Captured AVI looks worse than video played directly from tape

[Ad_astra]

Hi, assuming that what I've transferred from my camera to the computer using WinDV via Firewire is identical to what's on tape, I'm puzzled by what I'm seeing displayed on the same TV from the two sources. In addition to interlacing issues (small horizontal lines when objects move), the computer copy has less brightness, less contrast and less color saturation. Hooking up the camcorder to the same hi-def TV with an analog S-video cable, I'm of course seeing similar grain, but overall the picture looks much better, especially when footage includes contrasty sunlit subjects.

Does the camera use some kind of "boost" when playing directly from it?
If AVI is a kind of RAW, is there a "proper" way to view it or convert it to get its full potential?

Thanks!

[lollo]

Hi, assuming that what I've transferred from my camera to the computer using WinDV via Firewire is identical to what's on tape

Yes.

I'm puzzled by what I'm seeing displayed on the same TV from the two sources. In addition to interlacing issues (small horizontal lines when objects move), the computer copy has less brightness, less contrast and less color saturation.

So you are comparing camcorder player + TV display versus computer player + monitor display. Everything can happen. What is sure is that the source is the same; the hardware/settings/parameters/device quality may be different.

You can try some post-processing on your captured avi for display on your monitor or your TV, improving the watching experience.

[Ad_astra]

Just to clarify: it's the same TV connected to the camera and to the computer.

[Bernix]

But isnt s-video analog converted by camera? How do you have connected digital? HDMI?

[lollo]

Just to clarify: it's the same TV connected to the camera and to the computer.

Then you are comparing camcorder player + TV display versus computer player + TV display

[rgr]

Hi, assuming that what I've transferred from my camera to the computer using WinDV via Firewire is identical to what's on tape, I'm puzzled by what I'm seeing displayed on the same TV from the two sources. In addition to interlacing issues (small horizontal lines when objects move), the computer copy has less brightness, less contrast and less color saturation. Hooking up the camcorder to the same hi-def TV with an analog S-video cable, I'm of course seeing similar grain, but overall the picture looks much better, especially when footage includes contrasty sunlit subjects.

Does the camera use some kind of "boost" when playing directly from it?
If AVI is a kind of RAW, is there a "proper" way to view it or convert it to get its full potential?

Thanks!

Your TV will probably display video in the range of 16-235, so the image will be more contrasting. As a bonus, it cuts out some of the bright colors and the sky may be a bright surface without clouds. On the other hand, on a PC it can use crappy Windows Media Player, which displays video in the range of 0-255. Then the black will be gray and the contrast will be lower.

[salini]

I was wondering if there's a good tool or way to fix the brightness and contrast in AVI files to make them look more like what the camcorder shows on the TV? Would video editing software help with this?

[Bernix]

Try the VLC player. It seems to display the avi from the camera correctly. Black is black. You can also try setting yadif 2x in the deinterlace method to get a much smoother picture.

[rgr]

I was wondering if there's a good tool or way to fix the brightness and contrast in AVI files to make them look more like what the camcorder shows on the TV? Would video editing software help with this?

There are plenty of threads here about compressing these files to MP4, especially deinterlace. Raw files don't display well. You can use MPC-BE as a player. But they will display completely correctly only after proper processing.

[jagabo]

I was wondering if there's a good tool or way to fix the brightness and contrast in AVI files to make them look more like what the camcorder shows on the TV?

Crank up the contrast and saturation in your player software. That's what the TV does to the composite/s-video inputs (but no the HDMI inputs). And be sure to use a player that deinterlaces automatically.

[Santiago]

Shutter Encoder can Deinterlace videos. It is a free program.

[Alwyn]

In addition to interlacing issues (small horizontal lines when objects move), the computer copy has less brightness, less contrast and less color saturation.

DV should look the same. I'd suggest calibrating your monitor. Have a look at the Microsoft calibrating process for Win 11.

You don't want to be continually fiddling with player settings.

Re deinterlacing, VDub will do it and make the motion in your DV files much smoother because it doubles the frame rate. Read my top to tail guide for VDub here. If you still have trouble with brightness and contrast (and colour) the Colormill plugin for VDub is fantastic.

If you're tech-minded and up for a challenge, AVISynth's QTGMC filter is one of the best deinterlacers out there. No guide yet, but it's coming.

[Sharc]

@Ad-astra: As you are in US you might have an issue with the IRE pedestal setup (Camera settings, playback scenario).
Here an article describing what it is and what can go wrong. The principle applies generally, not only for Final Cut Pro.
It may be confusing, but your issue should be solved by adjusting your PC player (brightness, contrast, saturation) an/or your TV. Also, your player or TV has built-in deinterlacers which will deinterlace the video on the fly. They may not be of the highest quality but normally they perform quite reasonable.
I am pretty sure there is no need to butcher your DV (transferred with WinDV) with any tools.
http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/video_levels_nattress.html

[salini]

Try the VLC player. It seems to display the avi from the camera correctly. Black is black. You can also try setting yadif 2x in the deinterlace method to get a much smoother picture.

Thankyou for your information.