ULead MF4: Xtream to down-size HDTV->VRD MPEG2

[eswrite]

phd wrote:
You might want to try Xtream from Mediostream. Edit in VRD and reencode with Xtream. Can resize, change 4:3 to 16:9 and vice versa. Free trial but it watermarks the output. Very fast and very good so far. Seems to create a compliant MPEG that DMF can handle. At least in my tests using DMF 2 and 3.

Thanks for the advice, phd. I did a quick trial with Xtream, and it is a nice app, so I plunked down my $40USD. I had hoped to use VirtualDubMod, but the 16:9-to-4:3 mess got me; I couldn't figure out how to produce non-stretched 720x480 output for DMF. Along these lines, I had similar issues with Xtream when I selected 16:9 for output: I tried both stretched and letterbox. I had to use 4:3, and then the aspect ratio was correct in DMF with 4:3 selected there. Do you have any idea on whether letterbox or stretch in Xtream will produce the best output? Right now I'm guessing stretch. On my HDTV set, either stretch or letterbox produce pretty good looking video. (I'm doing all this on my HTPC which is hooked up to my HDTV, so I can test quality right in place). I'm also using "fast" instead of "quality", and probably because my source content (HDTV stream trimmed with VRD) is of high quality already, I really can't notice much of a difference in Xtream output quality.

Anyway, as you suggested, the VRD+Xtream combo gets around MF4's inability to down-size input MPEG2 files w/o losing audio/video sync. Actually, with VRD, I am able to produce sync that is better than the original HDTV capture stream. That's cool. Also, with no loss in time (Xtream processing of HDTV video seems to take about as long as MF4), I get smaller files, and can fit 2 1 hour (minus commercials) episodes in one 4.37GB disk. Nice.

BTW, I tried all the other suggestions for getting MF4 to sync the audio (INI file, Treat MPEG audio as non-compliant, etc.) Nothing worked except resizing outside of MF4.

For anybody that cares, this is my full capture-to-DVD process:

1) Capture HDTV material using MyHD card.
2) Use VideoReDo to load and clean-up (commercials, audio sync) .tp file.
3) Use Xtream to down-size from 1080i or 720p content down to DVD compliant dimensions.
4) Use MF4 to import video, create chapters, burn --- but no video editing whatsoever!!!

[phd]

I don't know if stretched or letterbox will give better quality. Since it has to (I assume) reencode either way, it would make no difference.

I had performed a series of tests using speed rather than quality and thought it looked good as well.

Glad its working for you now.

[eswrite]

phd,

I've been thinking about this, and I don't think I'm getting true 16:9, so the quality would be low. When you let MF4 process video, you can specify 16:9 content and feed it the VRD output, at full size, of course. In my tests, this results in auto-detection by the DVD player of 16:9 content with auto-letter boxing. Using the stretch feature in Xtream at 4:3 means MF4 must also be at 4:3, with the letterboxing being built into the content, rather than generated at run time (same deal with Xtream at 4:3 and letterboxed). This means less data for the 16:9 image area, and hence, lower quality. For TV shows this isn't too big of a deal, but if I had 16:9 personal content, say a friend's wedding video, that I wanted to render to DVD, this wouldn't be a good way to go.

[eswrite]

I've been thinking about this, and I don't think I'm getting true 16:9, so the quality would be low.

With some blushing, I think I just realized the error of my ways. I've been using 720x480 as the target resolution. For 16:9 content, I need to set 720x576; this should let me select the 16:9 aspect ratio in MovieFactory. I'll try this when I get a chance with a movie I recorded last night.

BTW, I have discovered that setting the 16:9 aspect ratio for your DVD in MovieFactory will also make your menus 16:9, i.e., letterboxed. It looks like MF4 doesn't have the capability of mixed aspect ratios. Another reason to get a refund and buy DVDLab, perhaps?

[phd]

Are you in PAL or NTSC land?

480 vertical is for NTSC and 576 is for PAL Depending on your equipment, you may be able to view the other format.

I think you have the capability of mixing modes in DMF. I have never done it personally but I seem to remember reading a reference to it somewhere on their forum. Also it is possible to have 4:3 menus with 16:9 content. I remember a user posing a question on the Ulead forum. He had 16:9 video and his menus were 4:3 and wanted to change them to 16:9 also. It may have had to do with anamorphic 16:9 content.

You'll have to search their forum. I believe the question was with regard to DMF3 so DMF4 should have it.