Project Settings and Output

[mbauman]

I am new to muvipix, and a novice at PE. I have just upgraded from PE9 to 10 and starting a big project, and a little confused about my project settings. My computer is a Dell xps17, i7-2670QM processor 2.2 GHz with Turbo Boost, 8 GB RAM, NVidia GeForce 3 GB graphics (not sure how much info you need!) My camcorder is a Sony HDR PJ710V which records inHD: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 AVCHD format, STD:MPEG2-PS.

I am primarily going to be working with a variety of sources, including scanned photos (which I know from Steve's book that I need to resize), old VHS which have been converted to DVD, and interviews on my Sony camcorder. The output will be regular DVD for now, as I don't think the recipient has a blu-ray. I am trying to figure out the settings and how to make the workflow the smoothest. I'm thinking from Steve's book that I would pick Hard Disk, Flash Memory Camcorder and the Standard 48kHz setting since the output is going to be standard definition. Is this right?

Also should I convert the video from the camcorder into SD with MPEG streamclip or something before importing it into PE10, since I filmed it in 1920x1080/60i, AVCHD 17M (FH)? Would it have been better to film it in STD 9M to begin with, for the best quality?

I hope these questions aren't too basic. Thanks so much for your help.
Missy

[Steve Grisetti]

If it were me and I had your system, I'd shoot in 1920x1080 60i (not 60p).

If you do that, your video should edit perfectly in a project set up for Full AVCHD 1920x1080.

Note that your cam also has options for shooting in either stereo or 5.1 audio. Whichever you choose, make sure your project settings match there also and you should be good to go!

[mbauman]

Thanks for your quick reply! I'm still a little confused. Should I pick this setting even if I am going to output to SD DVD, not a blu-ray and I don't need to convert the video beforehand?

[mbauman]

Sorry, one other question on the audio. If I use a lavalier mic for the interview I know it changes the audio to mono. How would that affect the setting?

[momoffduty]

Hi Missy & welcome to Muvipix! If the project is going to a DVD (SD) and you are using old VHS video, photos & new stuff from the HD cam, I would make the project SD widescreen and convert the HD portion to SD before editing. The VHS avi files will not fill the screen and have black bars on the side. That portion you could use a motion background or still to fill the screen or place a copy of the video on track 2 & track 1. The track 1 video scale up to fill and add a gaussian blur. If too busy lower the opacity too. (Just edit your video on track 2 and go back later and copy the clips to track 1.)

[mbauman]

Thanks Cheryl! I'll give it a try...I appreciate all the detail on the VHS portion. You saved me a lot of confusion ahead of time!

[Chuck Engels]

Just want to say Hi and Welcome to Muvipix Missy