DVD Compression

Toast now has the great "fit to dvd" checkbox while burning from Video TS files. My question is, how much is too much?
I notice when you rip some Video DVDs, they actually contain 6-7 gigs. Are these files generally being compressed into 4.36 gigs? If I have a movie file that is 7 gigs, should I try and fit it on one DVD with the "fit to dvd" checked on Toast?
I don't want to lose quality, but if this is kosher...I'm all for it.
Thanks for your help.
Ben

On a commercial DVD, it's very common for it to have more than 4.37 GB of data. In those cases, the disc has two data layers, allowing it to hold up to 8.54 GB of data.
So, if you need to "backup" one of those discs to a single layer disc, you'll need to compress it to less than 4.37 GB to make it fit.

Similar Messages

SD DVD Compressions

I have been compressing for like the last six months with Compressor, Compressor 2 and Bit Vice and for the life of me can't get anything that holds up quality wise. The cow has been great in solving problems in the past and have helped to an extent but I have still not burned a DVD that holds up yet. So I figured I'd try this. I am not trying to become a compression master...I am happy just being an editor that understands compression. I'd just like to create a simplistic workflow that allows me to produce nice looking DVD's and not ones that don't look much better than VHS. So here is a common scenario for me. I would like to know the best workflow to create the HIGHEST quality MPEG2 that I can to playback on a DVD. I don't care about file size or length of the compression. I'll be indebted to anyone that can help me work this out.
Current workflow-HDV sequence with HDV captured 1440X1080 ftg mixed in with computer 3D graphics of Animation(1980X1020), Photo-JPEG(1920X1080) and HDV(1440X1080) codecs.
My other 2 most common sequences that my workflow begins in are Blackmagic NTSC-Jpeg(Photo-Jpeg) & DV NTSC. I don't know if you would recommend a different process for these 2 but if so then I would be indebted to know these answers as well. I would hope that the compression would be pretty much the same in these based on what quality level you want.
Here's an example of my how I go and still get bad results. I finish my FCP (HDV, Blackmagic NTSC-Jpeg and DV NTSC)Sequence and then export to Compressor 2. The only thing that ever changes is when I work in an HDV sequence it will not let me export directly from the sequence claiming that I have not selected any media. So I have to take the extra step of exporting as a quicktime movie reference file to bring into compressor 2. I will then select Best Quality 90 minute 4:3 or 16:9 depending on the aspect ratio I need. I then have been assuming that for the highest quality I have been selecting GOP-IP and I have tried both 2-PASS VBR and Constant Bit Rates of anywhere from 7.0 to 8.0 with not much difference in results. I have tried all the GOP settings as well.
FYI - I've have tried dumping out my HDV sequence out to the deck and bringing it back in as a DV clip. I would then compress the 720X480 DV clip without any better results. The best results that I have come to find in all of my testing is bumping the HDV sequence up to uncompressed 8-bit or animation, rendering and then going through compressor or bitvice. BitVice gives me a little better results but nothing to write home about. I'm not opposed to using BitVice but would prefer to stay within the Apple workflow and just export through Compressor unless BitVice is the answer.
I have researched all of the forums and sites to I'm about blue in the face and have tried various things that have helped from many of the members. So thanks to everyone that has helped me or someone else that I have been able to take there suggestion for myself. I am just looking to get over that last hump!
It is not like it is unviewable but that I would like for it to look as good as it does in the sequence in FCP or at least 80-90% close. Right now to us it looks like it takes such a hit that it is like 60% is good as it was in the FCP sequence and only like 10% better than vhs if that:( Is there some hidden secret that I am missing in software compression that could get me over that remaining hump or am I stuck viewing similiar quality to vhs?
Sorry for the long post. Thanks in advance for everything!
Lee
G5 Mac OS X
Dual 2.0 GHz
FCP 4.5 HD
XServe Raid 1 Terabyte
G5 Mac OS X
Dual 2.3 GHz
FCP 5.02 Studio
G-Tech G Raid 500 GBs
2 - Lacie Drives 200 GBs

