DVDSP vs Compressor compression

Is it better to compress my video with Compressor or use my raw uncompressed Quicktime movies as assets in DVDSP and have it do the compression when building a disc?
A co-worker says DVDSP is better since it automatically adjusts quality to make assets fit within a disc. Compressor has presets, but requires tweaking if my program length doesn't comform to one of the MPEG 2 time presets (90, 120, etc minutes)

The general rule is that Compressor will give you complete control over your encoding process. Working in DVDSP with your assets encoded, will give you faster builds too.
An important advantage of using Compressor is its capabilities to encode your audio to Dolby 2.0 (AC3) what will give you more space for your video (letting use a higher bitrate to your video). DVDSP will not compress your audio, leaving it as AIFF/PCM what most probably will give you some high bitrates issues during encoding/playback (specially in stand alone player).
is better since it automatically adjusts quality to make assets fit within a disc
I never encode in DVDSP and never heard about any automatic fit feature. You must change the encoding settings inside DVDSP preferences to fit your assets (remember you'll not be able to encode your audio to Dolby inside DVDSP).
But anyone with more experience in inside encoding will tell us if that automatic feature really exists !
Hope it helps !
  Alberto

Similar Messages

  • COMPRESSOR COMPRESSION CHOICE

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    Question 2. What compress rate is the best in Compressor for each reel? I plan to import each Compressor compressed reel (combining the 5 reels) into DVD Pro to burn a 4.5 DVD of the whole thing. Each Reel needs to be compressed to about 1 gig each for it to fit in other words.
    I thought about compressing the whole thing, but figure the computer would be down for a couple, three days and 1 glitch and the whole thing has to be started again.
    I'd like to do a dual layer, but consumer external brands like La Cie seem not to work well with DVD pro. This is not a master. Just a sales tool at this point. But the time it takes to do this is painful and want to end up with the best product possible.
    Any advice will be helpful.
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    Hey Bad Baby Post,
    if i had a choice between YUV vs. RGB, i would go totally YUV 10-bit, not 12 or 16-bit, since the file sizes would be HUGE!
    if you wanted a DVD-5, then your compressed 100 minutes of video with Dolby *.ac3 audio (stereo) then you would be lookign at a bit-rate of about 5.8 mbps average, maximum of 7 mbps and minimum of 3.5 mbps. of course this is assuming that it only has 100 minutes of the feature, and NO OTHER VIDEO. if it had menus, then a few static (still menus would be cool).
    if you would go with a DVD-9, then with the same 100 minutes of video, you can have a CBR of 8 mbps with Dolby *.ac3 Stereo (@ 192 kbps).
    also, keep in mind, for the DVD-9's, the burners are just fine, you can get an internal Pioneer DVR-11D that is AWESOME, but you would have to download Batchburn to make the OS see the drive as a super drive (like this, you can burn from iDVD, DVD SP, iTunes, etc). if not, you can just use a third party disc burner like Roxio's Toast Titanium (i use this all the time) or Dragon Burn (another i use all the time). where you might have problems is not the nurning liek i said, but the actual playback. remember, the majority of DVD DL discs are +R, not -R. some older players have trouble playing such discs. DVD-roms' (like in a lot of compters) have no trouble with this media.
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  • IDVD appears to produce better "hi-def to DVD" than DVDSP and Compressor.

    For the last 4 years I have used DVDSP and Compressor to burn DVDs from my HDV and AVCHD/ProRes 422 projects but have always been plagued by the well known less than perfect results.
    For some reason creating DVDs from HD material results in slightly lower quality than when using standard def media.
    Artefacts such as double-lining and aliasing have been discussed at length in the forums and weird and wonderful time-consuming solutions such as the Bonsai technique have been proposed.
    Recently I had reason to go back to iDVD and to my surprise the video quality appeared to be better than DVDSP's.
    Gone were the minor but  irritating artefacts I had become accustomed to.
    Instead I now get sharp smooth images.
    It's still early days and I don't know whether the results are due to the idiosyncracies of my editing/burning setup. The DVDs were played in both a Panasonic BD player together with a Panasonic DVD player and viewed on a Sony 40" HDTV connected with HDMI cables.
    Maybe if anybody has a few spare moments between projects they could test it out.
    Note that I have only tested this with iDVDs "Best Performance" setting which is suitable for DVDs up to 65 minutes long.

