9, HD 1440×1080 or HD 1920×1080.) And for the SD sizes the output is 30i while the HD sizes are 60i.

For my immediate problem, I was able to use Handbrake to de-interlace the footage (using the slowest setting the result was remarkably good and completely useable.) And from here I’m able to edit and create the product.

But the whole idea behind the VR-5 was to speed up workflow and if I have to wait on Handbrake to de-interlace everything after I have shot it… that’s not going to work out.

So if you have any thoughts as to whether or not I’m correct about this 30i vs 30p thing… and any thoughts as to a camera that might output what I need I would be appreciative.

As for a camera, my needs are VERY simple. I don’t move, they sit on a tripod in a studio with a lot of light. They don’t have to do much of anything but output the video signal.

Thanks!

[Griff Hamlin]

Hi John, and thanks for the reply. In the process of going through the steps you mentioned I found the discrepancy between the progressive scan of my media, and the upper field first of the render template.

If I change the render template to progressive (and the project settings already were) it seems to fix the problem.

However, I’m unclear as to whether or not this will translate to an actual DVD. I’ve always previewed my .mpg files on the computer before putting them on DVD and it’s always worked out just fine in the past. But I’ve never had to change the render settings this way.

I guess I just need to burn one and be sure, but do you know of any problems I’m overlooking?

Thanks so much for your help.

Oh – and one last question. Since all of my media is 1.5:1 and I’m cropping to 16:9, is there a way to crop the track and not each individual clip? There are about 20 clips on the track… it’s just tedious to have to crop them all first.

[Griff Hamlin]

That’s excellent to hear. Of course, I would rather learn and get better than just buy new stuff.

Here is my latest video. I did actually do a little bit of color adjustment on this one… just contrast and brightness I believe. I don’t have any rhyme or reason to it, though, I just guess and if it’s better I keep it.

https://youtu.be/HifPaRcAXtA

I realize youtube compresses the heck out of stuff, but I don’t have anything easily accessible past that.

I’m definitely open to learning more about color adjustment and correction. If you can point me to any resources (paid or free) I would appreciate it.

Thanks

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[Griff Hamlin]

I currently use 2 lights with flourescent “daylight” bulbs. I’m sorry I don’t know what to call them. They each have 4 bulbs and I run them through a diffusing umbrella to spread them out around the room a bit. I usually don’t have all 4 bulbs on as it makes the room really bright and I look washed out on camera.

Behind me is a simple black theater curtain and I have a small flourescent light over and behind my head to add a little depth. I sit about 6-8 feet from the camera and probably 6 feet from the curtain.

I don’t know what color-grading is so that may be part of my problem. Can you elaborate?

[Griff Hamlin]

Thanks for the reply…

I’m probably showing my ignorance more than I care to but I’m afraid that doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.

What is an ISO on the camera?

What is a TD ALL SDI setup?

I’m good with audio, but still learning the lingo where video is concerned. Thanks.

[Griff Hamlin]

The end action of each clip is set to start the next clip. Which it seems to do.

I’ve discovered that while in preview mode on DVD Architect I get the “illegal” symbol, it works fine on my DVD player. I’m not really sure what to make of that.

But I’m concerned since this is for wide distribution that it may not work on many DVD players.

Griff