Compressing for Idvd

Can someone tell me what I need to do so I can use a completed compressor file in iDVD. I don't have DVD studio pro, so it's not an option for me at this point.
My project is a very short three minute video and I just need basic MPEG-2 compression - Nothing fancy.
Any Ideas?

Hmmm,
OK - I was able to use compressor to create a format that I used with iDVD back in november but can't seem to remember what I did. Basically, all I'm trying to do is get a high enough quality file. Something akin to a MPEG-2 (movie quality) file for my project (if that makes sense).
Again nothing overly complicated - actually rather simple in comparison to some projects out there. I'm just trying to figure out the proper workflow.
Thanks

Similar Messages

Need high quality compression for iDVD but don't want letterbox

I have a FCE project which has moving stills, lots of titling and graphics (from Photoshop) and want a high quality compression to get rid of the interlacing, etc. I need to get this to iDVD.
If I export as quicktime, it's just ok quality. If I use Sorenson or Animation (as recommended by the Apple creatives), the resulting project looks great but I have letterboxing on the top/bottom in iDVD, which I don't want. I'm using a 4:3 aspect ratio and my FCE project is 720x480.
What am I doing wrong? I don't have the "preserve aspect using letterbox" checked but get the letter box anyway. (I tried it with this and have a thicker letterbox!)
Thanks.

If the material is 4:3 edited in a 4:3 there is no reason for iDVD to letterbox it, unless the iDVD preferences are set to widescreen.
It's hard to tell where you're going wrong because there are so many variables along the way, and you haven't spelled out what you're doing, format, frame sizes, export settings, etc.
Whoever told you to export to Sorenson or Animation is completely wrong. You should export to QuickTime Movie. iDVD only accept a couple of formats DV material and HDV in Apple Intermediate Codec, and HD is always widescreen. The HDV 720p format has no interlacing. These formats export from FCE with interlacing unless you switch it off in FCE. You can do this in Item Properties for the sequence. Set the Field Dominance to None.

Best compression for iDVD authoring and DVD playback?

I have some DV footage that I had captured into MPEG-2 files on my old PC, then recently got a Mac and I want to be able to edit the footage on the Mac software I have and put it onto DVD for standard playback on a TV.
I've got the latest Quicktime Pro with the MPEG-2 playback component, and MPEG Streamline that allows me to convert the MPEG-2 files into MOV files. I want to be able to edit them in iMovie and Final Cut Express, and then I want to drop them into iDVD.
I would like to know what the best compression to use would be in converting the MPEG-2 files into MOV files or other format that's compatible with iMovie and Final Cut Express that will result in the best quality for DVD playback. I don't have Final Cut Pro so I don't have Compressor, which I understand, already has a preset compression optimized for DVD authoring and playback later on.

So you have some already mpg-2 compressed files you want to edit in FCE. Using MPEG Streamclip, I suggest you convert them to DV video (which runs about 13 GB per hour) to work on them in FCE.
As far as recompressing the edited video, I really doubt the mpg-2 encoding mode used will make much difference since you took the real quality hit when you initially mpg-2 compressed to content.
If you want to take the additional time required, you can try the new 'Professional Encoding' option in iDVD 7, but I seriously doubt it will improve anything. (You know the old 'silk purse out of a sow's ear' thing...)

Best compression for IDVD

I am taking a slide show made in Iphoto and saving it. Then I open it in Express and and add a sound track to it and then save it as a quicktime to be brought into IDVD.
What is the best setting for that quicktime movie because it doesn't look so good when i bring it into idvd.........? i just am saving it as a quicktime looking for the fastest processing... but best quality is important too....
can i dvd import mpeg4? I was hoping to save it as dv but that seems to be a long export time... speed is important
I also could save it as an mpeg-2 and then go through studio pro but i want something quick for the family christmas card which is a dvd....
thanks.....

