Best way to make reliable DVDs…

[Bob Cole]

I’m a PC refugee so my experience may or may not be relevant.

For all of our natural focus on video, I agree with David that the non-AC3 audio is almost definitely the problem. Also, I’ve had situations where encoding the audio at the 228 (?) rate didn’t work, and 192 did.

When I have to do a small run in-house, I use several PCs, a disk image (is that what others call a “build”?); for software: DVD Decrypter (which also verifies the disk very conservatively); for media: Taiyo-Yuden best quality; and I make sure that there are no competing programs which will “poll” the DVD drive during burning. Speeds of 8x are not a problem at all. When it is a very important DVD, I will burn at 1x, though my success with 8x is about 98%.

The other biggie is using less of your physical space on the DVD. The outer edges are particularly vulnerable to errors and physical handling problems, and that’s where the last bits will be recorded. So, use more compression and leave a good part of the DVD empty. I was obsessed with compressing for DVDs at the lowest rate for awhile, until the abovementioned David Weiss persuaded me that you couldn’t really see much of difference between that and a little bit less.

My main reason for being a PC loyalist is my nice real-time, multi-format Digital Rapids card. But I’d like to learn the Mac side. Is there a good tutorial for the mindless (that’s me) on how to use Compressor and DVDSP? The few times I’ve tried it, the difference in terminology from what I’m used to has sent me back to my Digital Rapids card and Encore. But I’d like to try and learn, in case my DR card ever goes up in smoke.

Thanks!

— Bob C

[David Roth weiss]

Bob[Bob Cole] “Is there a good tutorial for the mindless (that’s me) on how to use Compressor and DVDSP?”

Bob,

As you know, your old pal David here just loves dealing with the mindless… Give me a jingle and I’ll give you the 2-minute short course to DVD perfection.

BTW, I’m certain that my good guy points are at a level just about good enough for a dozen Chesapeake Bay crutaceans.

David

David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Post-production Supervisor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles

[Bob Pierce]

Yep, exported straight out of fcp. I’ve re done the dvds using AC-3, buildt the disk out of DVDSP, used toast to burn at 1x. We’ll see if that’s any better. It dropped the size of the build by almost a gigabyte! Thanks again for the help.
Bob

[David Roth weiss]

[BobP] “We’ll see if that’s any better.”

Well Bob, I gotta give you credit for being a good listener. Man, you did it all… I’m absolutely confident that you’ve now conquered your DVD blues, but, I’m equally certain that you simply needed to encode to AC3 audio.

David

David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Post-production Supervisor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles

[Bob Pierce]

Yessir, that was it – all the problems are gone. I’ll be ac3 all the way from now on. Damn, I wish someone told me about this a long time ago! I feel like I owe all you guys a beer. Thanks again!
Bob Pierce

[David Roth weiss]

Bob,

I deserve at least a six pack.

David

David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Post-production Supervisor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles