Does MPEG degrade more than AVI? at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > Open DV Discussion
Register FAQ Today's Posts Buyer's Guides

Open DV Discussion
For topics which don't fit into any of the other categories.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old May 29th, 2012, 01:25 PM   #1
Major Player
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Norwood, MA
Posts: 255
Does MPEG degrade more than AVI?

I know I have a strange workflow, but it works for me. Lets say I end the day with 5 DV tapes. I ingest them as AVI. I then edit one tape at a time and render as another AVI file.Once I have these 5 files, I simply put together and produce as a DVD. I recently did this but instead ingested and rendered as MPEG files. I thought my DVD was a bit grainy and wondered if it was the lighting or particular circumstances of the shoot, or did I lose more quality working with MPEG instead of AVI. It was nice working with smaller files, but not worth it if I lose quality.
Darryn Carroll is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 29th, 2012, 02:30 PM   #2
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 3,420
Re: Does MPEG degrade more than AVI?

More completely, your previous workflow involved the use of the DV codec in an AVI wrapper. An AVI can contain any of several codecs.

Yes, MPEG is an inherently lossy format. At lower bitrates, such as those used on DVDs and lower, they make a poor intermediate or editing codec, since they will show visible artifacts in as few as 2 generations. AVI-DV, on the other hand, is not quite lossless, but you need to go through at least 11 generations to have detectable artifacts.

So, yes, AVI-DV makes a great editing and mastering codec for standard def, most MPEG versions do not, for the reasons you've discovered. Do your standard def editing and mastering with AVI-DV, and keep MPEG solely for DVD distribution.
__________________
30 years of pro media production. Vegas user since 1.0. Webcaster since 1997. Freelancer since 2000. College instructor since 2001.
Seth Bloombaum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 29th, 2012, 02:41 PM   #3
Major Player
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Norwood, MA
Posts: 255
Re: Does MPEG degrade more than AVI?

Thank you Seth, that answers my question and puts my mind at ease.
Darryn Carroll is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > Open DV Discussion


 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:29 PM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network