Importing using XDCAM log and Transfer

[Christina Ricci]

Not necessary because my time line settings are set to ProRes. To check this, open your .mov file or output using QT and look at the inspector as shown below. its confirms that it is in fact Apple ProRes formatted. I do not use QT Conversion. I hear it adds double compression and not necessary. Going straight to QT is fine. It maintains the timeline settings.

Confirmation that it is ProRes:

[Michael Palmer]

So you think you have issues with the rewrap and that is causing a poor DVD output?

Craig is right about the rewrap being lose less. I don’t think you are missing anything using XD Cam Transfer to rewrap, as there are no setting you need to make. It doesn’t create proxy files it only rewraps the EX files.

I have given you my workflow and the way I see it I’m just transcoding my final edit exporting once as ProRez and it IMHO it is better for Compressor to compress a SD DVD.

What is your workflow to compress for a DVD?
How are you monitoring the timelime and final DVD to determine these artifacts you see?

Good Luck
Michael Palmer

[Christina Ricci]

What is your workflow to compress for a DVD?

I output using File > Export > Quicktime Movie > Current settings and self contained
Then I add .mov file to Compressor and drop in the DVD 90 Minute Best Quality settings.
Then I import the mv2 and ac3 into DVD Studio Pro. I worry that DVD studio Pro is compressing further but thread I have read says it detects this and doesn’t.

How are you monitoring the timelime and final DVD to determine these artifacts you see?

I make a dvd and view on my HD Samsung tv. When I view the .mov file from my ipad to the tv via hdmi cable it looks fine. It is just the DVD that look really bad on the computer and tv.

[Don Greening]

[christina ricci] “It is just the DVD that look really bad on the computer and tv.”

Try this:

go back to your SD timeline and apply the flicker filter. Well set it to MAX first in the Browser and then apply it to all your clips. This will get rid of motion artifacts and line twitter. Motion artifacts happen when there’s too much detail dialed in to the camera and you’re going from HD to SD. All that HD detail is faithfully reproduced during the compression process (making a DVD from an HD source) and this leads to big time motion artifacts.

If you believe that your video is being compromised during the re-wrap to MOV then try trashing the preference file for XDCAM Transfer. The path is: Macintosh HD>user>yourname> library>preferences. Look for the filename: “com.sony.bprl.xdcamtransfer.plist” without the quotes. Trash this preference file (as in put it in the trash bin) and restart XDCAM Transfer. This will put the program into its default state. See if that solves it. Make sure you also re-navigate to where you want the converted media to again reside by using the preferences menu.

Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com

[Christina Ricci]

Don,

Thank you. I will try this. My timeline is HD.

Christina

[Christina Ricci]

Don,

Thank you. I did try both of your suggestions and no go. I am beginning to think it is an encoding issue from Compressor based on other threads I am reading. Can you suggest an encoder better than compressor (for MAC)?

Christina

[Don Greening]

[christina ricci] “Can you suggest an encoder better than compressor (for MAC)?”

Sure. It’s called BitVice and you can find it here: https://www.innobits.com/

But honestly, I can produce fine looking SD DVDs using Final Cut Studio so I wish I was able to look over your shoulder to see what’s happening. It’s probably something quite simple.

Cheers

Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com

[Craig Seeman]

These two blog posts by Alister Chapman points to some issues with XDCAM EX downconverts to SD.
Personally i’ve been bitten by the line twitter issue when shooting thin lines while the camera is moving.

https://www.xdcam-user.com/2011/03/getting-good-sd-from-an-hd-camera/

https://www.xdcam-user.com/2009/11/getting-sd-from-hd-and-the-problems-of-oversampling/

[Michael Slowe]

Christina, I heartily endorse the suggestion of BitVice as a DVD encoder. The new versions are brilliant and have solved all the DVD artifact troubles that put me off DVD’s for years. I too shoot on an EX 1, import into Media 100 with EX Transfer in the ProRes HQ 422 codec (just a re wrap into a .mov as explained above). After editing in HD I export (either Self Contained or By Ref) and drag the file into BitVice. It does a brilliant job of down converting to SD (this is the crucial step). BitVice now also prepares your audio ac3 at the same time as the M2V video file. I then finish in Studio Pro prior to burning in Toast.

If you’re in HD though why not stay there and produce Blu-Ray discs? When I compare a BD to a DVD on a big HD screen I am staggered by the difference. Complete absence of noise or artifacts. Can’t use BitVice for that, Toast 11 Pro does a great BD job.

Michael Slowe

[Christina Ricci]

Michael and Don,

Thank you for the BitVice suggestion. This piece needs to go on DVD because it is a sizzle-reel going to the networks. Michael- why not burn using Studio Pro? Why use Toast?

Thanks again for your advice.

Christina