Can I avoid re-encoding of .mov files with Compressor and DVD Studio Pro?

Hello,
I've had some projects banned at one of the tracking sites because my iMovie 6.0.1/iDVD 7.1.1 workflow involves re-encoding of the iMovie .mov file to MPEG 2 when authored in iDVD. I did some research, and was advised that I could get around the re-encoding by using Compressor and DVD Studio Pro instead of iDVD. But, when I import the iMovie file to Compressor for authoring in DVD Studio Pro, the result is another MPEG 2 file. So, am I missing something, or is there no way for me to avoid re-encoding with Apple video production tools.
Thanks for any assistance.

The simple fact that you have to encode your files into an mpeg-2 stream means that you're going to experience a loss in quality. Check the bitrate of your DV files. The max bitrate for all of the elementary steams (audio, video) on a DVD is 9.8mbps. So if your source has a higher bitrate than that... you're going to experience "lossiness."
However there are some tricks that I've read about that increase the overall quality of compression... and yes they are for windows. Check out AVIsynth and MeGUI... there is a learning curve to learning these tools though. I never followed through with it.
EDIT: Also forgot to mention that learning these things takes TIME. Quality encoding takes much longer than realtime.
You can also check out some higher quality mpeg2 encoders like cinemacraft and HC encoder, although the former costs $$$. The quality you get from these encoders are much better than what you have in iDVD and DVDSP/Compressor.

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d

abelvideo wrote:
..... I finally did find involved clicking and dragging folders and files one by one to try it fix it from deep into utlity folders and such that I just gave up and been working with what I got, it really *****
If you have difficulties fixing problems with software that is acting up I would suggest that you do a clean install of your OS and the software. That is, after backing up your files, of course.
abelvideo wrote:
I am looking to go to a editing software that isn't Apple but will operate on a mac and has custum DVD capabilities included. But we'll see, best regards and thank you for your time.
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How can I export a surround sound movie file using compressor?

I want to create movie files using Motion and Soundtrack Pro that have surround sound. I can make ac3 surround sound files in SOundtrack Pro, I can add them to projects in Final Cut Pro, but I can't see any way to use Compressor to output the movie files with surround sound. The encoding results in plain stereo files. Please help.

HI Tony, you should be able to do this simply within the Compressor.app V4.1.x using the "surround Sound Group" and the shipped setting DOLBY DIGITAL setting. Instead of just adding a file, you need to:
Add a "Surround Sound Group" (control++i or file/add surround sound group or use the "+" plus sign at bottom left corner of Current/BATCH window". You'll get a pane with the channels you need to manipulate.
Click on the tracks Icons L to Rs and select the surround tracks as prompted and navigate through the finder interface. .. simple. WAV, BWF etc
Optionally Add the video object from here too.
Select the BATCH job (top layer with the ORBIT looking icon)) and use the INSPECTOR (right pane) to see what audio objects have been selected and verify location etc.. follow the dialogue (follow your nose)
Then Select the SETTING layer and use the default DOLBY DIGITAL setting and form the "settings/Create Blu Ray/Dolby Digital" and drag it over the batch job setting
Select this and adjust the LOCATION for the target distribution
Select the INSPECTOR AUDIO pane (right pane) and adjust any settings and EFFECTS to your taste.
select the cluster (if one is defined)
+B (submit) the job for the distribution or another master.
This will work fine.. pretty easy.. You'll need to work the audio settings as you like. If you get stuck, use the compressor.app V4.1 help.. its actually good.
Post your results for others to see.
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Encoded my surround files in compressor and now need to author to DVD. What software can I use?

I've created my AC3 file from my 6 surround audio files along with my video in compressor. What software can I use to author my surround video to DVD? I have FCPX but I don't have DVDSP or toast. Any suggestions?

Although I don't use it, I'm pretty sure Toast will treat the file properly. (But I would go on the Roxio forums to check.)
If confirmed, that would probably be your lowest cost solution.
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Hey,
I have been editing for 4-5 years now and have never had a problem with size of a project to put into DVD Studio Pro to burn. However, I just finished a 2 hour project in which exported as a FCP movie it is 23.97 gb in size. When i put this into DVD Studio Pro it makes it 4.8gb in size which just makes it too big for it to burn. I have tried changing the compression to no avail and just now decided to clean up the timeline so everything is on one track with nothing overlapping. (The problem was it was a 2 camera shoot so the first camera i had on the bottom track constant with the second camera on the top track when i needed it but still with the first camera underneath.) Do you think this could be the solution to my problem? If you guys could help me out it would be most appreciated!

some things don't make sense here. please clarify.
Standard DV is roughly 5 minutes per gig, so that means that you have just about 2 hours of video, ok, got that. Now it's the two track thing that gets me.
Are you saying you have 4 hours of footage, the same thing from two cameras, and you're trying to set up a multi-angle DVD?
If it's just that you used two video tracks to edit, then NO, it is not your problem. It's still only 2 hours, the video will be mixed down to one track upon export from FCP to quicktime.
My suggestion is, instead of bringing a quicktime file directly into DVDSP, use compressor. I believe they have a preset in compressor 2 for a standard 120 minute DVD. IF you're project is truly less than 120 minutes, than that should be fine. If not, then you may have to manually make your own setting and lower the bitrate.
So the workflow is:
-open sequence in fcp
-file>export>quicktime movie... (you can uncheck "make movie self-contained" if you want it to export faster and you plan on keeping your original capture footage around)
-export your movie to a directory of your choice with a name of your choice.
-open compressor (in applications)
-drag the quicktime file you created into compressors main window, this will set it up. Now specify the export setting (120 minute HQ all files either 16x9 or 4x3 dep. on project) and specify a location for the files to be created. I strongly suggest that you use the HQ (High quality) settings in compressor. It's much slower to process, but much better quality.
-with a 2 hour movie it should take a really REALLY long time to compress, so I'de say do it over night.
-when compressor is done, you should have 2 or three files. a .m2v file a .aif file, and a .ac3 file. The .aif is your PCM audio, much better quality than the .ac3, which is dolby 2 channel. However, the .ac3 is a much smaller file with a lower bit rate, so if the .aif makes the DVD file size too big, you can switch it out for the .ac3
-Finally, open up your DVDSP project, drag the .m2v, .aif, and .ac3 into DVDSP and use the .m2v for the video track and either the .aif or .ac3 as the audio (as mentioned above)
-the good news is, your DVD media is already rendered, so when you go to build your DVD it will go much, much faster!
By the way, I recommend you go to file>advanced>build do not do a burn and build.
I find it best to build the VIDEO_TS folder on a hard drive and then use a program like toast to create a DVD (using toasts from VIDEO_TS option). This method also allows you to go back into DVDSP, make tweaks, and reuse your VIDEO_TS folder, not having to rebuild the whole thing each time.
Remember, 120 minutes on a single layer DVD is going to render fairly low quality no matter what.
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Does iDVD and DVD Studio Pro use the same encoder?

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Message was edited by: Bryan Rawiri

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Can I avoid re-encoding of .mov files with Compressor and DVD Studio Pro?

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