Test results for you Martin (and anyone else!).
I used 10 good quality jpeg slides (2560x1920) and didn't bother to downsample them.
Imported them into FCE at 3 seconds each for a running time of 30 seconds.
This slideshow was converted to a QT Movie and put into iDVD.
I then made another slideshow in iDVD using the original jpegs.
The DVD-RW was burned using Best Quality. The whole exercise took about 20 minutes.
The DVD was viewed on both the CRT monitor of my eMac and a large 28"(4x3) CRT TV (using a DVD player).
Sharpness-wise I could not detect any difference (between the 2 slideshows).
However the FCE slideshow did exhibit more interlace flicker/aliasing on certain slides. (I hadn't got a TV hooked up during the FCE phase or used a deinterlace filter).
The results are neither scientific nor conclusive but they do suggest that we may be worrying too much about the techniques we use.
Ian.

Which compression is the best for iDVD?

I have about 9 footages ready to export to quicktime format
in order to create an iDVD, however, I need to know which compression method produces the best quality of video for iDVD?
I've been using MEPG4 so far but I have no idea if there's anything better than MPEG4 for DVD creation.
THanks in advance folks!

Export as a QUICKTIME MOVIE>Self Contained>Using Sequence Settings. Then import into iDVD and let it compress it to MPEG-2. That really is the way to go about it with iDVD.
DVDs are all MPEG 2, not 4

Compressions too big for iDVD?

I'm trying to create my own "Play All" button for iDVD but I was told that I had to combine all the video clips together into one iMovie and then put chapters at each end of the clip to essentially create a "Play All" button with the option to select different chapters.
I have imported two files (174MBs, xvid.avi format) but the two clips turn out to be 4.5GBs each. However, with just two files combining to be over 2 single-sided dvds combined, how will I be able to put it in iDVD and successfully burn it into one dvd? Is it not possible? What am I doing wrong?

It's the duration of your movie that's the determining factor for encoding a DVD. Don't worry about file size.
Matt

Best quality for iDVD?

hi,
my FinalCut project loses a lot of quality once it is burned in iDVD. it gets really blurry. I am using a lot of titles and a JPEG template created in photoshop with video layered over it. It looks fine when i export to quicktime, bt once it is imported into iDVD, it loses it's quality. does anyone have any suggestions/ideas? i am stuck and would greatly appreciate any help! thanks

iDVD does the compression for you; that's what takes it so long to burn
So, from FCE don't use Quicktime Conversion, use Export as Quicktime Movie; you don't have to check the "make movie self-contained button" if you are keeping all the files together
The closer you are to iDVD's two hour limit, the more likely you are to encounter quality issues, that is really pushing the limit of the product
I generally try to keep my movies under 90 minutes and I get pretty good quality; but as stated, it all comes down to source. Editing DV material I ain't ever gonna make the stuff look like Stephen Spielburg .. or even broadcast TV but I sell these DVDs and most people are happy with the quality
If you really need to make a movie longer than 90 minutes then you need to get into dual layer media (which means a dual layer burner) or look at DVD Studio Pro; an expensive proposition now that you can no longer buy that program separately
As for the quality degrading once you export to QT; how are you judging this? Make sure QT player is set to it highest quality. A TV is still the best place to judge this quality. And all of this is assuming you are working in the formats FCE is designed to deal with: DV or HD.

2 movies AVI (each 600MB) = too large for iDVD? 6+ GB? Whats going on?!?!

Bottom line, two avi files, I add to iDVD and it starts encoding but somehow makes it larger than it is.
I go into PROJECT and I see now its a whopping 6+GB!
Is there something better or is there a setting I am missing? I just want to make a DVD with the existing AVI files and don't want it at 6GB.
Am confused.
Thanks

There could be whole host of issues here. It could be as simple as trying a different blank disk (Verbatim is one of the "preferred" discs). I imagine however that the answer will be a bit more elusive. It all starts with your source material... which at this point we don't know what it's format is. Once you know that, I would do a Google search on converting that format to a DV file- this is what iDVD expects. Depending on how compressed the original file is, determines what kind of quality you will get when it's converted. Once you have the "proper" file for iDVD, you can try to burn another DVD and see how successful that is.
In general, compression is achieved by throwing away redundant frames. By converting and re-compressing, we are tossing out frames, inserting new frames and then tossing them back out again.... not the best scenario!
To troubleshoot further... the DVD itself, via Apple's DVD player plays successful on you Mac but not on a tabletop DVD player? If so, have you played ANY home burned DVD movie on the table top player?
Mike

What is the best QT setting for iDVD?

