[Jeff Pulera]

Hi Emma,

There is a free program called MPEG StreamClip that will allow you to pull the original content from the DVDs in a native format so there is no quality loss, meaning you can get .m2v video and .a3c audio files direct from the DVD, then just drop those files into your new DVD composition.

Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers

[Jeff Pulera]

Hi Jake,

You didn’t say what kind of footage you are editing, that can make a difference. HDV, P2, AVCHD, uncompressed? Any capture card involved?

Also, you said “project media” is on the C: drive, typically you don’t want any video assets on the same drive as the OS, as Windows needs to access the drive and may interfere with throughput of video editing.

Also, I’ve not heard of editing video off SSD drives before. I understand they’re supposed to be very fast boot drives, but I don’t know about video editing performance.

Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers

[Jeff Pulera]

If using CS3, just use File > Export > Frame to create a still image, which can then be placed on the timeline and dragged to any length. With CS4, use Adobe Media Encoder to export the still.

When you say your freeze has movement in it, you may be seeing interlace flicker. In Photoshop, go into VIDEO filters and choose Deinterlace and save again, this will provide a clear, rock-solid still image. From timeline, easy to just right-click the still and choose “Edit in Photoshop” if PS is installed, deinterlace, save.

Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers

[Jeff Pulera]

Hi Fiona,

So is this a 4:3 or 16:9 project, since you are mixing clips?

As a temporary fix that might get you by, rather than use the Cross Dissolve, try going old school – overlap ends of clips on two different tracks and use Opacity keyframe to get your dissolve and see if you still get the glitch. I’m guessing it is the mixing of aspect ratios causing this.

Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers

[Jeff Pulera]

Hi Billy,

I work with the PC, but there is a universal rule to burning a DVD. It must be burned as “DVD Video” with the burning program in order for it to be recognized as “DVD legal”. In other words, it’s not enough to have all the assets and just “put them on a DVD disc”, the program doing the burning must organize the files properly for the DVD to be recognized by players.

I will often have a VIDEO_TS folder (DVD content) that I need to burn to disc and when I go into NERO for burning, I have a choice of “DVD DATA” or “DVD VIDEO”. If I chose DATA, the VIDEO_TS folder will be on the disc and most computers will recognize that and play the video, but a set-top player will not see the disc as a DVD. I must burn as DVD VIDEO to get a compliant DVD.

So, I’m guessing that is your issue, that you are just burning the material to disc, but not really as a DVD.

Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers

[Jeff Pulera]

Hi Hop,

I use the RT.X2, and I’d think your options are very similar with AXIO. Not in front of my system right now, but I think it’s in Premiere prefs, there are checkboxes for both PEK files and Conforming. If not in Prefs, try General Settings > Video tab. Must Save, then restart Premiere for settings to kick in.

I leave PEK files on because those are the waveforms displayed on the timeline, but I do have Audio Conforming set to off. PEK files don’t take but a few seconds to create.

Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers

[Jeff Pulera]

A few years back, I was having a lot of problems with quality on store-bought DVD-R media. One batch would work fine, the next spindle would have all kinds of rejects. I had a software utility that would read the manufacturer code from the discs and found that identically packaged discs from the same wholesale club were from two different manufacturers, just re-branded!

I switched to Taiyo Yuden and never had another coaster. Also, the Water Shield discs have a nice glossy surface for inkjet printing. That said, due to recent economic issues, I’ve gone back to the wholesale club and the Verbatim brand have been working well, as the other poster mentioned.

Also, note that JVC and Taiyo Yuden just joined forces and the discs are now being branded as JVC, but same Taiyo quality.

About size, some players have issue with the dual-layer “DL” discs, usually better to stick with 4.7GB DVD unless you have a very long program and need the extra space.

At 60 minutes, highest quality encoding, a 4.7 disc is fine. Even at 90 minutes it will look good, and in fact I often go 2 full hours on a 4.7, so you will be fine. A quality encoder is important though, that can make a big difference in final product

Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers

[Jeff Pulera]

The value of a deck is that it would save wear on your camera, since the deck is used to play tapes for capture into the edit system. A much cheaper alternative is get an inexpensive HDV camera and use that as a deck, while at the same time gaining an extra camera. Canon HV20/30/40 models are cheap new or used and make a great feeder deck.

Whether looking at a deck or camera, make sure it supports your particular format. While HDV 1080i tapes should interchange with any camera or deck, some of the 24p formats are proprietary for instance.

If you work only with HDV, then a capture card is not a necessity, you just use the 1394 input on your computer. Capture cards are useful when you need to capture, output, or monitor editing via something other than 1394.

Some capture cards just add analog i/o (composite, S-video, component) as well as RCA stereo audio. Higher-end units add HMDI, SD/HD-SDI video, XLR audio, etc., depends on the needs of your studio.

An example is the Matrox MXO2 Mini. It adds HDMI and Analog i/o for PC and Mac, so you have other capture options besides 1394. Also, while editing, this product will output your timeline to an HDMI or analog monitor, so you can see your video at full size and quality, providing a better experience than just a window in the Premiere interface. Also offers some upscale/downscale options without rendering.

Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers

[Jeff Pulera]

Hi Robert,

More info please. Assuming you’ve used the correct Premiere project preset to capture/edit your footage, WHAT are you viewing in Quicktime – have you Exported to a certain file format?

Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor

[Jeff Pulera]

Hi Jim,

When you launch Premiere, you need to choose a Project Preset to begin a New Project. Typically, you want that preset to match the footage you will be working with, for instance “DV NTSC 4:3” or “HDV 720p”, etc.

In Premiere, go to the Project Bin, usually left pane of screen, and click on the “Sequence 1” item to highlight it, then go to the top menu and choose Sequence > Sequence Settings and look at the Edit Mode and this will tell you what type of project you are in.

There is little reason to edit NTSC footage in an HD project unless the project uses primarily HD footage and you need to insert a few SD “legacy” clips into the program. In that case, Scale to Frame will expand the SD clip, though 4:3 in a 16:9 project will have black pillar bars, then you’d need to use Scale to 133% to fill out the screen.

Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers