Hi8 -> Vegas 7.0 -> DVD (PAL)

wasted wrote on 3/22/2007, 2:39 PM
I'm getting poor results from rendering my Hi8 footage through Vegas and DVD Architect.
To see where the problem was being introduced, I used some HD content I'd downloaded from the web as source material. I used the Vegas pre-sets for PAL DVD Architect and created the DVD. Quality was fine.
Then I tried to use the Hi8 captured source directly in DVD Architect, so removing Vegas from the mix completely. Resulting quality was again fine.
So, I'm doing something wrong in Vegas. I must have the wrong settings, so the rendering process is messing up.
So, what settings am I using ?
Capture
For capture I used the 720*576 (the highest PAL SD setting) with my svideo ATI capture card, using the sony Video Capture 6.0 and YUV codec in uncompressed. Should I use the 400 lines capture, as Hi8 has only 400 lines resolution ?
Vegas Render Setting
I used the Mainconcept MPEG-2 PAL DVD setting and DVD Architect PAL Video Stream for video, and the AC3 one for audio. I also tried the MPEG-2 PAL DVD setting, which includes the audio, but got the same results.
DVD Architect
I used the PAL DVD settings.

Any pointers much appreciated. I've read through the documentation, and also looked to see if there is a book available to help me - there are lots for Premiere, but none for Vegas !

Comments

wasted wrote on 3/23/2007, 11:52 AM
Is this the wrong kind of question for this forum ?
TLF wrote on 3/23/2007, 2:02 PM
First, what does the poor result look like?

Second, to what format are you capturing?

I have had problem in the past when capturing VHS material to MPEG2. For me, the problem lay with the interlacing, and the only solution was to render to progressive from Vegas.

Worley
wasted wrote on 3/23/2007, 2:24 PM
Thanks for the suggestions. Here is a screen of what it looks like http://www.videoforums.co.uk/attachments/sony-vegas-media-studio/114d1174295215-hi8-vegas-7-0-dvd-pal-image4.jpg
and this rendering was to progressive.

Does it look right to you ?

For the capture, I used the 720*576 (the highest PAL SD setting) with my svideo ATI capture card, using the sony Video Capture 6.0 and YUV codec in uncompressed. Is this a mpeg format ?
jaydeeee wrote on 3/23/2007, 2:42 PM
So, you should help others so they can better (and easily) help you. Posting a link to a forum one must join in order to simply few the pics probably isn't the wisest move.

Post the vids on your personal site if possible, or join photobucket or the like for images and any one of the video sharing sites (youtube, etc.).

farss wrote on 3/23/2007, 2:45 PM
Tried to look at that still but I need to sign up to get to it, not good.
In anycase one frame doesn't tell anyone much. Suggest you capture a few seconds and post the file on either Rapidshare or YouSendIt. If it's under 5MBytes you could even email it to me, address is in my details.

Apart from that the ATI capture is far from recommended.
Simplest way to capture Video 8 or Hi8 is in a Digital8 VCR or camera. Failing that feed the existing VCR / camera into Canopus ADVC100 or better yet ADVC 300 which has time base correction.

I've transferred many hours of Video 8, Hi8, D8 and VHS, it should look as good on DVD as it does on the original if not better if done correctly.

There should be no need to de-interlace. All those formats are interlaced and should be handled as such. Simple mistakes though like getting the field order mixed up will play havoc with you.

Bob.
jaydeeee wrote on 3/23/2007, 3:02 PM
>>>Apart from that the ATI capture is far from recommended.
Simplest way to capture Video 8 or Hi8 is in a Digital8 VCR or camera. Failing that feed the existing VCR / camera into Canopus ADVC100 or better yet ADVC 300 which has time base correction.<<<


Yes, what he said. Do you have a/v sync issues as well?
If you have Hi-8 to work with (or VCRs, etc) a simple ADVC 100 ( 300) is a better choice for capture. I got an old ADVC-50 (advc-55 now) that does the job just fine, and the 100 isn't that much more.
wasted wrote on 3/25/2007, 12:58 PM
I am so sorry that I posted a link that could not be accessed - my bad. I am new to video editing using Vegas, and had never needed online support. Pinnacle Studio 9 does not have any settings to speak of, but the default settings it used produced better results than I am getting with Vegas, so I know I am doing something wrong.
wasted wrote on 3/25/2007, 1:01 PM
Thanks so much for your helpful comments - sorry for delay, I've been ill and just got through kids birthday party today !

farss - sounds like you've cured the problems that dog me !
What are your settings (for capture, project and rendering) ? Would it help if I took a series of screen shots of the settings I'm using so you can see where I am going wrong ?
I will create a small section of the movie and upload to the fileshare location you mention. Here it is !
http://rapidshare.com/files/22756558/problem1.mpg
wasted wrote on 3/25/2007, 2:01 PM
Sorted ! Thanks to all for help (esp farss who mentioned 'field order')
I found that the camcorder footage was upper field first, but the defaults I was using for project and render settings were bottom field first. Setting these all to upper first solved the problem.
Can you advise me if this is 'correct' ? Being a newbie, I find it puzzling that when using default settings I run into trouble. I'd also like to check that the field order is correct for DVD compatibility and quality.