Best Quality Downconvert – HDV to SD for a DVD???

[Alan Okey]

[THOMASW] “What is the best way to arrive at a standard definition MPEG2 file that can be used as an asset in DVD Studio Pro?

Here are options I have tried and/or am considering.

#1: Use compresser to compress the HDV sequence into an MPEG2 file. I’ve tried “90 minute, 2 pass (best quality) but the result looks a bit soft to me… softer than, say, a standard defintion commercial DVD. So… I’m trying other routes..

Compressor is far from the best MPEG-2 compression software available. Look into BitVice. If money is no object and you have a PC, the Cinemacraft encoder is the best software encoder out there, but it’s $2K.

[THOMASW] #2: Use print-to-video to make an HDV tape of the program, then use use my Canon XLHI camera to make a downcoverted (SP) dub of the program, then digitize the standard def tape into a standard def FCP project, then use compressor to make the MPEG2.

ABSOLUTELY NOT. If you go from HDV to DV, you’ll be adding an additonal stage of compression. If you dub to an analog SD format, you’ll be introducing generation loss.

[THOMASW] #3: This next option seems like it should work, but I’m not getting an image on tape. Downconvert within FCP by using Print-to-Video to make a 720/480 tape of the program. Then digitize the standard def tape into a standard def FCP project, then use compressor to make the MPEG2.

Again, this needlessly adds another stage of compression to the process.

[THOMASW] #4 Finally, I do have a Kona Card inside a G5 with dual processors. Is it an option to use the card to make the downcovert?”

Depends on which card.

Here’s what I would recommend:

Create a new sequence in FCP with the following settings:

29.97fps
720×480
16:9 anamorphic
Uncompressed 8-bit 4:2:2

Drop your HDV sequence into the new SD sequence and render. Output the file as a Quicktime reference movie, using the SD sequence settings (not Quicktime conversion).

Open the Quicktime file in whatever compression software you end up using, and make sure that you select 16:9 anamorphic.

[Chris Rowe]

In my experience, the Kona will produce the best down convert from HDV and will do it in real time.

Chris

[Thomasw]

Chris:

If I understand correctly I would need to capture the Kona SD output in real time on tape (i.e. you can’t tell it to make a quicktime movie). So for this to work I would need either a deck or a camera with SDI or component inputs. Or is there a way I can get a firewire or composite signal from Kona?

Thanks,

Tom

[Thomasw]

Alan:

Just to make sure I understand your suggestion. By “Quicktime Refernce Movie” do you mean the first export option in FCP – i.e. “Quicktime Movie” rather than compressor or quicktime converson? I assume the settings would be same as the SD sequence settings.

…then I would bring the resulting Quicktime movie into Compressor?

Can you explain to me why you believe this would result in a higher quality MPEG2 file — rather than compressing directly from the HDV sequence – which you say is the best of the options I outlined?

Thanks, Tom

[Chris Rowe]

Hi Tom,

I’ve tried the “let Final Cut render it thing” and for me, it looks soft.

I let the Kona do the down convert (this way it is done in hardware instead of software) and send it to a monitor via component analoge if possible. You can then decide if you think I am right. If this looks good to you, you will need to figure out how to get this SD output from the Kona to DVD.

In my situation, I usa a Kona LHe which has component analoge out and send it either to a master tape for achieving or to a Pioneer PVR-LX1 for a hardware recording to DVD. If I need to have a custom DVD, I rip out those MPEG 2 files and AC3 files and author a disk around those files in DVD Studio Pro.

Chris

[Alan Okey]

[THOMASW] “Alan:

Just to make sure I understand your suggestion. By “Quicktime Refernce Movie” do you mean the first export option in FCP – i.e. “Quicktime Movie” rather than compressor or quicktime converson? I assume the settings would be same as the SD sequence settings.

…then I would bring the resulting Quicktime movie into Compressor?

Can you explain to me why you believe this would result in a higher quality MPEG2 file — rather than compressing directly from the HDV sequence – which you say is the best of the options I outlined?

Thanks, Tom”

Tom,

You are correct – creating a Quicktime reference movie is done by selecting the first output option and making sure that “make self-contained” is not checked.

If you use Compressor to compress your MPEG-2 files, then there is no need to export a reference movie. I suggested the reference movie option in case you wanted to use something other than Compressor for MPEG-2 encoding, like BitVice. Sorry if I wasn’t clear.

[Jordan Woods]

maybe this is just a theory, but perhaps you are seeing a soft image because it is coming from HDV? I can’t stand this format, and I’m still wondering why it was pushed on the public… but I know for a fact coming from legitimate HD, like something from HDcam in a 10bit uncompressed world and pushing it through compressor it looks fine on DVD-

so your problem shouldn’t be HD to mpeg2— it should be HDV to mpeg2 which I haven’t done because I don’t cut in HDV, I digitize it at dvcproHD… and no lower compression ever. with hard drive prices so cheap no one should have a problem working at 8-14mb/s

true compressor sucks hard… but hey you didn’t pay for it anyway, it was an add on to FCP. as the proverb goes, “There is Good, Fast, or Cheap… you can only choose two.”

-jordan

Post Production Specialist
The DR Group
Los Angeles, CA

[13]

My HDV run through compressor looks GREST I would check your compressor settings