Hi
I am making a Quicktime movie from a cut in Media 100. What is the best format to export for iDVD? I already tried exporting DV/DVC Pro - NTSC and it didn't look all that great (flickering and rippling on the DVD player.)
I am currently trying a straight best quality NTSC Video export. My cut is about 7:45.
thanks
JB
Dual 2 GHz PowerPC G5 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Hi John:
Welcome to discussions!
I would use QuickTime Pro export settings, choose 'NTSC-DV' with a frame rate of 29.97. Choose 'No Compression' for audio and set the rate to 48.000 kHz.
Sue

Anamorphic DV export for iDVD - method?

Help!
I am using FCP 3.1 and iDVD 5.
I am editing an anamorphic sequence of PAL DV footage captured from a Panasonic hvx202 - recorded to tape in native 16:9 DV.
I want to export this sequence from FCP in a format for iDVD.
In order for a DVD player to replay in a 16:9 ratio I understand I need export as 720 x 405 ... that is, 'stretch' the image back to 16:9? ... Yes?
I can see two options:
1. Create Final Cut Pro movie:
a. I assume I make a Self Contained movie?
b. Do I use a Custom 16:9 setting of 720 x 405
c. Do I leave the anamorphic 16:9 button unchecked?
d. Do I use DV PAL compression? Or No compression?
e. I assume motion settings would be 25 fps?
2. Export as a Quicktime movie
I assume I use the Options settings and so:
a. Do I compress as Video, DV PAL, or none?
b. I assume motion settings would be 25 fps?
c. There is a default checked box for a keyframe every 24 frames: necessary? should it be 25 frames?
d. I assume I set the Size to 720 x 405 ?
e. Do I de-select "Prepare for Internet Streaming" ?
Help will be greatly appreciated,
Bill

First, your FCP sequence has to be 16:9.
In order to get iDVD5 to letterbox your footage you need to export from FCP using quicktime conversion (not quicktime movie)
Change the size to either NTSC or PAL 16:9 (I think it only gives you 1 option for NTSC or PAL 16:9) and under settings change the compression to match your project.
For some reason QuicktimePro and iDVD don't see the anamorphic flag created in FCP for Quicktime movie.

Converting .MOV files (pre snowleopard) to format suitable for iDVD

I purchased a new iMac and migrated my system across (from iMac5 (2.16 GHz) Mac OS 10.4.11 Quicktime 7.6.4 to a new imac 3.06 Mac OS 10.6.2 Quicktime 10.0).
Some of my quicktime files play ok but others prompt me to download quicktime version 7. I really want to convert them to a format that iDVD finds acceptable.
Any converters I have tried fail to read the files.
Is there any s/w available to convert these files to formats suitable for iDVD ?

I really want to convert them to a format that iDVD finds acceptable.
iDVD will support any "conversion" compatible compression format supported by your current QT component configuration. Therefore, what you need to do is find out what compression format(s) are contained in the files that no longer play/are not being accepted by iDVD (or other QT apps).
Any converters I have tried fail to read the files.
If the converters rely on your installed QT components, that is to be expected. If such apps include there own built-in codecs, then the files are either not supported or possibly corrupted.
Is there any s/w available to convert these files to formats suitable for iDVD ?
I would normally recommend QT 7 Pro ($30) or MPEG Streamclip (free) to perform the conversions. However, if your files contain content not supported by your current QT component configuration, then the files cannot be converted until the specific required components are installed. (E.g., Filp4Mac ($) for windows, Perian (free) for DivX, XviD, and similar files, the QT MPEG-2 Playback component ($) for MPEG-2 video content, etc.) To learn which codecs are missing, you might try opening the Finder "Info" window for the file or see if the free VLC app will load/play/info the file content.
Contrary to what many people think, there are many video compression formats (technologies) used and no single player plays everything without having the correct component support available. This is like trying to play a DVD on a CD player, or playing and Blu-ray on a DVD player.

