Window Movie Maker

[Sugarfree]

When I edit avi movie files on my Windows Movie Maker software, there is distortion in the picture. However, when I edit with a compressed movie file, it's distortion-free. What do you think is the problem? Should I use a different movie editing software?

Oh, btw, I transfer my movies directly from my video camera to my laptop.

[blurrman]

hi sugarfree,

the distortion happen when u view directly in the movie maker or after u export it to mpeg?

[Sugarfree]

hi sugarfree, the distortion happen when u view directly in the movie maker or after u export it to mpeg?The distortion is already there when I play the clip in window movie maker itself, even before I begin to edit.

However, when I play the video with my window media player (or any media player for that matter), the picture is fine!! This shows the video that I have transferred to my HDD is fine but when it's viewed in windows movie maker, it's distorted. I'm puzzled.

Hope you can help me out here. I have tons of home vids I wanna edit and save onto DVD for archive. But given the current scenario, I simple won't be able to do that. Unless I edit with a compressed file but then the quality sucks! HELP!!

[blurrman]

how does the distortion looks like?

have u selected the right PAL or NTSC project?

if u don't mind learning, Adobe Premiere is a much better tool.

[Sugarfree]

how does the distortion looks like?

have u selected the right PAL or NTSC project?

if u don't mind learning, Adobe Premiere is a much better tool.It's got like lines on it. Fine lines. Kinda hard to describe. When I transfer the movie to my laptop, I do not see any command where I can use to select my preferred video format on my Sony vid cam and neither do I see it on windows movie maker. When I use the Intervideo WinDVD creator to edit the avi files (transferred from my vidcam), I have the same problem.

(I've pm-ed you).

[blurrman]

depending on where u buy the vide camera, different country will have different video format. malaysia is PAL, US is NTSC etc etc...

1st u need to check your video cam specs on what format it capture and record the video, pal or ntsc.

then u use premiere to open a new project, u will need to select ntsc or pal project, just give it a try...

by the way, your PM is full, i can't reply to your PM. u can put the image in photobucket and show in the forum.

[Sugarfree]

Thanks for your tips, Blurrman. Here's the distortion I'm talking about.

I did try to find out what video format my Sony vidcam's using but to no avail. Maybe I'll have to dig out the manual. Will do that later.

By the way, already clear my inbox. :D

Peace, out.

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r16/albertngphotos/distortionX.jpg

[Mynetcity]

Dear Sugarfree,
How do you download movie to your laptop? USB or Firewire? I've try my friend videocam and Firewire transfer giving the full resolution and frame rate (25fps or above) of video download. Due to USB port speed/bandwidth limitation, it decrease the video resolution and frame rate, results a nagging video like using a digital camera for video recording.

Good Luck!

[FineTuned]

Thanks for your tips, Blurrman. Here's the distortion I'm talking about.

Looks like the video driver isn't scaling the interlaced frame smoothly.
What graphics chipset do you have in your notebook? See whether you have enable the overlay mode for video playback.
When you resize the video preview window does the distortion change or disappear? Try a full scale preview (ie. preview window resolution exactly same as your video resolution).

You can try Sony Vega or Adobe Premiere (as suggested by Blurrman) if you want better control over the output quality.....if you don't mind taking the time over the extended learning curve.

[blurrman]

hi sugarfree,

what is your outcome? don't la just leave us here...

[Sugarfree]

Looks like the video driver isn't scaling the interlaced frame smoothly.
What graphics chipset do you have in your notebook? See whether you have enable the overlay mode for video playback.
When you resize the video preview window does the distortion change or disappear? Try a full scale preview (ie. preview window resolution exactly same as your video resolution).

You can try Sony Vega or Adobe Premiere (as suggested by Blurrman) if you want better control over the output quality.....if you don't mind taking the time over the extended learning curve.Thkz for your tips. But seriously, it's just too technical for me. haha. I ain't IT savvy, so hmmm...gimme some time, I think I'll eventually work it out. Just hope it won't take me too long.

Thanks again.

[Sugarfree]

hi sugarfree,

what is your outcome? don't la just leave us here...Nothing yet. Haven't managed to solved the problem yet. What do you think caused the distortion, Blurrman?

[FineTuned]

But seriously, it's just too technical for me. haha.
Sorry for the confusion...I ain't too good at expressing myself most times.

