DV video quality

Steve,
Can you clairfiey your comment below.

"And, I'm not sure HOW a discussion of HD is going on in a thread on "DV Quality." DV is totally separate from HD. If you do DV correctly, you can use any FX. "

From reading your book, I thought you wrote that only limited FX could be used.

What version of iMovie are you referring to?

Boy am I getting"KUNFUSED

Chuck

Steve can clarify, but i can try. I'm pretty sure that once you use streamclip for the DV material, you can use any effect without worrying. Now the issue is HD content when imported on Full. If you input on full, it supposedly keeps it in interlaced format. That supposedly can wreak havoc with any effect that scales.

this comment repasted below-- was really because this morning kbeat and I went off topic to talk about HD on a DV thread and caused confusion. Sorry.

"And, I'm not sure HOW a discussion of HD is going on in a thread on "DV Quality." DV is totally separate from HD. If you do DV correctly, you can use any FX. "

The part I'm Kunfused about is:

"If you do DV correctly, you can use any FX."

I think I read somewhere that you can't do PIC, themes, stabilation, and other trick effects.

His book is good .. but.. there are so many variables to consider. I'm not sure what to do ;-(

Chuck

That is true but only for HD. Take a look at the book again. All those references are only in the HD segment.

That's correct. I assume if you have a DV camera you'll read the chapter on DV (#2) and skip all other Chapters except the 50 Tips Chapter (#4). DV being a legacy format, it get's its own Chapter.

Likewise, if you don't have a DV camcorder, you'll skip Chapter 2 and read Chapter 3 and the remaing Chapters. There are far more Chapters on HD because I assume more people are now shooting HD.

If you have both --you need apply what's in Chapter 2 when you are working with DV and Chapter 3 and when working with HD.

--------------------

The key is the Decision Chart. As long as you know what you are shooting and what you want to do -- the Chart tells you what you can and can't do.

If I play my old DV tapes, I can use 8.0.1 and use any FX.

For example, if I shoot progressive HD. I can use 8.0.1 and use any FX.

If I shot 1080i HDV -- I know I will only use Dissolves and Fades because I would never use one of the "cheezy" wipes or 3D FX. So, I can use 8.0.1.

The ONLY difficult choice comes IF, for example, I want an animated map. Now, I must make a choice based upon what I want to export.

1) If I'm going to the internet -- then I can use 8.0.1 and use Maps. I can save disk space by using the LARGE option. But, nothing is hurt by using the FULL option.

HOWEVER, if I'm one of the very few people who burn Blu-ray or use the WDMP -- then I must use version 8.0.0. (Or, give-up my desire to use a Map.)

PERHAPS THIS LAST POINT IS THE REAL-KEY. IF YOU DON'T NEED 1080-LINE MOVIES, YOU HAVE NO LIMITATIONS AT ALL.

Thanks, this makes it clearer 🙂
Last question ... you refer to 8.0.1 for DV then anything goes .. right??
But does this also include 8.0.2 ??

Chuck

Correct -- 8.0.2 is only a bug fix to 8.0.1.

Sheryl,

That is not the point. The point is that I don't want to spend whatever amount of money to look just for a specific solution which is the loss of quality from DV imports, which is the topic of this discussion. I think Steve is doing a disservice by not answering the question and instead promoting his book. Isn't that a breach of the terms of use, anyway? I thought advertising was forbidden.

Anyway, I'll keep searching for the solution elsewhere.

I understand. The answer by the way is in the thread. You need to download and use mpef streamclip and convert the dv files.

ie sergre

In general there is alternative:
1st - to use guideline by Steven with iM09 and Mpeg Streamclip
2nd - to use my workflow with im09 and FCE
Both of them described in this topic.

I prefer mine, as I can fine tune exported video with tools of FCE in the same time having simplicity of im09 with story telling.

I agree javageek!

Common, the answer is in the topic, just look through and give yourself a bit to play with the guideline to get result you want. If you want it for 100% free you have to do some homework work by yourself. 🙂

Steven spent a lot of time with investigation how to make it working. I've done the same to get result iI like.

All key points described and you need just to follow them and see if it what you expect.

Message was edited by: Serhij

I add my voice for this guideline as well 🙂

Concerning KenBurns, there is workaround, all you have to do to set up motion and zoom factor and map them to key frames. Than you can reuse it for all photos you want. You can even create different motions and add them as easy as copy-paste.

Of course there is not so easy as in IM but it works and works superb!
Here is the example. This movie were done by request of mine wife using IM, FCE and the process described early in this topic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYCUeAQftNg

Much better picture motions you can get in Final Cut Studio in "Motion". The motion there looks more smooth and there a bit more settings you may want to play with.

why do you need the guideline....you seem to know how what your doing already:) sorry i spelled your name wrong before. I'm gonna look at the youtube clip.

This guideline will not be for me, I want it to be shared with others. 🙂

P.S.
Don't worry for the name. I know how it difficult to spell it for foreigners 🙂

Message was edited by: Serhij

I have read this thread several times - wow. I am amazed Apple wouldn't consider this a PROBLEM. I've submitted a bug per someone's suggestion and can only hope for the proper change.

First I tried calling support thinking they might fess up and give me more options for workarounds because all I want is to dump a tape to DVD without losing the quality. Apparently I am asking too much to want to make a menu in IDVD (OK it's just because I think the themes are cute). I need nothing else.

I have Final Cut Pro - have been editing for years but because this is a simple task and old tapes with timecode issues, the iMovie capture process works better.

The support guy told me that I need to use dual layer discs because my video was too long to maintain the quality. "Sorry dude - you don't know what you're talking about - I'm looking at a youtube-quality video and I've done way too many of these to know that is not the case."

So I am using the solution proposed by Serhij since I do have FCP. The one thing that I confuses me it the time it takes to output to the file I bring into iDVD. I have a sequence with the DV file, I export to Quicktime movie and choose DC NTSC. I deselect "recompress all frames" as well as "make movie self contained". I do have a few chapter markers. With this setting I would have thought the time to create the file would be less than a minute. It takes about 20 minutes. It's not hardware - I have a rockin new iMac. Am I missing something? What's it doing if I'm maintaining the original files?

For those who have the money to buy Steve's book it sure looks great. I had invested so many hours already in reading these posts I figure I don't need the book (quite yet) but next time I have such an issue I'm buying it first just to support him in his efforts - many are not so diligent and then cordial to share. Thank you!