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exporting from FCP for DVD quality
Hi all,
I have 10 short videos that each run 2 – 5 minutes, edited in Final Cut Pro, that I need to export and burn to DVD (total time on the DVD is estimated at 45 minutes) . I want the best quality possible for DVD viewing and realize I have to hedge my bets, since everyone’s player is different. Can I get some advice from you about what the best way is to do this? My plan was to export as QT files, and burn on idvd. I normally do one export using QT compressor with these settings: h .264; frame rate = 24 frames, data range at 1500 kbits; video size 640 x 480; sound setting 16 bit and 48 khz.
Thoughts? Suggestions? All help is much appreciated!
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5 Replies
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If you’re most comfortable using iDVD, just export as a normal Quicktime movie (NOT the conversion method) and use the setting that leaves everything the same as the timeline.
Add that to iMovie after you’ve checked the iDVD preferences to make sure the encoding is set at the best quality.
If you’re interested in learning DVD Studio Pro, do this instead:
Export from Final Cut using ‘Export using Compressor.’ In compressor, duplicate any of the DVD pre-sets. Alter the duplicate to give you a CBR file at a 7.1 rate. Also use a dolby audio compression filter. You combine the audio and video files you get in DVD Studio Pro.
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There is a high-end MPEG encoder that was just released for the Mac and works with Compressor. I forgot the name but it’s mentioned in this forum sometime in the last week.
Sean
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thanks Jeff– I AM curious about using my DSP (finally…it just sits there on the computer wondering why I don’t open it!!)…so I will give that a try, but have a follow up question about it:
When I exported into compressor, I see that in order to get the option to set a CBR I need to choose the HD DVD h 264 setting. My video source is mini dv, however. Am I correct that because of this I cannot choose the HD DVD, but instead have to choose mpeg 2? (in which case I have a VBR).
Kim
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You want MPEG II for DVDs, yes.
You can set MPEG II files to either CBR or VBR. What you may be seeing is pre-sets, many of which are VBR, yes.
You can duplicate a pre-set and it makes a copy lower on the list which you can then re-name and alter. Once you’ve done that you can set it to either CBR or VBR or 4:3 or 16:9 or whatever you want.
The pre-sets are great starting points, but I pretty much always alter them in some way before using them.
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Thanks Jeff. I have to double back and deal with another glitch – hope you don’t mind me posting it here to ask you:
When I export from FCP — and strictly export w/o any compression or conversion – the video looks squashed (not the technical term, I know). I cannot for the life of me figure out why this is happening – and although I took a look at the various system and user preferences, I don’t see where I can fix this. The source material is mini DV, shot 4 x 3…any suggestions?
Thanks!
Kim
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