EZDV card video quality problem ?

[birdy]

Hi, I am new to this and have the following query.

I am using Canopus EZDV card and EZEdit software to capture video footage from my Sony DV Camcorder TRV17E to AVI file. I realised that the video quality of the AVI file was not as sharp and clear as the original DV.

I have also tried to captured using VirtualDub and VideoWave III but both software does not recognized the EZDV card.

Also, I read from the spec that there is a 5:1 hardware compression performed by the card, so does that means that the poor quality is due to this compression ?

read somewhere also that this EZDV card is not OHCI compliant...

My system specs: AMD XP 1500+, 512MB Ram, ATA100 Maxtor HDD.

Is there anyway I can capture/transfer the raw DV file w/o compression using my existing EZDV card ?

Will getting a simple OHCI compliant IEEE1394 card allow me to capture from my videocam in its original quality ? my intention is to convert the DV using freeware like virtualdub into Mpeg1 and burn to VCD format.

I have read the "left side" and not much is mentioned about capturing using IEEE1394 card. The card list on EZDVeasy card is not helpful also.

Appreciate advice.

[jtor]

Hi, birdy. I'm also using EZDV card.

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I realised that the video quality of the AVI file was not as sharp and clear as the original DV.
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Can you elaborate a little more on this? What's your basis in saying that the AVI is not as sharp? The AVIs that I've created using this card is just awesome. And considering it's DV, there's really no tweaking involved, as it's nothing more than just transferring the video from your camcorder to the PC (thru this card).


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I have also tried to captured using VirtualDub and VideoWave III but both software does not recognized the EZDV card.
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Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do about this. You're basically stuck in using EZEDIT/EZVIDEO in transferring the video to your PC. There are Premiere plugins in the CD that came with the card, but in capturing in Premiere, she just calls the capture blocks/routines in EZVIDEO/EZEDIT also. What I've been doing is use EZEDIT/EZVIDEO to transfer the files, and then use another software (Premiere/MSP) to edit the video. This 'issue' also exists in the other direction, sending the video back to your camcorder. You can still use Premiere, but it'll do the same thing (call the EZ???? routines).


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Also, I read from the spec that there is a 5:1 hardware compression performed by the card, so does that means that the poor quality is due to this compression ?
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Sorry, but this card is not HW based. She uses the Canopus software DV Codec. I don't think this is your problem. My understanding, is that the Canopus DV codec is one of the best codecs out there.


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read somewhere also that this EZDV card is not OHCI compliant...
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Yes, you are correct. This card is 'DV-specific'.


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My system specs: AMD XP 1500+, 512MB Ram, ATA100 Maxtor HDD.
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I've tried this card on 2 setups:

Celeron 500MHz
192MB RAM
10GB System/30GB Video
ATI Rage Pro 4MB (builtin on the motherboard)
W2K

P4 1.7GHz
512MB RAM
30GB System/80GB Video
nVidia 64MB MX video card
WinXP (not supported YET, but W2K drivers work for me)

Never had any issue on both setups. I've never had an Athlon system, so I can't say anything on that.


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Is there anyway I can capture/transfer the raw DV file w/o compression using my existing EZDV card ?
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No. The video is already compressed (by your camcorder) when it was written to tape. What happens is, your firewire card will transfer this compressed video, and uses a DV codec (in this case, the Canopus DV codec) to decompress, for viewing, and whatever.


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Will getting a simple OHCI compliant IEEE1394 card allow me to capture from my videocam in its original quality ? my intention is to convert the DV using freeware like virtualdub into Mpeg1 and burn to VCD format.
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My goal is also to make VCDs (and later DVDs) from my DV footages, so it looks like we have pretty much the same objective. The only benefit you'll get in acquiring OHCI card, would be in using other firewire devices (HD, burner, etc). Like I said, EZDV is a DV dedicated card, so you cannot use any firewire device on it, except D8/dv camcorders. The VCDs I've created from the AVIs I transferred were great, and I used the standard VCD templates (no tweaking whatsoever).


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I have read the "left side" and not much is mentioned about capturing using IEEE1394 card. The card list on EZDVeasy card is not helpful also.
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That's because, there's really nothing to it. Everything has been set, all you need to do is transfer the video. The reason why there isn't much about EZDV is because, it's a little expensive, compared to other entry-level DV cards (Pyro, Studio DV, Dazzle DV, etc).


I would suggest you try the Canopus Forum.
http://64.71.133.74/bforum/bforum.mv
You might get some more answers there. Did you purchase this direct? Try getting a replacement card, and see what happens.

hope this helps.

[jtor]

...forgot to add:

- there's also an FAQ in the canopus site:
http://www.canopuscorp.com/faqs/faq-ezdv.php3
you might want to check this out also.

In addition to that, you might want to look into 'overclocking' and PCI Latency Timer whatever. Canopus strongly rejects overclocked boards, and PCI Latency Timer should be set at 64 at least.

hope this helps.

[birdy]

Hi jtor, thanks for sharing your experience.

