[Olly Lawer]

Steve,

I tried your method, but I must be going wrong somewhere as I DVD Pro doesn’t recognize the format when I encode to MPEG-2 Elementary Stream.

Basically, I edited in HD in FCP – rendering to ProRes. I then sent the file to Compressor and selected MPEG-2 (I didn’t change any of the settings). When I import the finished encode into DVD Pro, it tells me the format is invalid.

I think I need a good book on compressor!

[Olly Lawer]

Thanks Steve,

It’s good to hear that you are getting pleasing results without the need for expensive equipment.

So are you simply editing in HD and then using compressor to downconvert to SD using MPEG-2? Are you rending in ProRes?

Thanks – after putting my debts to the limit to make this happen (a childhood dream and if you don’t try, you never know!) I did panic a bit reading those posts and not getting good results from the supposive KenStone fix – unless I was doing wrong of course.

[Olly Lawer]

I meant more no easy solution that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg or rather no solution with the current set-up I have EX1/FCP/COMPRESSOR/DVDPRO.

Although having dug a bit deeper there is hope that I can get quality results with the kit I have. Noah’s DVD should provide a good way of doing this.

As I said, everyone starts somewhere and as technology gets better, it also gets a damn lot more complicated. Thankfully, these forums exist and people like yourself are willing to give their knowledge to help, if i was stuck with the manual…

[Olly Lawer]

I know sending it back because the resolution is too high would be nuts, but if you read through the threads, then it seems there is no solution to getting good quality SD DVDs from the EX1…even extending to the review pro video coalition did on the EX1. (https://provideocoalition.com/index.php/awilt/story/review_sony_pmw_ex1_1_2_3_cmos_hd_camcorder)

The Vortex DVD does look better then some other SD down converts i’ve seen, but his DVD contains a lot of aliasing, which spoils the image.

I have just read an inspiring post where it seems someone has had some success. Thanks for your help.

Everyone has to start somewhere…

[Olly Lawer]

I am at a cross roads of whether to send the EX1 back and get another camera. Before I do, I want to understand if anyone has managed to get a decent SD DVD from EX1 footage.

Noah has a DVD detailing how to down convert to SD (https://www.callboxlive.com)- but before I buy it, I wanted to find out if the EX1 is best for purpose.

I must admit, I did know the problems associated before I brought the Camera, but I was hoping the kenstone solution would work – the image looks good (before it goes to compressor that is and apart from the aliasing) although unfortunately it changes the aspect when I view it (even tho I haven’t selected 4:3) and squashes the image.

[Olly Lawer]

Not hugely reassuring.

Better then other Cams like Z1?

Would you say for someone that will need to produce SD DVDs the EX! is not a good option?

[Olly Lawer]

Thanks.

I will have a look through this. Just to set my mind at rest, have you managed to get good looking SD DVDs from the EX1?

[Olly Lawer]

Thanks for your reply.

I have only just purchased the EX1, so am doing some SD down converts now…and having a few heart stopping moments reading threads (https://www.dvinfo.net/conf/sony-xdcam-ex-cinealta/116196-how-your-ex1-sd-dvds-looking-3.html) that say you cannot get good looking XDCAM down converts to SD…surely this cannot be true?

I am using this guide to down convert to SD (https://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/ex1_sd_output_young.html) although the image has now been made into a 4:3 instead of 16:9, so has squashed the image, even though this isn’t what I selected.

Have you managed to get acceptable SD DVDs from the EX1 footage, if so how?

I will do as you suggested and lower the detail – does this have a big affect on the image quality also?

[Olly Lawer]

Thanks Rafael,

Your probably right, i’m just looking too much into it and noticing something my clients will not see. Thanks for your help. On another note, your website has some beautiful footage on it. Are you compressing using H264? I cannot seem to get my footage to a low enough to be of usable online.

I set my video to 15 frames, restrict my data rate to 400kbits, go with faster encode, turn frame controls on, Resize filter to better, output fields to progressive, deinterlace to better and rate conversion to better. My file size comes out far to large, but then again, if I change these options down, then the quality is shocking. I will keep experimenting, but any tips you could give would be helpful.

Thanks

[Olly Lawer]

Thanks for your reply.

I will try this setting. I was looking to shoot progressive as on the Vortex DVD for the EX1, the footage looks better (more film like) – I was looking to keep that look but without the jerking. Can I achieve this look through a picture profile?