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Video Output Quality Dillema! Help!

by Mystery777
14 replies
Hello,

I've taken some Camtasia videos which I need to edit a lil before exporting as video files.

The Camtasia videos exported are of excellent quality. However, my problem was when I wanted to edit the Camtasia exported videos, using another program and export them again.

I first used Windows Movie Maker to edit and export. The end result was of crappy quality. I did whatever I can to get a higher quality since my videos have tiny details that would only show up on highest quality possible. No use.

I then tried editing using Ulead Video Studio program. Same problem. I've exported the video in all possible formats available, including HDV and such, but no use.

What do you guys do to get excellent quality after editing your video and which program do you use?!
#camtasia #dillema #high quality #output #quality #video #video editing
  • Profile picture of the author Sue Rogers
    I would have just used Camtasia to do the edits. Is there a reason why you didn't?

    If you have a Mac you can use iMovie. Just be sure to use the format DV.

    You can also use FinalCutPro.
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    • Profile picture of the author Mystery777
      Originally Posted by Sue Rogers View Post

      I would have just used Camtasia to do the edits. Is there a reason why you didn't?
      Just realized camtasia also has editing features. Ooops.

      Thing is: these are separate clips that form one long video. Can I still edit the raw file/s? (I mean there is more than one raw file for editing to form the final video)... won't opening the second raw file override the first one?
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  • Profile picture of the author Mystery777
    Originally Posted by Chris Kent View Post

    What format are the Camtastia exports? What resolution is it and what do you want to keep it at, minimum.

    Otherwise it's pure guesswork on my part what you should do.
    The camtasia formats are 640 x 480. actually I think I made a mistake and two of them came out to be: 1024 x 708

    I've exported them in WMV format to be able to import them later in windows movie maker. I believe I can export them in another format from the camtasia raw files, if that helps.

    Thing is, if editing via camtasia as suggested by Sue Rogers above doesn't work... is there no way to get them edited by other software while having the ending exported result of excellent quality?
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  • Profile picture of the author Diver's
    Hi Mystery man..

    if u use Ulead Video Studio, it is powerful enough..convert to .avi format. that should preserve the output in High Quality- but then the file will be a bit bigger.. Mpeg-4 should be fine
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    • Profile picture of the author mpeters7
      Unless you're editing in Windows Movie Maker, WMV is not the best format to edit in. It's more of a delivery format.

      If you're bringing it into Ulead, try using AVI or MOV.
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      • Profile picture of the author Mystery777
        Originally Posted by mpeters7 View Post

        Unless you're editing in Windows Movie Maker, WMV is not the best format to edit in. It's more of a delivery format.

        If you're bringing it into Ulead, try using AVI or MOV.
        I exported them in WMV format to ensure that they could be imported into any video editor later on, like windows movie maker which would hardly accept any other format. But thanks for the tip. Will try it.
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    • Profile picture of the author Mystery777
      Originally Posted by Diver's View Post

      Hi Mystery man..

      if u use Ulead Video Studio, it is powerful enough..convert to .avi format. that should preserve the output in High Quality- but then the file will be a bit bigger.. Mpeg-4 should be fine
      Yeah, I tried avi, but file was too big... plus, although it was relatively better quality than the others, but still not as high quality as I wanted. Still kindda blurry.
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  • Profile picture of the author mpeters7
    I'll be honest in that it's been a long time since I've used WMM, so I don't know what they accept, but for basically any other program, you really really want to avoid WMV.

    It drives me crazy...
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    • Profile picture of the author Mystery777
      Ok, I've tried exporting the original raw camtasia projects files in avi format, then importing them in ULead for editing. Just a small sample to test.

      Exported it as a movie from ULead and the results are amazing! Huge difference between working with wmv versus avi. Ok, now I'll try to do the editing in camtasia itself, without the need to export a movie twice... just trying to get the highest quality possible.

      Thanks for your advices!

      Mystery777
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  • Profile picture of the author defaultuser
    I ran into a similar problem and it has more to do with the original screen resolution you recorded on.

    If you want a 1280 x 720 resolution on your screencast, that's what your native screen resolution needs to be.

    Then when you render the video it will render in the proper resolution and not need to compensate. (hence the poor quality) Render the video out of Camtasia it, and it will be 1280 x 720 just as it was recorded.

    Now if you want to put it on YouTube, and have it easily be seen on a smaller resolution 640 x 480 size YouTube defaults to. You need to either use the pan and zoom features IN Camtasia at those points, or make your native screen resolution smaller... like 800 x 800 when you record.

    Hope that helps
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    • Profile picture of the author lamberw
      Yes, I remember the ball ache and pain of getting the best Camtasia settings while I was learning the ropes for Camtasia.

      I find the following settings good:

      High Quality Downloadable Format

      1280 x 720
      MP4 video
      MP3 video (high bitrate)

      YouTube Videos

      Record in 1280 x 720
      Edit in 1280 x 720
      Produce as 640 x 360
      MP4 video
      MP3 audio (high bitrate)
      Use title clips at the start and end of your videos

      I produced some ugly videos in the early days but now I've got it sussed and it's pretty easy. You will too!
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      • Profile picture of the author defaultuser
        Originally Posted by lamberw View Post

        Yes, I remember the ball ache and pain of getting the best Camtasia settings while I was learning the ropes for Camtasia.

        I find the following settings good:

        High Quality Downloadable Format

        1280 x 720
        MP4 video
        MP3 video (high bitrate)

        YouTube Videos

        Record in 1280 x 720
        Edit in 1280 x 720
        Produce as 640 x 360
        MP4 video
        MP3 audio (high bitrate)
        Use title clips at the start and end of your videos

        I produced some ugly videos in the early days but now I've got it sussed and it's pretty easy. You will too!
        LOL

        Been there done that. But here is the funny part;


        This video is the beginning of our sales funnel

        Yet it still yields 600 - 800 consistent optins per month.

        It is by far the worst professional video I have made to date... but it works.

        Moral of the story?

        You gotta be bad before you are good. Simple as that...

        But if you put in the effort, at the very LEAST you will learn something.
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  • Profile picture of the author misterhu
    I use Ulead because of its effects and transitions but operating it milked my brain when I used it for the first time.
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