[Terry Nahirny]

Tks Jerry -I appreciate all your input. Sorry for the delay -I have Thursdays off.

Source footage is HDV 1080-60i (1440×1080, 29.970 fps) clips. I’ve tried numerous shoots. Last shoot was outside in sunlight of flowers moving in the wind. (looks perfect when inserted on Vegas timeline)
*I’ve tried Cineform Neo coverted files that didn’t seem to make a bit of difference except bog down my pc on the Vegas timeline.

Please answer these: What is “Properties” set to?
HDV 1080-60i (1440×1080, 29.970 fps)

What are you rendering out to make the DVD? (Answer both “Type” of file and “Template.”)

MainConcept Mpeg2 (*.mpg)
DVD Architect NTSC Widescreen Video Stream

What are you doing with the files you render? Give a step-by-step.

I render the files to a new folder using the settings above.
I then open DVDA and select new project (single movie).
I then select NTSC Widescreen (720×480).
I prepare the file and then burn.
I then go mad after I play the disc in different players on different screens and see the obvious pixelation around edges/blotchy colors/about half the quality of original footage. The best way I can explain the outcome is: it looks like I’m watching MSN news clips over the internet.

[Terry Nahirny]

JerryW, tks for the post.
You said HDV should be adequate for DV renders -I’m just not satisfied with how blurry/less defined/pixelated my DVD’s end up. I have a friend that shoots DV and his projects end up better quality than my HDV to DV renders. I’m about ready to through my hands up on rendering these HDV m2t files to DVD.

[Terry Nahirny]

DSE, why do they make pcmcia sata cards then if the laptops can’t handle the speed? Won’t the sata connection be faster than the usb connection on my laptop thus helping workflow speed?
t.

[Terry Nahirny]

DSE, my understanding up to this point has been that if I had a fast enough pc with a HDMI port, I could capture at whatever resolution I wanted (progressive with no interlacing).
But what I’m understanding today is that the camera’s HDMI out port is still interlaced with compressed video.
My main issue now is trying to decide if HDV just doesn’t render to DV well enough when starting with HDV m2t files. Mabe I’m expecting too much from compressed files.
DSE, do you shoot with HDV m2t files, and are you happy with your rendered DVD’s?
tks, t.

[Terry Nahirny]

I’ll do some tests on that now DSE, tks.

[Terry Nahirny]

David thankyou for the post!! That helps me today. I just did more test burns using Vegas capture vs. Cineform conversion and found no difference to my eye. The Cineform files were huge and my laptop did not like them in Vegas 7e. I’m not nearly convinced about Cineform at this point -unless anyone can figure out why it’s not working for me.
Thanks again for the post David and love to hear more of your tests!!
t.

[Terry Nahirny]

Vegas 7.e

[Terry Nahirny]

Gary, yes the HC-7 outputs directly out the HDMI in record mode. It seems to me that the picture is better quality and pre-compression (but I could be wrong). A number of HC-7 users are thinking the same. I believe they’re capturing directly with the Black Magic HDMI cards (on their desktops I might add). I’ll rule that out for my laptop now.
Do you capture or convert m2t files with Cineform HDlink? The avi files are 4-5x’s larger than the m2t files and Vegas or any other player plays the video back slower than real time audio. Any ideas on why?
I just finished my first test burn with a avi file rendered in Vegas to DVDA and the picture on the DVD was great!! Best I’ve burnt yet. I’m excited about that! Can’t work with it in Vegas yet but it burns well.
tks, t

[Terry Nahirny]

DSE,
Ya that makes sense. My laptop has a hard enough time handling m2t files. I guess capturing on laptop will have to be compressed.
You mentioned sata drives -I’ve got two 500gig sata drives connected through usb, I’ve been debating on getting a pcmcia sata adaptor card. Do you think this would help the strain on my laptop?
tks,t

[Terry Nahirny]

Gary I’ve got sony’s HC-7(HDV m2t). I would like to capture HD footage right from the HDMI out on the camera instead of capturing from tape (m2t files). I’m experimenting with Cineform (Neo) for capture. It’s not working for me yet -keeps glitching in numerous ways. Have you used Neo?