Please help, Video Quality Problem

[VideoGirl]

I create videos. I have for years, and have always used the same editing software: Pinnacle. Suddenly and without warning, the video images on my computer went blurry, as well as appearing jagged. After doing everything I knew how, including contacting technical support through Pinnacle - the problem was still unsolved.

The computer was still under warranty for 6 months, so I took it in for repair. The sent it out to be repaired twice, altogether taking over a month. During this time they replaced the graphics card. However, the video still appeared blurry and all problems were still present.

Coming to the conclusion that the processor or memory must be damaged somehow, I got a new computer. Brand new. The second best graphics card on the market. It has everything. Also, I got the new version of Pinnacle from the store, to save myself from any software problems that may occur.

The video is still blurry. It's unbelievable! I am playing sample clips from both Pinnacle and Windows Movie Maker and they are blurry and pixilated. All settings have been checked, connections secured. The monitor is working, although that couldn't be the problem, because when they looked at it to be repaired, it was blurry on their hookups and monitors.

This is the most frustrating problem I have ever had with a computer. If you can offer any help or advice as to what might be causing this, I would greatly appreciate any input. I have a project to do, that has already been set back over a month.

Thank you.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

So do every videos look blurry now, or just ones you've made?

Try playing the videos with VLC Media Player and see if they're fine or not.
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-windows.html

When did this start?

What Operating System?

Also, I'm moving this to the Software Section because I strongly think this is a software issue, not hardware.

[VideoGirl]

All videos are blurry - videos that I have made are more blurry, but nothing is perfectly clear, even store bought DVDs.

This started randomly in January, nothing had changed.

It's a Gateway LX8610-01
Intel Core 2 Quad CPU Q8200 @ 2.33GHz 2.34GHz
Memory (RAM): 8 GB
64-Bit Operating System
Windows Vista

Resolution: 1280 x 1024 32 bit

Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GT 120

Also, my video editing software is Pinnacle Studio Ultimate 12.1. I don't see how this could be a software problem, being that this is a new computer and new software.

Thank you for your reply, I appreciate it.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

How was VLC media player?

[VideoGirl]

I have dialup, so it'll take a while to check that. I highly doubt it will work when none of the others do.

I'm stumped. I don't know what could cause blurry video, when it's not the computer or the software. Everything is new!

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

My current theory is that there is a codec missing or corrupt which is causing this blurriness.
VLC Media Player comes with its own codecs which is why I suggest trying it out.

Think of VLC Media Player as a Universal Media player.

[VideoGirl]

Ok, I will give it a shot. Thank you.

You think there could be a codec missing even when this happened suddenly, and then again when everything is brand new?

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

You think there could be a codec missing even when this happened suddenly, and then again when everything is brand new?

It's possible, but not guaranteed. Try this first.

If it doesn't work, there are other methods to try.

[Dias de verano]

I know this is a long shot... but have you recently started wearing glasses, or got a new prescription?

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

*sigh*.....

[Dias de verano]

*sigh*.....

Well, you never know, Mr Rolls Eyes!

[VideoGirl]

Haha, no. Besides, several people who have been trying to help me fix this problem are also seeing the blurriness. We can't all be visually impaired, can we?

[Dias de verano]

What format are these videos in? I take it that when you got the new computer you got a new monitor?

[VideoGirl]

I've tried .avi, .mpg, as well as .wmv.

No, I did not get a new monitor. I have considered that could be the problem, of course - but the video was blurry even when they were trying to repair it using their monitors.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

VLC?

[VideoGirl]

No. VLC is still blurry. 

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Strange.....

When you Right Click the Desktop, do you get any option to go to Graphics Properties?

[VideoGirl]

The control panel for the graphics card, yes.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

For me, when I click on Graphics Properties, A new window comes up that allows me to change my Graphics Settings.
There is a button called Video Overlay where I can change how Videos are presented.

Anything like that for you?

[VideoGirl]

No, for me my only option is "NVIDIA Control Panel", which is my graphics card.

I don't see anything about video overlay. I have the option to adjust image settings, change resolution, adjust video image settings, etc. Which I have adjusted back and forth trying to see if it made a difference, it did not.

