Produced video is distorted compared with the original source clips

Steve6057

Newbie Joined: Aug 14, 2011 12:16 Messages: 8 Offline

Solved by

Aug 15, 2011 22:35

Following on from the recent produced video issues thread, as suggested by senior contributors... thanks ynotfish for your analysis, but it's true, I do get the green screen problem when doing the same routine. But I've found a fix for that problem, at least for now... The more urgent problem is distortion in the produced vid.

My produced video in fullscreen mode does not match one-for-one the source video in fullscreen mode. For example, when I measure the length of an object on the screen in the produced vid, its length is very different in the source vid. An object like my arm, say, seems to be 75% shorter in the source vid than it is in the produced vid. The produced vid seems to be mulitiplying the fish-eye effect of the source video, but I can't be sure what exactly is taking place, because I cannot view them side-by-side in fullscreen mode.

I'm suspecting that it might have something to do with the aspect ratio. I want an aspect ratio 4:3 with resolution of 1280x960, but that option is not available in PD (or at least, I cannot find it). So I've tested my productions with two available resolutions, being 1920x1080 and 1280x720. But the distortion problem is replicated pretty much identically in fullscreen mode, from what I can make out.

When I'm not in fullscreen mode and when I line up the videos with the same horizontal resolution (1280) they line up vertically ok, but the taller vid is in 4:3 and the other is in 16:9, so clearly there is something that needs to be cleared up here.

Here's the specs of my source file:
Type: H.264 AVC (but I output it as MPEG4 high definition, because I don't have a blue-ray player)
Bitrate: 12.32 Mbps
Resolution: 1280x960
Frame rate: 29.97 fps
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
Profile: Main profile

Thanks in anticipation

PlaySound

Senior Contributor Joined: Dec 02, 2010 10:26 Messages: 2031 Offline

Aug 15, 2011 23:15

Your video it HD, and you do not have BD player, if will create a DVD-Video will have to lower the resolution to 720x480, the image should be OK with lower quality.
Tell we more details to what will make your video

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Aug 15. 2011 23:18

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Steve6057

Newbie Joined: Aug 14, 2011 12:16 Messages: 8 Offline

Aug 15, 2011 23:33

But that's an aspect ratio of 3:2, which falls into neither mainstream camp. And must my original, glorious high-definition videos have to compromise with a drop in quality?

You ask, "What will make my video?" A friend of mine attached his camera to my glider, and I don't know its specs. All I know is that the original source vid looks terrific and it would be a pity to compromise on that. I just want to get past first base and establish, as close to possible, the same quality as the source, and then decide later on the media that it should be viewed on.

cheers

Dafydd B

Senior Contributor Joined: Aug 26, 2006 08:20 Messages: 11973 Offline

Aug 16, 2011 04:15

Apply the latest patch for PD9 = 2930
Apply the latest drivers for your video card (GPU), asap.
Update QuickTime and ensure a codec pack hasn't over written QT codecs.

Your green screen is likely to be a GPU issue and not to do with PD9 (although it shows up the weakness).

The source footage (Is it from a GoPro?) is commonly used on the forum by other editors. If you attach a sample and state the camera source, more editors will jump in to assist you.

Please attach a diagnostic to this thread - that will help editors and you.

http://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/posts/list/7958.page
PART A&B.

To attach a file select "Post Reply" or click this link: http://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/posts/reply/0/18559.page

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Aug 16. 2011 04:17

Dafydd B

Senior Contributor Joined: Aug 26, 2006 08:20 Messages: 11973 Offline

Aug 16, 2011 05:47

Video file frame size and resolution.

There are a collection of default frame sizes which editors can call upon in PD9/Mp4. If none fit your needs then consider a slightly different approach. I am presuming the footage is mp4 and from a GoPro camera.

Please have a read of: http://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/posts/list/17939.page
Perhaps you can adapt the profile amendments to suit your needs.

ynotfish

Senior Contributor Location: N.S.W. Australia Joined: May 08, 2009 02:06 Messages: 9977 Offline

Aug 16, 2011 06:04

Yes -

It does sound like GoPro's 170° mode... but (as you'd know, Dafydd) many spy, pen & security cameras record in that resolution (same reason). I thought GoPro recorded in MPEG-4 (?).

Steve - if your source video is AVC H.264. 1280x960, why not produce as AVC 1440x1080? The output will be 4:3 with no distortion... & there'll be less re-rendering.

Cheers - Tony
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Dafydd B

Senior Contributor Joined: Aug 26, 2006 08:20 Messages: 11973 Offline

Aug 16, 2011 06:20

The distortion is to do with the wide angle lens, see Tony's write up.

If the 1440 option is used, you may experience a "corrective stretch" of the video to remove the wide angle effect when played on a TV screen. I have done similar actions with a "spy camera". Darn, I should have remembered that However it'll mean a complete re-render and up-scale of the whole video file.

Alternatively you can use video Crop and end up with a 1280x720 clip.

Have a play and see what's best. Also wait until other editors read this thread and see how they handle similar footage. That's not pulling apart either what I've written or Tony or anyone else here.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at Aug 16. 2011 06:21

Steve6057

Newbie Joined: Aug 14, 2011 12:16 Messages: 8 Offline

Aug 16, 2011 23:30

Tony: "why not produce as AVC 1440x1080? The output will be 4:3 with no distortion... & there'll be less re-rendering."

Works very well. No corrective stretch, nothing. Just one-for-one perfect replication. No change in flow quality (jumpiness), either. Can't tell the difference in any way, shape or form.

Good call about updating my GPU drivers/software. I haven't done that for a loooooong time, so maybe that'll get rid of the green, empty screen, in the original scenario I described, once I get around to it.

You were both right. It was a GoPro.

Thanks James, for the lowdown. Quality degradation after processing was a priority concern for me in deciding on the editing program to buy, but I balanced that against value for money. Fortunately, in my situation described above, replication has turned out to be good, in the end. But there are quirky issues I've noticed, touched on briefly, that raise questions about the robustness of PD for all circumstances. Still, PD comes at a good price and is fun to use. And just to clarify loss, James... I'm assuming that you've factored in all variables, like flow, robustness, etc. As you know, picture quality is but one dimension of the whole package. A pretty frame don't mean jack if the rest of the clip is unstable or jerky. How does MAGIX/Sony Vegas compare on the other performance variables?

Thanks everyone, problem solved.

Robert2 S

Senior Contributor Location: Australia Joined: Apr 22, 2009 05:57 Messages: 1461 Offline

Aug 17, 2011 02:08

I use a HD GoPro for my hang gliding videos at 1280X920 to obtain the largest coverage due to the camera being 1-2feet off my left shoulder.

I also use 1/4-1/2 slider in Video Enhance option as I find the native GoPro footage a bit washed out and this really makes the footage pop.

I then render to 1920X1080 H.264 AVC at 15-17,000kbps.

My youtube channel====> http://www.youtube.com/user/relate2?feature=mhsn

Steve6057

Newbie Joined: Aug 14, 2011 12:16 Messages: 8 Offline

Aug 17, 2011 12:09

Robert, if you were to start out all over again with a new camera, would you stick with the GoPro, or would you recommend something different? What about the Drift Stealth Action Camera that some hangies have been using?

Robert2 S

Senior Contributor Location: Australia Joined: Apr 22, 2009 05:57 Messages: 1461 Offline

Aug 17, 2011 18:27

Hi Steve,

I would still stay with the GoPro, I have checked out the drift footage and I think after the tweak with video enhancement in PD the GoPro footage is better quality and in the end for me it is all about the quality. My youtube channel====> http://www.youtube.com/user/relate2?feature=mhsn