DVD Movies Pixellated

[sdculp]

I would like to convert my VHS tapes to DVD using the latest revision of Nero 6. I get the tapes captured into my hard drive OK using an ATI AIW Radeon card. The files play back on the computer OK. However, when I burn them to DVD and then play them back either on the computer or the TV the picture is pixellated (meaning that is composed of tiny rectangles--I think this is called "artifacting") and skips occasionally. Something is not right with the burning process.

My OS is Windows ME. The computer is an 800mhz Pentium with 256 meg of RAM. The DVD burner is a Plextor PX-712A.

Can you suggest a cause and fix?

Thank you.

Stuart Culp

[mats.hogberg]

What format are they in after capturing? AVI?
In that case, take a look at AVI to DVD conversion guides found left. Nero is not your best option. There are many steps between "I have an AVI" and "I have a DVD Video". Nero is good at the last. (Writing your finished DVd image to disc)

/Mats

[guns1inger]

What size are they (run time versus file size). Artifacts are often a sign of over compression as well as a poor compressor (Nero)

[northcat_8]

Not to over abuse this bandwagon...but what kind of media are you using?
Burn speed?

I'm personally not a fan of Nero. I would suggest trying a different program to convert the AVI to MPEG4, then using a different authoring app.

To trouble shoot, play the DVD from your hard drive before you burn it. Make it an ISO file, then use Daemon tools to play it from your HD and see if it's pixelated then. If it is, then it's in your encoding, if not then I would check the media.

You can also set your file properties to have WinDVD to play a VOB file directly, so you wouldn't have to download Daemon Tools.

[bhutchins]

From VHS I capture using a Canopus ADVC-100 into dvi (avi) format, then convert to 1/2D (Low rez MPG2) using TMPGenc and applying filters per https://www.videohelp.com/dazzlecapture.htm the disks look better than the tape! I tried fulll rez MPG2, but when playing on a standalone the picture was bad. It's better to let the player upconvert

[Capmaster]

I believe the Radeon AIW cards capture in MPEG2. Is this not correct?

So, his problem seems to be too low a bitrate setting for the VHS capture.

Try full D1 DVD (720x480), VBR, 5000 kbps avg and 9800 peak

[mats.hogberg]

I do my "bulk" TV captures @ 3.500 kbps, 1/2 D1 ("time shifting") and IMHO VHS is a worse source than broadcast - might require a higher bit rate just because of that tho...

/Mats

[sdculp]

I’ve been following the instructions in the “Capture Guide->Capturing MPEG with an ATI Card”. I use Verbatim media, which has served me well in the past with CD’s. The media is capable of 4x and I’ve tried it with both 4x and 2x with no difference in results.

The video seems to capture OK, because when I view the file with ATI file player it looks fine. The CPU is a little on the weak side, and I can see how that would affect capture and possibly the dropped frames, but don’t understand how that could affect the burn. Maybe??


Capture parameters are (copied from the Capture Guide):
Type: MPEG-2
Video: 352x480, NTSC (525) 3.45 M Bit/Second
Audio: 48.000 KHz, 16Bit, Stereo
Encode Interlaced
2 P Frames in Group
2 B Frames in Group
Closed Group of Pictures
Variable Bit Rate, 3.54 M Bit/Second Max, 3.44 Mb/Second Target
96 Motion Estimation Quality
256 K Bit/Second Audio Encoding
No Video Soap
4.3 GB Max File Size

3% to 8% of frames dropped while recording.

Pentium III, 850 mhz system with Windows ME.

Stu

[mats.hogberg]

I bet Nero considers your mpeg not DVD compatible, and reencodes.
Try authoring your mpeg with TMPGenc DVD Author or any other "real" authoring app.
You should also set your max bitrate higher - you're not leaving enogh room for VBR to really make any difference, like at least 6000 kbps max (target should be fine).

/Mats