Overexposed Avi resulting in white-area MPEG2 at DVinfo.net

Lars Siden · December 24th, 2004, 05:05 PM

Hi Guys,

I've made some DVD:s as X-mas gifts and they look fairly good - but:

Some of the videoclips are shot with difficult lightning, as shade on 40% of the frame and full sun on the rest - resulting in overexposed areas. Those areas are "okey" when viewed from original DV and edited AVI - but when compressed to MPEG2 I loose all detail and get a "white square" over the area.

I've tried VBR/CBR multipass - long search, HQ..all options I can think of - but to no avail. Can you give me a hint of what to do? Or is editing the original AVI file the only way to go?

Currently using MC MPEG Encoder.

// Lazze \\

Brent Ray · December 24th, 2004, 11:21 PM

I've also had serious problems with overexposure after converting to MPEG-2. It looks fine as uncompressed AVI, but after the mpeg conversion it overexposes everything. I would also appreciate some suggestions.

Rob Lohman · December 29th, 2004, 05:20 AM

It sounds like the IRE levels get banged around a bit. You also
might want to try some other encoders, the three best:

1. Canopus ProCoder (medium price range)

2. CCE (expensive)

3. TMPGEnc (cheap / free)

Pete Bauer · December 29th, 2004, 08:02 AM

Hi Lars,

Also, depending on your NLE capabilities, you may be able to fix IRE problems right on the timeline. Vegas is said to have this, and I know PPro does. I don't know about any of the less expensive editing programs, though.

For PPro, apply the Effects>>Video>>Broadcast Colors effect. It is probably easiest to make a new sequence, place onto it the sequence that originally had been ready-for-export, then apply the filter to it within the new sequence's timeline. This filter has both NTSC and PAL settings.

If the filter makes an area lose detail, the area is either too bright or too dark for "legal" broadcast. You may then want to undo the effect and work with luma and chroma effects a little to salvage some of the detail.

Lars Siden · December 29th, 2004, 08:25 AM

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your input!

Ah, Broadcast colors - how could I forget, thanks!

Rob, just tried TMPG and it does a good job when right configured. The UI leave some things to be desired - but all in all it works good!

So pleased, just bought a Manfrotto 728B Digi-tripod with a 3-way panorama head for 140:- USD - it was so cheap that I bought a semi-pro cutter machine as well, for making nice frames on photos and stuff :-)

// Lazze \\

December 24th, 2004, 05:05 PM	#1
Lars Siden Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sweden, Stockholm Posts: 469	Overexposed Avi resulting in white-area MPEG2 Hi Guys, I've made some DVD:s as X-mas gifts and they look fairly good - but: Some of the videoclips are shot with difficult lightning, as shade on 40% of the frame and full sun on the rest - resulting in overexposed areas. Those areas are "okey" when viewed from original DV and edited AVI - but when compressed to MPEG2 I loose all detail and get a "white square" over the area. I've tried VBR/CBR multipass - long search, HQ..all options I can think of - but to no avail. Can you give me a hint of what to do? Or is editing the original AVI file the only way to go? Currently using MC MPEG Encoder. // Lazze \\

December 29th, 2004, 05:20 AM	#3
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	It sounds like the IRE levels get banged around a bit. You also might want to try some other encoders, the three best: 1. Canopus ProCoder (medium price range) 2. CCE (expensive) 3. TMPGEnc (cheap / free) __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

December 29th, 2004, 08:02 AM	#4
Pete Bauer Wrangler Join Date: May 2003 Location: Eagle River, AK Posts: 4,100	Hi Lars, Also, depending on your NLE capabilities, you may be able to fix IRE problems right on the timeline. Vegas is said to have this, and I know PPro does. I don't know about any of the less expensive editing programs, though. For PPro, apply the Effects>>Video>>Broadcast Colors effect. It is probably easiest to make a new sequence, place onto it the sequence that originally had been ready-for-export, then apply the filter to it within the new sequence's timeline. This filter has both NTSC and PAL settings. If the filter makes an area lose detail, the area is either too bright or too dark for "legal" broadcast. You may then want to undo the effect and work with luma and chroma effects a little to salvage some of the detail. __________________ 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!

December 24th, 2004, 11:21 PM	#2
Brent Ray Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Westford, MA Posts: 145	I've also had serious problems with overexposure after converting to MPEG-2. It looks fine as uncompressed AVI, but after the mpeg conversion it overexposes everything. I would also appreciate some suggestions.

December 29th, 2004, 08:25 AM	#5
Lars Siden Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sweden, Stockholm Posts: 469	Hi Guys, Thanks for your input! Ah, Broadcast colors - how could I forget, thanks! Rob, just tried TMPG and it does a good job when right configured. The UI leave some things to be desired - but all in all it works good! So pleased, just bought a Manfrotto 728B Digi-tripod with a 3-way panorama head for 140:- USD - it was so cheap that I bought a semi-pro cutter machine as well, for making nice frames on photos and stuff :-) // Lazze \\