Poor video quality?

[BW]

Hello. I am a newbie at using Movie Maker software. I have managed to get
the computer to recognize my camcorder (Sony Handycam DCR-HC21) and can
capture video from it. My problem is that when I play back the video on my
computer, the quality is very poor. When it plays in the relatively small
box in the right corner of the Movie Maker screen, the quality looks okay.
But when I play my finished movie in Media Player, the quality is very poor -
the images are rather "fuzzy". Is there some setting I need to change?
Thanks for any help you can give!

 

[John Inzer]

Hello. I am a newbie at using Movie Maker software. I have managed
to get the computer to recognize my camcorder (Sony Handycam
DCR-HC21) and can capture video from it. My problem is that when I
play back the video on my computer, the quality is very poor. When
it plays in the relatively small box in the right corner of the Movie
Maker screen, the quality looks okay. But when I play my finished
movie in Media Player, the quality is very poor - the images are
rather "fuzzy". Is there some setting I need to change? Thanks for
any help you can give!

=============================
It would be useful to know if you are
running WinXP or Vista...

When you importing your video...a
firewire connection would be best.

And...when you saved the completed
movie file...did you try any of the
following options?

WinXP: (scroll down for Vista)

To save as an .avi movie file...
(and several other options)
Type...Ctrl+P to open the Save Movie Wizard /
Choose...My Computer /
Next /
Enter a Name and a Save Location /
Next /
Show More Choices /
Other Settings /
Open the drop window and choose...DV-AVI /
Next /
Wait while the movie is saved /
Finish...

To save as a .wmv movie file...
Type...Ctrl+P to open the Save Movie Wizard /
Choose...My Computer /
Next /
Enter a Name and a Save Location /
Next /
Tick...'Best Quality For My Computer'
Next/
Wait while the movie is saved /
Finish...

Also, you may find it useful to use
a custom profile:

Movie Maker 2 - Saving
Movies - Custom WMV Profiles
http://tinyurl.com/s2vgu
or...
http://www.papajohn.org/MM2-SavingMovies-CustomProfiles.html

Creating Custom Profiles
for Windows Movie Maker 2
http://tinyurl.com/cuny7
or...
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/moviemaker/expert/customprofile.mspx

Vista: (in Vista saving is called Publishing)

Windows Vista -
Publish a movie in
Windows Movie Maker
http://tinyurl.com/2lo4gp
or...
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/4ea4b6cd-0cfe-4d02-8122-16c28828cdf21033.mspx

Movie Maker in Vista -
Publishing / Quality Profiles
http://www.papajohn.org/Vista-Publishing.html

--

John Inzer MS-MVP
Digital Media Experience

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

 

[BW]

Thanks for the quick reply (and I have Windows XP.) I'll try the different
save options. But I'm not sure what "firewire" is! I used a USB connection
to capture the video - is that the problem? I hooked a cable from my
camcorder to a USB port on the computer. Thanks again for your help.

 

[John Inzer]

Thanks for the quick reply (and I have Windows XP.) I'll try the
different save options. But I'm not sure what "firewire" is! I
used a USB connection to capture the video - is that the problem? I
hooked a cable from my camcorder to a USB port on the computer.
Thanks again for your help.

==============================
FireWire provides the best resolution.

And...the options you choose when saving
your completed project are very important
also.

Check the specs for your camcorder
and see if it has a IEEE-1394 FireWire
output.

And you would also need a IEEE-1394
FireWire input on your computer.

And a FireWire cable.

Some info:

How does a FireWire IEEE-1394 connection work?
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/question371.htm

--

John Inzer MS-MVP
Digital Media Experience

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

 

[nancy olson]

Hi John,
Thanks so much for your links and instructions. Just a bit of info from my experience. I downloaded the new profile, placed in the correct area, but it still did not show up in the Option pull down menu. I did get it to show up by simple closing Movie Maker and reopening it. It now appears in the drop down menu and drastically improved my video!

 

[John Inzer]

Hi John,
Thanks so much for your links and instructions. Just a bit of info
from my experience. I downloaded the new profile, placed in the
correct area, but it still did not show up in the Option pull down
menu. I did get it to show up by simple closing Movie Maker and
reopening it. It now appears in the drop down menu and drastically
improved my video!

===========================
You're welcome.

Thanks for the update.

--

John Inzer MS-MVP
Digital Media Experience

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk