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Down Scaling HD project for SD DVD- AE or Compressor?
I guess, that is an ongoing Q for a time: I finished a rock concert, shot in full HD, edited & graded in FCP 7.
Now, have to down scale it the best way possible to an SD File, for creating a SD DVD.
Here are my two options:1. Taking the final Online File (Apple ProRes 422) to compressor directly and using the resize filter in there at Best setting to create the DVD File in SD
2. Taking the HD File to AE, resizing there and then take that SD ProRes File to Compressor for encoding for DVD.
I really need the best resizing solution fo this two: we see a lot of close ups of guitars, and guitar strings usually, when not resized properly look terrible very easy.
Thanx for any input.
Greetz,
Sascha
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16 Replies
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I’ve seen arguments for both options.
Can you test a short clip to see?Chris Tompkins
Video Atlanta LLC -
I have no direct comparison but a lot of people have reported that AE is better than Compressor for scaling.
My preference is to use my Kona3 card and it is also the quickest.
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Make a short test file of your most challenging material and compare.
In my experience, I have found Compressor, when using the Frame Controls set to Better or Best, does an excellent resize. I also found doing the downscale first…and not trying to do it combined with the MPEG-2 encode, results in better quality. Make an SD intermediate, either Uncompressed or Pro Res, then encode that to MPEG-2. If its a relatively short piece, use CBR for the MPEG encode and not VBR.
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HI GUys,
thanks for sharing all your advice.
I usually never use VBR, but CBR.I do now 2 tests: One with Compressor and one resizing in AE and then encoding in compressor.
Will let you know, what version comes out better.
Greetings,
Sascha
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HI John,
out of curiosity, when you do CBR, what is the max Average Bitrate you choose?
I know, that some cheaper DVD Players cannot handle too much. I try never to go over 7,5 MBs.
Is that a reasonable value?Thanx.
Sascha
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I usually set my CBR no higher than 7. Any higher is asking for trouble with burned DVDs.
Also use AC3 for your audio instead of Aiff/PCM.
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Hi GUys,
for future encounters with that issue:
My test shows, that the first AE downscaling to SD and then encoding with compressor wins a tight race over the direct in compressor encoding.
The difference is minimal, but there is less Moire issues and less problems with thin lines and stuff like this.
Overall a bit cleaner. Taking a little longer, but not much at all.Sascha
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Thanks for the update Sascha. It confirms previous wisdom espoused here.
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more than welcome!
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Ive been using this workflow using Avi Snyth for several years now and will absolutely blow away and down converting methods on the book
https://www.precomposed.com/blog/2009/07/hd-to-sd-dvd-best-methods/
Also here’s a good tutorial video:
https://bellunevideo.com/tutorials/hd2sdTutorial/hd2sd.html
its PC only but its all freeware
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