    Ian,
    I'm not sure you need another voice in this conversation…but here's my 2 cents.
    While I agree that iDVD can do a very good job of encoding HD to DVD specs, I can't think of any reason why it should be superior to Compressor. In fact, my experience has been the opposite; I get somewhat better (cleaner) results using Compressor and DVDSP. The principal reason is I can start with my saved presets and then  – like Michael mentioned…take a small test section and make adjustments if I see something that I don't like.  
    As for scaling, I do it first, then I make the MPEG as a separate step, (There was a recent thread about this questioning whether this added any value. No mater; it's the way I do it unless I don't have time.)
    Good luck.
    Russ

  • Video glitch is symptom of what in DVDSP or Compressor?

    My video works fine when I export a MOV file from FCP7 and burn it to DVD with Toast. But now I've tried sending it to Compressor and then DVDSP.
    On the DVD, each shot looks a bit pixelated to start, but flashes between fairly pixelated and very pixelated at a rate of about half a second each. And in the LESS-MORE-LESS-MORE series of pixelation moments within the clip, the MORE ones get worse as the clip goes along. Then the pattern starts over again with the next clip.
    I have a feeling some setting is wrong. The original sequences are in AIC, exported as a full MOV file, Compressed in Best Quality 90 minute setting, and then burned as 16x9 SD video.

    First, I appreciate everyone's help with this. If a client weren't waiting impatiently, I'm sure it never would have happened!
    Second, here are two screen shots from DVD Player. Please ignore the screenshot demo's watermark.
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    In previous tests, Toast worked fine with the internal DVD burner in my Mac Pro and a DVD-RW I've been using.
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    The other complication is that it doesn't seem to be happening in shorter clips or in all of the longer clips, but when it does happen it starts about 30 seconds into the clip and gets worse as you go along. Even clips that get bad start being good, so the cycle repeats with each clip in the timeline. But just before the frames you see here, I have an equally long clip of a different guy, and he never degrades within his clip.
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  • Compressor Compression Question

    I have a huge QuickTime file that I output out of FCP 7, that is a 40 minute long presentation that mixes live video with Power Point slides. The video was shot using a Sony HXR-NX5U and the timeline used the ProRes422 codec. The final size of the movie out of FCP is 66.91 gigs, which I want to compress down to 2 gigs or less to post on YouTube.
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    I'm running Final Cut Studio 3, with FCP 7. I know of the YouTube preset in Compressor, but will it automatically compress down to the size I need, or do I need to limit the data rate, or adjust any other settings?

  • CAN COMPRESSOR COMPRESS TO A WMV (Windows media player file?)

    Hi,
    Just curious if Compressor or better yet for what I am doing final cut can compress to a wmv (windows media format)? for the sake of downloading of our website.
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    Actually once you install Flip4Mac it works within compressor too. Just select quicktime export components when creating a new compression proifile and you will see all the WMV options.

  • Encode With DVDSP or Compressor?

    I made a very large Quicktime video, 110 GB, which is 13 minutes long, with the Animation codec. It is a series of animations made with After Effects, edited in Premiere in HD, and I plan to put it on some Blu-rays later, which is why it is so huge.
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    Thanks!
    And if it really matters, I have a sample of the animation on Vimeo, if anyone seeds to look at it to suggest optimum settings. If so, I'll share the link.

    Thank you for your reply. I don't pretend to be knowledgeable on these things.
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    On the other hand, in Compressor, I usually just select a preset like "DVD 60 minutes best quality" but if there is a better way to do that, could you please tell me where I can get the best settings for a short animated film?
    Thanks!

  • FCP/DVDSP/Compressor .ac3 Low Audio

    Can somebody tell me why .ac3 files come out so low compared to .aif when sent to compressor from FCP, even though I boosted the levels in FCP. I need more level in ac3 format for DVDSP.

    In Compressor, duplicate the AC3 (Dolby Digital) preset for DVD then modify the copy this way: in the Audio tab, set Dialog Normalization to -31dbfs (that will leave the audio at the same level as it was in FCP). In the Preprocessing tab, set 'Compressor Preset' to NONE.
    These are excerpts from the Compressor Help Files: http://documentation.apple.com/en/compressor/usermanual/#chapter=10%26section=1% 26hash=apple_ref:doc:uid:TempBookID-ReplacedWhenAssociatingWithMessierRevision-9 0863AC3-1007867
    "If you enter –31 dBFS: The attenuation is 0 dB (31 dBFS–31 dBFS), and the source audio levels are not affected at all.
    If you enter –27 dBFS: The attenuation will be 4 dB (31 dBFS–27 dBFS).
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    "Compression Preset: Specifies one of the dynamic range processing modes built in to the AC-3 format. The default of Film Standard Compression should only be used when you are encoding an original mix intended for cinema. In almost all cases, you should choose None."
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  • Compressing for DVDSP

