Adobe Premiere Elements 7 DVD Creation Quality Issue

[robvs]

I'm using Adobe Premiere Elements 7, and I am extremely unhappy with the finished product of a two minute movie I made. I am using a Canon HF-10 HD camera (AVCHD).

I'm thinking that I'm missing a setting or something. When I click on "share" and choose DVD, I then choose an NTSC Widescreen DVD and begin burning. However, the finished product is VERY blurry. It looks like something a kid put on youtube with his camera phone.

I've found a work-around that works great. I can create a file onto my hard drive and then burn that file with Nero 8. One or two of the file formats will produce a great HIGH QUALITY finished product that is playable in any DVD player.

However, when I complete this project and add menus, it will be great (if not necessary) to have Premiere do the burning onto DVD. Am I missing a setting or something?

When I began the project I chose to capture in one of the HD formats- but not the highest quality format because even after it's rendered it's too choppy to edit on this computer. Am I missing a setting there? Or am I missing one right before I try to burn? There's a million settings for how you want the file exported, but not that many for how you want the disc burned.

[edDV]

I'm using Adobe Premiere Elements 7, and I am extremely unhappy with the finished product of a two minute movie I made. I am using a Canon HF-10 HD camera (AVCHD).

I'm thinking that I'm missing a setting or something. When I click on "share" and choose DVD, I then choose an NTSC Widescreen DVD and begin burning. However, the finished product is VERY blurry. It looks like something a kid put on youtube with his camera phone.

I've found a work-around that works great. I can create a file onto my hard drive and then burn that file with Nero 8. One or two of the file formats will produce a great HIGH QUALITY finished product that is playable in any DVD player.

However, when I complete this project and add menus, it will be great (if not necessary) to have Premiere do the burning onto DVD. Am I missing a setting or something?

When I began the project I chose to capture in one of the HD formats- but not the highest quality format because even after it's rendered it's too choppy to edit on this computer. Am I missing a setting there? Or am I missing one right before I try to burn? There's a million settings for how you want the file exported, but not that many for how you want the disc burned.

I don't have Elements 7 but I suspect your workflow is converting codecs or size multiple times.

Can you add detail about camera and Elements capture settings, project settings and DVD bit rates used?

[robvs]

That's sort of what I was asking the forum. There are capture settings, and there are settings for when you export a file, but I don't see any such settings for DVD burning.

I'm not completely literate with all of these things, so I really just need someone to tell me what settings I need, where to find those "settings," and what menus and options I need to go through in Elements 7.

[edDV]

Fill in your computer profile.

Like I said, I don't have Premiere Elements 7 so I can't see your menus but you should capture or import as AVCHD. If you have difficulty with Elements capture, use the Canon software to get the file to the hard disk, then import as AVCHD.

You should set the project for AVCHD under "File" "New" per Adobe instructions, then edit. I'm not sure about Premiere Elements 7 but most consumer software converts AVCHD to MPeg2 or other internal format to speed things up. Bad news is this adds a recode that reduces quality.

After you edit, you choose your export format and media. DVD export is 480i SD so your 1080i HD is downscaled to 480i for DVD.

The other option is to export back to AVCHD as a file which can be copied to a DVDR for direct HD playback on a Blu-Ray or PS3 player.

[robvs]

Fill in your computer profile.

Like I said, I don't have Premiere Elements 7 so I can't see your menus but you should capture or import as AVCHD. If you have difficulty with Elements capture, use the Canon software to get the file to the hard disk, then import as AVCHD.

You should set the project for AVCHD under "File" "New" per Adobe instructions, then edit. I'm not sure about Premiere Elements 7 but most consumer software converts AVCHD to MPeg2 or other internal format to speed things up. Bad news is this adds a recode that reduces quality.

After you edit, you choose your export format and media. DVD export is 480i SD so your 1080i HD is downscaled to 480i for DVD.

The other option is to export back to AVCHD as a file which can be copied to a DVDR for direct HD playback on a Blu-Ray or PS3 player.

Seems like I'm doing everything right. I honestly think that if there's a way to create better quality dvd's from premiere elements 7 (directly from the program) then it's going to have to be from some well-buried setting in which only someone who knows this program can direct me.

I thank you for your time, and hope that someone else can chime in soon.