Hey Lee, looking at what you are doing and how you are doing, let me make some recommendations.
obviously you are able to capture an 8 and 10-bit uncompressed 4:2:2 YUV NTSC and PAL elements from your internal drive with no problems (since you mentioned Blackmagic's Decklinck card). but you said that you are working with HD material, so assume you have some faster external drives. anyway, bring in the material in the highest quality you can in the above choices the 10-bit would be ideal.
what are your source tapes? i ask this bcz if they are some form of DV format (HDCAM, HDCAM PRO) your material is already compressed 5:1 (not helpful).
ok, you say that your FCP sequences are "Blackmagic NTSC-Jpeg(Photo-Jpeg) & DV NTSC".. WHY? although the file sizes might be atractive, once again, you are implemnting a compression to those files (cascade compression). something in the ballpark of another 5:1 to 15:1.
when you export your sequence from FCP do it with NO compression or in the drop-down options box "compression type = NONE". yes the files will be MUCH larger, but your material will mostly still be in the realm of 5:1 rather than the 10:1 to 20:1 compression (starting to see, even BEFORE you start encoding your how much your RAW "uncompressed" material is compressed).
OK, now you have these HUGE files on your HDD, since you are working with HD and you want to ultimately have a SD DVD, you have do to a down-conversion of the material.
one of the options to do a donw-convert is compressor. (i wouldn't recoomend it though). i would highly recommend do the down-conversion within FCP so once you do your export, your files are in SD resolution already (more than likely DV NTSC 640x480).
anyway, let's say that you already have a SD resolution file, you take that file into compressor (most DVD compression introduces about 40:1 compression) and just select a preset (they are generally pretty good) and see what relults that gives you.
i see that you set your GOP to IP ? a big no no! i hate to feel like i am demeaning you but do you know what GOP means, does or how it works?
having a setting of IP not only gives you larger files, since more whole frame (I) are created, but there is nothing beneficial and the encoding process is SEVERLY hindered since the encoder is not being effectively used.
i would try a setting of a CLOSED GOP @ 15 with a setting of IBBP since this is the MOST effective use of encoding or bit-reduction.
i think i touched most subjects.. wow i am exhausted!
if you have any specific questions as to how or why, let me know and i will answer them as best as i can
Mike

PAL to NTSC DVD compression questions

Ok,
I have recently finished a dvd in PAL format with about 4.5GB total video once compressed. Now I need to get this into an NTSC version. Is it possible to use Compressor 2 to convert the DVD compressed clips/audio [the ones ready for PAL DVD] into NTSC format ready to build my project in DVDSP? Or do I need my original quicktime clips in PAL format and change them to NTSC in Compressor 2 then make them into NTSC DVD ready clips? Also what is the best setting for NTSC DVD in compressor that will be ok for the size of my final version [4.5GB]. Sorry about these questions but I made the PAl version with compressor 1 and there was far less settings to worry about.
powerbook 12 Mac OS X (10.2.x)

I'm pretty sure you need to go back to your Final Cut source material and re-export via Compressor by selecting 'advanced standards conversion' to get your NTSC files. Then you can import these into DVDSP as NTSC assets.

DVD Compression Quality

I created a 25 minute video using photos and music and the quality was excellent. Recently, I updated the project in same version of iMovie by changing a few of the photos and rearranging some of the music. When I made the Disk Image (with same preferences as the first time), the quality was subpar. I took the two DVDs to the Apple Store and they played them simultaneously on two computers. They could see the difference in quality, checked the particulars of both, and were at a loss for an explanation. I have tried burning the DVD with different preferences and always get the same lousy quality. Smiles look like frowns, plaids or stripes are wavy in Ken Burns, like how a mirage appears. I think it is a compression problem. Apple Support had me make a trial video and I was disappointed in that quality when it was saved as a Disk Image as well. Any ideas?

I have invested a lot of money to up grade to HD and the dvds i am producing are of very poor quality. I had better results using SD footage
The video DVD standard IS standard definition with widescreen supported only by anamorphic squeezing.
Video DVDs are NOT HD (high definition) devices. If you want true HD, you will need to create Blu-ray discs (and must have a Blu-ray player).
Roxio's Toast Titanium 10 (with the Blu-ray plugin) will let you create short (about 20 minutes) Blu-ray playable discs using standard writable DVD media.
I receintely upgrades to snow leopard and this is not compatable with my Final Cut Pro studio HD
Nobody forced you to convert to SL. Anytime you consider a system upgrade, the first thing you should do is check for compatibility problems with your existing applications.

DVD Compression/Burning All In One

Any program that anyone knows of that will work like DVD Shrink does for PC in that it will rip, compress and then prompt to burn the file for you when it has finished all aforementioned? I used MacRipper but don't know what to do with the file after that as I am not very proficient with how to burn the file to a DVD after it has been ripped. The all in one program would be easier for me as DVD Shrink was a great program for avoiding many steps. I want to make a back up copy of some of my DVDs that I have purchased.

