[Vincent Rosati]

Ideally, I would decompress the VOB’s (gimongous files, as I’m sure you know)-
Compression Type:None. You’ll get the best results by resizing uncompressed video.
Going back to a DV codec for editing is fine. But, DVPRO isn’t the greatest for resizing.

Plug-in:Resizer2 is nice for resizing.
Plug-in:Twixtor to handle the frame-rate conversion (if you’re going from 25to 24 fps?).

[Vincent Rosati]

Maybe your DVD authoring software is decompressing the MP3 audio because it’s not compatible with the app. Check your authoring software documentation to make sure your audio format is acceptable.
Otherwise, you might need to recompress your video to allow for the size of your audio.

[Vincent Rosati]

You can surely do a 16:9 and a 4:3 version – dual layer medium if necessary.

Sounds like the source material is 4:3 Fullscreen (PAR 0.9 – Letterboxed 16:9, not Anamorphic 16:9). It’s ‘simulated’ widescreen.

They are looking for a true Widescreen presentation that plays just like the the Widescreen DVD’s they have at home. This project would need to be re-shot in true 16:9 to achieve Letterboxed 16:9 on a 4:3 display, AND true Anamorphic 16:9 on a 16:9 display.
This issue should have been covered during principal photography, not in post production. You are being asked to go above-and-beyond.

You need to, either..
-Modify the IFO file to achieve your display requirements. (Might not work)
-Re-shoot in true 16:9. (Will work, best quality, time consuming, highest cost)
-Remaster your source material as true 16:9. (Will work, compromised quality, time consuming)

REMASTER
Upscale the video and set the PAR to 1.2 (PAR 0.9 is for Fullscreen, PAR 1.2 is for Widescreen) to remaster the material as 16:9. You’ll actually crop the existing image to remove the letterbox and stretch the image to fill the anamorphic frame. This is not ideal and will make your image quality worse!
I’ve used Resizer2 to upscale and reformat 4:3 video to 16:9 in AfteEffects, it’s really nice. I think there is a version for Premiere Pro 2, and perhaps others editing apps.
But, I was using a lot of film-damage on my project which can hide the poor qualities of upscaled video.

IFOEdit
You may need to manually edit your IFO file (I use IFOEdit).
With this, you can set a 16:9 program to display as ‘Letterboxed’ – This plays full screen on a widescreen display, and Letterboxed in a fullscreen display. TYPICAL.
OR set the the 16:9 program to ‘Letterboxed with Pan & Scan’ – which will change the display of 16:9 material on a 4:3 monitor to fill the screen and crop the sides. NOT TYPICAL.
This is sometimes used when you have a 16:9 DVD menu that you want to display as fullscreen/cropped-width on a 4:3 display.
Tinkering with the IFO file could result in a noncompliant disc.
I don’t think IFOEdit will help here, but it’s an option.

Sorry for the confusing info. I’ve dealt with this request also.

[Vincent Rosati]

DVD+R does not hold the DVD logo because it does not meet the industry spec’s for DVD-Video. While DVD+R may play in many players, it’s not ideal.
I’ve never had any issues burning data discs on +R, but for video it’s not reliable.

Note: DVD+R holds slightly more data than a -R. Hopefully your DVD project will fit on a standard DVD-R.

If you need to use DVD+R, you could try Bitsetting the disc as a DVD-ROM (instead of DVD+R). It might be an option in your burning software or your burner manufacturer might offer a utility.

Burn at your drives slowest speed and always verify the burn with your burning software.

Another requirement for some older players is to include the AUDIO_TS directory, it’s a legacy standard.

Just some thoughts.. : )

[Vincent Rosati]

It could be the player or the media.
You can check Samsung’s web site to see if they offer a downloadable firmware update.

DVD-R or DVD+R?
DVD+R doesn’t hold the DVD logo because it doesn’t meet the spec’s, and is not the correct medium for DVD-Video.
Also, many burner manufacturers and some burning apps offer ‘Bitsetting’ for DVD+R, to allow the creation of a DVD-ROM volume instead of a DVD+R volume. DVD-ROM may, in rare instances, help a DVD play on an older player, but you’re still using DVD+R and it will never be a true pressed DVD-ROM.

DVD-Video should be burned on ‘-R’ media at the slowest speed your drive is capable of, and always verify the burn with your burning software – it should be an option. These steps do create a more time-consuming process.

Also, I understand that older DVD players (I doubt this applies to your player) require the AUDIO_TS directory for compliance in DVD-Video.

Just some thoughts. : )

[Vincent Rosati]

I use LZW compression to save disc space. It is not a bad habit, when you can save up to 90% of your disc space by using LZW.

[Vincent Rosati]

Just another idea..
To strengthen dialogie I usually run it through a multi-band compressor (VST), Noise Reduction Filter out the background with the sample profile captured directly from the clip, and maybe Amplitude/Dynamics Processing.

[Vincent Rosati]

Yes. Assuming you have a Mic input or other audio capture hardware.

[Vincent Rosati]

As long as you’re not battling some moral dilemma about going digital, than it sounds like your on track.
You’ll probably get a lot of recommendations for Adobe products such as Illustrator and Photoshop. You’ll probably want both. To start, just decide if your method is more painterly or illustrative, than go with the appropriate program.
I often use a scan & redraw workflow in Illustrator (mouse or tablet, it depends).
Some artists will trace their original artwork directly on the drawing tablet, as some tablets are designed specifically for that purpose. Others draw only on tablets, no traditional media.

I’m not familiar with acecad, but Wacom is a very reliable name in drawing tablets. You need to make sure the tablet is compatible with your graphic software and OS.
This will give you the gestural control you are looking for, but it is a different tool that you’ll have to get used to. You might find it to be quite liberating.

As far as a difference between Illustrator & Freehand; user interface, market saturation, and price. They are both vector based applications, and ultimately produce the same type of files.
I stick with Adobe because they have a product to cover just about anything, from graphics, to audio, web, video, whatever – And, as time passes Adobe continues to build integration between their products, which is nice.

[Vincent Rosati]

Hey Mike-
I’ve read the specifications of the LZW algorithm and it states that LZW compression is lossless. I save much of my work in TIFF LZW format, and am concerned by you post.
Could you elaborate on the lossy attributes of LZW or direct me to some documentation?

Thanks