I do have Windows Vista with the new computer, which I am not familiar with. Would this "graphics properties" be located somewhere different than Windows XP?

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Most likely in Control Panel somewhere.

[VideoGirl]

I can't find it. I found it on the computer I am currently on, which still has XP - but not the one that has the problem.

[Dias de verano]

If the monitor being used is an LCD monitor, the display settings need to be set so that the display (desktop) area is at the native resolution of the monitor. That is, if the monitor has - for example - a 1280 x 1024 pixel panel, then the display needs to be set to 1280 x 1024. They need to match. So that 1 pixel on the screen equals 1 pixel on the computer's display. If this is not the case, then the display will look distinctly peculiar because the monitor will be trying to map (say) 1280 pixels into 1024 or vice versa and it won't divide exactly. Videos and still images will look rather odd, (How do photos look?) especially to people who are used to assessing image quality. In text display, fonts will look awful too. So I would be very interested to check display settings. If this has been done,  I would be getting suspicious of the monitor. But you say that other people's monitors show the blurriness also. You say that store bought DVDs look blurry. If they look blurry on other people's monitors, I would suspect an outbreak of infectious myopia or hysterical blindness perhaps?

As for display properties, Vista changed a lot of things from XP making the new Vista user quite in the dark when it comes to finding features and options that he/she has gotten used to in older Windows versions. One such feature is the Display Properties. If you right-click on your desktop wallpaper, you might confused where that old Display Properties went.

For Vista, you get the “Personalize” option in the context menu. This replaces the Display Properties of old and has these options:

* Window Color and Appearance - Change the color of windows. Has a nice collection of color sets to choose from. Even has a color intensity slider.
   
* Desktop Background - Default wallpapers can be boring so customize your look with this.

* Screen Saver - Pretty much self-explanatory. I’m not a big fan of screen savers so the default works nicely for me.

* Sounds - Previously hidden with Control Panel, now you can easily change the way emptying the Recycle Bin sounds through this option. Still pretty much the same, though except for its availability in the Personalize window.

* Mouse Pointers - If you want to change your how your mouse pointer looks, this is your menu. Again, I’ve a default fan.

* Themes - Lets you switch between Windows Vista Basic, Standard (Aero), and Classic. So if you miss the old Windows 98 look, fire up Windows Classic by all means.

* Display Settings - The same old display settings that lets you tweak the resolution, DPI and monitor/desktop layout.

I can't find it. I found it on the computer I am currently on, which still has XP - but not the one that has the problem.

So the XP one doesn't have the problem?

[VideoGirl]

Hysterical blindness it is!

It's a plasma monitor. I have set the display settings on the monitor to the factory setting of 1680 x 1050. The monitor settings were not set the same, I just changed them - but there was no change. Good try though, I hadn't done that yet.

I suppose it couldn't hurt to hook it up to another monitor, but yes - it was blurry at the repair location as well, on their monitors using their hookups.

Windows Vista isn't easy to learn, and quite different. I went into the "Personalize" option, but still did not find the "Overlay" option.

Photos appear clear, it's only moving images that appear jagged and blurry.

The XP computer does also have the problem, although I don't use it for video projects.

Both computers are connected to the same monitor using a splitter. I have tried going straight from the computer (the new one) to the monitor, but it made no difference. The only other thing they are both connected to is the power strip, which I highly doubt would be causing this problem.

[VideoGirl]

Replaced wires, checked monitor. Still blurry. 

[BC_Programmer]

what is the resolution of the video you are trying to play?

[VideoGirl]

Resolution: 720 x 480, I believe. It's a sample video from Pinnacle.

I also tried a demo of Adobe Premiere, and it was also blurry. So I highly doubt this could be a software problem.

[BC_Programmer]

Bilinear interpolation of the video might be making it appear blurry on your higher resolution monitor.

Is it possible to get a screenshot?

[VideoGirl]

You want a screenshot of the video? Sure.

[VideoGirl]

This is from the sample video. Notice that the image is blurry, as well as the edges are jagged. It's even more noticable when the video is playing.

[Dias de verano]

Monitor

1680 x 1050

Video

Code: [Select]

720 x 480

Bilinear interpolation of the video might be making it appear blurry on your higher resolution monitor.