DVD2oneX has better compression and will burn also. DVD2oneX is better on the newer releases. I do have and use both Toast and DVD20neX.
DVD2oneX is try before you buy so give it a shot.

Premiere Pro CS3 DVD Compression Audio lag

I have a project which content several camera angles.
I synch them, then puts them in my timeline with other elements such as Lowerthirds, logos, and other sub captions.
Funny enough there is a lag when the whole project is compressed for DVD burning.
Video 1 has the live feed audio file and Video 2 is simply synched with video 1.
Ounce the compression is done, Video 2 is synched with audio but not Video 1. Video1 is late.
I do not understand why since, Video 1 has the original audio file for the entire project.
However when the project is compessed for windows media player the issue disappears.
Can anyone help me with this?
Dan
PS: CS3

Usually Premiere pro should send the compressed media directly to encore and burn it. But nop it doesn't work that way It bugg all the time doing that.
So I Export it via the Adobe Media Encoder then choose MPEG2-DVD
Range: Entire Sequence
Preset: NTSC Medium Quality
NTSC, 720x480, 29.97 drop frame (fps), lower, Quality 3.0
48 kHz, 16 bit, PCM
VBR, 1 Pass, min 1.50, Target 4.00, Max 7.00 (mbps)
The project is 28min 40 long and gives me a compressed file of about 2 GB.
Right there before I even burn to DVD with Encore (by importing the 2GB file as timeline),
There is an audio lag.
Then I shut Premiere pro, launch Encore, import the 2GB file as timeline hit the built key, disregard the error message and THe DVD id burned.
I don't think Encore is the problem, I think It comes from Premiere Pro. How can the Video contact the only audio file not be in synch with itself???
I am so confused...
THanks for your help!
Dan
PS: Do you know any good tutorial about compression tips so I can get better result

2:20 onto 1 DVD Compression?

What's the best compression to use, when exporting an iMovie project, to get 2hrs 20mins of video onto 1 DVD? HOW DO THE PROFESSIONALS GET A 3 HOUR MOVIE onto one disc?
-Aaron

a) commcercial DVDs are mostly dual-layer=7.7Gb...
b) pros don't use consumer products as iDVD (besides: iM doesn't author DVDs, it is iDVD)
c) spend some $$$$, and you get DVDSP, which has "Compressor" included, which allows individual bitrates for individual scenes and a much more elaborated set of audio-codecs.... you're familiar with bitrates, keyframes and codecs....;-)?
d) or spend some $$$.$$$ for real pro hardware endcoders.....
besides the jokes:
ffmpeg allows manual setting of bitrates... resulting mpv and mpa files can be mastered with tools as Sizzle.... a very long process, only for the strong....
are you sure, your project isn't .... "boring" with 140minutes....?

I-Movie to I-DVD compression?

If I have a 5GB I-Movie and want to export to I-DVD, Does I-DVD have a compression that will allow that large of a file to produce a DVD?

Yes!
5GB in iMovie is only about 20 minutes? A DVD can take up to 120 minutes of video.
Once you have transferred your iMovie project to iDVD, iDVD compresses it to the standard DVD format of mpeg2.

Free replacement for popcorn 4 (dvd compression/burning) that works with Mavericks?

I make frequent backups of dvds that I own because my children mangle them. I was using Popcorn 4, which was just OK, but now it doesn't seem to work at all with Mavericks, and it has been replaced by Toast (on the Roxio website), which is much more expensive, and doesn't look that much better. I use Rip-it to create the Video_TS files on my hard drive, but I need something to transfer those files to a playable DVD.
I've tried Burn, Aimersoft Video Converter Ultimate, but so far, no luck.
Disclaimer: I have purchased these DVDs, and I'm just making back-up copies, not selling them on my doorstep.
I have a mid-2009 MacBook Pro running OSX Mavericks 10.9

elisabethfromseattle wrote:
Tony T1: I installed it, but I am getting a message that says I cannot open it because it is from an unidentified developer. Also, it looks like they stopped updating Disco in 2011. But thank you for the suggestion.
Just right-click and then select [Open]
(you only need to do this once, then you can just click the App to open)
Developement stopped as DVD use is declining
(Apple is no longer developing iDVD).
The positive is that Disco is now free.

Best DVD compression settings?

