DVD Quality: NTSC monitor vs. Computer Monitor/Plasma

I have created a DVD, and I am having an issue with the quality.
When viewed on an NTSC monitor (i.e. my television) everything looks great. When viewed on a computer (various Macs PCs) the custom menu background looks horrible, and the video looks horrible as well.
Everything looks great when putting it together, but when the disc is created the quality suffers.
Since the majority of the people who will view the DVD will be using a computer, does anyone know how to create the DVD so that it looks great for computer users?

Brian,
I'm sorry that your question got subverted. You are new to the forum, and the forum is usually a place you can come to and get help. Your original question: I have created a DVD, and I am having an issue with the quality. is a good question that has come up, over and over, on the forum since the begining of iDVD.
DVDs, as they stand now, were designed to be viewed on TV sets - not computer monitors with much higher resolution than a TV set. Some day soon (perhaps) we will be able to create and view higher resolution discs using new technology that I'm sure will look great on HD TV sets and computer monitors. Until that time, enjoy looking a the DVDs you make on a TV set or less than full screen on a computer monitor. It will be a great video creation learning experience for you and you will be all ready to go when the new technology arrives.
Keep asking questions on the forum - that's the way we ALL learn.

Similar Messages

DVD burned looks darker than FCP video on ntsc monitor

I use a broadcast ntsc monitor to color correct video from FCP via a cinewave capture/output card. My footage was shot mini-dv. Everything looks great on ntsc monitor. I finished the show, color-corrected rendered and all is good. I export mpeg 2 using the mpeg-2 export option from FCP, playback on computer, looks good. I used dvdsp 4, simulator looks good. I burn dvd and view it on same monitor as I was color correcting on. NOW, the dvd looks darker, the contrast is a little heavier, overal levels are muddier and darker. I try another dvd player, same thing. Different monitor - still dark. I take it home, and try it on 2 other dvd players, and it looks perfect on my tv at home.
I've been doing some research, and I thought this might be one of those IRE setup issues, but from what I've read, it looks like if it were an IRE issue, my video on the dvd would appear washed out and brighter, not darker. Again, it looks great on 2 set top dvd players I've tried, as well as the built in apple dvd player on the powerbook screen. On two other set-top boxes, it appears dark and muddy.
Anybody have any experience with this problem?
IRE, or something different?
Thanks

I've been doing some research, and I thought this might be one of those IRE setup issues, but from what I've read, it looks like if it were an IRE issue, my video on the dvd would appear washed out and brighter, not darker. Again, it looks great on 2 set top dvd players I've tried, as well as the built in apple dvd player on the powerbook screen. On two other set-top boxes, it appears dark and muddy.
It sounds like it may be DVD Player or television set-up related. If it behaved the same way on each player/tv then it could have been related to encoding settings, gamma etc. - did you double check the set-ups to make sure?

SIlly NTSC monitor question

This may be a silly question but,
When viewing footage on an NTSC monitor, my footage looks quite different than it does in FCP on the computer screen. If I do color correction just based on the NTSC monitor for DVD output, will that DVD look the same once played on a regular DVD/TV and played on a computer's DVD player?
I ask because when I'm viewing footage on my NTSC monitor, it looks way different on my computer screen and I want my DVDs to look good whether they are played on a regular TV dor though a computer's DVD player.
Thanks

Now you've done it-- opened a whole can o' worms. Lots to consider:
Is your monitor truly a monitor, properly calibrated and set up? Will you be looking at the dvd on the same monitor? Are all the sets to be used for playback set up the same?
The idea of a properly calibrated monitor is that your show should look the same on your monitor as on any other properly calibrated monitor. But that's as far as it goes. There's no accounting for anyone else's tv set. Often manufacturers paint them "hot" and then people crank them even more to overcome less than ideal viewing conditions. So you're doubly hosed from the moment is leaves your hands.
The best you can do is create a show that looks good on a properly set up system and hope for the best.
But don't just rely on the monitor-- learn and use the scopes too.
And then there is the current manufacturers situation with monitors themselves. The industry is in a mess right now, transitioning to lcd-- none of which look really good. I hope Zebulon chimes in here-- a professional engineer who will tell you horror stories if he's in the mood.
And back to your original concern, do not trust your computer monitor in FCP for accurate color or much of anything else except your edits.

