How to fill SD dvd with as much information from HD project

[Adam Taylor]

I agree that its best if you can edit and capture in HD you should do that. Retain the quality as long as you can before compressing the video.

My commercials are all shot, edited and colour graded in HD before the final compression to SD for transmission.
The result is always a much cleaner final SD master. The extra information in the video also makes for a more accurate colour grade.

I dont know specific numbers but have read (and witnessed first hand) that the higher quality video you use to compress, then the better the compression will be, and at a smaller file size. Theory says its because the extra noise in lower quality images makes more work for the compression software, as it does not know what is to be kept and what is noise. If the noise is less, then it can compress more, but retain the quality. Thats why many people shoot on Red cameras when they are aiming at an online final destination.

Adam Taylor
Video Editor/Audio Mixer/ Compositor/Motion GFX/Barista
Character Options Ltd
Oldham, UK

http://www.sculptedbliss.co.uk
My YouTube Animations Page