Best DVD encoder?

[Mike Velte]

While Premiere pro’s Mpeg encoder may not be the best, it is better than many and nearly as good as those better….Canopus ProCoder ($500), CinemaCraft ($2K) and Scenarist hardware ($25K).
Explain the problems you are having.

[Peter Corbett]

Cinemacraft full version by far (for software encoders). Do a 4 or 5 pass encode on long (100min plus) encode and compare the results. Really nice stuff, and at low bit rates the multi-pass VBR really handles the difficult stuff like grass, leaves and fine textures. You can get the 2-pass PPro plugin for 59 bucks.

Peter Corbett
Powerhouse Productions
Australia

[Eyal Gordin]

Hi Mike,
After encoding, the blacks are mushy and not crushed and there are a fair amount of artifacts all around. I’m starting with Mini DV source, so it is not perfect to begin with that’s why I can’t afford losing more quality. I’m a Director of Photography and I edit a montage of my work (4-5) min long. I need to encode a DVD with the absolute best quality. Is The PPRO 2 pass vbr the best PPRO has to offer?

[Eyal Gordin]

Hi Peter,
Is the 2 pass encoder better then the PPRO’s? Is it worth getting the full version?
Thanks
Eyal

[Peter Corbett]

For short duration projects, it’s probably not cost effective. I used to do everything as 8,000kb CBR, but for short stuff I now do 7,000 VBR average with 9,000 max and 3,000 or 4,000 minimum. For 110 mins, I do 5700 average, 8,500 max and 2,500 min.

Peter Corbett
Powerhouse Productions
Australia
http://www.php.com.au

[Eyal Gordin]

Hi Peter,
I tried with these settings but it is just not good enough. Too many artifacts and the blacks are not true blacks…Oh well. I’ll keep searching. Thanks
Eyal

[Peter Corbett]

Artifacts even at a relatively high data rate at 7,500 or 8,000? If there is lot of detail and movement in the frame, it can get tricky, but I’m super fussy and have been impressed with Cinema Craft. I haven’t come across an issue with the blacks in the images.

Peter Corbett
Powerhouse Productions
Australia
http://www.php.com.au

[Eyal Gordin]

I’m using the Premiere Pro settings with Max rate 9.000, Low 1.5000 and target 7.000 2 pass VBR and it comes out mediocre…By the way, would you know what is my best way to digitize my Beta SP sources to preserve its original quality?
Thanks
EG

[Dave Friend]

[Eyal Gordin] “After encoding, the blacks are mushy and not crushed”

Because your source is minidv I suspect you might be having a black level setup problem. It’s a fairly common problem that can occur if your camera and/or vtr is inconsistently handling set-up levels. This link is an interesting tutorial on the problem.

Hope this helps.

Dave

[Hector Melendez]

In my very short experience with Premiere found this:
I saved the timeline or project as usual. Then I downloaded into Ulead Workshop ($500) to make chapters and burn a DVD. The results was very very bad; similar to what you’re describing. Specially at the outside of the disc found stuttering, jumping and when the camera moved produced pixelixation.
I tried Encore; a little bit better… but still not satisfactory.
It could be my PC DVD burner and going to replaced it soon.

Anyway… I then ran the entire sequence (timeline) directly into my Panasonic E-20 standalone. Using the DVD input of the camera, SVHS output to the DVD recorder.. THE RESULTS WERE ATONISHMENT…BEAUTIFUL… Watched the video; no stuttering and the quality was super!
The bad thing is that I haven’t chapters and everything else Workshop does.
Read that PAnasonic is making a model DMR 4670 (not sure the model) that is more flexible to make chapters…

Thinkk this is the answer to keep quality on top
Hope this help.. If you make the try let me know