[Howard White]

Thanks so much, i think your idea will work but just one more question and I am really there! Firstly, I tried doing the MPEG2 DVD and putting into authoring along with the avi version to compare. Indeed, the MPEG2 DVD had a proper black so thanks so much. The question is this: can I change the compression level with premiere if I render to MPEG2 DVD? I ask because most of my projects are are over an hour (but not more than two). Authoring programs let you choose options so that you can fit the project on a disc, but I am scared that doing your way for a two hour job will give me a ‘not enough space’ on the authoring program. Or, is it okay to recompress the MPEG2 DVD in the authoring program, or is there a specific setting in premier that I should use? I know there is a big list of PAL options saying hi and lo quality and 1 pass 2 pass etc. I know there is a slight quality loss for two hours in any case, but I have always been more than happy before (apart from the problem that I came on here with in the first place). I do need to know this, but your solution looks like it will work in theory, so thanks again.

[Howard White]

i dnt know what codec really means, sorry. But I export to full DV cos I thought this would be best quality. It says on help that you can export to DVD but use the file for other applications, which I would LOVE to do, so compression is done by premiere. But I cant find an option saying anything like ‘save to hard drive’ when I look at the export to DVD

[Howard White]

Sorry, I have just checked my Premiere and I cant find a save as MPEG-2 option. There is just DV, quicktime, Gif and a few other wierd things, but no MPEG anything!!

[Howard White]

thanks for kind response. I do not know because I am partially sighted I doubt if I could see the result inside premieres small low quality window. I can see it on the proper tv screddn. I am happy to try your MPEG2 idea, but will I lose quality? I do want the final thing to be proper standard. I make DVDs for play ining in players and watching on tv (as opposed to things for pc playback and internet stuff). Basically I film amateur dramatics, and people like to buy the DVDs. But if the quality is not similar to that of a profeesional (as in ‘bought in a shop’ they will probably complain! Premier does a great job, except for this problem of course!!

[Howard White]

thanks so much. I am sorry if I do not know what compressor I am using. As far as I know, this is done automatically by the authoring program. I export the movie from premiere into full PAL DV, same as format I capture it in. Other person said compress to MPEG2. I am happy to try this but will I lose quality. I do need to keep the quality as best as I can. I have used adobe encore and had the same problem, so we cant blame it on a bad cheapo dvd authoring program