Yup. Do the jagginess & blurring vanish or reduce if you watch the video in a window at 1:1 resolution?

It's a plasma monitor.

I think this might have something to do with it, especially if any kind of upscaling or image enhancement or motion compensation features are enabled internally in the display, which sounds like it could be a type intended for TV, home cinema & A/V use...

[VideoGirl]

Yes, it is less noticable when I watch it in less resolution. But the thing is, in all of the years I have edited video, this has never been a problem. My monitor has not changed, and it worked before?

[Dias de verano]

Maybe you should find a more video orientated forum?

[VideoGirl]

I've tried that. I've posted on several over this past month.

Thank you for trying.

[Dias de verano]

The only thing I can think of is a codec change [or expiry? There is an mpeg2 codec which has an annual subscription and times out if you don't pay]. How are you viewing the videos (what software? e.g. Windows Media Player?)

[VideoGirl]

I don't believe I have any codecs missing, I've always used Pinnacle, and have never had to renew a subscription of any kind before.

I view the videos with Windows Media Player.

[VideoGirl]

I updated the driver for my graphics card, installed it, and there is no change.

Also today, I took my computer to a friend's house and used their monitor and it was also blurry/pixilated on their monitor.

Any other ideas?

[BC_Programmer]

the resolution of your video is lower then it was before (when it wasn't "blurry")

[VideoGirl]

Yes. I have played videos that I've made two years ago, that were once crystal clear, and they are now blurry and pixilated. They are still clear when played in a stand alone DVD player.

[Dias de verano]

What about any "hardware acceleration" features in the video card driver?

[VideoGirl]

I tried that too. It doesn't allow it. It says, "Your current display driver does not allow changes to be made to hardware acceleration settings."

[Dias de verano]

I tried that too. It doesn't allow it. It says, "Your current display driver does not allow changes to be made to hardware acceleration settings."

Were you logged in as administrator when you tried this?

[VideoGirl]

Yes, there aren't separate user accounts.

I'm not sure if it will help, but here is some additional information about my computer:

Brand: Gateway
Model: LX6810-01
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q800 (2.33 GHz)
Processor Main Features: 64 bit Quad-Core Processor
Cache Per Processor: 4MB L2 Cache
Memory: 8GB DDR2 800
Hard Drive: 640 GB SATA II (7200RPM, 16MB Cache)
Optical Drive 1: 18x DVD +/- RW Super Multi-Format Dual Layer Drive featuring Labelflash Technology
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT120 Graphics, 1GB DDR2 Total Video Memory
Audio: 8-Channel (7.1) High Definition Audio with Dolby Home Theater Sound
Ethernet: 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet LAN
Power Supply: 550W
Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit
Special Features: Analog/Digital TV Tuner with 3-D Comb Filter
Ports: (1) Analog TV, (1) ATSC Antenna, (1) S-Video, (1) Stereo Mini-jack Audio, plus S-Video to Composite Video dongle
 
CPU:
CPU Type: Core 2 Quad
Intalled Qty: 1
CPU FSB: 1333MHz
CPU Speed: Q800(2.33 GHz)
L2 Cache Per CPU: 4MB
CPU Socket Type: LGA 775
CPU Main Features: 64 bit Quad Core Processor

Graphics:
GPU/VPU Type: NVIDIA GeForce GT120
Graphics Interface: PCI Express x16
 
Memory:
Memory Capacity: 8GB DDR2
Memory Speed: DDR2 800
Form Factor: DIMM 240-pin
Memory Spec: 2GB x 4
 
Hard Drive:
HD Capacity: 640GB
HD Interface: SATA II
HD RPM: 7200rpm
 
Back Panel Ports:
PS/2: 2
Video Ports: 1 VGA, 1 DVI, 1 HDMI
Rear USB: 4
Rear IEEE 1394: 1
RJ45: 1 port
Rear Audio Ports: 6 ports

Additional information about my graphics card:
NVIDIA GeForce GT 120
RAM: 1 GB
Driver version: 182.08
Stream processors: 32
Core clock: 550 MHz
Shader clock: 1350 MHz
Memory clock: 510 MHz (1020 MHz data rate)
Memory interface: 128-bit
Total available graphics memory: 2816 MB
Dedicated video memory: 1024 MB
System video memory: 0 MB
Shared system memory: 1792 MB
Video BIOS version: 62.94.4A.00.24
IRQ: 24
Bus: PCI Express x16 Gen2
DirectX version: 10

[VideoGirl]

I adjusted the settings for my graphics card over and over... especially the antialiasing settings. It took forever to figure out how to get to them. That did improve the quality slightly... althought still not acceptable.

