Problems with interlaced video

[aguinsburg]

Hi everyone. I´m having a problem authoring a DVD. After burning using TMPGEnc DVD Author it looks really bad, like if it were progressive. I encoded it using Adobe Premiere Pro to MPEG2 interlaced, upper first. I dont know what to do. Please help!

[guns1inger]

Playing on what ?

[mike909]

You need to tell people what your source footage is, and what your outputting it to (i.e. playing on what?)

[aguinsburg]

I´m sorry guys, poor info in my post. Anyway, I already solved the problem. I was encoding using interlaced upper first and it should be lower first. I really dont know what is this about, but encoding lower first make the video smooth on my regular TV.
Thank you and hope this helps someone.

[daamon]

I really dont know what is this about, but encoding lower first make the video smooth on my regular TV.

Is your source from a DV cam? I ask coz DV cam footage is (usually / always) lower field first.

[aguinsburg]

Yes, you are right. Source from DV camera, editing using Premiere, encoding using Premiere. Looks OK lower first, but really bad in upper first. It depends on the original video source? I mean, if the original footage were upper first, encoding upper first make it good?

Thanks

[daamon]

It depends on the original video source? I mean, if the original footage were upper first, encoding upper first make it good?

Yes and yes.

DV footage is highly likely to be lower field first, sometimes referred to as B-Field first. I don't know of a tool that can provide that info from the AVI file.

Some people rely on what TMPGEnc (the encoder) reads and advises.

The easy way: Go with lower field first and if it's OK stick with it. It won't change if you stick with the same DV cam. If you do change DV cam, still stick with lower field first unless there's a problem.

Also, if you're not sure, do a test with a short clip to save time.

Hope that helps. Good luck.

[aguinsburg]

Thanks! Really helpfull....

[daamon]

No problem.

At least I got that one right...

[mike909]

I had this same problem but figured it out (kinda)
daamon,
you don't by chance know how to encode DV that also contains some de-mux'd mpg2 from a DVD source do you? That is...I have dv footage which looks fine when encoded lower field first, but If I mix in some video that is from an unprotected dvd source (which or course was mpg2 converted to avi with vdubmod or the like) then that video looks wrong, while the DV still looks fine. Since you can only encode either upper, lower or progressive, I am assuming there is no way to mix two different kinds of video footage (that have different field orders) together to encode to mpg2 that will look good on a tv?? I am guessing their may be some things I do when I convert from the mpeg2 source to avi that will cure this issue...I'm gonna have to do some experimenting.

[daamon]

Hi mike909,

I'm not quite sure what you're saying, so here's my take on it:

1) You've got a DV AVI file that looks OK.
2) You've got an AVI file (DV?) that's been produced from an unprotected DVD using VirtualDubMod (or similar). The field order may be different on this. Not sure...?
3) You want to have them play as one on your TV, as MPEG2s in a DVD.

If the above is right, simply encode each AVI file separately to MPEG2 and then bring them together during the authoring stage.

As an aside, I've loaded VOBs into VirtualDubMod and compressed to DV AVI using the Panasonic DV Codec - worked a treat.

I hope that helps...

[mike909]

You got it. Bringing them together during authoring process is one idea...but not good if the video is intermixed with everything else. I have heard of the Panasonic DV Codec, but havnt installed it because of supposed issues with Premier Pro 1.5 (which is what I use). I drop vob's into vdubmod and capture to uncompressed rgb. If my new project comes out not looking sharp, I may have to take a chance on the Panasonic DV Codec. Thanks.

[daamon]

Bringing them together during authoring process is one idea...but not good if the video is intermixed with everything else.

Hmmm... Not sure what you mean by "everything else". I've re-read your post and can't quite get what you're talking about, doing, or trying to achieve. Can you explain in more detail?

I have heard of the Panasonic DV Codec, but havnt installed it because of supposed issues with Premier Pro 1.5 (which is what I use).

I use Premiere Pro 1.5 and have the Panasonic DV Codec installed and have had no problems.

[mike909]

Sure, I will elaborate. Basically, I am mixing material from a DV Camera (lower field order) and a VOB file (from an NTSC dvd which is progressive...I think) The way I obtain the DV footage is a capture from DV Cam into premier as a dv avi, and the way I get the Vob file footage is via dvd-decyrpter and vdubmod. I then create a project in PPro 1.5 and use both dv footage and vdubmod's resulting avi in the same timeline. It all looks fine when I render it, but when I encode into a 'new' mpeg2 for dvd authoring I need to choose a field order (obviously) and this is where it gets hairy. I need to choose lower because of the DV footage, but the avi from the vob file is progressive, so it doesn't look quite rite. I think I need to try your idea about capturing from VOB to DV (with the panasonic dv codec) because it probably will cure the field order situation. You installed it and use PPro and don't have any issues? I guess that's good enough for me.

[daamon]

Got ya...! I understand now.

Yeah, I'd say test out the Panasonic DV codec with VirtualDubMod with a short clip.

[mike909]

Will do (as soon as I get a chance that is),
Unfortunately the 'test' has to be burned and played on a tv (hate that) dvd player doesn't read rw's (hate that too). and the output from my gforce 6600gt is black&white only for some wierd reason (hate that too)...plus I don't trust watching it on a tv monitor output from a comp...not a 'true test'. Just curious...have you ever achieved what I am talking about? that is....have you mixed in some vob source footage with DV and have a good final output?

[daamon]

Will do (as soon as I get a chance that is),
Unfortunately the 'test' has to be burned and played on a tv (hate that) dvd player doesn't read rw's (hate that too). and the output from my gforce 6600gt is black&white only for some wierd reason (hate that too)...plus I don't trust watching it on a tv monitor output from a comp...not a 'true test'.

Ouch. Someone needs some new toys...

Well, as you've gotta use a disc, you might as well try the whole project - if it works you won't have wasted a disc on a test, and if it fails you would've wasted it anyway.

Just curious...have you ever achieved what I am talking about? that is....have you mixed in some vob source footage with DV and have a good final output?

Yes - exactly the same. But I used the Panasonic DV Codec with VirtualDubMod and no hitches at all. Admittedly it was on Premiere 6.0 but I don't see why it wouldn't work with any later version of Premiere - after all, it is DV AVI that's coming on to the timeline.

When I said I have the Panasonic DV Codec installed, and there's been no problems with Premiere Pro 1.5 - I was referring to conflicts. I've not used Premiere Pro 1.5 to do what I've done with 6.0 but, like I say, I'd be surprised if it doesn't work.

Good luck.