Settings for best quality capture and playback

[Guest]

Please can somebody recommend the best settings to use to capture and save
video for fullscreen playback from my widescreen DV camera?

I can capture and save files OK using Windows Movie Maker, but they are less
than great when I play them back full screen on my monitor - there is
noticeable colour degradation. I'm not sure if I should use the 'PAL' save
settings (I'm in the UK) or not.

Thanks

Grumpy

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

If you are in the UK, yes, use PAL... in WMM, Tools, Options. Check the PAL
box.

 

[decoder]

Please can somebody recommend the best settings to use to capture and save
video for fullscreen playback from my widescreen DV camera?

I can capture and save files OK using Windows Movie Maker, but they are
less
than great when I play them back full screen on my monitor - there is
noticeable colour degradation. I'm not sure if I should use the 'PAL' save
settings (I'm in the UK) or not.

Thanks

Grumpy

Hi Grumpy Git,
It is of course best as you are UK to set PAL, but more importantly
is to set to match the format being produced by your DV cam.
It is a PAL dv camcorder?

 

[Guest]

:

Hi Grumpy Git,
It is of course best as you are UK to set PAL, but more importantly
is to set to match the format being produced by your DV cam.
It is a PAL dv camcorder?

Yes, its a PAL DV cam. Presumably, there would have to be have to be some
conversion between frame rates and line numbers if this is not matched at
each stage? Would I be right in thinking that if it doesn't specifically say
'PAL' in the setting description, then it would be NTSC? Forgive me if these
are stupid questions, but you've probably guessed this is my first venture
into video editing ;-)

Thanks

 

[decoder]

:



Yes, its a PAL DV cam. Presumably, there would have to be have to be some
conversion between frame rates and line numbers if this is not matched at
each stage? Would I be right in thinking that if it doesn't specifically
say
'PAL' in the setting description, then it would be NTSC? Forgive me if
these
are stupid questions, but you've probably guessed this is my first venture
into video editing ;-)

Thanks

OK, you've hit the nail on the head with frame rates.
PAL is 25 fps, whereas NTSC is 29fps, the most noticeable
effect when trying to convert one to other is pitch intergrity.
To ensure your WMM is capturing as PAL:
Open Windows Movie Maker
Click Tools/Options
Then click the "Advanced" tab
In Video properties select "PAL"
And select the aspect ratio that matches your cams settings.