In this case I export directly out of FCP. Somehow Compressor loves to mash up the downscale….even Episode has its faults downcompressing 1080 Upper Field material to SD.
Export out of FCP using Quicktime Conversion. Choose ProRes 422 and make it Interlaced LOWER field, which is the proper SD field order. Keep the frame rate a 29.97. In the Size box you have a choice to make the downscale either create a 4:3 720 x 480 or a 16×9 aspect for the DVD. Make sure you determine what your DVD will need.
Audio to 48k PCM.
Once you have this new SD proRes QT movie drag that into Compressor and use your standard MPEG settings that you normally use when starting with SD sources. You will find that the resulting MPEG 2 is much better than taking the full size 1080 movie thru compressor.
Try it and report back….
Rich Rubasch
Tilt Media Inc.
Video Production, Post, Studio Sound Stage
Founder/President/Editor/Designer/Animator
https://www.tiltmedia.com