[Brad Elliott]

Paul,

15 frame IBBP GOPs are going to give you the best quality for either SD or HD
.
I have never compressed MPGs for DVD without using IBBP. I can’t think of an application for DVD that would call for anything but IBBP if you want it to look as good as possible.

I don’t usually compress GOPs at less than fifteen but I know experts play with GOP size and data rates to compress the most footage and have it look the best. I’ve have never delved in it that far but I think it is usually done by people using really expensive hardware encoders.

Brad

[Brad Elliott]

In my experience I have gotten the best results with these settings.

IBBP
Closed GOP
size 15

MPG files for DVD need to be closed. Stand alone MPGs(muxed with sound) should be open.

IBBP is the best setting for compression.

Brad

[Brad Elliott]

You can change the size in the QT options.

Export with Quicktime Coversion/options/size
You will have the option of 720×486 4×3 or
720×486 16×9 in the pulldown. You can also do a custom size.

Brad

[Brad Elliott]

User Preferences/General/On Timecode break-set to warn after capture

This only seems to work well if you set an in and out point and the TC isn’t resetting to 0 hour numerous times. If the TC is resetting you could capture without deck control.

Log and Capture window/Capture settings tab/set device control to non-controllable device. Someone will need to watch the clock and stop the capture but this seems to be the most fail proof. You will have some unwanted heads and tails but it sure beats having to recapture because FC didn’t like your TC or in and out points.

Brad

[Brad Elliott]

Dave,

Thanks for your response.

I have played with QT and compressor and have tweaked it to what I consider to be the best for SD. In both instances QT has a hard time playing the high motion footage back without stuttering or interlacing issues.

I presume this codec is similar to animation or uncompressed but I am surprised that that a dual-core Intel G5 isn’t able to play back a 12 second clip. Have you had any or similar experiences with this?

Brad

[Brad Elliott]

If the unwanted sounds are happening during other audio you might try a channel EQ in ST Pro. You may be be able to dampen the coughs by notching out the the unwanted sound.

If the coughs happen when there is nothing else going on you could use the replace ambient noise feature in STP.
Hightlight a small section of clean room tone and then do set ambient noise
Hightlight cough and then do a replace ambient noise.