Need fool-proof HDV to SD-DVD workflow!

[Catherine Ceigersmidt]

Hi Johnny,

After all the experimenting I did yesterday with converting my HDV project to SD, the picture looked exactly the same whether or not I converted it to an uncompressed QT movie before sending it to Compressor. I finally realized this after comparing both versions side-by-side. My goal was to find out if I could get that pristine, Hollywood look on a DVD…I’ve been spoiled by previewing my footage on a secondary display in HD, so watching it in SD after hours of viewing it in HD can come as a disappointment, even though there’s really nothing wrong with the SD-DVD.

So, my suggestion would be to export your film straight from FCP to Compressor as is, and choose DVD Best Quality 90 minutes. You could also export a quicktime movie and import that straight into DVDSP…but if you want Dolby AC-3 audio, you’ll have to go through Compressor.

Cathy Runge
Mary Productions

[Sally Lundburg]

Hello…
I”m having the same problem, however I’m not as tech savvy as you folks. Prior to this, I’ve only worked with SD. Normally, I would export a quicktime from FCP and import it into IDVD…. that’s all I’ve ever needed to do. However, now I am editing a 1/2 hour industrial doc shot in HDV, and the client has requested to preview a rough cut on dvd. I found this thread after having problems.
So…I exported to compressor and set the settings at dvd best quality 90 min.. It took 22 hours.
But, I’m not experienced in DVD PRO, and IDVD doesn’t seem to recognize the compressor 2pass .mv2 file.
Any suggestions to expedite in the simplest fastest way? I just want to burn a simple dvd with no menu, etc.
My partner and client don’t seem to understand why this is taking me so long.
Arggg.
FYI…I”m working on a Powerbook, FCP5, HDV native capture, with external hardrives…no SATA..RAID…etc. Please let me know if you need more info from me.
sally