Just to illustrate: is this the kind of distortion you see?
http://www.usj.com.my/bulletin/upload/attachment.php?attachmentid=877&stc=1

When the preview window is made smaller, the same frame looks different:
http://www.usj.com.my/bulletin/upload/attachment.php?attachmentid=876&stc=1

This is what the original still frame (full size but cropped) actually looks like:
http://www.usj.com.my/bulletin/upload/attachment.php?attachmentid=878&stc=1

There is actually nothing wrong - it's just that the video is interlaced and the display driver has removed some lines from the video frame to fit the display box of WMM, thus causing the apparent distortion.

As long as you do not resize your video or change the frame rate during the editing process, your output video will be okay inspite of what you see in the preview window.

[Sugarfree]

Hey, Fine-tuned bro. Sorry but your attachments are invalid. Can use, say, ImageShack, ah, to post? TQ, mate. :)

[FineTuned]

Hey, Fine-tuned bro. Sorry but your attachments are invalid.
Are they? strange, I can see them okay. Maybe I'm fetching them from my browser cache.......sorry.

New links here using imageshack - hope i don't screw this up too.

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/8397/interlacedscalingdistorpk0.jpg
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/7243/interlacedscalingdistorkb0.jpg
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/9832/originalinterlacedframelx0.jpg

Just follow the same sequence as my earlier comments.

[blurrman]

sugarfree,

have u try with adobe premiere?

[Sugarfree]

Are they? strange, I can see them okay. Maybe I'm fetching them from my browser cache.......sorry.

New links here using imageshack - hope i don't screw this up too.

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/8397/interlacedscalingdistorpk0.jpg
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/7243/interlacedscalingdistorkb0.jpg
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/9832/originalinterlacedframelx0.jpg

Just follow the same sequence as my earlier comments.You're right, dude! The distortion is gone! Like magic. Thanks for your enlightment. But there's still one problem. You see, after editing, I want to save the vid in DV-AVI (pal) - but of course, yes! - but the thing is that format is not offerred by Windows Movie Maker. There is only DV-AVI NTSC, which is useless. I did try to save it in NTSC, and as expected, the picture is jerky and all.

So, how?

Thanks for all your help. Appreciate it.

:-- )

[Sugarfree]

sugarfree,

have u try with adobe premiere?Thanks, Blurrman, for the suggestion. Will have to go get my hands on the software.Hehe. Don't have it yet, bro.

You obviously have used Adobe Premiere before. Urmm..I have a question: Does it have a save in DV-AVI (Pal) feature? Windows Movie Maker does not have it. I can only save my completed video in the DV-AVI (NTSC) format in WMM which of course is useless.

Cheers.

:-- )

[FineTuned]

I want to save the vid in DV-AVI (pal) - but of course, yes! - but the thing is that format is not offerred by Windows Movie Maker. There is only DV-AVI NTSC, which is useless. I did try to save it in NTSC, and as expected, the picture is jerky and all.

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/6969/wmmoptionsjc3.jpg
I think you have to check this setting before you import the original movie - not too sure though, because in my opinion, WMM sucks as a video editor so I hardly use it. I now use Sony Vegas after 10 years+ of Adobe Premiere.

[Sugarfree]

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/6969/wmmoptionsjc3.jpg
I think you have to check this setting before you import the original movie - not too sure though, because in my opinion, WMM sucks as a video editor so I hardly use it. I now use Sony Vegas after 10 years+ of Adobe Premiere.WMM doesn't ask me for the video format when I import the movie to it. Hmmm...will check again to see, but I'm sure it doesn't ask me.

I'll definitely get Adobe Premiere.

Thanks.

[FineTuned]

WMM doesn't ask me for the video format when I import the movie to it. Hmmm...will check again to see, but I'm sure it doesn't ask me.
It won't ask you. You have to set it to PAL before you import/capture the movie. Otherwise it thinks you want to edit/output in NTSC mode. I have edited my PAL DVs with WMM before, so it is possible. But on export, WMM insists on recompressing all the timeline, the result is horrible. That is my recollection of my attempts to use WMM - I could be wrong. Faulty memory. :)

Better RTE software like Adobe P. and Sony Vegas will give an option to only recompress edited portions, resulting in faster output and better quality.

Anyway, happy playing with Premiere.....maybe you'll win an Oscar with it.

[blurrman]

pal is 25 frame/s NTSC is 29.97 frame/sec

if u save pal into ntsc it will be jerky, and vice versa. of course there are tools in the net that can do a much better conversion.

but if u purchase the video cam in malaysia, i would say 99.9% will be in PAL format.

in premiere, it allows you to select a pal or ntsc project. once u have selected the format, it will stick with your project till you output.

[Sugarfree]

FineTuned & Blurrman, thanks for your inputs.

Once I get Adobe Premiere, I'll see if it can transform me into another G.Lucas. :D :D