HD/SD artifact solution?

[bigrick]

Ronnie,

I used to have the same artifact problem and spent many hours and combinations trying to resolve it. This week end, I found a solution which works for me anyway. Here is my workflow:

I have a SONY HDR-SR7 camera recording AVCHD 1440X1080 (HDV 1080i). Here is my workflow:

1. For SD DVD output: Put the AVCHD files in the project. Convert to Canopus HQ. When project finished, just burn to DVD from the timeline using the Canopus DVD Creator within Edius. I don't see artifacts using this method.
2. For AVCHD Blu-Ray output: put the AVCHD files in the project. Convert to Canopus HQ. When project is finished, print to file using Procoder Xpress in HDV 1080/60i (HD2). Use Nero Vision 5 to output AVCHD content on a DVD which will play on a SONY PS3. I use Automatic 1 pass with rapid encoder in Nero. Result: perfect video with no artifact.

This may not apply to your situation, but it certainly works for me and if I may help anyone out there who is in my situation, so be it.

Cheers...

Rick

[RonnieMartin]

Ronnie, this happened to me initially when I first tried this method. In my case I already had VirtualDub installed moons ago so skipped Mark's first steps relating to downloading and installing VDub, but I inadvertently bypassed step 4 to install the "Install Handler files".

This was the reason that like you I could not get the VFAPIConvEN.exe program to accept the frameserve.vdr file. When I went back and ran auxsetup.exe in the Vdub folder it all worked, you might try repeating this step?

Thanks Clare for your post. I am not sure at this point if I ran install handler files or not. I did just run VD with out all of Mark's procedure and it did help the artifacts. It was a little bit softer but I could live with it. However, the aspect ratio was off and it looked squished. I am sure I checked something wrong again. At this point I have tried so many things that I am about to give up. I missed my deadline to my client and will have to wait until Monday to mail it artifacts and all.

This is a 2 hour project on the time line and it takes about 2 hours to make the HQ file and 2.5 hours to run VD. I have spent all day since early this morning trying to get it to work missing my mailing deadline.

So what I am going to try and do is make a new HQ file from the HDV time line and try VD again in the morning. If I can get rid of the artifacts and have the right aspect ratio tomorrow I will start my encoding and authoring for the DVD. If I screw it up again I will just have to let it go out with the artifacts.

Thanks to you and all the other folks for your help and concern.

The artifact problem when shooting with the EX and down converting to SD is a serious problem for all the editing platforms. We shouldn't have to go outside our editing program for the solution. I just hope that someone somewhere is working on a fix.... If it is still a problem by NAB I surely will be trying to find either a camera or software solution.

Take care
Ronnie

[Claire]

No I have not up loaded procoder 3.05. The problem is in Mark's step 19 and 20. The VFAPIConvEN.exe program will not let me add the frameserve.vdr file so that I can proceed.

Ronnie, this happened to me initially when I first tried this method. In my case I already had VirtualDub installed moons ago so skipped Mark's first steps relating to downloading and installing VDub, but I inadvertently bypassed step 4 to install the "Install Handler files".

This was the reason that like you I could not get the VFAPIConvEN.exe program to accept the frameserve.vdr file. When I went back and ran auxsetup.exe in the Vdub folder it all worked, you might try repeating this step?

[Bluetongue]

Ron I have sent you an email
One Question, did you keep VirtualDub and its frame server open when you tried to open the vdr file, this is important
It is also important to keep them all open when importing into Procoder
Regards Barry

[RonnieMartin]

Ron
Have you loaded Procoder 3.05 Update?
This will stop you importing the vdr file
If you have use Procoder Express making sure you check the box allowing you to access the input file parameters changing it to Upper field first, and you should be pleased with the results
Regards Barry

No I have not up loaded procoder 3.05. The problem is in Mark's step 19 and 20. The VFAPIConvEN.exe program will not let me add the frameserve.vdr file so that I can proceed.

There may be something wrong with the download VFAPConEN program. Would you send me the zipped file you downloaded as an attachment to my e-mail address?or as a PM?

Thanks
Ronnie
[email protected]

[Bluetongue]

Well here I am again up against my deadline. I tried Mark's solution and got all the way down to step 19 and it would not let me add the framerserver.vdr file so that I could convert. There must be something I did wrong with VAPICconv EN.exe step.
Thanks
Ronnie.

