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.AVI or .MOV?
My editors edited my film and exported a FULL RESOLUTION file in .AVI
I have imported this file into FINAL CUT, I have made english subtitles and then I have exported a quicktime movie.
My question is: by exporting a .mov quicktime movie, have I lost quality?
Should I export an .avi file to avoid another compression to get the best quality as possible?Your thoughs:
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7 Replies
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Hi Fabrice,
Tray to keep away of the AVI if you can. FC doesn’t like AVI too much. If you just try to put some subtitles in FC, it may work without problem, but if you try to make something else with that footage like apply some effects or animate a layer or so, you can start to have problems.
The problem of going AVI to MOV or back is that you will always lose a generation in the conversion, even if keeping the same specs and codec.
Rafael -
Thanks a lot Rafael.
I am currently compressing my .MOV file (DV PAL ANAMORPHIC 1024×576, 17,6GB) with compressor using the following settings:Video
-MPEG 2 Program Stream
-Extension: m2v
-Stream usage: SD DVD
-Av bit rate: 5.9
-Max bit rate: 7
-Motion estimation: BEST
-Estimated file size: 3.54 GBAudio
-Dolby Digital Professional 2.0
-Target system: DVD VIDEO
-Audio coding mode:2/0
-Sample rate 48 khz
-Data Rate: 192 kbps
-Bit Stream mode: Complete Main
-Dialogue Normalization: -27
-Estimated File Size: 82.4 MB/ HOUR of sourceMy question is: have I made the best compression or could I do better by changing some of the settings?
Thanks!
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Hi Fabrice,
Depending of the length of your movie you may rise the data rate of your MPG2.
If the movie is less than one hour you can even make a Constant Bit Rate MPEG-2 (one pass) with higher data rate.
Two passes VBR MPEG-2 makes sense when the length of the movie is an issue. If your movie is only half hour you must to try to make the MPEG-2 with the higher possible data rate. Just keep in mind that if you go too high some DVD players may have problems playing that
The top data rate for a CBR MPEG-2 is 9 Mbps. That may be a bit too high but you can try some 8/8.5Mbps. If you would be using PCM audio this data rate would be too high, but with the Dolby audio you still have room.
rafael
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Thanks Rafeal.
The movie is 82 minutes long. Do the settings I have used to compress the film make sense then?
Fabrice -
Hi Fabrice,
I think that you still have room to rise a lot your data rate.
The “90 High Best Quality” Preset in Compressor, is designed to use PCM or Dolby audio.
The PCM audio takes around 1.5 Mbps. You will use AC3 that takes only 192 Kbps.
The difference (1.3 Mbps more or less) you can dedicate it to rise the data rate for the picture.
I would try 7.5 average DR and 8.5 max DR. With the audio on top the total data rate still quite below the red line.
This will increase also the size of the MPEG-2 but you still have 800 MB free in your DVD.
I would also think about rising the data rate for the audio. Try the higher you can. The total data rate will still be good. Just keep an eye in the size of the two files.
Rafael -
Thanks again Rafael.
I have compressed the file using Compressor.
I have imported the AC3 and .MOV file into DVD Studio pro.
I guess that I’m almost done but I’m now struggling for the final part.Questions:
1. Should I click on BURN right away on DVD STUDIO PRO?
Should I instead click on ADVANCED BURN–>BUILD AND FORMAT and then drag the files into ROXIO TOAST?
2. I have just now clicked on BUILD and it created a bunch of VTS files:
VTS_01_00
VTS_01_01
VTS_01_02
VTS_01_03
VTS_01_04
I have dragged those into ROXIO without knowing if I was doing and expected to see an AUDIO file of some sort there…but nothing…I would be great if you could give me the final imput to complete this project.
Fabrice
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If DVDSTP lets you build the DVD is because the size and data rate are OK.
All those VTS files are OK. Is how the information get packed in the disc.
Normally I build the DVD and before toasting I have a look in the Mac DVD player.
If is OK I toast it normally in DVDSTP. It won’t make no difference at all the application you use, Toast or even the Burn function of your Mac. Nothing can change in the contents of the DVD.
What is important is that you use good media for the copies.
Rafael
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