converting WMV file 408mb to DVD

[jbitakis]

I did a video using windows movie maker for my wife's b-day. I combined pictures from my digital camera with video files from my mini dv camcorder. When I finished it, I used convertxtodvd so I can burn it and watch it my dvd player. Here is my problem. It played fine, but the video came out MUCH more blurry than it played on the mini dv camcorder or even when I played it on the computer.
Why is that?
Is there another software out there that I can use to play my wife's video on dvd, that is currently on the computer as a wmv file? Other than convertxtodvd?
James

[Baldrick]

Export to dv-avi in windows movie maker instead of wmv. And then convert the dv-avi to dvd.

[borax]

Tell us a little bit more about the wmv file: Resolution, Bitrate...
The mpeg format (which is used by DVDs) is limited. But you can of cause try to get the maximum available quality nevertheless. Typically this process involves a good encoder (HC, Tmpgenc, CCE...) and a good set up. Sometimes some preprocessing (filter, resolution change...) is necessary. This can be done with avisynth. But maybe it is possible to rise the quality with convertxtodvd too, but as I don't know this program, I cannot help you there.

[t0nee1]

Yeah, FAVC would be a good choice for the OP, which utilizes HCEnc, a very "good encoder"....Try that on your WMV (or AVI) to DVD....

[tinker]

Why do not you listen Baldrick.
You have original dv-avi in your camcorder so do it right. Why so many unnecessary steps???

[jbitakis]

TO Baldrick: You say that I should export my windows movie maker video to dv-avi then convert to dvd. When you say "convert to dvd", do you mean after exporting to dv-avi to Burn the files directly to a dvd?
James

[t0nee1]

@Baldrick,sorry to jump in...

He means, after exporting to dv- avi > "convert to dvd" first , then burn to DVD disc...
Import your avi in FAVC ,DVDFlick or ConvertxtoDVD...

[tinker]

TO Baldrick: You say that I should export my windows movie maker video to dv-avi then convert to dvd. When you say "convert to dvd", do you mean after exporting to dv-avi to Burn the files directly to a dvd?
James

You can use Movie Maker to capture directly from your camcorder and make DVD.

[Baldrick]

tinker: No, windows movie maker can not make a dvd-video.

[filmboss80]

Just to be clear: you must stay in the DV-AVI realm for capturing and editing, NEVER making a wmv file at any stage. After you have completed the editing project (incorporating the stills), the project must be exported out of WMM as a DV-AVI. Then, that file can be made into a DVD using ConvertXtoDVD.

The compression to wmv is what has been causing the blurry images you see. You need to avoid that.

I also suggest you capture your camcorder video using WinDV (it's free).

[tinker]

tinker: No, windows movie maker can not make a dvd-video.

Sorry
Missed the part to export DV-AVI format first.

[jbitakis]

To Filmboss: So its the exporting out of WMM to WMV that is causing the problems? OK, I will try exporting from WMM directly to dv-avi, then converting to dvd with convertxtodvd. I always assumed it was the convertxtodvd that was the problem.
Why is exporting from WMM to WMV bad?
Also, why should I capture to WinDV instead of WMM? Is WinDV any better? Because WMM is easy to work with. I also have adobe premier too, but have not used it yet.
James

[Baldrick]

If you export to WMV you will lose a lot of the video quality(like pixelated and blurry video) and it will get even worse when you reconvert it to DVD later.

[filmboss80]

The video compression scheme for wmv is the very thing that is screwing up your image quality. As for capturing, there are many ways. WinDV is favored by many of us because its elegant simplicity reduces the risks of crashes and dropped frames. Use what you're comfortable with, as long as it works, but stay in the DV-AVI realm until you are ready to encode for DVD.

[jbitakis]

Thanks for your expert advise. This is why I love this forum.
James