External NTSC Monitor - 4:3 and 16:9 Question

I'm trying to find a configuration setting in FCP 5.0 when outputting to an external NTSC monitor that will force the image to "letterbox", rather than crop to 4:3.
I have a nice Sony NTSC monitor, but it's not the model that allows switching between 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios, unfortunately.
I don't want to have to replace this monitor at this time.
I see in the latest version of After Effects I can force the image to "letterbox" in the external monitor. I tested it, and it works perfectly.
Ironically, PhotoShop CS3 does NOT allow you to letterbox your preview to an external monitor. A widescreen formatted file appears cropped in my monitor.
So, my question is can I do this in FCP 5.0? Why am I stuck with a cropped image from a 720x480 aspect ratio? Is there a setting somewhere that will force the preview to letterbox on my monitor?
On a similar note, what will we use to replace NTSC monitors if you're shooting and editing HD?
Thanks so much.

FCP will not unsqueeze the image for you...you need a monitor that has this option.
what will we use to replace NTSC monitors if you're shooting and editing HD?
And HD monitor. But then you need some sort of HD capture card or output device (unless you are working with DVCPRO HD)...even HDV. And then you will need an HD monitor. The cheapest solution might be the Decklink Intensity and small HDTV...the intensity has HDMI out. But this only works if you have a MacPro. The MATROX MXO is next, and it connects via DVI. It can output a signal to an HDTV (component), or to an Apple Cinema Display or Dell 24" Display. That gets you broadcast quality on a computer monitor...believe it, or not!
http://library.creativecow.net/articles/ross_shane/MXO.php
Shane

NTSC Monitor for Pro CS3

I'm a bit embarrassed to post this, but have not been successful at finding the answer in a search.
When I am running w/ dual monitors and an NTSC monitor, what do I need to do w/ PPro so it outputs just the video (or program video, if you will) to the NTSC monitor - vs. outputting what you would normally see on the computer monitor. I assume it is in the ppro set up menu somewhere.
For now I am running CS3 (soon to upgrade to CS5) - I have the GeForce GTX 470 video card and dual monitors. I just recently purchased a NTSC monitor w/ a HDMI input so I've never had to worry about this, but I've grown tired of burning a DVD only to run up stairs to check color on a television (vs. the computer monitor). I (incorrectly) assumed the card would support dual montiors and a NTSC monitor (I realize this is now being a hardware question) because it also had an HDMI out. That being said, I've was able to find some info on this site (which I love btw) and saw that I could add another video card to supply video to a NTSC monitor.....but I still don't know how to limit the source of either card to the video out put of PPro.
Hope that makes sense...any help would be appreciated.
C.

Since I haven't actually done this, so can't be sure if there is a possible problem, follow at your own risk
Premiere will only recognize 1 graphics card for hardware acceleration, so adding a second card doesn't help on that front. Having said that, I would expect you could add a lower cost graphics card to run more monitors, which I have done and it works fine.
Now, as far as running the signal to a TV/monitor it follows that if you get a card that supports the type of output you desire to run the TV/monitor then it all takes care of itself from there.
On my 2 monitor setup I undock the playback monitor and drag it to the second screen where I can make it larger for better viewing of detail. Seems like you should be able to just drag it over to the TV/monitor then when you are ready to watch the playback there instead of on the computer monitor.
Seems straight forward, but perhaps someone who has actually done this will chime in. There may even be a way to duplicate the playback monitor on multiple screens so you can watch it playing on both the computer monitor and the TV/monitor at the same time?? But I'm guessing that will require an external box to split the output signal to the different destinations.
Hope you get it sorted out.

