Help Needed at DVinfo.net

Gary Johnston · February 13th, 2007, 10:43 AM

First of all I'd like to say, hi as I'm new to this forum and to be honest quite new to the whole Video thing and thats why I could do with some of your help. I'm sorry if this is a bit long winded........Ok Here Goes

At present i've been editing my film on vegas 5.0 (But have just got hold of a copy of 7 which I havn't used yet), through my PC.

However I sometimes find the film a little grainy as I tend to do a lot of work in Nightclubs, Raves etc. Is this because I'm going from my AV into my computer and I should really be using DV? and if so does it make a great difference?

Also when I render my footage it looks ok , Although a bit grainy as I said above, But when I use slow motion on my film and then render it, It can go a bit pixely, why is this?

And one more thing......I render to Mpeg 2 to put onto DVD, However is there a better option I Should Be Using?

Thanks for your Patience

Gary

Mike Teutsch · February 13th, 2007, 10:54 AM

You did not say what camera you are using, but I would guess that you are using auto gain control. Since the light is low where you shot, the camera is adjusting the gain to keep the picture bright enough.

Try using the camera in manual mode and adjust the iris and shutter speed to get an acceptable picture. If you have to adjust the gain you can, but just enough to get a good shot.

The gain is not caused by you computer or anything else, just the way you are shooting.

Mike

Gary Johnston · February 13th, 2007, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Teutsch

You did not say what camera you are using, but I would guess that you are using auto gain control. Since the light is low where you shot, the camera is adjusting the gain to keep the picture bright enough.

Try using the camera in manual mode and adjust the iris and shutter speed to get an acceptable picture. If you have to adjust the gain you can, but just enough to get a good shot.

The gain is not caused by you computer or anything else, just the way you are shooting.

Mike

Hi Mike
Thanks for replying. I'm a total amature when It comes to the video camera as I've spent most of my life Producing music and over the past few months I have really started to enjoy the videoing side of things, due the the fact that have have got bored with being behind the Decks in a club and producing the music.

My camera is nothing special and I'm not 100% sure the excact model due to me being at work at this present moment. However I'm pretty sure its a Sony TRV ???.....

But what is the difference between AV & DV On my camera when I'm linking to my computer?

I know this must seem a really stupied question to you guys and I feel a bit stupied asking, but I could do with nowing these things as I'm also looking at get a new cam soon, But want to just get used to the editing process first....

Also 1 other thing........Is vegas the best editing software??? because I use that because I find it easy because I used to use acid pro alot?

Ervin Farkas · February 13th, 2007, 11:28 AM

Welcome to DVinfo, Garry!

The difference between AV and DV is the way you capture your video from the camera to the computer. DV is digital video, there are no changes in quality from the tape to the computer; it has to be done via a firewire cable. AV stands for audio/video - you need an analog capture card to do it this way, plus software to digitize your incoming analog video. Poor capture card and poor software will yield poor video as opposed to DV where there is no change during the transfer process.

What is the best editing software? This is like asking what is the best car? Rolls Royce looks ugly for example (at least to me), and still, some people are paying hundreds of thousands of pounds for them, right? It depends on which one does the job for you. If Vegas does it, stick with it, if not, just look around. Most NLEs are offered as a free trial download, so play around, check them out.

And most of all, have fun!

Steve House · February 13th, 2007, 11:38 AM

The basic difference between connecting your camera to the computer through the A/V connectors is the signal is going through an analog step on the way. The miniDV camera is recording the signal digitally on tape. When you play it back through the A/V connection that digital signal is converted to analog and sent on its way. If you're connecting to a TV or VCR that's just the ticket because they're analog devices. But if you connect to your computer, it just converts it back into digital again for storage in a file. On the other hand, if you send it directly from the camera's DV out to the computer's DV in, it goes digitally for the whole trip, avoiding the extra two conversion stages. I don't know that the analog step is the source of your signal noise but it can't be helping it - when doing music I'm sure you're aware of the loss of quality that happens with analog tape when you make a copy of a copy of a copy and that's sort of what's happening here. Use the DV connections and just eliminate that from the picture. You may still have the grain but at least you'll know for sure one thing that's NOT causing it.

