I've been hunting down this problem for sometime now and upon searching around Google I find the problem occurs a lot of the time but I’ve yet to find a solid solution (I must be blind).

My problem is, I’m using source footage from a DV camera and combining it with some footage which has been pre-produced on DVD. I’m not ripping the DVD, so I hope this isn’t conflicting with this section rules – I didn’t know where else to post.

Basically, I’m using VirtualDub-MPEG2 and converting the .vob files into .avi files which I import into Adobe Premiere to work with. I’m not recompressing the footage but simply using what I can only class as frame to frame conversion which hopefully doesn’t alter the quality in anyway. On the computer, when I preview my work and go as far as authoring the DVD and playing it back, it plays perfectly with no problems whatsoever. Now, if I place it into my hardware DVD player, and this occurs across many brands, the DV camera footage plays back perfectly but when the DVD converted footage kicks in I start getting what I can only class as “jerky motion footage” which is most evident when big panning movements occur. When the camera is still and there is no movement the picture looks fine.

After doing some research and reading I’ve kinda got the gist that it’s an interlacing/field order problem. Great! But how can I analyse this and find what exactly IS the problem. Due to the nature of this problem only showing itself when playing on a hardware player means that I have burn lots of dummy coasters, until I eventually find a magic tick box or number or something that solves my problem.

I have gathered that the problem is in the conversion from .vob to .avi and that an option in VirtualDub needs to be set in order to get the footage compatible with DV footage. Apparently, DV footage field is “top first” which is different to most other formats. I know where the problem lies I just lack the knowledge and tools as to what to do to solve this incredibly frustrating problem.

There’s nothing worse than slaving hours on a piece of footage only to play it back and see it’s jerky and ruined.

Please note, a lot of suggestions from people go along the lines of “some software adds in extra content which causes this problem”. I initially thought this was the solution but I often see different software being used and the same problem occurring and considering that half the footage works and only the DVD source material is the problem I seriously doubt that Adobe Premiere is causing any problems whatsoever.

I’m looking for some soft of analysing tool which I can use to deep analyse the footage and hopefully from there I can instantly spot the problem. I have “Gspot” already and that is of no help.

Anyone who has the key to the solution needs a deserved pat on the back.

Thanks for any help in advance,

Baz