    Hi,
    I am having a lot of trouble encoding a coupe of fcp movies for DVDSP. I have tried compressor and DVDSP to no avail.
    Both are DV movies; one of them very complex, the other not so much. The very complex one is 72min, the other is an 8min trailer. I am using FCP Studio 5.1.1 on a PowerPC G4, OS 10.4.7.
    The main problem: artifacts when played using a regular DVD player. It does not happen using simulator (with and without background encoding) or my computers' DVD players.
    I have tried changing field dominance, using self-contained movies instead of experting directly to compressor; using DVDSP's compression, etc. I have read a lot on the subject already and cannot figure out what is going on. My understanding is that compressor is not the way to go. Is DVDSP the best option? If so, what would be the best settings to use?
    In sum, what is the best way to compress this kind of projects (complex, lots of movement, stills and speed changes) for DVDSP?
    Thanks for any help you can provide!
    Best,
    Mabel

    So you've tried exporting from FCS to QT movie, directly to compressor, and you've tried compressing the QT movie asset in DVDSP, and you have artifacts in each case, right?
    First, I don't think that letting DVDSP do your compression is a good way to go for the longer, complicated project. Maybe for the short one if you must.
    I'd go back to FCS and place compression markers at frames that are the beginning of big movement segments. I think FCS will automatically place markers at transitions. Then with the markers in place I'd export to QT movie (doesn't have to be self-contained) and then drag that movie file into compressor. In compressor choose MPEG-2 preset appropriate for the time, probably 90 minutes best quality, at the same time encode a Dolby AC3 audio file, and this may give you better results.
    good luck.

  • Export workflow with Compressor or QT?

    I finally make the move to Studio Pro5 and FCP5, love the FCP and now have a confusing problem with a movie that I want to export with Chapters to DVDSP5.
    Choices:
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    only to import it into DVDSP5 for chapters and so I can then compress the
    movie?
    2. Export Compressor conversion for DVDSP5 but, I dont see my chapters from
    FCP timeline.
    (This would be ok if my chapters from FCP5 showed up)
    What happened to the direct QT to mpeg2 with chapters, Quick and direct.
    I guess im trying to find out from someone the workflow from exporting a movie from FCP5 with chapters into DVDSP5.
    It seems the manuals are not 100% accurate or clear on this process.

    For me, I simply export my sequence using Export QuickTime Movie... leave it at Current Settings..., make it self contained (if I have the space), and bring that file into DVDSP. I let DVDSP handle the compression...
    The only time I mess with Compressor is to play with frame rate conversions, and to do H.264 compressions for the web...
    Patrick

  • Artifacting in DVDSP 4 and G5

    I have a Dual processor 1.8GHz G5 with 2.5GB of RAM running 10.4.2
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    Motion Estimation: Best
    Encode on Build
    I need to get this DVD out tommorow to a client and I cannot send it like this. It is not all the time, just little bvits and pieces of video go blocky. This happens with all 8 videos going on the DVD (All different source tapes). There is one video that is 15 seconds, and it has one block throughout, this is the best one.
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    I am not using Compressor, everything is being done in DVDSP for the compression.
    I have burned numerous DVD's in the past with the same bit rate and less information without issues, and if it cannot handle 968mb of data would I trust that bit rate with 4GB worth!
    I have put some screen captures online for you to check out (Sorry I screwed up the capture in a rush and only got the corners, but it still shows you what is happening). These are all from the first 2min video (I could have gotten more, but trying to pause in the right spot is hard and I have a bunch of work today)
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    The only thing I can think of is that they were captures from BetaSP via a Sony DVMC-DA2 over firewire, though the source files have no problems.
    If you have any ideas, please let me know.
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    Kray

  • Too much compression on FCE project

    I have a FCE project that is 14.4 min long and 3.81 GB. When I us DVDSP to create the menu and DVD it ends up as a 995 MB DVD. Compared to the original FCE project, it looks really grainy. I upped the encoding as high as it would go, but I can't get it larger than 995 MB. Since it is the only movie on the DVD is there anyway to get DVDSP to not compress at all?