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Can you elaborate a little more on this? What's your basis in saying that the AVI is not as sharp? The AVIs that I've created using this card is just awesome. And considering it's DV, there's really no tweaking involved, as it's nothing more than just transferring the video from your camcorder to the PC (thru this card).
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I seem to be able to see some artefact in the AVI when view on PC which I don't remember seeing it when i play it through my DV onto TV. Could it be my monitor resolution ? i am viewing it at 1024x768 fullscreen using MS Media Player.
I have not try burning a VCD and view it on TV...think I will try this out.

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Sorry, but this card is not HW based. She uses the Canopus software DV Codec. I don't think this is your problem. My understanding, is that the Canopus DV codec is one of the best codecs out there.
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Yup, read the spec again and it did not specifically says it is hardware, just my presumption. So when does this 5:1 compression kick in ? during capturing or when converting to mpeg1 and mpeg2 ? The AVI file captured by the card has a size of about 2 Gig for 9min footage.

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My full system spec:
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AMD XP 1500+ @1.3GHz (non-overclocked)
512 MB DDR
40 Gig Maxtor ATA HDD
Abit Siluro 64MB Geforce2 MX 400

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My goal is also to make VCDs (and later DVDs) from my DV footages, so it looks like we have pretty much the same objective. The only benefit you'll get in acquiring OHCI card, would be in using other firewire devices (HD, burner, etc). Like I said, EZDV is a DV dedicated card, so you cannot use any firewire device on it, except D8/dv camcorders. The VCDs I've created from the AVIs I transferred were great, and I used the standard VCD templates (no tweaking whatsoever).
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birds of the same feathers ...
My initial intention in getting OHCI card is to test out the capturing quality as I thought the hardware compression is there. I will now try burning a VCD to view to confirm the quality of my capturing card before gettting the card.

Btw, will installing the latest SoftMpeg codec improve on image quality ?

Have you tried out the latest EZDV software upgrade ?

I bought my card at a promotional price with my Sony DVCam.
So I don't think they will entertain any return card. The package don't come with SoftXplode and DVDlit though, only EZEdit, EZVideo and EZNav included.

Thanks again for sharing, jtor.

[jtor]

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I seem to be able to see some artefact in the AVI when view on PC which I don't remember seeing it when i play it through my DV onto TV.
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Try playing the avi in EZEDIT, with your camcorder connected to the firewire port. Check the display in your camcorder, and see if you get artifacts. If not, it's just your PC, so nothing to worry about.


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I will now try burning a VCD to view to confirm the quality of my capturing card before gettting the card.
Btw, will installing the latest SoftMpeg codec improve on image quality ?
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only tried it once, setting MPEG1 to VCD standard, didn't like it. I thought TMPGENC is still better. I might play with it, when I get the chance. Go ahead and try burning a clip, and see for yourself.


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Have you tried out the latest EZDV software upgrade ?
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Got it (1.12a) downloaded, but haven't installed it. Still need to find the time to do it.

Try contacting support of Canopus, and see if they can do something on the 'lacking' software in the package. SoftXplode is nice, but I think they changed the bundle to Xplode Basic.

I think we're the only users of EZDV here. Hope to find some more.

[birdy]

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Try playing the avi in EZEDIT, with your camcorder connected to the firewire port. Check the display in your camcorder, and see if you get artifacts. If not, it's just your PC, so nothing to worry about.
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will try this.

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only tried it once, setting MPEG1 to VCD standard, didn't like it. I thought TMPGENC is still better. I might play with it, when I get the chance. Go ahead and try burning a clip, and see for yourself.
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Do you mean using TMPGENC to convert the EZDV AVI file to VCD (MPEG1) format ? I intend to use Nero 5.0 to burn the VCD. Main objective of having VCD is to able to distribute to relatives who only have vcd player.

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Try contacting support of Canopus, and see if they can do something on the 'lacking' software in the package. SoftXplode is nice, but I think they changed the bundle to Xplode Basic.
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Doubt so, as it say in the package that each of the additional software will cost me additional $99 (US$55)

I will have to source for freeware I guess.

will let you know of result once I find the time to test it out.

[birdy]

Hi jtor,

I have tested using EZDV to captured and convert to VCD and burn to cdr. The quality is horrible. lots of artefact and pixelization. I went back to view the avi file capture by EZDV using EZEdit, the picture is sharp and good. But when viewing using MS MediaPlayer or WinDVD, artefact starts to appear. do you know what is the problem ?
Any advise how I can get good quality VCD from EZDV ?

[birdy]

I have tried to use virtualdub to convert, do not know how to save it has a mpeg1 file. It always save as avi.

Any advise ?

[jtor]

You said artifacts start to appear on Mediaplayer and WinDVD, were you playing the MPEGS or the AVI?

When I tested EZDV, I used a DV copy of a VHS tape (music video). I used the basic VCD template on TMPGENC to convert the AVI to MPEG, burned, and it looked great on my standalone DVD player.

You said the quality is horrible, was that on your PC or standalone DVD player? The MPEGs created from EZDV AVIs didn't look 'quite' good when played on my PC (but then, I was viewing at full screen), but looked a whole lot better on my standalone.

Another thing, you mentioned you intend to use Nero to encode, have you tried TMPGENC to convert your AVIs to MPEGs? Like I said, I used Nero's encoder once, and didn't like it.

I've never used virtualdub on my current setup, so I can't tell you anything.

Sorry if I wasn't much of help.