[drpiano]

I think I have an answer for you, unfortunately it will involve more than just Premiere Elements 7. I use Adobe Premiere Pro CS4, and downloaded the trial of Elements 7 to see if I could duplicate your issues. What you want to do, I think, is burn AVCHD to DVD. Unfortunately, Adobe 7 can't do this apparently. IMHO you have several options: The quickest is to get a copy of Roxio 2009 (if you are near a Costco they often sell it at discount). Import and edit your AVCHD files as you want in Adobe, then export the file as an MPEG DVD, choosing a HD format like 1920-1080. This will link the audio and video (if you export as h.264 it separates the files). Then, in Roxio, choose the option "create dvds, advanced", choose "AVCHD no menus project---HD on standard DVDs". From here you can burn a high-def file to DVD disc, and assuming you have a compatible blu-ray disc player (this disc won't play back in dvd players), you will be able to view the disc in high def on a big flat screen TV. Another option---the free version---I found a new program, "multiavchd" from someone in Bulgaria, http://multiavchd.deanbg.com that you can use to import your files from your camcorder and prepare for the same type of disc I described above. (It is used in conjunction with ImgBurn, also a free program). I like Adobe becuase it is so intuitive, and very easy to edit video files, but it can't do everything. Good luck!

[robvs]

I can easily create an AVCHD DVD using a program called Phantom Drive. This program allows you to create a virtual bluray disc drive which Nero will then recognize (after exporting to this virtual drive in Premiere Elements). I find AVCHD DVD's to be simple to create with Nero.

However, until Bluray discs are widely accepted, I'm stuck on this issue. The project I'm working on needs to be on standard DVD. The quality is coming out great if I export the movie in MPEG format and burn with Nero. However, it STINKS if I have Premiere Elem. create the DVD.

Thanks for your time. I'll investigate some of these other methods for creating AVCHD and see which I like best.

[Captain Satellite]

Are you unchecking 'Fit Contents To Available Space' (which is the default setting) and sliding the slider all the way to the right to 'Highest Quality'?

[festmaster]

I have just begun using Premiere Elements 7 and am using it to edit 720p camcorder video in H.264 with .avi container. This program has some definite quirks. You can "Render" , "Export" or"Share" your output and you get completely different options for resolution, codec and proportion (16:9 or 4:3), depending on which button you click to render. After finally getting a somewhat crappy MPEG2 file output, I went to Ulead Movie Factory to make my dvd.

If you click on help you are taken to a link where you can download a 300 page manual. I finished printing that off today and plan to actually read it and see if I can make sense of this thing.

I got my copy of Premiere 7 (Pre, as they like to call it) as part of a promotion on dell.com when I recently bought my computer. I have to say that I am not thrilled with it. You are nagged to join Abobe online every time you start up the program and pop-ups asking you to try other Adobe products come up all of the time. It is not supposed to be an ad supported version.

[robvs]

Yeah. I am. I wish the solution were that simple. Thank you.

[robvs]

I have just begun using Premiere Elements 7 and am using it to edit 720p camcorder video in H.264 with .avi container. This program has some definite quirks. You can "Render" , "Export" or"Share" your output and you get completely different options for resolution, codec and proportion (16:9 or 4:3), depending on which button you click to render. After finally getting a somewhat crappy MPEG2 file output, I went to Ulead Movie Factory to make my dvd.

If you click on help you are taken to a link where you can download a 300 page manual. I finished printing that off today and plan to actually read it and see if I can make sense of this thing.

I got my copy of Premiere 7 (Pre, as they like to call it) as part of a promotion on dell.com when I recently bought my computer. I have to say that I am not thrilled with it. You are nagged to join Abobe online every time you start up the program and pop-ups asking you to try other Adobe products come up all of the time. It is not supposed to be an ad supported version.

I'm glad you've noticed this, too. One thing I just realized is at the 8 minute mark in my film, I had relatively no problems in creating an MPEG file. However, when the video got to about ten minutes it cut about a minute off the end of the film in the file that was created. However, if I "export" to an MPEG the video came out complete. I'm totally not sure why "export" and "share" have different outcomes, different options, and different quality.

For me, the major issue is that "sharing" to a disc comes out like garbage. But NERO can take the exported file and create a beautiful video with it. Nobody else seems to confirm that they get the same issue. I wonder if it has something to do with the fact that I'm using high definition video clips, but that still wouldn't explain why my little export workaround works to create a good video. I don't think I'll ever be able to use the menu features. I'll have to make that in NERO.