What other file format for IDVD project?

hi I have edited hd video files which are Quicktime movies in m-peg2 1920x1080. The files currently put me over the size limit to be able to burn a DVD. I don't want to leave any of the files of of the DVD. My question is what's the next best conversion format I should use so that they all can fit onto my DVD. in other words I want to convert to a smaller size using compressor to fit the idvd project.
Thanks
RD

I advice you to use Brorsoft Video to iDVD Converter.
With it, you can convert video to the best format for burning to iDVD on Mac OS X. iDVD only supports video or image files supported by QuickTime. You can use the tool to convert video to QuickTime MOV file.
Trick:
For best results, in the QuickTime export settings of your video editing application, choose NTSC-DV with a frame rate of 29.97 or PAL-DV with a frame rate of 25. Choose No Compression for audio, and set the sample rate to 48 kilohertz.
Tips:
1. You can drag a QuickTime movie file to the audio well in the Menu Info window or in the slideshow editor. iDVD uses the first audio track in the file as a soundtrack for the menu that is open or for the slideshow and ignores the video. For more information, see Related Topics below.
2. If you share an iMovie HD project as a QuickTime movie using the Full Quality option, iMovie HD doesn’t include chapter markers in the QuickTime movie.

Movie formatting for iDVD 4

I'm trying to burn a DVD with some videos from my digital camera using iDVD 4. The videos were automatically transferred to my computer as MPEG-1 files, but neither iDVD nor iMovie will accept that format. Does anyone know how I can change the format of the videos for iDVD (preferably without spending money)? Is there a good web page with a program and instructions that someone would recommend? Any help is greatly appreciated!
PowerBook G4 Mac OS X (10.1.x)

welcome egd2001 to the  boards of discussions ...
.. ehm, you need 'a little' background knowledge, to understand why this is no trivia task...:
* a TV has a standard, fixed resolution of 720x480 pixel.. your mpegs have a quarter of that.. => poor quality...
* TV has 30 frames per second.. => I'm pretty sure, your mpegs not..
* iM/iDVD are intended to work with miniDV camcorders, both apps work with the same video codec, dv, to import 'lossless' ..
* mpegs are a playback format.. any conversion/processing adds a loss of pic quality, due to the techniqué used for compression ...
* this playback format muxxes audio+video into a data stream, both a 'woven together' ... not easy to seperate that...
Mpeg Streamclip
www.squared5.com
allows to open and convert mpeg1 into 'dv-stream' (look into SC's many export options...) ...
as said, you will realize a (dramatic) loss of pic quality ... due to used formats & standards...

M4v bad for idvd?

I've heard that .m4v is not a good file type for idvd to compress due to jerky video playback. I've experienced this jerky playback on my dvds burned from .m4v's. So what would be the best file type to export from imovie 08? .dv?

Best for iDVD? DV video!!
F Shippey

How do i use parallel compression for 4 drum tracks in Logic pro 7.2.3 Please

how do i use parallel compression for 4 drum tracks in Logic pro 7.2.3 Please. my version is 7.2.3 and my son did his drums on 4 tracks. 2 OH's 1 Kick and 1 Snare. Were confused because we cant figure out how to do parallel compression on the older logic version 7.2.3?

I can't remember when the Aux tracks became the new buss tracks, so I'll spell this out using busses.
The way I do it, is I assign all my drum tracks to a buss, say buss 1.
Then, on buss 2, I assign it's INPUT to buss 1.
So buss 1 (all the drums) are feeding into buss 2 simultaneously.
Put a compressor on buss 2, turn the fader down all the way, then as the track is playing, bring buss 2's fader up slowly, until you hear the effect you're after.
You could also do this using sends on the 4 drum tracks, set to feed the buss with the compressor on it.
I hope I haven't forgotten anything particular to that version of Logic. See if this helps...

Compressing for Idvd

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