Output File Size and Quality Issue

Nusaram

Newbie Location: California Joined: Apr 11, 2012 22:33 Messages: 6 Offline

Solved by

Feb 20, 2013 10:13

Hi,

I'm new to PowerDirector and the issue I'm having is regarding the size and quality of the output file that is produced.

First, my primary usage of PowerDirector is to make edits to videos that I create using a screen capture program. The edits are mainly just to cut out several minutes here and there, but no embellishment.

My screen capture program creates WMV files by default. Attached is a sample Property page of one of the files I created yesterday. I'm completely satisfied with its playback quality; it's just like it is live on my PC. The size of the file is 279MB and according to the file details, the Video Codec says "Windows Media Video 9".

When I take that file to PowerDirector and I remove approximately 3 minutes of content and I do nothing else, I'm having difficulty producing the same quality output. When I choose default WMV or MPG-2 or MPG-4, for example, the output file is significantly bigger than my original input and the quality is horrible.

Like I stated, I'm a novice and I've tried to customize the output settings using data from the attached Property sheet, for example, but still no luck. I am completely unable to mirror a WMV or other output file that has the same quality and size as the original. In my latest attempt, for example, the .MP4 file was about 450K--even though the duration is shorter.

If anyone can give me some guidance as to what settings I should be customizing so that I can produce another WMV, for example, and matching the same audio/video quality as the input, then I'd greatly appreciate it. Use the attached Property sheet as an example: What would I have to set/configure in PowerDirector to get an output file (preferably WMV, but MPEG is fine) that has the same quality. If you need additional details about the file, do let me know.

Thanks!


Filename	Sample WMV File Properties.jpg	Download
Description	Sample Properties of MV Input File To PowerDirector
Filesize	17 Kbytes
Downloaded:	88 time(s)

ynotfish

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

Feb 20, 2013 13:01

Hi Nusaram -

I understand you're happy with the quality straight out of the screen capture software, but it has some properties that may be causing the production issue.

The video is 1090x996, which is almost square (1.09:1). Then you'd be producing that to either a 4:3 or 16:9 profile. It also has a frame rate of 12fps. You're producing that to 25/30fps?

I think, even though playback of the original clip is fine, PD might be having trouble re-encoding those properties into something good. I'd consider changing the resolution & frame rate settings in the screen capture software, as I think that would give you a better quality produced file.

With my screen capture software, I set it to record at either 1280x720 or 1920x1080, with a frame rate of 30 fps, knowing that it will match my intended production profile.

Cheers - Tony

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Nusaram

Newbie Location: California Joined: Apr 11, 2012 22:33 Messages: 6 Offline

Feb 20, 2013 14:11

Hi Tony,

Thanks for the info.

I'd be happy if PD would re-encode the output to match the input. I think that should be an option available during the Produce process.

If I do not get interrupted or make a mistake during the screen record, there is no need for me to video edit and I really love the quality and size it produces by default. Consequently, if I have to do some minor edits just to remove a small section or two, then it would be fabulous if PD could re-create the output with the same characteristics as my input.

ynotfish

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

Feb 20, 2013 15:29

Fair enough -

I tried to make a WMV profile that exactly matched your input video, but PD wasn't able to produce a video from it. Nothing.

The two profiles I've attached are as close as I can get. Can't guarantee what they'll do with your input video because I don't have a sample to test.

BUT - if you drop these profiles into C:\Program Files\CyberLink\PowerDirector\Language\Enu\Profiles - wherever PD11 is on your PC (I'm away from mine), they'll appear under WMV in Produce... look for "NUS"

I still think you'd be better off using a higher frame rate, but...

Cheers - Tony

P.S. This is how the profiles were modified http://youtu.be/IIFemK-akHY

Filename	NUS-NTSC.prx	Download
Description
Filesize	6 Kbytes
Downloaded:	284 time(s)

Filename	NUS-PAL.prx	Download
Description
Filesize	6 Kbytes
Downloaded:	303 time(s)

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Nusaram

Newbie Location: California Joined: Apr 11, 2012 22:33 Messages: 6 Offline

Feb 20, 2013 15:40

Thanks again!

I'll give them a try and let you know.

Update:

Ok, I tried it. Well, the quality is definitely matching, but the file size will be huge again and the time to do it unacceptable (hardware acceleration is on).

I appreciate the sample profiles, though. Thanks for trying.

You know, all I want to do is edit out from 1:45:35:10 to 1:47:31:10 and that's it.

Seems to me that I should get a file smaller than the original 279MB, equivalent quality, and something that doesn't take hours to complete.

For now, these screen captures are purely personal, so it is not worth the effort to wait a few hours to go through a lengthy process only to end up with a much larger file with less quality.

Thanks again for your help and suggestions.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Feb 20. 2013 16:46

Xerox

Contributor Location: California, USA Joined: Aug 09, 2009 01:36 Messages: 446 Offline

Feb 21, 2013 05:03

There is a free application from Microsoft called Microsoft Expression Encoder 4. This will edit WMV and encode to WMV, sometimes without re-encoding. You can specify "Source" for the codec and "Source" for frame size in the output panel.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=27870 Gateway DX4380, AMD A8-5500 Quad Core 3.2GHz with ATI Radeon HD 7560D; 16GB RAM; 1 TB SATA 7200 RPM; Windows 8 Pro 64-bit; PDR11, PDVD12.

Nusaram

Newbie Location: California Joined: Apr 11, 2012 22:33 Messages: 6 Offline

Feb 21, 2013 20:16

Hi,

Thanks for that tip! Wow! That tool is perfect for my needs!!

It has a lot of "match source" settings, so the only thing I had to update was the Video and Audio bitrates. Moreover, it was MUCH, MUCH faster than PD or even my screen capture tool.

Thanks again! I really appreciate it!!!

Update: Forget what I said about it was MUCH faster because I missed an option called "Apply Source Encoding Settings" and with that, it was MEGA fast and the new file size was what it should be (i.e., smaller than the original because I had removed some content).

As an example, prior this update, the re-encoding process for one of my files took about 30 minutes. After I discovered the setting, it took 21 seconds!!!

More than ever, thanks again so very, very much!

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Feb 21. 2013 20:49