[drpiano]

I took a 10 minute clip in AVCHD format, and tried "sharing" it to DVD widescreen in Pre7. At the lowest quality setting, the video looks pixelated and blocky. Again, I get much better results in Roxio when doing same. I don't know if trying another disc and moving the slider over to "best quality" would help, but it looks like I duplicated your same (poor) results on this try. By the way, on my computer---and it's a new Dell core i7---I have to keep hitting "save" as quick as a magician or the program unpredictably shuts down. This issue alone would have me looking elsewhere.

[drpiano]

P.S.
I just tried the same file again---this time moving the slider over to "highest quality" setting. Didn't make a noticeable difference. Just to make sure my eyes weren't going bad I put in a DVD copy of the identical scene (I was shooting this concert with both standard def DVD cameras and high-def). The standard-def camera footage DVD is better than the high-def footage that was "knocked down" to 480i in Pre7. I don't think this software likes taking high-def footage down to standard def. In Pre4 I thought I remembered finding a "two pass" video encoding option in preferences or somewhere but I can't find it in Pre7.

[robvs]

You absolutely duplicated my issue. I wish we could simply create the disc in Premiere 7. Until someone chimes in with a solution, I'd recommend hitting export and burning with NERO. The high definition video comes out beautiful on a standard DVD.

I have to save a lot also. It seems to help if I close everything, including my virus protection. I go into the task manager and close every process that has my name next to it, except task manager and explorer. But again, crashes galore.

[dbanimal]

Hmmm, I've been debating whether I want to purchase Premiere 7 but it's not looking too promising. I would like to do the same as you - create a DVD with HD video.

[robvs]

Don't bother. I finally finished my video. There were SOOO many issues with this program, I don't even know where to continue. How about the "Adobe Premiere is out of memory" or "Disk space full" messages when there were no problems. If you like a program that crashes for no reason every 15 minutes, this is the program for you. I honestly don't think any software is capable of this avchd footage at this point. If you find anything worth using, let me know- seriously. I'll buy it.

[dbanimal]

Thanks for the update, I will stay clear of Premiere! Many others I have spoken to claim that Sony Vegas 8 is great software just that it's a pain in the arse to figure out how to use! I might give that a try anyway.

[edDV]

Thanks for the update, I will stay clear of Premiere! Many others I have spoken to claim that Sony Vegas 8 is great software just that it's a pain in the arse to figure out how to use! I might give that a try anyway.

I shifted to Vegas (full version) after stability frustration with Premiere Pro v1 and v2.

I'd been with Adobe through all the original Premiere problems. v6.5 was finally stable. Premiere Pro was a total rewrite and highly unstable. Vegas has been highly stable. Also does multiple instances.

[robvs]

Will Vegas 8 edit HD video? Will it create AVCHD DVD's?

[edDV]

Will Vegas 8 edit HD video? Will it create AVCHD DVD's?

Vegas 8 Pro yes. Vegas 9 Pro is out.

What is your computer profile? AVCHD takes some grunt.

Alternative is Cineform NeoScene digital intermediate.

[jan.t]

Hello,

I use my sisters Adobe Premiere Elements 7 and help her edit a movie. She wants me to save it on her portable hard drive in HD quality. She wants to see the movie on TV in HD.

1 Can I do this?
In the manual it says I can only burn a dvd-project, not a blu-ray-project to a map.

2 Is the only way to preserve HD quality to burn the HD-movie to a Blu-ray disc? If I export instead of burn I cant change the 720x576 setting so that leaves me no option except burning...? Or have I completely misunderstood this?

3 Which material do I need to make sure is on the portable drive when I give it to my sister if she wants to continue editing on the movie?

4 If burning to Blu-ray is the only option please recommend if possible an external Blu-ray burner that is compatible with Premiere 7?


Thank You!

[sanlyn]

What does "edit" mean when you say "edit a movie"? Cut out scenes, delete commercials? Where did the movie come from? Is it on retail disc, a disc someone made, or something downloaded from a site?

If your video is 720x576 it's standard definition PAL. It's not HD. It will never look like HD; it can only look like SD that has been re-encoded for HD, unless you know some very sophisticated techniques for upsizing, cleaning, and re-encoding SD video -- and even then, it still won't look like HD source.

