S-4100 HD video quality

[mclark]

I apparently have a uniqu problem (per the help line). When I download HD quality video from both a high def mini DV camera (Canon HV10) or my Vixia HFS10 using the USB port of the S-4100, or the firewire, the video quality is extremely poor, with straight verical lines distoting slightly when the subject or camera are moving when recording the scene (appears like a shimmer when played back at normal speed). Slowing down the image shows this to be due to narrow slightly offset horizontal lines (interlace flicker?). This only occurs with video recorded in HD. DV appears perfectly normal when downloaded, just as on my previous Prestige.

The DVDs of these videos reproduce the effect when played back. The original scenes when downloaded onto my computer, or played direct to a HD TV playback perfectly.

Has anyone else had this experience? I have tried every conceiveable setting on the S-4100 to try to eliminate the issue.

Thanks

[craigpeer]

I have not had that happen. I am using HV10's and HV30's. Do you have more than one camera and firewire cables to try downloading with?

[ASHampton]

How are you setting up your projects? As you may know...the HV10 is 1440x1080...and the HFS-10 is 1920x1080. I would try to to load them in separate projects (setup correctly) and then "clipboard" one over to the other.

[mclark]

Thanks for the feedback. I just copied back a finished piece onto tape on the HV 10 (rather than DVD) and played it back on the HD TV for he first time- perfect result. The issue of the combing effect seems confined to the editing screen (a non HD TV) and shows to a lesser extent on the burned DVD when played on an HD TV. I hear that Macrosystems is working on new OS to address the DVD quality.

I wonder if buying the blu-ray burner is a solution? Thoughts?

[HansJoachimKoenig]

Hi Seth,
when there is different origin footage 1920 and 1440
you first have to decide whether editing in a HD-1440 or HD-1920 project.
It does'nt matter if you import these different formats to either HD-1440
or HD-1920 project for editing.
Then there will be a rendering process "HD to HD" for 1440 or 1920 footage.
So there is no need to import to different HD projects and using the clipboard.
Either method will start a rendering process.

[TimKennelly]

If the HD results out to tape look good then I think you are running into two separate issues.

One, a monitoring one with your specific nonHD monitor and two, the well known crappy HD to SD internal downconvert that all MSUS HD users experience when burning to DVD or exporting an SD version of an HD Project out to tape.

The work around is to export the HD out to tape (as you have this last time) and then re-import it having the cam do a live in-cam HD to SD downconvert with a firewire transfer back into your MSUS equipment to a Project set to SD and then burn (Add Film) to SD DVD.

Another test you could try to verify this is to switch your Arabesk setting to ACVHD and burn a HD version to DVD (twenty minute capacity limit) and verify the resulting AVCHD DVD plays back with excellent results.

This requires a Blu-ray player of course to play back the ACVHD DVD outside your MSUS equipment.

[GrahamJones]

Which version of Bogart are you using? Your problem, despite what the Help Desk might say, is not unique. I had exactly the same issue when I first took delivery of my S4100. It was fixed when I updated to Bogart version 3.2e, from the version that was on the machine when I got it (which I assume was 3.2d, although I can't exactly remember). Someone much smarter than me said the there was a known issue with some S4100 machines that caused this 'jitter', which had been corrected in 3.2e
All the best,

[mclark]

Thanks Tim and Graham. Grahams suggestions seem to be yilding better results - but what a performance! I did upgrade Bogart, but it didnt make alot of difference to the basic problem.

I bought a small HD TV as the monitor for editing this weekend, thinking that use of the HDMI cable would improve the images I view as I am editing. The image quality is better but it introduced a new inconvenience - a slightly jittery image. Is this expected using HDMI direct from the s-4100 to an HDTV? Would using DVI from the s-4100 to HDMI on the TV fix this?

Thanks

[CasablancaExpert]

The monitor settings, particularly on the newer Bogart series editors, and particularly if you are using a Plasma, LCD or most any flat-screen monitor can be very important. So important I presented a Webinar on the topic last month to help folks understand these settings. You will find the streaming video recording of that session here: http://www.casablancaexpert.com/categories/webinarpost (scroll down to the 2nd video - labeled:

Casablanca Webinar - General Session
Held November 11, 2010

I also posted an article about the topic on my CasablancaExpert Blog here: The Terribly Important Settings in Your New Editor.

Hope that helps!

Regards,
Chet

[LouBruno]

I have no problems as I own the same two cameras someplace in my arsenal. I always IMPORT to 1920 X 1440 even with the HFS11. Why? Because ARABESK renders 1440 faster. I always set my project to the aforementioned and the quality is pristine.

Here is an example of the HFS10 or 11....don't remember which one.....click on HD in the lower RIGHT. Any artifacting is the typical YOU TUBE compression mess.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2Fu_n5vMR0