Hello,
I have several longer movies that I have made adding up to around 24 gb ( exported in quicktime using .264h). I plan on using DVD-9 dual layer discs so 8.5 gb. I have downloaded handbrake compressor and was wondering if the software is a waste of my time and I should get a different one? I also want to know the best settings I can have so that I dont run out of room on the DVD. Thank You!

sorry for sounding rude, but:
• file size doesn't matter
• export to h.264 is of no use, harms quality only
• Handbrake is of no use for creating disks (it's a ripper/converter, no creator)
export a 'master file' of your Project from FCPX, to avoid lossy&useless 'intermediates'; file-size is probably around 40GB/h - don't worry
what you need is an authoring tool - which converts (final codec is mp2), resizes (final res is 720x480) and 'muxx' your video, finally creates the standard-compliant file structure ( _ts/vob etc), and disk-format (udf) for videoDVD.
Use Toast or iDVD. Very convenient tools. Stay under 1h content for max. quality on SL-DVDr; using DL-DVDr for projects <2h is of no use.-
In case, you own legacy FC/pro, use DVDSP (very little convenient, esp. compared to Toast/iDVD, but tons of additinal options, e.g. menu desing/features).

DVD compression question? Why go 720 x 576?

Ok so normally I would send my 1920 x1080p clips to compressor and ad the DVD best quality preset.
But this only gives me 720x 576 pixels.
I am obviously losing a lot of pixels.
I see there is HD dvd in compressor which seems to have native pixels.
So why would I use that preset in compressor? Is it for "HD dvd" players? How do I know if I have a HD dvd player?
Can anyone help?

Currently, there are only two viable methods for optical disc delivery: DVD and Blu-ray:
DVD is standard definition only. However, some DVD players will upscale SD material to HD on output - this is NOT true HD; it's simply SD material being stretched.
Blu-ray can be HD or SD, but you'll need the appropriate Blu-ray burner and authoring software for creation ... and a Blu-ray player for playback.
The format known as HD DVD is dead and is no longer supported by any manufacturer. However, if you have one of the (now obsolete) Toshiba HD DVD players that were made, you could make and play an HD DVD. HD DVD discs will also play on Macs made within the last several years. They will NOT play in DVD players or Blu-ray players.
-DH

COMPRESSOR will not compress DVD files adequately

This is a weird one. I'm using compressor to encode files for DVD studio pro. However, no matter what file I plug into compressor and no matter what DVD compression settings/data rates I choose, compressor will not compress the files small enough to fit on the DVD.
Any ideas?

Yeah, it should fit no problem.
Try a CBR setting at around 7mbps... it will compress much faster and it will be of higher quality than a VBR setting.
Jerry

Using BlackMagic Intensity Pro Video Compression card with FCP in a MacPro

BlackMagic is offering the Intensity Pro card that they claim is enhancing the quality of video compression for better results than software driven compression, even with Standard DV in addition to HDV, and at a surprisingly cheap cost (less than $300).
http://www.h-digital.com.au/hardware/hardwareview.asp?id=152
As someone used such hardware driven compression card in a MacPro ?
Does-it really help making better quality DVDs?
If not are there better hardware driven compression card?

7-8 years ago, we said that analog video was at the low end and DV was at the high end.
Uh, DV was NEVER on the high end. Digibeta and Beta were analog, and were HIGHER end than DV. Just because it was digital doesn't mean it was better. DV is compressed 5:1 and has 4:1:1 color sampling. Beta was 4:2:2 and better than DV...and Digibeta was and still is the high end SD format. DVCPRO 50 a close second. No...DV came in on the low end...like HDV comes in on the low end of the HD spectrum.
If this Intensity card does not help to get better compression than software driven compression, is there another card which can do so ?
Well, I answered this, but you must have missed my answer, so I will bold it for you: *THERE IS NO CARD OUT THERE FOR THE MAC THAT WILL AID IN DVD COMPRESSION.* I don't know about the PC side, so I make the statement to include MAC only. There are several hardware solutions for encoding DVDs that distributors use when making the theatrical DVDs like OCEANS 13...but those are separate hardware encoders. And no, again, those encoders are not available on a Mac.
What I mean at the end is to find ways to have higher quality DVDs than when using software such as Compressor. Do you follow me ?
I follow you....you aren't following me. Since I am an editor and not a distributor, I don't know what those solutions are. They exist outside of the editing world, so you have to GOOGLE this or look elsewhere. Needless to say, the Intensity does not aid in this. No capture card does. That is not what they are designed for. They are designed to capture non-firewire formats and to output to non-firewire formats...not to aid in DVD compression.
Shane

