Help editing/burning basketball game film . . .

[lthames]

Hello! I've done some limited video editing using premier elements 8 to create short promo dvd's for church, etc.

But I am having a really hard time producing quality video of basketball game film and could use some direction on software, settings, etc. I'm willing to but a different software package if necessary!

The DVD I am trying to create is for recruiting film and will be sent to college coaches. I am receiving the game film from the coach on DVD's. Once I use Premier to download the media, I get VOB files with the video.

I am importing that into Premier Elements 8. The only 'editing' I am trying to do is add titles throughout the game film. The first is inserted at the beginning to identify the game, date, player. The rest are overlays of a graphic to 'point out' the player to watch.

I've been able to do all of the edits and create flash videos that are pretty good quality to view online. But no matter what I have tried to create a new DVD with the titles, produces less than full quality video when watched on my HD TV (as compared with watching the original DVD on the same TV). The biggest issue is that players sometimes look pixelated as they run down the court or they kind of 'glow' when standing still.

Any thoughts on what kind of problem is causing the 'glow' or 'pixelation'?

Also any general direction for creating the best output would also be really appreciated!

Thanks in advance!!!!!!

[aedipuss]

sounds like p.e. 8 re-encodes your vobs which are already dvd spec mpeg-2 again after the edits. you would benefit from an editor that smart re-encodes only the parts of the mpeg-2 that have been changed. vegas pro 9, or womble's mpeg video wizard are a couple that would work.

[poisondeathray]

Pixellation is usually caused by inadequate compression. What bitrate did you use ?

I don't know what you mean by "glow" can you post a screenshot or video sample ?

[lthames]

Here are the settings I could find. Please let me know where I might be able to find the bitrate

Editing Mode: DV NTSC
TimeBase: 29.97 frames/second
Video -
Frame Size: 720 x 480
Pixel Aspect Ratio: D1/DV NTSC (0.9091)
Fields: Lowe field first

Video Codec: DV NTSC
Quality: 100

I only get the 'glowing' when I watch it on the television, but you can see the difference in quality in the attached screen shots.

[poisondeathray]

Video Codec: DV NTSC

no , you can't be using dv for dvd . You need mpeg2.

you might be re-encoding it uncessarily (quality loss each time). It would be better to export mpeg2 for DVD, then author it.

I don't use elements, I use premiere pro, but how are you creating the dvd ? what bitrate ? The export bitrate is important

is the "original" screenshot taken in quicktime player as well (it's know to be a very poor player)

[lthames]

WOW. . . I changed to the preset mpeg2 1440 x 1080i 30 (bitrate settings are VBR, 1 Pass, Min 18, Target 25, Max 30). The video quality looks great!

Now, how is the best way to author / burn to dvd?

Thanks so much for all the help!!!!!!!

[aedipuss]

noooo...... dvd spec mpeg-2 can only be 720x480 if it's ntsc. try again.

[lthames]

doing that now . . . but then what is the best way to burn to the DVD?

[yoda313]

Use imgburn to burn the disc - freeware

[lthames]

frustration . . . I tried aedipuss suggestion and I get a .mpg file but I lost the quality. It's fuzzy now.

The settings are as follows:
codec MainConcept MPEG Video (can't change it)
Quality 5 (the highest setting)
TV standard NTSC
Frame wxh 720 x 480
Frame rate 29.97 drop frame
field order: lower
pixel aspect standard 4:3
bitrate enconding: vbr, 1 pass
min bitrate: 1.5
target bitrate: 6
max bitrate: 8


All of these but the quality were the preset defaults. What should I change the settings to for NO quality loss?

[aedipuss]

try increasing the minimum bitrate to 6 or change to cbr encoding at at least 6.

[lthames]

cbr encoding set at 6 didn't work. The most noteable issue is that players legs are fuzzy when they run.

However, I am viewing the mpg file on the computer to see if the quality is good. I am using windows media player.
I am not burning a dvd and watching each of these on the TV. . . . as I don't know how to do that yet I've tried PE8's burn to dvd and there aren't any settings to play with except quality which I've tried as high as it will go and still have the fuzzyness.

Any other thoughts?

[poisondeathray]

Use a higher bitrate , go to 8 average, 9 max

The higher the bitrate the higher the quality (less quality loss)

When re-encoding with a lossy format like mpeg2 you always lose quality (generation loss)

Also, if you use vbr encoding, use 2 pass instead of 1 .

[aedipuss]

try viewing with vlc. set the video deinterlacing mode to bob and see if it makes objects in motion any better.

[manono]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding something but you seem to be receiving DVDs. You seem to only want to add text to those DVDs. If so, why hardcode them into the video which means a complete reencode and quality degradation? Why not just create subtitles for this DVD and leave the video untouched? Here's Baldrick's guide to doing just that. There are 2 different methods he outlines:

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/277950-How-to-add-new-subtitles-to-an-existing-DVD

There are a number of programs for actually creating the subs.

https://www.videohelp.com/tools?toolsearch=&Submit=Search&convert=&s=24&orderby=Name&hits=50

Commonly used programs for this might include SubtitleCreator, Subtitle Workshop, Aegisub, and SubStation Alpha.