Render as sequence codec or as Pro Res?

[Michael Slowe]

Richard, you mention some, in my experience, pretty inferior DVD production methods.

You will get a much better SD DVD (from a ProRes HQ timeline) by using the encoding software BitVice. Export your timeline as a QT .mov file and drag it to BitVice. This will also do a good quality downscale at the same time as well as preparing your ac3 audio file. I then use Studio Pro to mix it all and end up with a .img file which can then be burnt to DVD in Titanium Toast. That’s a good workflow for SD DVD’s and the quality I’m now getting is almost tape quality.

You mention Blu-Ray. For that obviously you need an HD timeline (mine is HQ ProRes) and I use the new version of Toast to encode and burn the BD disc.

Michael Slowe

[Richard Doyle]

Thanks Michael. I’ve heard that Compressor is better. Is that not the case? I have Titanium Pro (for BluRays) but use DVD Studio to burn SD DVDs. I’m sure you’ve tried both though. I’ll give it a go if you recommend it.

[Rafael Amador]

[Richard Doyle] “”I mean convert just the 7D footage.”

Convert the 7D footage to XDCAM using Compressor?”
Forget about XDCAM. XDCAM is OK for acquisition.
Convert the 7D footage to Prores.

Put the XDCAm and the Prores (from the 7D) in a Prores sequence.

[Richard Doyle] “And is that “high precision” that I have ticked in the screen shot above or do I have to do something else?”
Right. You have it already checked.
rafael

http://www.nagavideo.com

[Richard Doyle]

“Put the XDCAm and the Prores (from the 7D) in a Prores sequence.”

I didn’t realize that there’d be no need to convert the XDCAM footage to Pro Res. Just dropping the XDCAM in a Pro Res sequence sounds great. It will save me time. I’ll try it.

Thanks, you’ve been great help. And you haven’t lost your patience with me. 🙂

[Michael Slowe]

Richard, these things are very subjective, that’s the problem. One man’s good picture might not be the next man’s good picture and without using proper testing kit it’s difficult to judge. All I can say is that I’m not by any means alone in regarding BitVice as a better encoding app than Compressor. Compressor is brilliant at producing H264 files for the web etc but for DVD’s try BitVice.

Michael Slowe

[Richard Doyle]

I will. Thanks!