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Render settings for DVD
I know there are tons of messages regarding workflow and render settings, but I’ve read and couldn’t find what I am looking for. Please indulge if my question has been answered many times.
Here’s my workflow:
– edit DV footage in FCP (DV sequence)
– export sequence using Automatic Duck (can’t live without it)
– do my post effects and motion graphics in AE
– then export from AE back to FCP to finish the project
– export to MPEG2 using Compressor
– edit DVD in DVD Studio ProI would like to know what is the best format I should use to export from AE back to FCP in order to have crisp, sharp graphics that will not have rugged edges or ‘moir
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3 Replies
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I tried most codecs (Animation, Motion JPEG B, A and Photo JPEG).
All of them create a silly looking ‘moir
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Ideally, if you don’t want to use any specific codec. By that I mean, choose something lossless. Every time you render your video out through FCP, AE or any other program using any lossy codec you are going to loose generations and you final output will be affect. The only time you should compress your video is when you are preparing it for your final delivery (such as DVD, Betacam, etc.)
So when you are rendering from AE, make sure you set all your settings to lossless and double check that you have no codec selected. This will take up more hard drive space but it is preferable to losing three generations before final delivery. The only thing you need to watch is your fields. If you footage is progressive then you have nothing to worry about but if you are working with interlaced footage makes sure your field settings are correct.
NTSC – lower fields first
PAL – upper fields first
HD – upper fields firstFinally, if you are still have problems with loosing quality during renders, why not just output a still sequences (ideally a TIF sequence) and then let your NLE do the rest of the work.
Brian Kayfitz
High Definition Authoring
http://www.infinitehd.com -
Compressor does an interesting thing when you output following a certain path from FCP. Regardless of whether your sequence has rendered to the host settings (usually DV, yuck) Compressor will go back to the original source footage and re-render every frame before compressing it to MPEG2 on its way to DVDSP.
If you bring your footage into FCP as Animation files, Compressor will use the original footage to create the MPEG2. The difference in the DVD presentation between this re-rendered transcode and a conventional transcode from self-contained DV can be astounding. Sometimes. Depends on the material.
It’s all spelled out in the Compressor manual but it takes a few pages to explain.
bogiesan
This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”
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