Encoding DV footage with Stair Stepping Artifacts at DVinfo.net

December 17th, 2002, 09:18 AM

I got this footage I want to encode but it has this wired artifact. I think this is what people called "star stepping". When encoded it cause all picture to blur out and noisy. I can't get the original edited DV footage, so I have to find a way to work with the copy that was sent to me.

here is the example of the artifact. Please have a look because it might not be stair stepping:

http://207.44.160.90/~admin11/artifact.jpg

Any help is greatly appriciated!

Edward Troxel · December 17th, 2002, 10:03 AM

This looks like standard interlacing. If you view the clip on a TV it should look fine. If you view it on a computer monitor, you will see the artifacts.

I don't know which NLE you use, but in Vegas a couple of options are Resample, and Reduce Interlace Flicker. You can also add a slight blur which frequently helps.

If your final result is going to be TV (i.e. VHS or CD) then test it there first to see if you REALLY have a problem.

December 17th, 2002, 10:10 AM

Thanks Edward,

My final result is going to be computer and the file is going to be delivered via webpage. I use Vegas to compress this footage into .wmv (windows media video) as I have never sucessfully compressed video with quicktime. since the director has mac, i guess i should work on qt version as well just to be safe!

would you please tell me more about resample, and reduce interlace flicker options.

Edward Troxel · December 18th, 2002, 01:28 PM

Just right-click the clip, choose Switches, and two of the options are Resample and Reduce Interlace Flicker. One, or the other, or both of these options combined *may* be enough to solve your problem. If not, also try setting the project to "progressive" (File - Properties) and see if that works better.

December 18th, 2002, 01:30 PM

thanks Edward, you rawks :o)

December 17th, 2002, 09:18 AM	#1
Guest Posts: n/a	Encoding DV footage with Stair Stepping Artifacts I got this footage I want to encode but it has this wired artifact. I think this is what people called "star stepping". When encoded it cause all picture to blur out and noisy. I can't get the original edited DV footage, so I have to find a way to work with the copy that was sent to me. here is the example of the artifact. Please have a look because it might not be stair stepping: http://207.44.160.90/~admin11/artifact.jpg Any help is greatly appriciated!

December 17th, 2002, 10:03 AM	#2
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	This looks like standard interlacing. If you view the clip on a TV it should look fine. If you view it on a computer monitor, you will see the artifacts. I don't know which NLE you use, but in Vegas a couple of options are Resample, and Reduce Interlace Flicker. You can also add a slight blur which frequently helps. If your final result is going to be TV (i.e. VHS or CD) then test it there first to see if you REALLY have a problem.

December 17th, 2002, 10:10 AM	#3
Guest Posts: n/a	Thanks Edward, My final result is going to be computer and the file is going to be delivered via webpage. I use Vegas to compress this footage into .wmv (windows media video) as I have never sucessfully compressed video with quicktime. since the director has mac, i guess i should work on qt version as well just to be safe! would you please tell me more about resample, and reduce interlace flicker options.

December 18th, 2002, 01:28 PM	#4
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	Just right-click the clip, choose Switches, and two of the options are Resample and Reduce Interlace Flicker. One, or the other, or both of these options combined may be enough to solve your problem. If not, also try setting the project to "progressive" (File - Properties) and see if that works better.

December 18th, 2002, 01:30 PM	#5
Guest Posts: n/a	thanks Edward, you rawks :o)