AC90: AC-90 pixel edges or delacing??? No footage useful

J

jimith

Active member
I have been following this forum since September 2012 and vaule the EXPERT advise. I just got my AC-90 and I am waiting for Barry's book. I have a pretty big problem here. I shot some footage to test all the format settings. When I play the files from the camera, or after I store them on my external hard drive, they look great. When I import the files into my editing software I get pixel edging. I don't think it is delacing because it does it in 1080p too. When using 1080p and I pause the footage, most of the edging disappears, but when I return to play it is back. It never goes away in any of the other formats. I just purchased an HP i7 with 2gig graphics and 8 gigs of ram. I also purchased Cyberlink PowerDirector 11 designed for AVC. I have also tried the files in PowerDirector 7, Adobe Elements, and Movie Maker and it does it in all of them also. I mostly film "How To" videos and produce them to DVD. I was using my DVC-30 and was hoping to get atleast that quality from the AC-90. Am I doing something wrong with the camera? I have looked for the same problem on the forum, but haven't see any postings. PLEASE HELP.
Jimac-90 delacing.jpg
 
I'm sure your camera is fine, especially because you said that viewing the footage on a television from the camera looks great. So it's just a matter of getting the settings right in your NLE.

I don't use any of the programs you listed, so you'll have to get advice from someone who uses that software... but the footage is almost certainly fine, you just have to configure the software to work properly with it.
 
hum, not sure but is this only happening while you are previewing the files? what about once you render them out? This is common when previewing depending on what you have your output settings on for previewing, but when you stop the image is crisp. I also don't use the software you mentioned, so I am just guessing. You can do a trial of Adobe and then see if your footage still looks the same.
 
It's not just the preview. It looks the same when I burn a DVD and play it on a HD T.V. The only time it clears some is when I pause with a 1080p file, but ALL other files look like this even when pausing. Hopefully when I burn a Blue Ray, it will be ok, but I need to produce a DVD from HD footage. The best so far is playing the footage from the AC-90 through a digital video camera and capturing it via firewire onto my computer. If I take a HD file, put it into my editing software and burn a DVD it does look better if I play the DVD on a CRT T.V. I Google "pixel edge video" and find that this problem does exist. I just thought using a software program designed for AVC and producing to a DVD it would just look like playing a DVD on a HD T.V. I tried using the SA 480/60i. I thought it would be the same as using my DVC-30, but its not as good as the DVC-30.
 
jimith said:
It's not just the preview. It looks the same when I burn a DVD and play it on a HD T.V. The only time it clears some is when I pause with a 1080p file, but ALL other files look like this even when pausing. Hopefully when I burn a Blue Ray, it will be ok, but I need to produce a DVD from HD footage. The best so far is playing the footage from the AC-90 through a digital video camera and capturing it via firewire onto my computer. If I take a HD file, put it into my editing software and burn a DVD it does look better if I play the DVD on a CRT T.V. I Google "pixel edge video" and find that this problem does exist. I just thought using a software program designed for AVC and producing to a DVD it would just look like playing a DVD on a HD T.V. I tried using the SA 480/60i. I thought it would be the same as using my DVC-30, but its not as good as the DVC-30.
Click to expand...

Ok, you might have 2 different things to take into consideration.

1 is the NLE software you are using and format you are wanting. 1080p is great if on a HDTV, but not from a DVD to HDTV only blue-ray to HDTV (or vimeo, youtube etc).

2 is you are not going to be able to get 1080p quality in a DVD (unless you are a movie studio) you can get good video but it wont happen out of the box. A DVD has limits and rules, same goes with 1080p to SD (DVD). I still have issue I dont like when I make DVD's, but its part of working with video. Also if you are going only to DVD I would shoot in 480I mode and make it easier. So check out this thread and see if it helps you, read the entire thread and follow the link in it, even though you dont use that type of NLE it will help answer some of your questions (even questions you may not know you had)

If the footage looks great in camera, then its something with your NLE. Download a trail version of something and try it out, until you try a few different methods you wont know.

Consumer video is easy point, shoot and burn, professional video is much harder because you have no limits to your project or camera. You will get it, it just takes time to understand. I fail allot, but I keep going till I get it. So dont give up, its worth it. :thumbsup:
 
To reiterate: the footage in your camera is absolutely fine. The AC90 produces excellent footage. You have a workflow problem, not a footage problem. I bring this up because the only way to find the solution is to identify where the problem is.
 
Thanks everyone for helping. I believe the problem is called Aliasing. I actually found a post here by Barry explaining it. http://www.dvxuser.com/articles/article.php/20 While I'm sure there is nothing wrong with the camera, I just hoped there would be settings I was missing because other HD cameras seem to be using the same software I use without any problem. I'll just keep trying, but it is frustrating. Instead of working on projects, I seem to spend a lot of time trying to get everything to work together.
 
Nope the problem isn't aliasing, something is set wrong in your software. The project settings probably dont match your video.
 
Please trust the collective experience of everyone here. What are the odds of Barry and everyone else here pointing you to an incorrect solution? You most likely have a workflow problem with your software. Another more remote possibility would be corruption in your software, from installing newer software over an old version. This issue is in no way specific to your new camcorder. The issue is that your new camcorder uses the newer AVCHD 2.0 file format, and you need to both use software that not only supports AVCHD 2.0, but, equally important, also follow the appropriate steps for importing AVCHD 2.0 footage into your software.

