Advice: FCP–>Compressor–> DVD SP= bad looking dvd

[Victor Fernando pagan]

Dave,
Thank you for the response.
I will try that, and get back you on it. I do have motion graphics in the sequence.
So the 90 minute preset will be okay for a sequence that is over 90 minutes?

[Alan Okey]

[Victor Fernando Pagan] “I have exported the seq using Compressor 3.5.3, and BitVice to Mpeg2 and AC3 audio.”

As was suggested, changing your FCP sequence codec to ProRes 422 will be much kinder on any graphics or text than staying in a DV sequence.

Just to clarify – how are you exporting from FCP? Are you using “export Quicktime movie” to create either a self-contained or reference Quicktime? And you’re using Compressor to create the .ac3 and BitVice to create the .m2v assets, correct? Just making sure there’s no extra compression step happening between FCP and BitVice.

What are your BitVice settings (average and maximum bitrate)? What bit depth is selected for IntraDC? BitVIce is a great encoder, so it’s doubtful that it’s the weak link in the chain.

Can you describe in greater detail the artifacts that you’re seeing from DVD playback? On what devices are you viewing the DVD?

[Victor Fernando pagan]

Alan,
Thank you.
I had tried the Quicktime conversion setting dv ntsc, also the Quicktime export as a self contained, and not self contained. I have also sent straight from the timeline to compressor then export the mpeg, and ac3 file. I have used BitVice after I had seen this issue with the Compressor export. Since I have the BitVice demo, I get a watermark over the default setting. Before I purchased I wanted to make sure it would solve my issue at least. I heard its a great encoder over Compressor. I have been at this for about a week. The average bit rate os 4500, the floor is set at 3.50 and the ceiling at 8.20. (i am saying the BitVice settings from memory). The intraDC is set to 8.

The artifacts are around the blacks, fast motion, and around people and clothing. I am viewing it off 2 different one is a Sony DVD player, on a Sony Bravia 42 inch connected via HDMI, the second is a Samsung DVD player, on a 32 Samsung monitor using RCA video and audio connections.

I hope I was able to get to everything you mentioned before. If not please point it out and I will answer. Thank you again, I am really greatful for any advice here.

[Victor Fernando pagan]

Dave, I will do that. I was not sure if there was a reciepe with the prores and mpeg compression.

Thank you again. 🙂

[Alan Okey]

[Victor Fernando Pagan] “I had tried the Quicktime conversion setting dv ntsc, also the Quicktime export as a self contained, and not self contained.”

Don’t use the Quicktime conversion method, as it adds an unnecessary generation of compression. You can simply change your sequence codec to ProRes 422, then use the export Quicktime movie method, either self-contained or not.

Try bumping up the average bitrate in BitVice, keeping the maximum no higher than 8.3 or so. I’m not sure how high you’ll be able to go and still manage to fit on a single layer DVD, but BitVice will show some improvement with a higher average bitrate, especially with interlaced footage. See if you can go up to 5.5 without going over your size limit. I have on occasion had to bump up the average bitrate to 6.5 on problematic footage, but you probably won’t be able to set it that high and still fit on a single layer DVD. BitVice is much better than Compressor at medium to low bitrates, so you may just be encountering the limits of what can be done given the nature of your source footage.

You might also investigate Innobits’ Video Purifier to see it it helps with artifacts in the blacks. There are also some noise reduction filters in BitVice that might be of use. You could always export a small sample of you sequence and do some test encodings using different filters and settings.

Good luck, and let us know how you make out.

[Victor Fernando pagan]

I am working on exporting now. I am testing it out on a smaller clip first like you said. then. I will take it form there. Will be back later with an update…

[Victor Fernando pagan]

here is the sequence preset i used. Is this okay? Apple ProRes 422 (HQ) NTSC 48 kHz

[Chris Tompkins]

Yes.
Just change your codec in the Sequence settings.

Chris Tompkins
Video Atlanta LLC

[Victor Fernando pagan]

OK so here is what I did and please correct me at any point.

I opened my project. Took the a 6 minute section and copied it from the original DV sequence. I created an entirely new sequence with the ProRes 422 HQ setting. I then pasted my copied section into the ProRes sequence..I rendered the sequence out. I then exported the sequence using export–>quicktime (not self contained). Here are the specs of the exported file.
Apple ProRes 422 (HQ), 720 x 486 (640 x 480), Millions
16-bit Integer (Little Endian), Stereo, 48.000 kHz
16-bit Integer (Little Endian), Stereo, 48.000 kHz.

I then took the ProRes file and imported into BitVice. (Compressor is working as i type).
The setting for BitVice were
Aimed Bitrate 5500
Floor 3.50
Ceiling: 8.5
INTRAdc 8
Audio AC3
Could not adjust purifier because I have the demo.

The dvd project was made in DVD SP the encode settings were set at
two pass vbr
bit rate: 6.8
max bit 9.0
motion estimation: best

Did i miss something or do something wrong here?
Thank you

[Chris Tompkins]

You don’t have to copy the media to a new sequence.
Go to Sequence settings and just change the codec.

The DVDSP encoding settings are ONLY for when you import a mov file and let DVDSP encode files to the proper formats.

Chris Tompkins
Video Atlanta LLC