Output quality from PP2 at DVinfo.net

Gene Crucean · November 20th, 2006, 08:27 AM

Has anyone been able to get any decent quality output out of Premiere Pro 2? If I compress a quicktime it looks like crap and the file is huge, compared to exporting from quicktime with the same exact settings. If I export a full res intermediate most of the time it's all jerky and strobe's. If I export a DVD straight from the timeline it just looks like complete crap. I'm selecting the highest quality setting in the DVD export dialog.

What settings are you guys using to get good quality?

Gene Crucean · November 20th, 2006, 03:48 PM

Whoops, sorry guys. I thought I posted this in THIS forum.

Damian Clarke · November 20th, 2006, 05:18 PM

Yeah I know what you mean, I could never get the Quicktime or WMV files small AND good quality from the timeline...I ended up going a roundabout way by exporting the timeline to an external encoder (Cinema Craft Encoder) by means of a frameserver (DebugMode Frameserver). This got me a good quality Mpeg2 file which I can use for the final dvd. I import this mpeg2 file back into PPro2 and export that as a WMV. It turns out far less blocky than doing the WMV from the original timeline and it more than halves the filesize. I wouldn't normally recompress like this for anything else, but since it's being downscaled for the web anyway it dosen't really matter.
PPro2 uses Mainconcept Encoder for its dvd and Mpeg2 creation...personally I think it's pants and takes far too long.
You can also get Canopus Procoder 2 which can create mpeg's, wmv, realmedia, quicktime etc.. it's not bad either

Kevin Dorsey · November 21st, 2006, 01:56 AM

I've never been able to get Premiere to match the quality of Sorenson Squeeze or Quicktime Pro. And I don't know anyone who has.

Although I do get nice results when encoding to mpeg-2 for dvd.

Gene Crucean · November 21st, 2006, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Dorsey

Although I do get nice results when encoding to mpeg-2 for dvd.

What settings are you using? Are you working with HDV then down convert to SD for DVD? How are you getting good quality?

Kevin Dorsey · November 21st, 2006, 02:15 PM

I shoot SD. Depending on the project size, I usually use a 7mb CBR at highest quality. I occassionally use a 7mb VBR if the project is huge. I usually shoot 24p so I export progressive. Then I import in Encore to author my DVD. For web distribution, I export either an uncompressed .mov or .avi, and encode in Sorenson squeeze.

Gene Crucean · November 24th, 2006, 03:43 PM

I just did a test to compare output quality from Vegas 7 and my test export to NTSC DVD was a billion times better than PP2.

Pete Bauer · November 24th, 2006, 07:01 PM

Wow, a billion times better seems like a LOT!
;-)

Gene, could you post full-rez screen shots and indicate the encoder settings so we can all see the results? Personally, I'm betting that at the same bit rate it's no more than a mere thousand times better! But it would be great to actually see a direct comparison.

Gene Crucean · November 25th, 2006, 07:18 PM

Well maybe I was exaggerating a little bit. Maybe it's only about half a billion times better. ;)

Actually earlier I was getting ready to post some comparisons but I got caught up in a bunch of other pipeline issues. I'll post something soon though. Sit tight.

Gene Crucean · November 26th, 2006, 03:00 PM

Comparison:
http://www.oblivionfilms.com/misc/PP...comparison.png

Settings:
http://www.oblivionfilms.com/misc/PP2_settings
http://www.oblivionfilms.com/misc/V7_settings.png

That's "billions" imo

Marty Hudzik · November 26th, 2006, 04:51 PM

That is a significant difference I'll agree! I haven't output a lot of dvd mpg material from Premiere Pro2 but I know that when I used PPro 1.5 I never had that poor of results.

Pete Bauer · November 26th, 2006, 07:19 PM

Definite difference; thanks for posting those!

Kevin Dorsey · November 27th, 2006, 01:45 AM

I just did a quick test, exported mpeg-2 from Vegas and Premiere, same settings. Then imported into Premiere, exported a tiff, and brought that into photoshop. I can't for the life of me see any difference in the two pics. I'm not sure why you're seeing such noticeable differences. Your Vegas export is definitely superior to the one from Premiere. I'm going to keep experimenting.

Gene Crucean · November 27th, 2006, 08:13 AM

If yours are both similar... are they both bad or good? What settings did you use to export from PP2?

Thanks for experimenting btw.

Harm Millaard · November 27th, 2006, 08:23 AM

I've been reading this discussion and don't understand it. How can Gene show such remarkable differences between Vegas and Premier Pro, while both programs use the same MainConcept engine for Encoding? What is happening?

November 20th, 2006, 08:27 AM	#1
Gene Crucean Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 295	Output quality from PP2 Has anyone been able to get any decent quality output out of Premiere Pro 2? If I compress a quicktime it looks like crap and the file is huge, compared to exporting from quicktime with the same exact settings. If I export a full res intermediate most of the time it's all jerky and strobe's. If I export a DVD straight from the timeline it just looks like complete crap. I'm selecting the highest quality setting in the DVD export dialog. What settings are you guys using to get good quality?