Your PowerDirector11 software is current, and should thus work fine with the AVCHD 2.0 file format. However, it is absolutely critical that you follow the specific steps for importing AVCHD 2.0 properly. If that is not done, then you will most certainly have problems.

Also, if you had either a trial version of PowerDirector or an older version installed on your computer, and then upgraded to the new PowerDirector 11, you could potentially have a bad software install, with some remnants remaining of the old software, that is not compatible with AVCHD 2.0 To eliminate that being any possibility, I would recommend that you do a complete uninstall of your PowerDirector 11 software, and then do a fresh install, in order to insure that you have a good, clean install of the software.

You don't mention what version of Adobe's Premiere Elements you have. But unless you also purchased it recently, it is doubtful that it would be compatible with AVCHD 2.0 If you take a look at page 89 of the Advanced Operating Instructions Manual for your AC90, you will notice under Recording Formats, that ALL of the recording options used by the AC90 use the AVCHD format.

So you need to get away from looking to your camcorder for a solution, and instead focus on the new AVCHD file format, which is a file type that you have never worked with before.
 
OK, but it has happened in three different software programs. Like Barry said, I need to identify the problem. I'm sure the camera is ok, but can I change my filming techniques or settings? If you zoom in with the camera on the "aliasing" it is better. I know I'm not using a professional editing suite, but it is designed for AVC. I am posting on the software forum, but to be honest they are not quite the level of this forum. Usually the response is "It's the camera", "Your computer", or no answer at all. If I use footage with this problem the first thing I will be asked is "What camera are you using"?
 
I vaule everone's input here. That is why I am here. I have spent a lot of time and money in the last few months, and for all of it to come crashing down has put me in a sour mood. Sorry if I ruffled any feathers. I know there is nothing wrong with the camera, I was just hoping for an easy fix. My editing software is out of the box, along with the new computer. It turns out PowerDirector doesn't support progessive, only interlace, but I have the same problem with thoes files. I have downloaded a trial version of Premier Pro CS6. I'm sure that will take care of the problem, but another learning curve and if I buy it it is $800.00. Thanks to everyone, sorry again if I over stepped my place here.
 
Good advice Lance.

Interesting, with the TM900 consumer cam, they included a very useful editor and player, that that lets you do lossless edits, extremely fast and resource friendly, unfortunately only works with the TM900.

But when you get into the pro/semi-pro level, the expectation is you've been around the block so nothing is included, well not exactly nothing, great cam at a great price and includes Barry's book.

Vegas Pro 12 is a nice package at a reasonable price, and can be purchased online and downloaded. The learning curve is unavoidable but Vegas is comparatively easy to learn, has built in tutorial, and powerful too. There is a lite version, don't know what is omitted from that package but there is usually a trade-up offer with Vegas.
 
Jimith, don't feel that you have ruffled any feathers here, forum members are always here to help. We all have experienced "insoluble "problems from time to time. The guys, to a man know this isn't the camera and just want to explore other avenues with you.

It is definitely a settings issue. I have seen this before. A couple of things you must check:
1. Is your software project profile set corrrectly? (the same as your shoot profile- resolution/pal or ntsc settings correct-frame rate correct)
2. The resolution of your monitor set correctly?

Tell us how you are downloading your video to the computer: connecting directly via USB or using a card reader?

Rod
 
I first played the video from the camera to the HD T.V. great picture. I then took the card and put it into my computer. Opened the file and downloaded it to a brand new 3 T USB 3 external hard drive. (It is connected to a USB 3 on the computer) I opened the files from the external hard drive and the files look great. At this point my computer is connected by VGA, but there is no alasing look. I then imported the files into my editing software. Before dropping the files into the timeline, I viewed the files in the editing software's viewer and the look great. When I drop them into the timeline, and play them for editing, I get the alasing look. Now I know I am connected by VGA, but they all looked fine before dropping them into the timeline. I then made files from the 1080/60p format file. The files were MPG4, MPG2, WMV, H.264 ACV. I connected my HDMI and viewed the files. MPG4 no alasing look, but shuttered when montion was in the shot. Like recording in 24p. MPG2 alasing look, WMV looked the best, but some alasing look, H.264 ACV alasing look. I then simply burned a DVD from the file dropped into the timeline. I know it will not be HD. I played the DVD on my computer disc drive and viewed it both through VGA and HDMI and had the alasing look. I also played the DVD on a DVD player connected to a CRT T.V. and have the alasing look. I have been on the forum for my editing software. First post stated that the software does not support 1080p, only interlaced. That I do not believe is true because the software has a setting for either 30 or 60 FPS. The only setting for the file is 30 or 60 FPS and the aspect ratio. I did get a post from someone in the UK using the AC-90 and he said he has no problems. This is why I am wondering if I am just setting something wrong somewere?
 
Yes, you definitely have something set wrong somewhere, but I don't know what it is... perhaps it's a frame rate mismatch (make sure your editing software supports a 1080/60p timeline, *not* 1080i!) and that you have the highest-quality preview turned on. Adobe's creative suite used to ship with the preview monitor set to medium/lousy quality, and caused lots of complaints because of it; just changing the display to high quality fixes a lot of that.
 
It is a setting somewhere in the work flow. You mentioned that you downloaded the trial of CS6 is this what you are using for these tests? If so it will automatically set your sequance to match your video. How about outputing a small 1 minute clip on Vimeo in 720 setting using the Vimeo preset in CS6?
 
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