New Mac Mini as dedicated capture/compression unit

I'm in what seems to be a bit of a pickle.
I work for a University (requires purchasing Academic software) and will be upgrading our video suite with two more computers very soon. Right now I'm running a Quad 2.5GHz G5 with Final Cut Studio 1 and will be adding a new MacPro (to replace our much older second editor) and Mac Mini (dedicated video capture and DVD compression) to the mix. Ideally, the plan would be to run/upgrade both towers to Final Cut Studio 2 and Leopard, and install Final Cut Studio 1 onto the new Mini. Unfortunately, I have FCP 5.0.4 and have read that is not compatible with Leopard/Intel.
Besides purchasing a third Final Cut Studio 2 (and basically throwing away my copy of FCS1) is there another way to capture and compress (using Compressor) with the Mini? I not sure that capturing footage and making DVDs a bit easier will be worth the extra $700. I guess the other option would be leaving FCS1 on the G5 and running current versions on the new Intel machines.

I know a video production company brings with a mini on their live switching cart, and I thought that they used that for live ingest from their mixer so that they could immediately show the perspective buyers what they had JUST shot. But they also did LiveType titles, so the mini may have just been feeding the titles to the switcher, I can't remember anymore. One thing you forgot to mention was how or what you'd be capturing, and why you'd need to capture on a separate machine. However, it seems like your choice of only using towers is the way to go, and you can still use 5.0.1 on the headless G5, so that's all good at least.
Good luck,
-Brian

Color and contrast different from Premiere Pro 2 DVD creation

I found after creating DVD's via Premiere Pro 2 are more saturated and more neutral in color vs encoding through Encore.
I made a si8de by side test, converted them back to AVI and grabbed the same still of each. The Encore still was lower in contrast (flatter) and a slight bit warmer. over all the DVD compression from PP2 gives a richer look. If you are a film maker or photographer this matters a lot, but not for most users.
the file sizes from premiere are bigger. for example a 8mbs from a 7:30 avi compression on premiere resulted in 544mb while a 9.4 compression via encore 2 resulted in 464 mb. when changing the mbs from 8-9.4 mbs it resulted in exactly the same size file 464mb. even when starting a new project, which means that there might be a bug and encoding on a unknown predetermined mbs, probably 7. This would explain the flatter look of the Encore 2 compression.
Does anyone know how to find out at what rate a dvd has been encoded after it's done? knowing that there isn't any difference in the file size between 8mbs and 9.4 mbs shows that there must be a problem.
This test was done with the Encore DVD 2 trial version. I have vs 1.51 as well and will make a test on this one as well. to see if there is the same problem.

1. Can you detail your exact method, step-by-step, for both Premiere and Encore?
encode encoded in premiere 2 at the highest level 9mbs (didn't chapter for a simple auto disk, this is disabled in pp2 but you can save as an mpg2 and import for chaptering in Encore2)
2. Did you use the exact same source files for all tests, or just files that were the same duration?
Exactly the same source file, when importing the mpg2 into premiere i simply imported each file in the timelime and saved exactly the frame of each mpg2. All this started when i first compared 2 encodings from a film directors reel where quality is crucial, and saw it immidiatly when playing the 2 different dvd's of the same reel on a DVD player (JVC) and Sony monitor.
3. Be sure to include project settings and program preferences for both applications.
encore 2 encoded at cbr 1x 9mbps (highest)
Premiere 2 encoded at cbr 1x 8mbps (highest)
when setting to 9mbps in PP2 I get the3 following warning:
Total Video and audio bitrate (10.536 Mbs) exceeds maximum allowable bitrate (10.030 Mbps) for DVD type of muxing.
So i reduced the bitrate to 8 and still got a file of 557mb and better color and contrast than Encore2.
The final results of encoding in PP2 gives an identical DVD mpg as far as color and contrast to the original AVI.
When encoding at the max rate of 9 in PP1.5 i never got this warning.
I just repeated the above test on more time in PP2 and Encore DVD 2
they must use a different codec for Encore2 than PP2.
Besides the color and gamma shift the image size horizontally is a slight bit different (larger) than the one done with PP2, but not verically.
you can also encode in PP2 save it as a multiplexed mpg2 file and than chapter it for the final dvd in encore2 which gives you the higher quality results of PP2.
Klaus

DVD Compression

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