November 24th, 2006, 07:01 PM	#8
Pete Bauer Wrangler Join Date: May 2003 Location: Eagle River, AK Posts: 4,100	Wow, a billion times better seems like a LOT! ;-) Gene, could you post full-rez screen shots and indicate the encoder settings so we can all see the results? Personally, I'm betting that at the same bit rate it's no more than a mere thousand times better! But it would be great to actually see a direct comparison. __________________ Pete Bauer The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. Albert Einstein Trying to solve a DV mystery? You may find the answer behind the SEARCH function ... or be able to join a discussion already in progress!

November 26th, 2006, 07:19 PM	#12
Pete Bauer Wrangler Join Date: May 2003 Location: Eagle River, AK Posts: 4,100	Definite difference; thanks for posting those! __________________ Pete Bauer The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. Albert Einstein Trying to solve a DV mystery? You may find the answer behind the SEARCH function ... or be able to join a discussion already in progress!

November 20th, 2006, 03:48 PM	#2
Gene Crucean Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 295	Whoops, sorry guys. I thought I posted this in THIS forum.

November 20th, 2006, 05:18 PM	#3
Damian Clarke Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Lincolnshire, United Kingdom Posts: 95	Yeah I know what you mean, I could never get the Quicktime or WMV files small AND good quality from the timeline...I ended up going a roundabout way by exporting the timeline to an external encoder (Cinema Craft Encoder) by means of a frameserver (DebugMode Frameserver). This got me a good quality Mpeg2 file which I can use for the final dvd. I import this mpeg2 file back into PPro2 and export that as a WMV. It turns out far less blocky than doing the WMV from the original timeline and it more than halves the filesize. I wouldn't normally recompress like this for anything else, but since it's being downscaled for the web anyway it dosen't really matter. PPro2 uses Mainconcept Encoder for its dvd and Mpeg2 creation...personally I think it's pants and takes far too long. You can also get Canopus Procoder 2 which can create mpeg's, wmv, realmedia, quicktime etc.. it's not bad either

November 21st, 2006, 01:56 AM	#4
Kevin Dorsey Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 64	I've never been able to get Premiere to match the quality of Sorenson Squeeze or Quicktime Pro. And I don't know anyone who has. Although I do get nice results when encoding to mpeg-2 for dvd.

November 21st, 2006, 02:15 PM	#6
Kevin Dorsey Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 64	I shoot SD. Depending on the project size, I usually use a 7mb CBR at highest quality. I occassionally use a 7mb VBR if the project is huge. I usually shoot 24p so I export progressive. Then I import in Encore to author my DVD. For web distribution, I export either an uncompressed .mov or .avi, and encode in Sorenson squeeze.

November 24th, 2006, 03:43 PM	#7
Gene Crucean Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 295	I just did a test to compare output quality from Vegas 7 and my test export to NTSC DVD was a billion times better than PP2.

November 25th, 2006, 07:18 PM	#9
Gene Crucean Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 295	Well maybe I was exaggerating a little bit. Maybe it's only about half a billion times better. ;) Actually earlier I was getting ready to post some comparisons but I got caught up in a bunch of other pipeline issues. I'll post something soon though. Sit tight.

November 26th, 2006, 03:00 PM	#10
Gene Crucean Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 295	Comparison: http://www.oblivionfilms.com/misc/PP...comparison.png Settings: http://www.oblivionfilms.com/misc/PP2_settings http://www.oblivionfilms.com/misc/V7_settings.png That's "billions" imo

November 26th, 2006, 04:51 PM	#11
Marty Hudzik Trustee Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canton, Ohio Posts: 1,771	That is a significant difference I'll agree! I haven't output a lot of dvd mpg material from Premiere Pro2 but I know that when I used PPro 1.5 I never had that poor of results.

November 27th, 2006, 01:45 AM	#13
Kevin Dorsey Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 64	I just did a quick test, exported mpeg-2 from Vegas and Premiere, same settings. Then imported into Premiere, exported a tiff, and brought that into photoshop. I can't for the life of me see any difference in the two pics. I'm not sure why you're seeing such noticeable differences. Your Vegas export is definitely superior to the one from Premiere. I'm going to keep experimenting.

November 27th, 2006, 08:13 AM	#14
Gene Crucean Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 295	If yours are both similar... are they both bad or good? What settings did you use to export from PP2? Thanks for experimenting btw.

November 27th, 2006, 08:23 AM	#15
Harm Millaard Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands Posts: 1,832	I've been reading this discussion and don't understand it. How can Gene show such remarkable differences between Vegas and Premier Pro, while both programs use the same MainConcept engine for Encoding? What is happening?