If anyone has more knowledge about graphics cards, is there a setting that would improve the image more?

Here are the settings for my graphics card and the options it provides:

Anisotropic filtering: Application controlled, Off, 2x,4x, 8x, 16x
Antialiasing - Gamma correction: On, Off
Antialiasing - Mode: Application Controlled, Off, Enhance Application Setting, Override any application setting
Antialiasing - Setting: Application Controlled, 2x, 4x, 8xQ, 8x, 16x, 16xQ
Antialiasing - Transparency: Off, Multisampling, Supersampling
Conformant texture clamp: Use Hardware, Off, Use OpenGL Specification
Error Reporting: On, Off
Extenstion Limit: On, Off
Force mipmaps: None, Bilinear, Trilinear
Maximum Pre-rendered frames: 3, 0, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Multi Display/mixed GPU acceleration: Multiple Display Performance Mode, Single Display Performance Mode, Compatibility Performance Mode, Single GPU multiple display performance mode
Texture filtering - Anisotropic sample optimization: On, Off 
Texture filtering - Negative LOD bias: Allow, Clamp
Texture filtering - Quality: Quality, High Quality, Performance, High Performance
Texture filtering - Trilinear Optimization: On, Off
Threaded Optimization: Auto, On, Off
Triple Buffering: On, Off
Vertical Sync: Use 3D Application setting, Force On, Force Off

[Kurtiskain]

I imagine when you say pinnacle...you mean Avid liquid?

I use Liquid 7 and have encountered this once when playing back captured video with a x1900, so it was both ATi Cards...

The video was as if it had been put through some horrible filter, and it was all torn up and blocky.

I had to uninstall drivers, install the windows drivers, then reinstall the latest ATi drivers to get it to play my videos normally again.

[VideoGirl]

No, Studio - Pinnacle Studio Ultimate 12.1

My preview is still pixilated and "blocky". But if I render "upcompressed frames", I get vertical lines but everything else goes away. If I render DV, then I get some blurriness, but the lines go away.

I guess I can only have it one way or other other and not both.

[truenorth]

VideoGirl, I am coming late to the party.I have read all the post and indeed there seems to be little that has not been suggested or tried.As i understand it the only commonalities to this ongoing issue is the monitor and the cables connecting it to the computer.Everything else has been changed.Therefore my suggestion is:given that you purchased a new version of Pinnacle (at the time of the new computer/graphics card purchase) i think it is time to recall Pinnacle and get them to step by step lead you through their software. If at all possible i would urge a telephone conversation as opposed to an e-mail route unless you have the patience of Job. However this still leaves me puzzled as to why 1. This "suddenly" occurred. 2.That you have problems with video that was created before the issue arose and was not a problem then but is now (Pinnacle should have no affect on that video now). The more i think of this the more it seems logical that it is the monitor somehow.Except that the "repair shop" monitors also displayed the same result (whereas at that point the commonality was the computer).Ouch! Is there any difference in the video quality when it is played on one/any of your computer based software programs on the computer's monitor as opposed to burned to a disc and played on a remote optical device?Kudos foryour perseverance.truenorth

[VideoGirl]

To anyone interested to know the solution to this problem, I still do not know. BUT the support at Gateway (which is rather good) sent me a driver to install. I did, and that helped a lot. Along with adjusting the settings on my graphics card, my video is now acceptable. I am currently working on my project, and will pursue other options at a later time. The video is still not perfect, but it will do for now.

In the meantime, if you come up with any genius ideas as to what could be causing the fuzziness/flickering still present, I am open to trying anything!

Thank you to everyone who offered their help. I greatly appreciated it!

[Kurtiskain]

Just recapping...did you check codecs/project quality?

are you using NTSC/PAL ect