[Daniel Ludwig]

possible – same working with PAL as well. I wouldn´t use lower first – you can go progressive as well.

danny

[Daniel Ludwig]

Scott,
the main problem is, that MPEG2HD, H264 and VC-1 are 8bit-codec on blu-ray in 420. so you need to have a good encoder that could convert 422 or 444 to 420.

this is what happening with high quality encoder, and by the way I´ve seen a lot bending on other productions as well and a lot, if not most consumer-TVs have low quality displays that produces bending as well, even if there´s not in the real picture.

danny

[Daniel Ludwig]

Scott,
depending on what you would like to do – H264 is good for BD but not valid for DVD. old DVD needs MPEG2 SD, while H264 could be HD.

If you would like to create both medias, you should transcode your source-file using the transcoding-settings from encore.

according to your audio: you should use dolby digital encoding, as encore could not create 5.1-sound in pcm.

according trancoding – you can use adobe media encoder to transcode your audio-file that´s in your film to dolby digital, or (if you have it), you can also use the dolby encoding-suite.

in general DVD/BD-authoring-systems expecting all assets to be elementary streams and usual way is to transcode all assets prior start authoring.

encore is a “easy-to-use” tool, that can also transcode MOV or AVI to H264 or MPEG2, but this is an exaption if you compare it to most authoring-tools.

but be awared: encore has plenty bugs!

danny

[Daniel Ludwig]

Hi Andreas,
yes – that´s true… but I can´t tell you how far they are with it, but it´ll come sooner or later.

haven´t talked to Larry and Robin for a while, as I´m heavily stucked in BD-works and a lot other stuff as well…

but as far as I understood: it´ll be sold under MS online-store, which means you need WIN8 or later.

danny

[Daniel Ludwig]

the combination of DVD-LOgic-stuff and Blustreak Tracer CMF could easily do this as well.

And: Larry and Robin are working on PC-based BDCMF-version of tracer at the moment, I guess will be released soon.

danny

[Daniel Ludwig]

Chris,
if you are about to author DVDs – apple DVD studio still is fine, it´s working on the last apple-systems 10.6-10.9

if you are looking for a good priced BD-authoring-tool then you might have a look at DVD-Logic-software.

https://www.dvd-logic.com

there´s a cheaper authoring-tool called EasyBD, which capture about 70-80% of all needs.

if you need to author BD-java or mixed/multi-angle or 3D-BDs you should buy BD-Author.

but you need to know: there is a tight learnig-curve, as these tools are spec-tools.

danny

[Daniel Ludwig]

Frances,
this infos brings your question and workflow into another spot as you´re editing in 25fps and need to do an international DVD.

it´s a worst case scenario if you´re creating a PAL-DVD and then give it to the US and your partner ist creating a NTSC-DVD out of it.

you need to do a format-cross-conversion!! from PAL to NTSC and a NTSC-DVD is required! NTSC-DVDs working on ALL DVD-players worldwide.

so a different workflow is neccessary here!

as far as I understand you´re editing in 25fps interlaced. the most easy (and common) way to go to NTSC from a PAL-source is to do a conforming of the final film – conforming means you will speed down your 25fps-film to 23.98fps – this is 4% slower.

as I stated: this is common procedure during the last decades and mostly used for nearly all productions that go between europe and us.

the main point is: NTSC 23.98fps is progressive, and there is no other way to go.

how can you do this!?

1. create a sequenz that´s been 1080p25 or PAL SD in 25p.
2. edit your film and at the end you should deinterlace ALL clips that´s been on your timeline
3. export your film as an uncompressed movie to your harddisc as AVI or MOV using DNX HD or Apple ProRes, depending if you´re on PC or MAC.
4. reimport the (exported) film and slow it down/conform/interprete footage as…
5. create a new NTSC 23.98-sequenz incl. chapter-marker

end then 2 possibilities:

6a. dynamic link it to encore to author and transcode within encore
6b. transcode the film with the export-function of premiere.

7. author the disc within encore.

I can not tell you exact settings for the DVD-transcoding, as more infos are required (duration, numbers of audio-tracks used on DVD). depending you have to do a bitbudgeting, so your data will fit on the disc.

danny

[Daniel Ludwig]

Frances,
first of all:

your MPEG-encoding MUST follow the field-order of your source, otherwise you´ll get terrible field-problems in the final MPEG/product.

or in other words: if your video is upper OR lower field first, your encoder must encode it the same way.

and HERE´s the problem: the encoder could not switch sceenwise!

meaning: you need create a sequenz within premiere that has a dedicated field-order (upper or lower) and transcode the final MPEG the same way.

I know encore has a lower first-default-trascoding-setting but this is wrong for all interlaced HD-files and also wrong for most PAL-codecs, only NTSC SD is lower field mostly.

your 2nd option to go progressive is no good idea as well, as you´ll loose picture-quality, especially when there´s a lot motion in picture.

so the conclusion might be:

select one field-dominance that the most clips have for your sequenz, use a field-shift on these clips that have the other.

afterwards use media encoder to transcode your MPEG and use this assets for authoring.

cheers

danny

[Daniel Ludwig]

Taras,
that doesn´t work! you need to do a format-change 25fps to 30fps.

US BD-players wont play 25/50fps-BDs as this is mandatory only for countries that broadcast with 25/50fps. so you´re stuck with 1080p23.98, 1080p24 or 1080i30.

the most common (and used) way is to do a conforming of films, meaning to slow-down your 25fps-film to 23.98fps. the duration will get 4% longer and the audio will tune a little bit down, but the disc will work in the US. encore could easily author 108p23.98- BDs.

luckily your film is 1080p25 – so you don´t need to de-interlace the film.

cheers

danny

[Daniel Ludwig]

sorry andreas, but this is not correct.

BD-spec is quite clear about this: 1080p23.98, 1080p24 and 1080i29.98

if you´re in a PAL-land you can also use 1080i25 (mandatory for PAL-countries).

IF your authoring with encore cs6 you´ll find the straight 1080p24 as transcoding-setting for BD within the NTSC-framerate as well.

danny