If the movie is a stand-alone PAL MPEG on your computer, you can copy it as data to a BluRay disc for a BluRay player. Some BD players can read movie data files, some can't. If the video is not wide screen to begin with, it won't be wide-screen no matter how it's played.

We don't know enough about your movie to advise further. 720x576 is a valid frame size for both PAL Standard definition DVD and PAL standard-dfinition BD or AVCHD. If it's a wide screen movie it was encoded with a display aspect ratio of 16:9. If it's not wide screen it was encoded with a display aspect ratio of 4:3. Both are valid ratios for that frame size in DVD, BluRay, or AVCHD, and no other aspect ratios would be valid.

Here is the tech stuff on PAL/NTSC DVD movies and discs: https://www.videohelp.com/dvd#tech
Here is the tech stuff for PAL/NTSC BluRay and AVCHD: https://www.videohelp.com/hd#tech

The only disc burning software we recommend is ImgBurn. If you have a PC that came with a DVD burner, it should have come with disc burning software included. That's what you use to burn the output from Premiere Elements -- although, in fact, we have no idea why it's being used.

Without more info on this "movie" you're dealing with, we can't say more than that.

[jan.t]

Hello

I am swedish so my english is not perfect. With movie I mean what my sister has filmed on one of her trips. I am just editing or cutting this material which is on the portable drive. I dont believe I need Imgburn since a burning software is included, but I need to buy a portable blu-ray burner which then Premiere recognizes. Can you confirm that burning this way is the only way to look at the ready movie with HD quality on TV? Can I connect a portable Blu-ray burner and use this instead of the integrated DVD-burner?

Jan

[sanlyn]

I see. Thanks you for better information about the source movie. A BluRay burner will burn BluRay as well as DVD, whether the burner is internal hardware or portable external hardware. Some portable burners require that you install driver software for the device, but most models are simply plug and play. Most portables are decent units. I would suggest that you avoid the lowest-priced models, which usually perform poorly and fail quickly. One thing to keep in mind: portable BluRay burners cost more than internal units that you can get for your own computer.

I don't know of any computers that have "integrated" disc burners. A computer's optical disc drive/burner is held inside the computer with screws. Open the computer, remove the screws, disconnect the two cables, buy a BluRay burner, and install the BluRay burner into the computer in the same way that the old drive was originally installed. If you are using a laptop, those optical drives can usually be replaced as well. Your computer's user guide will show how it's done.

The quality you see on TV will depend on the quality of the software that produces the edited results.

[jan.t]

Hello

I am not sure if I got an answer to my questions or not.

Can you confirm that I have to use a blu-ray burner because this is the only way to look at the ready movie with HD quality on TV? the software I use is premiere 7

Just connecting a blu-ray burner and use it instead of the internal DVD burner (or built-in, I called it integrated, sorry if that was the wrong term for it) I guess is not a problem. I dont want to change burner, just connect an extra external Blu-ray burner at this point that both my sister and I can use.

Since there are a lot of hard drive players or media players out there I am little confused that there is not a way to export lossless material from this software and simply play it on one of those. I thought it was an obvious solution but I dont know a lot about this.

[sanlyn]

Your question was answered. The only way to burn a BluRay disc is to use a BluRay burner. Buy a portable USB unit and plug it in.

[TreeTops]

You can burn AVCHD that looks pretty good (almost as good as a BlueRay) to a DVD but probably not easy for a beginner to do. You would need a blue ray player to play it however.

[jan.t]

Thanks but I dont want to burn a DVD. I want to burn a Blu-ray disc with the movie in HD quality on it.

My question is if there is no other way to show the hd-movie on TV instead of burning it to a blu-ray disc? For example exporting the lossless movie to a media player or something like that. Does Adobe Premiere 7 have this possibility?

Sorry if my question was unclear before.

[TreeTops]

I use MakeMKV. Save to disk. Then port to WD player. Much faster and easier than fooling around with Adobe Premiere. But you may loose menu selection ability. The whole movie plays OK though.

[smrpix]

Players like the WD work great, just plug in a hard drive or even a thumbdrive. The issue, I think, is the limited export presets in your 5 year old software. On the Adobe forums folks are talking about using external encoders -- even QuickTime to make their mp4s or mkvs. (see TreeTops post above.)

You may want to think about updating.