My text flickers like mad on NTSC monitor

I burned a DVD and tested it on my computer LCD screen. It looks fine.
But when I tried it on an NTSC monitor, the intro text flickers like mad.
OK, the fonts are a bit small to squeeze everything on, but it should not flicker as much as it does.
My font face is plain Arial.
The rest of the DVD is OK.
(ps: I did the text in Motion, imported it into FCP and rendered it out ProRes422 HQ). As I say, it looks great on my computer monitor.

the fonts are a bit small to squeeze everything on
this could be your problem
the choice of the text has to be compatable with the rezolution of the CRT - thin horizontal strokes cant be resolved properly and results in flicker
a good rule is to size text so that 30 lines of text can be displayed in the screen hight- if it doesnt fit, throw out some of the text or put it on a separate screen

DVD Quality - LCD vs. PLASMA

How come DVD quality is different on a LCD than on a Plasma. I tested my DVD that I made using iDVD6, and on a LCD the quality is acceptable. Then when I play the DVD on a Plasma display the images appear very bright...almost unrecognizable.
Please help...do my original images need adjusting. How come the images are extra birght? I am handing out this DVD to many people and I need to make sure compatability isn't going to be an issue.
Thanks in advance for the help guys!
Eddie K

Hi Ed,
<Spock mode on>: well, one monitor shows correct content, the other not... what is in both cases identical? the dvd. so, pure logic exclude the dvd misbehaving, doesn't it...?
<Spock mode off>
it is easy to create ugly looking DVDs with iDVD (as long as the input is "ugly"), but as long as your TFT shows acceptable results, why should the dvd been authored wrong??! the few tests I remember told us, iDVD does a ... good job (not exciting/tripleA/GoldenStandard...) but for a consumer product with that much convenience.... excellent.
did you calibrate both displays? (that is a long and boring process....)
you did in both cases use the same dvdplayer with same connection?
how do commercial dvds behave with both monitors?
in my humble opinion, Plasmas are often "mis-adjusted" (too much contrast, much too much colors... what do I say, COLORS!!! )

NTSC Monitor

Can I use the Apple Mini-DVI to Video Adapter,
Part Number: M9319G/A, and set FCP Audio/Video Settings to view the canvas on an NTSC monitor?

The digital to analog conversion that takes place in most camcorders, VTRs or converters is pretty much the same - the quality difference would be the same.
When you set FCP to view "External Video," you're seeing the output of FCP's Canvas or Viewer (depending on which is active). You will not see unrendered clips unless they'll play in RT .. if they are unrendered and playback in RT, you'll see the unrendered version. You will not see what something might look like - such as MPEG-2 encoding ... Firewire output isn't a crystal ball.
Keep in mind that FCP's Canvas window only displays a proxy of the full quality, which is another reason to be viewing on an external TV monitor.
-DH

Viewing FCP on NTSC MONITOR

In my days with PC I used to watch my timeling in Premier Pro on my NTSC monitor. I had a Matrox card with an outbox and connected the svideo out on the box to my monitor.
Now in the Mac Pro I have dual outputs on my ATI Raden card and all I get on my NTSC is a duplicate screen.
Is there no way to do this? No one at Apple is of any help with this.'
Thankds
bobby43

There are plenty of A/D converters on the market, but they have nothing to do with the DVI ports. Those will just give you a second monitor to mirror or extend your computer display.
What camera are you using? Most will convert the signal (FW to the camera, analogue out of the camera to the monitor) but there are some preferences in FCP that you have to set.
For converters, check out the line from Canopus.
rh

Video Output to NTSC monitor

I recently got new furniture, so of course, I unhooked everything and moved it around, and now, for some reason, I can't see video on my NTSC monitor. I know everything is hooked up correctly because I can log and capture and see video on the monitor; the video captures correctly with audio and everything. But when watching video in the timeline, there's nothing happening on the monitor. Any suggestions? Has this happened to anyone else?
I have switched out firewire cables, rebooted the computer, etc. I'm so confused!

