Is there a faster way to create DVD outputs?

Avid Media Composer

Is there a faster way to create DVD outputs?

Posted by Cathy G’nator on March 23, 2007 at 2:23 pm

I’m outputting a 50 minute show from an Avid Xpress Pro on a Mac with Mojo to DVD screeners for a broadcaster. It takes about an hour to create a Quicktime and another 2 hours to create and burn the DVD using iDVD. The Quicktime ends up being a huge file–10GB and iDVD compresses it to 3.5GB which fits on a single disk. Is there another way to do this that won’t take quite so long? I’m working on a tight deadline and don’t want to give up so much editing time if I can help it. All suggestions welcome!

Cathy G’nator replied 19 years ago 6 Members · 7 Replies
7 Replies

Michael Hancock
March 23, 2007 at 3:07 pm

If iDVD is on the same system as your Avid just export a Quicktime Reference file. It’s in a quicktime wrapper but will point to your MXF or OMF file directly, meaning the export from Avid is almost instantaneous. You’ll have to a wait just a little bit for the audio to export (it will mixdown your audio and export an aiff or wave file–your choice), but this shouldn’t be more than a minute or two.

Michael.
Joe Womble
March 23, 2007 at 3:56 pm

You could always go the route of FW out of the Avid into a DVD recorder. It will give you the DVD in real time.

Regards,

Cre8tive
Bill Stephan
March 23, 2007 at 5:27 pm

Not quite real time! DVD recorders need a substantial amount of time to close a disc. The Phillips units in our facility need 30 mniutes to close a disc and the Panasonics need 45 minutes.

Bill Stephan
Senior Editor/DVD Author
USA Studios
New York City
Joe Womble
March 23, 2007 at 6:18 pm

I see! My Pioneer DVR-533H needs 3 minutes, and I think it’s approximately the same for the LX-1. Seems to be less if you have a smaller amount of free space left on the DVD.

Regards,

Joe Womble
Jon Zanone
March 24, 2007 at 1:12 pm

I’ve found the longer the video, the shorter the time needed to finalize a disc on my JVC recorder. I think there’s some multitasking going on. Then again, we’re sending the recorder a composite signal. I wonder if that has something to do with it.

Jon

“The Almighty tells me He can get me out of this mess. But He’s pretty sure you’re F%$#*D!”
James Sullivan
April 18, 2007 at 9:50 pm

For shows longer then 30 minutes the fastest way to layback cuts is to a consumer DVD burner. 3-7 minutes to finalize and you can duplicate from there. Avid takes for freakinig ever to make Quicktimes. Play and Record wait 50 minutes and your done..

James
Cathy G’nator
April 18, 2007 at 10:16 pm

Thanks for all the info guys! I’ve been spending a lot of time making these darn DVD’s using AVID and iDVD–time to buy a proper recorder!

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