Ron
Have you loaded Procoder 3.05 Update?
This will stop you importing the vdr file
If you have use Procoder Express making sure you check the box allowing you to access the input file parameters changing it to Upper field first, and you should be pleased with the results
Regards Barry

[RonnieMartin]

Well here I am again up against my deadline. I tried Mark's solution and got all the way down to step 19 and it would not let me add the framerserver.vdr file so that I could convert. There must be something I did wrong with VAPICconv EN.exe step.

As always I am just one click from success. somewhere?? I guess I will have to let the project go with the artifacts.... I sure hate to do that. I took me a week to get to this point because of the length of the project and my travels.

Thanks
Ronnie.

[RonnieMartin]

Ronnie,

I'm not sure if you picked up my pm, but I've had very good SD results from my EX1 as well as the "very tricky" clip you sent to me, would you like me to upload an SD sample to check out - say an mpeg from procoder in 4x3?

Paul

Yes Sir!!... I have been so busy shooting this last project and away from the office. I will have a 2 hour project ready to try a solution for the artifacts this week. The initial Edit goes much faster with the clips from the EX because I can get them captured so quickly and on the time line with one click. I have about half of the project edited in 16x9 HDV project setting and will be ready to try to get rid of the artifacts before authoring by the end of the week when I am back at home. My end product is still SD 4x3 DVD. That probably won't change for at least a year.

Thanks
Ronnie

[PaulTV]

Ronnie,

I'm not sure if you picked up my pm, but I've had very good SD results from my EX1 as well as the "very tricky" clip you sent to me, would you like me to upload an SD sample to check out - say an mpeg from procoder in 4x3?

Paul

[RonnieMartin]

I think I found a solution, Try to export your video with HDV speed encoder as an m2p file, and then import it in your DVD authoring program..anyway, it works for me, zebra patterns and so are gone, I have DVD it pro 6.1

I tried it on the clips from my EX and it did not work. The artifacts were still there. I have not tried Mark's solution yet. I am still away from the office traveling and working on a project shooting with the EX. I have to get this solved soon or make some drastic changes.

Thanks folks for all your help

Ronnie

[GrassValley_KH]

SpeedEncoder will only permit settings based on the project settings. Ergo, Standard Def settings will only be used from standard def timelines.

It's somewhat moot now, because the regular MPEG (Generic) will support scaling, and speed encoding technology where applicable.

[antonsvideo]

I think I found a solution, Try to export your video with HDV speed encoder as an m2p file, and then import it in your dvd authoring program..anyway, it works for me, zebra patterns and so are gone, I have DVDit pro 6.1

hmmm? my speed encoder does not give me an option for standard def m2p, how did you achieve this?

[xmanflash]

I think I found a solution, Try to export your video with HDV speed encoder as an m2p file, and then import it in your dvd authoring program..anyway, it works for me, zebra patterns and so are gone, I have DVDit pro 6.1

Nice one, so WMV and MPG (via Speed encoder) are fine, which means its not a deinterlacing thing, its not the source etc etc..

I encoded using the standard MPG encoder and it was not o.k..

[Ludde]

I think I found a solution, Try to export your video with HDV speed encoder as an m2p file, and then import it in your dvd authoring program..anyway, it works for me, zebra patterns and so are gone, I have DVDit pro 6.1

[xmanflash]

For those who have not seen it, check out Mark Stuart's extensive solution here http://ediusforum.grassvalley.com/fo...1906#post31906

As I mentioned in a previous post, Full resolution WMV exported from Ronnies HQ 1440x1080i clip on the Edius timeline, looks absolutely fine as well..

So this is almost definately about the Edius scaling engine and/or canopus HQ codec IMHO..

... although for that assumption to be true I would have to assume that the MS encoder does the scaling not Edius.. or Edius uses a different scaling technique for it..

Another post, like Marks about good EX1 downscaling results in Edius related workflow.... http://dvinfo.net/conf/showpost.php?...8&postcount=25


also, the jaggies are nearly always only in the Black and white contrast areas (Chrome for instance)

might this be related to the 'YUV only' workflow process?