#8 External Monitor Viewing.
Shane's Stock Answer #8:
A simple path is mac > firewire > camera or deck > rca cables > tv
Then start up your camera and tv, then open fcp.
Then go View > External video > all frames
Video playback should be Apple firewire NTSC (If you are using an NTSC set)
Audio playback should be Audio follows Video
Techinially, this should send synched video to your TV
If for some reason you can't view your timeline on your external monitor, there are a few things to try:
1) Make sure that the camera/deck is connected and powered on BEFORE you open FCP.
2) In the Final Cut Pro menu select AUDIO/VIDEO Preferences and make sure your signal is being sent out thru Firewire DV.
3) Go to the menu and select VIEW>EXTERNAL>ALL FRAMES.
4) Click in the % box above the image and select FIT TO WINDOW.
5) Go to VIEW->refresh A/V devices
6) Make sure the Log & Capture window is closed
If you want it to play in both the canvas and the external monitor you need to go to the FINAL CUT PRO menu and select AUDIO/VIDIO settings and make sure MIRROR ON DESKTOP is selected under the PLAYBACK OUTPUT section
Shane

Firewire out to NTSC monitor.....no luck

I've tried the things suggested on this board and I have no luck getting video out to my NTSC monitor. When I go to View -> Video playback, I only get two choices, "none" or "digital cinema desktop preview - main". When I selectr "external video -> All Frames, the setting doesnt stick.
I have my MacPro's Firewire going to the DV input of my DVD recorder and the analog outputs to the monitor. Could it be that FCP simply doesn't recoginze my DVD recorder as a device? Hopefully I'm just missing something here.

Chris, I've tried to do what I think you're doing now, with a different objective - getting my FCP sequence to record directly via FireWire to my Samsung DVD recorder. And that didn't work either. I think the reason is for External Video to see a DV signal, it has to be both DV in and out. Since the DV FireWire cable you're hooking up to your DVD Recorder does not allow FCP to receive a DV signal, FCP is not recognizing the Recorder as a DV source. Does that make sense? I think you need to do as Jerry suggessts and get a DV deck or camera - I've seen JVCs selling for under $200!

External NTSC monitor viewing?

I have an NTSC monitor hooked up to my JVC mini dv deck for use with FCP. Plays back fine in FCP. How do I configure so I can see it when working in DVD Studio Pro? Simulator is all I can figure out.
Thanks!

there is no facility to monitor using an NTSC or PAL monitor in DVDSP
only work around is to burn a test disc and play back in a DVD player

NTSC monitor as second monitor??

INTEL Tower, dual.
I'm running a Cinema display, and another 16:9 LCD display. Is there any way I can use a SONY NTSC monitor as my second display coming out of the DVI? Replacing the 2nd LCD of course.
And without having to reduce my Cinema display to a VGA resolution?
All ears,
Ben

One piece of information was unclear based on your wording so i will assume that you DO have a dual DVI graphics card in the tower. If this assumption is incorrect, just let me know.
Steps: -Attach both monitors into their separate DVI ports in the graphics card on your computer.
-Go to System Preferences>Displays.
-Click Detect Displays.
-Go to arrangement and uncheck the mirror displays box.
-Arrange them however you would like; the primary display will be fixed in the middle and the secondary display will be free to move anywhere around the primary display.
That should do it!
Any questions?

Clips not showing up on NTSC monitor when editing

I have a Sony DSR-11 and Sony NTSC monitor connected to my computer.The clips are not showing up on the monitor when I am editing. They show up when I am in Log and Capture. Is there anything I can do to get this to work again?
Thanks

Start with the basics.
View> video playback > apple firewire ntsc (or pal if you swing that way)
View> external video > all frames
View> external audio > audio follows video
View> refresh all devices
x

Stuttering Motion Effects on NTSC monitor

I'm doing a couple of DV-NTSC projects where I'm making some graphics with Motion. And while everything else looks good played back on my external monitor (FireWire route thru DSR11), any Motion clips I make with the 3D Camera Swerve effect stutters and flickers like crazy. The clips look fine on the computer screen and exported QuickTimes and WMV's also look normal. It's just the analog connection to my professional JVC NTSC monitor that's driving me nuts. Is this something I need to worry about if I have to output to tape as well as a digital file (which of course looks OK also)? If so, what can I do to make the tape output look smooth? The de-interlace and deflicker filters don't help.

Are you talking about output from Motion itself or from a Motion project on your FCP timeline?
Do you still have this problem when you render the clip out of motion and replace the Motion project in your timeline with it's actual rendered output?

DVD Quality: NTSC monitor vs. Computer Monitor/Plasma

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