dvd editing leads to unacceptable results

[jamesgig]

I am using premiere cs3.

the football team provides me with a dvd of the game and wants me to separate the plays into three categories: offense, defense, and special teams. I have been following this (http://www.wrigleyvideo.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=22869) guide to import the .vob files into premiere, then i split them apart and put the plays in separate project files. However, when I export the files and burn them to dvd (nero), the quality is significantly reduced (not nearly as sharp almost blurry, colors are washed out, movement is very jerky). I thought Nero may be the culprit, but the avi files coming out of premiere seem to be reduced as well. Firstly, is it possible to take video captured on dvd, edit it, and reburn it to a dvd without losing quality? This seems like it may be the case based on some of my, quite possibly misguided, understanding.

What I am doing, please correct me if I say anything that is incorrect:
If I extract the footage with that method it is lossless as the resulting .avs file is just reading the .vob file, so the file being manipulated in premiere is the original .vob file from the dvd?

Then when I go to extract the footage, I choose "microsoft dv avi", compressor "DV NTSC", pixel aspect ratio "D1/DV NTSC(.9)", check recompress. Under Keyframe, bitrate is "use project setting", optimize stills is checked.

any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

[jagabo]

Firstly, is it possible to take video captured on dvd, edit it, and reburn it to a dvd without losing quality?

Yes. Look into something like Womble MPEG Video Wizard DVD. It allows lossless cut/paste editing of MPEG files.

If I extract the footage with that method it is lossless as the resulting .avs file is just reading the .vob file, so the file being manipulated in premiere is the original .vob file from the dvd?

I didn't look at the video so I don't know what was in the AVS script, but reading your VOB (or MPG) file via AviSynth can get you the correct levels, colors, and all the detail in the source.

Then when I go to extract the footage, I choose "microsoft dv avi", compressor "DV NTSC", pixel aspect ratio "D1/DV NTSC(.9)", check recompress. Under Keyframe, bitrate is "use project setting", optimize stills is checked.

I don't think you want to use "optimize stills". My guess is that is a deinterlace function and will blur your video.

[edDV]

Another way to look at it:

If they wanted quality, they wouldn't have given you a DVD VOB. They would have offered camera original source on a hard disk. If these jokers are shooting to DVDR camcorders then they deserve a low quality edit.

Jagabo is right if DVD VOB is all they have. Then splice the compressed file.

[minidv2dvd]

don't post questions to more then one forum.

[jamesgig]

Sorry about the double post, didn't notice that.

What is the best way to edit and reauthor a dvd? I dont want to spend much since this is such a limited project, so any freeware options or free trial periods would be ideal. If I export the video out of premiere to encore, would I be able to get away with less loss?

Thanks

[usually_quiet]

They are not professional tools like Premiere, but TDA, Womble MPEG Video Wizard, and VideoReDo TV Suite all offer free trials, and I think all can import and edit VOB's as well as author DVD's with a reasonably efficient work flow, and without affecting video quality.

[lordsmurf]

You can do what you want with Premiere CS3. It accepts MPEG natively, although it does re-encode on output. Your problem lies not in the software, but in the settings you're choosing (or letting the software choose on its own). Even with a re-encode, it should look as good as the source, if settings are correct.

Freeware? I guess so.
- DVD Decrypter to rip the DVD in IFO mode as VOBs (do NOT copy VOBs off the disc, there is more stuff in a VOB file than just the audio+video streams).
- Edit those clips with MPEG Streamclip.
- Authoring, not sure what to tell you for freeware.

I'd personally do this whole project with Womble MPEG Video Wizard, then author a simple DVD in TDA. Burn with ImgBurn.

Nero is crap and should not be used for anything at all.

[tichami]

wow, i agree with