    DVD footage is most often compressed to MPEG2, but the bitrate can vary widely up to 9.8Mbps if you use a replicated disc. Additionally, you can also use MPEG1 on a SD disc, which is not as high a quality, but can allow you to fit vastly more minutes of video on the same size disc.
    If you are burning a DVD on your mac then anecdotal evidence suggests that a video bitrate of no more than 7.4Mbps is prudent. More than this and the disc may 'choke' in some players.
    This isn't necessarily to do with the laser, so much as the reflective properties of the re-writable disc not being as good as a replicated one. All DVD players should be able to cope with 9.8Mbps from a DVD-Video disc (although sadly not all do, surprisingly), but keep in mind that a DVD-R is not a DVD-Video disc.
    If your pristine footage is coming out as grainy when you encode then you really ought to check the settings that you are using. Is the source footage and lighting good quality for the footage? Have you applied any filters or effects? Are you using a good quality encoder?
    The final size of the file produced will vary according to the encoding used. The higher the bit rate the larger the file size will be. Audio files add to the overall bit rate on a disc, to, so using AC3 (Dolby Digital) is a very good idea - they have a smaller file size, lower bitrate and can allow you to increase the rate for your video to gain quality.
    Be aware that the visual difference between footage encoded at around 7.4Mbps, compared to that encoded at 8 or even 9Mbps is so slight that most people won't notice. There appears to be a law of diminishing returns in operation - you really don't gain anything by encoding at much higher levels, but you will prevent some players playing your disc back reliably.
    If you've not yet used Compressor then you really ought to be looking at it. If your results are coming from Compressor, then it is about time you looked at BitVice and if necessary used the DVNC setting there to reduce the noise on the final output. There are other encoders, but none so easy to use as Bitvice, IMO.

  • Chapter markers not appearing in DVDSP

    I have a movie in FCP (NTSC, 4:3 SP) with several chapter markers. I exported the movie from FCP as Quicktime with "All Markers" selected. I viewed the file with QT, and the markers showed up. I compressed the movie using compressor. I imported the compressed movie into DVDSP, and the markers didn't show up.
    I looked at the various related messages here, and the suggestion to use the uncompressed file to establish the markers sounded good. I imported the uncompressed file, oops, no chapter markers.
    I checked my software revisions, and updated Quicktime to 7.1.1. per the Apple site. I re-created the Quicktime file using FCP and imported it, uncompressed, again into DVDSP -- no markers.
    I exited everything. I started FCP, created a brand-new project, imported a small clip, set 3 markers, 1 chapter, 1 chapter+compression, 1 chaptercompressionscore. I exported the file as QT with "all Markers" selected. I viewed the file with QT, and the markers are there. I put this QT file into a new project in DVDSP -- no markers showed up at all.
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    G4 dual 1GHz   Mac OS X (10.4.6)   FC Studio 5.1, latest updates for everything.

    I looked at the various related messages here, and the suggestion to use the uncompressed file to establish the markers sounded good.
    I don't know why people post that advice. It's flat out wrong. Sorry you got bad directions.
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    Selecting DVDSP Markers exports Chapter, Compression and Cut markers. Cut markers are created by FCP whenever you make a cut in the timeline. With cut markers present, every time your start a new clip - or you simply use the Add Edit command (Control-V) - it's the same as adding a compression marker, in that it greatly improve encoding forcing an I-frame in the GOP.
    And, for what it's worth, there is no need to flag a marker as both a chapter and a compression marker - chapter markers are automatically compression markers. They force an I-frame in the GOP structure, just like a compression marker

  • HDV to DVDsp Interlacing issues, Please Help

    Hi All
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  • Transition dropped during compression

    I've posted this in the compressor forum as well.
    experiencing a weird symptom. During compression of a final cut project, one of my transitions is being dropped. When I look at the track in DVDSP, the transition just becomes a direct cut.
    The transition is a 3D wipe. It's part of the stock Final Cut effects. the other transitions are translating just fine.
    Do I need to insert a compression marker at the wipe? If so, what are the details here?
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    It may have to do wiith the way the transition is getting compostied - (whether between two clips os on a single clip on V2.) However, it might have to do with the way compressor is re-processing render material when you send a sequence from FCP.
    I would try either exporting a self-contained movie fo your sequence and encoding that, of pre-encoding the little chunk containing that transition and re-importing to your sequence. It's only a workaround, and not a fiix, but should still work. You may be able to address the underlying cause by maing sure you are running the latest version of FCP, and check for the most compatible QT version with your FCP version.
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    Max Average

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