As for whether Vegas is the "best" editing software opens up a real debate and such debates are why people have horse races. It's very good and "best" often boils down to what you're most comfortable with, the software that lets you work easily in a workflow that doesn't get in the way of your creativity. If you're happy with the way it works for you, that's the most important thing.

February 13th, 2007, 10:43 AM	#1
Gary Johnston New Boot Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: UK Posts: 5	Help Needed First of all I'd like to say, hi as I'm new to this forum and to be honest quite new to the whole Video thing and thats why I could do with some of your help. I'm sorry if this is a bit long winded........Ok Here Goes At present i've been editing my film on vegas 5.0 (But have just got hold of a copy of 7 which I havn't used yet), through my PC. However I sometimes find the film a little grainy as I tend to do a lot of work in Nightclubs, Raves etc. Is this because I'm going from my AV into my computer and I should really be using DV? and if so does it make a great difference? Also when I render my footage it looks ok , Although a bit grainy as I said above, But when I use slow motion on my film and then render it, It can go a bit pixely, why is this? And one more thing......I render to Mpeg 2 to put onto DVD, However is there a better option I Should Be Using? Thanks for your Patience Gary

February 13th, 2007, 10:54 AM	#2
Mike Teutsch Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida Posts: 2,614	You did not say what camera you are using, but I would guess that you are using auto gain control. Since the light is low where you shot, the camera is adjusting the gain to keep the picture bright enough. Try using the camera in manual mode and adjust the iris and shutter speed to get an acceptable picture. If you have to adjust the gain you can, but just enough to get a good shot. The gain is not caused by you computer or anything else, just the way you are shooting. Mike __________________ Chapter one, line one. The BH.

February 13th, 2007, 11:28 AM	#4
Ervin Farkas Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta/USA Posts: 2,515	Welcome to DVinfo, Garry! The difference between AV and DV is the way you capture your video from the camera to the computer. DV is digital video, there are no changes in quality from the tape to the computer; it has to be done via a firewire cable. AV stands for audio/video - you need an analog capture card to do it this way, plus software to digitize your incoming analog video. Poor capture card and poor software will yield poor video as opposed to DV where there is no change during the transfer process. What is the best editing software? This is like asking what is the best car? Rolls Royce looks ugly for example (at least to me), and still, some people are paying hundreds of thousands of pounds for them, right? It depends on which one does the job for you. If Vegas does it, stick with it, if not, just look around. Most NLEs are offered as a free trial download, so play around, check them out. And most of all, have fun! __________________ Ervin Farkas www.AtlantaLegalVideo.com

February 13th, 2007, 11:38 AM	#5
Steve House Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,742	The basic difference between connecting your camera to the computer through the A/V connectors is the signal is going through an analog step on the way. The miniDV camera is recording the signal digitally on tape. When you play it back through the A/V connection that digital signal is converted to analog and sent on its way. If you're connecting to a TV or VCR that's just the ticket because they're analog devices. But if you connect to your computer, it just converts it back into digital again for storage in a file. On the other hand, if you send it directly from the camera's DV out to the computer's DV in, it goes digitally for the whole trip, avoiding the extra two conversion stages. I don't know that the analog step is the source of your signal noise but it can't be helping it - when doing music I'm sure you're aware of the loss of quality that happens with analog tape when you make a copy of a copy of a copy and that's sort of what's happening here. Use the DV connections and just eliminate that from the picture. You may still have the grain but at least you'll know for sure one thing that's NOT causing it. As for whether Vegas is the "best" editing software opens up a real debate and such debates are why people have horse races. It's very good and "best" often boils down to what you're most comfortable with, the software that lets you work easily in a workflow that doesn't get in the way of your creativity. If you're happy with the way it works for you, that's the most important thing. __________________ Good news, Cousins! This week's chocolate ration is 15 grams!