Kodak Zi6 Playback Problems?

[jbrunn]

I just got this nifty new camera for Christmas. Its a Kodak Zi6 and I really like it but premier elements just keeps giving me problems. I have been using PE 3 for a couple years but it didn't recognize the file type of the camera. So then I got the trial version of PE 7 and it recognized the videos but it gives me weird playback stutters. Its impossible to edit things because its like every other second of video is missing but when I export it everything looks perfect. The only thing that I thought would be messing things up is that I have been recording in 60 frames per second and I don't know how to adjust for that.

[ATR]

jbrunn

I did some quick homework on your the Kodak Zi6. From what I have read, it is a flash memory pocket video camera (technically a HD camcorder) which records in 720p at 60 fps OR 30 fps. So, why did you record at 60 instead of 30?

Be that as it may, I could invoke all sorts of ideas, but I think that you are one of those people who are going to have to Render the Timeline to get a better (decent) preview so that you can edit your video on the Timeline (if you want to). To do this, while in the Edit Mode of Premiere Elements 7, press the Enter key of the computer keyboard and wait for Rendering to be completed. (The red line above the Timeline will turn green when the Rendering is complete.) This can be very time consuming. When you do this, it does not improve the quality of the end product. It just creates temporary files (not in the program interface, rather on the hard drive in the Adobe Preview Folder so that you get a decent Preview. Recent threads here have explored the question of whether to bother Rendering the Timeline by pressing Enter. Many, most say NO. In your case, YES. Keep in mind that, after you Render the Timeline and when you make changes/edit, the green line above the Timeline will turn red again where the Timeline needs to be Rendered again.

Give that a try and let me know how that turns out.

Next time you record from your Kodak, try using 30 fps and see if that eliminates the need for Rendering the Timeline. Also, if that Kodak is a true flash memory camcorder, then you may have Fields: Upper Field First instead of Fields: Lower Field First. If you still have trouble after you Render the Timeline, then right click the video on the Timeline, select Field Options, and dot the "Reverse Field Dominance" and see if that makes any difference. Premiere Elements uses Fields: Lower Field First.

What export route are you using when you hit perfection? BTW, what project preset did you select when you opened Premiere Elements, before you imported your video? We could chat further about those project presets and your specific import, but let us see if we do OK with the present suggestions. Did you import using Premiere Elements Get Media/Files & Folders.

ATR

[jbrunn]

Ok so I went snowboarding today and got some more video. This time I imported from the video through PE and not through this program that came with the camera. The results were pretty much the same. Rendering made it better but still not very good. I was shooting with 60fps because I can slow things down without the video getting choppy and with action it seemed to really improve the video quality at regular speed. 30fps didn't seem to change anything though. I tried the reverse field option too and it did nothing. I think it might have some thing to do with project preferences or something though because when I export it it doesnt look as high of quality as when I just play the original file without PE. I have been using the flash camera 720 setting. Do you think this is just a bad format? because I could always take the camera back even though i really like it cuz there is no way I can render everything to edit it.

[ATR]

Pass that by me one more time....how are you exporting the content of the Timeline (that you cannot edit) to get an end product that you say looks acceptable. What is that Export route, and what are the settings. And, what are you using for playback of this "good" end product? Are you making a DVD-VIDEO from your 720p recordings?

If the latter is the case, we may be looking at a problem that Premiere Elements is having downsizing 720p (1280 x 720) to 480i (720 x 480). In those circumstances, the recommended workaround is downsizing in the camcorder. But you do not appear to have that option with your camcorder. But, that does not make sense, poor preview and good end product. That sounds like a need to Render the Timeline. You say that helps, but still does not give you acceptable results.

The other issue is the choice of project preset. In Premiere Elements 7, there is no 720p under the Project Preset category of "Hard Drive and Flash Memory Camcorders". So, that would point you to the Project Preset of "HDV" and use of HDV 720p30. You could try that with and without reverse field dominance. But, I need to qualify one point: 720p, No Fields; 1080i, you deal with Lower or Upper Field First issues. Another feature that you could try is the Anti-Flicker Filter found in Properties/Motion Panel/Anti-Flicker Filter at bottom of Motion Panel.

You may get to where you have to convert the HD MPEG2 into another format and then bring that into Premiere Elements.

But, the pieces are not fitting together yet. I need to know what this export of yours is that is giving you good results. It is a wild idea, but whatever it is, can you take that back into Premiere Elements and edit that.

There are a lot more pieces we need to put together.

To be continued..........

ATR

[jbrunn]

Ok so I tryed going through everything to get a good export and I really couldn't get a good one unless I used 60 fps and slowed it to 50% using the mpeg 1 720p format. but the quality of the video after was not nearly as good as the original.

Unfortunatly I just don't think there's going to be an easy fix for this camera. So my next question is: What would be a better camera so that it works flawlessly with PE?

[ATR]

One of the miniDV camcorders with a Firewire connection to your computer's built in Firewire port.

