Color Shift with Mainconcept mpg2 codec

PerroneFord

PerroneFord

Deals in Lead
The problem I am having is this. I edit my video on the timeline. I'm using Vegas, but I don't think it matters. When I render my web versions the color is excellent. I am rendering with Windows Media Codec v9, and to Quicktime with the Sorenson 3 Codec. The colors match what I see on the timeline preview on my computer screen.

When I render for DVD with the Mainconcept mpg2 codec, it's as though someone snuck in, turned up my saturation and shifted everything 10% more warm. I feel like I need to desaturate to try to get some natural looking colors in my Mpeg versions. I have also used the Sony h.264 codec and the colors come out nicely on it too.

Mind you, I am talking about the colors BEFORE I create the DVD. I am able to see the color shift in the compressed file on the computer monitor.

Has anyone else experienced this problem? Any advice short of doing a desaturation prior to rendering for DVD?

Thanks.
 
Some help and explanation in needed about this matter really. I have exactly the same problem, and not only me actually. To avoid it, I make some changes using Color Curves.
 
It might be the studio RGB versus computer RGB thing.

Computer files like still images decode to comp. RGB in Vegas.
DV decodes to studio RGB (unless you change the defaults).

WMV9 expects computer RGB levels from Vegas. Nest your .veg and apply the "studio RGB to computer RGB" color correct preset if necessary.
MPEG2 (Vegas') expects studio RGB. No conversion necessary here.
 
I'm not sure I follow here. Assuming that I am looking at all files (avi, wmv, mov, mp2) files on the same computer screen and only the mp2 is oversaturared and red, would the studio/computer RGB issue you describe still apply?
 
Sorry, I don't think I was clear there. It may be that:

A- The levels you see in Vegas usually isn't what your picture is supposed to look like. Vegas' video preview (not the external preview) shows you everything in the picture, but not proper levels when working with video footage.

B- The MPEG2 played back may actually be correct. And that your monitor may be mis-calibrated.
 
I calibrate my monitor regularly. In fact, I calibrated it last week when I started another project.

I desaturated the video in Vegas this morning, rendered to mpeg2 again, and made a new DVD. The look is far more to true. I took it into the movie room just now on the big plasmas (ran color bars on those just now as well), and it looks pretty good colorwise.

I also played another clean video I had off DV tape, and then played Pearl Harbor DVD in the same sitting to see how the colors looked.

All signs lead to there being some kind of shift happening in Mainconcept. I know a number of people have said they like Procoder and TmpEmpg more. I am beginning to understand why.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top