Video Quality Loss after building DVD in Encore 2.0

[StRaven]

I have recently made a DVD for a friend's band using Encore DVD 2.0

After reviewing the DVD the video quality was DRAMATICALLY lowered. Can someone help me out with this? I know that there may be some quality loss in transcoding, but I'd like to make it look as best as possible. Are there certain features I should be looking at in the build options? Thanks for your time
-Cody

[edDV]

Details please.

Source format (include size, bitrates)
Encoder settings (include size, bitrates)

[StRaven]

Source format is avi file about 22 gigs in size and 1 1/2 hours long.

Not sure how to find the bitrates or Encoder settings, but I'm sure the encoder is set to Mpeg layer 2 or something like that.

[edDV]

Sounds like DV format (camcorder) right? 22 GB = ~100 min

Encode to 720x480/29.97 MPeg2 5800Kb/s VBR 224Kb/s audio
Put exact time in here if if won't fit.
https://www.videohelp.com/calc

It will probably look fairly crappy if you didn't use a tripod. If you don't like the quality use a dual layer disc or two single layer DVDs and encode with these settings

720x480/29.97 MPeg2 9570Kb/s CBR 224Kb/s audio for 60 min per side.

[StRaven]

I used my JVC GR-HD1U for shooting. The video was then transfered to a DVD and the qualiity was great. I did use a tripod, because well that's just common sense. The video file was then converted to mpeg via WinAVI Video converter so I could use it for editing in Premiere Pro 2.0 Then I exported it as an .avi to use in Encore 2.0 The footage still looks just as clear inside Encore, but when I build the DVD it has quality loss to it and get's pixelated. I will try your method, but if you think of anything else, please let me know. Thanks again

[edDV]

I used my JVC GR-HD1U for shooting. The video was then transfered to a DVD and the qualiity was great. I did use a tripod, because well that's just common sense. The video file was then converted to mpeg via WinAVI Video converter so I could use it for editing in Premiere Pro 2.0 Then I exported it as an .avi to use in Encore 2.0 The footage still looks just as clear inside Encore, but when I build the DVD it has quality loss to it and get's pixelated. I will try your method, but if you think of anything else, please let me know. Thanks again

It would be better to encode in Premiere Pro.
Export to the "Adobe MPeg Encoder" and use the settings above. Then take the finished MPeg2 file to Encore. Play it first to evaluate quality.

I'd recommend the higher bitrate and the dual layer DVD-9 blank for 101 minutes.

[StRaven]

Ed,
First I'd like to personally thank you for your time and help. I have started encoding in Premiere Pro via your instructions. It's taking quite a long time, but I'm assuming this is normal? Anyways, thanks again
-Cody

[edDV]

If the source is 480i DV format, a 3.2 GHz processor should encode 1 hour DV to Mpeg2 at a bit less than 1 hour per pass (e.g. 2pass VBR ~ 2hours). The more you compress, the longer it takes.

You said you started with a JVC GR-HD1U. If that was shooting in a 1280x720p HD mode, the downsize will extend encode times considerably*. It will be far worse if you are upscaling in the camera to 1080i and downscaling from there.

Since you supplied little info on shooting format, Premiere project format or encoder settings, I'm just guessing what you are doing.


* this assumes you are in 1280x720p Premiere Pro project mode and going for a progressive 720x480p/23.976 DVD. 720p contains 2.67x the numebr of pixels vs 480p so as a first estimate it will take >2.67x the time to downsize and encode from a 720p source.

[pijetro]

Simply put, your Encore settings are probably not set correct..
There's many options to choose from..
Although EdDV's advice is correct, just to answer your original question, Encore should do a sufficient job of encoding..The older versions of Encore used a reliable encoding engine in the past (Sonic)...