If you buy one of these that offers HD as well as SD and you are going to be exporting your edited version to DVD-VIDEO format (4:3 or 16:9) on a DVD disc, then remember to downsize in the camcorder for best results before capture via Firewire via Premiere Elements.

Another handy feature to look for in the miniDV camcorder is one where it allows you to send the edited video back to the camcorder.

Key: DV AVI is the native format of Premiere Elements, and the miniDV camcorder/Firewire/capture Premiere Elements route gives you that.

ATR
(Before you give up on the Kodak, you may want to pass your question through the Premiere Elements User to User Forum at Adobe (http://www.adobeforums.com) and see if anyone has used your model's video successfully in Premiere Elements.)
(Have you looked at enough online reviews for the Kodak so you know what to expect quality wise for your recordings?)

[ATR]

Add on....

I am not sure, but I think that your 720p is MPEG2. Did you want to get involved in converting that to DV AVI and then bring the DV AVI version into the Premiere Elements Timeline?

We could look into conversion programs if you want to consider this possibility.

ATR

[jbrunn]

I like mini Dvs but they're too bulky and really I just want a pocketish sized camera. I did some research thoguh and really coun't come up with anything better in a small package... so I think I will try to keep working with the Zi6.

I tryed converting to DV-AVI format using PE but was really unhappy with the quality of the video. When I compared it side by side with the original it had a much smaller frame size and was almost blurry like youtube quality. So maybe I did something worng when I exported it? or maybe there's just a better way to do it or a higher quality format because quality is really the most important thing for me. If all I had to do was convert the video to edit it and I still kept the same quality I would be happy with it.

[ATR]

New Year Resolution....

I am going to rethink this whole Kodak recording business and see what I can come up with.

At the least, you should be able to record in 720p30, import that into Premiere Elements 7 with a project preset for HD 720p30, edit that on the Timeline, and export as 720p30, either:
a. Disc, burn to Blu-Ray disc with Premiere Elements 7
b. Personal Computer, MPEG HD 720p or WMV HD 720p

Any Fields problems should be taken care of with Field Options: Reverse Field Dominance; and, any jittery images should be taken care of with Anti-Flicker Filter in Motion Panel of Properties.

So, I off to meditate on why all of what you have is not fitting neatly into that mold. Flash Memory camcorder angle, frame rate of 60 frames per section angle, need for conversion to another format, other.....???

To be continued....in the New Year. Happy New Year.

ATR

[ATR]

I have serious questions about your Kodak's video format. Is the file extension of your file, .avi or .mov or other?

One link says that the video is H.264 encoded with a .mov file extension.
http://techlime.com/hardware-benchmarks-reviews/kodak-zi6-pocket-video-camera-reviewed

If so, forget about my comment in #4 about "...convert the HD MPEG2...

Do you have the latest version of QuickTime installed on your computer?

Are you using the Kodak Zi6 Archsoft Medialmpression software to obtain the file (in a suitable format for the PC)?

ATR

[jbrunn]

The file extension is .mov but I don't know how to check for H.264.

Yes I have the the latest quicktime.

I was using the media impression software at first but then switched to using PE without noticing any differences.

[ATR]

How adventurous are you with respect to your Kodak and this issue.

How about going back to the Kodak software to get the file saved to your internal hard drive? If the file is there with a .mov file extension, then right click the file and hit Rename. JUST rename the file extension from .mov to .m4v or .mp4.

See if you can get that on the Premiere Elements 7 Timeline so that you can edit it.

Just a thought.

ATR

[GaRsNoW]

I did a quick google search for "choppy Zi6 playback" and found this thread. I dont use elements, but hoping to gain some knowledge/help with this same issue.

Ironically, I got this camera this christmas for my snowboarding project I like to do each year. I took my camera out for the first time yesterday, took my memory card out of the camcorder and placed it into my high speed reader and copied it to my mac. Right from the start, I noticed that the video would skip and couldn't get a smooth playback out of any of my recordings. I was also recording at 60fps btw.

I haven't loaded the video into any editing software yet, but playing the movie in quicktime resulted in a "choppy" playback.

I'm going to try and rename the extension like stated above...if this helps the problem at all I will be back to let you know.

Here is a short video I took yesterday to show you the problem.

(Shot at 60fps)

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh98/Garsnow2004/th_180quarter.jpg (http://s254.photobucket.com/albums/hh98/Garsnow2004/?action=view&current=180quarter.flv)

[ATR]

Thanks for joining in this discussion. We will look forward to your comments.

By the way, I was surprised that you ran into problems since you are a Mac user, and the link cited earlier claimed:

Unfortunately, the MOV files created by the Kodak, whilst Mac-friendly, are not universally supported by PC video editing apps. Pinnacle Studio 12 Plus wouldn’t recognise them, although Adobe Premiere Elements 7, CyberLink PowerDirector and Ulead VideoStudio 11 Plus had no problems.

However, it is interesting to note the part of the quote:
although Adobe Premiere Elements 7, CyberLink PowerDirector and Ulead VideoStudio 11 Plus had no problems.

ATR