Movie's video QUALITY from camcorder to VCD

[j4mes_bond25]

After trying my best & working on around 4-5 blank CDs so far, I think its time I should readers here try to answer my query.

I've been using Windows Movie Maker to upload the movie clip, I recorded, from my Sony DCR-TRV340 Digital 8 camcorder.

After capturing the movie from camcorder using Firewire connection, I add some available video transition, background sound, additional images, etc., I make the movie using "Save Movie File" option.

I then check the movie, which seems perfect at that stage, however, after i burn it using Nero on a VCD, I play it on my DVD player, I can't get the same high quality as I get when seeing it on camcorder screen or by connecting camcorder to TV. I can see video with slower motion, perhaps, to do with framerate. However, when saving the movie, I just save it as "High Quality PAL" & it says variable frame rate.

Everything works perfect i.e. can see the FINAL movie on the computer, but as soon as I burn the CD & play it on my DVD player, I don't get the quality as we get after recording any movie from Camcorder to normal Video tape. Audio quality seems quite OK but its video quality that really seems to be the problem here.

Can anyone help ???

[yoda313]

Hello,

VCD is always lower than dvd (except xvcd which aren't standard). You can't expect dvd quality from normal vcds.

You have to get a dvd burner to utilize the full quality of your digital camcorder. Otherwise you're no better off then using video tape as you've noticed. Sorry.

Kevin

[mats.hogberg]

That's VCD for ya... It's very limited in resolution, and is highly compressed. To add insult to injury, Nero is one of the woorst tools you can use for creating VCD quality and compatibilitywise.
I suggest you save the output from WMM at the highest possible quality available, in a format a dedicated mpeg encoder (TMPGEnc) can handle. Then use this encoder to encode to VCD mpeg, author with VCDEasy (or use Nero if Nero VCD plays on your system but in that case make sure Nero doesn't reencode your mpeg (as it frequently does even with perfectly fine source material without ever telling you)).
Extremely good VCD quality is close to average quality VHS - that's the best you can hope for. SVCD is closer to DVD than VHS and might be an alternative.

/Mats

[yoda313]

Hello,

SVCD is closer to DVD than VHS and might be an alternative.

Yes but make sure the destination dvd player is capable of playing svcd. Not all standalone dvdplayers can.

Kevin

[bugster]

I make the movie using "Save Movie File" option.

However, when saving the movie, I just save it as "High Quality PAL" & it says variable frame rate.

Save it in the same format that you captured it in, PAL DV. Anything else is going to re-encode/compress and cause some quality loss at that stage. Then do what Mats suggested.

[mats.hogberg]

Wont

add some available video transition, background sound, additional images, etc

make WMM reencode it no matter what output format is choosen, or is it intelligent enough to just reencode the parts that needs reencoding?

/Mats