Exporting for DVD without using iDVD

Hi
I've downloaded 5 x mini DV tapes (from a client) onto iMovie because I was having major audio syncing problems using Final Cut Pro.
Using iMovie proved the perfect solution.
What I'm not sure about now is how to export the file, so that I can burn it onto DVD using Toast and so that it self loads when put in the DVD player.
In FCP I export 'Quicktime Movie' and take off the 'Make movie self contained' option. The file I get is then great to put into Toast as a video then DVD-Video, which when played in a DVD player self loads.
This system is great because it avoids having to go through the DVD authoring phase and for these small client jobs it is really necessary to cut down time.

Don't try 'drag and dropping' the iMovie project file (the icon with a star) - that file won't work.
I don't like to contradict you, Fred, but since Toast 6.1.1, FOR SURE, the project-file with the star-icon does work with Toast.. that updated version "catches" the ref.mov from inside automatically.... no need to export anything manually...
but, as you have mentioned before:
select in Toast "video", select "dvd", THEN drop project into Toast...
PS: yepp, I couldn't deny myself, to post a pic here ... ;-)))

Similar Messages

Can I burn an iMovie 11 project directly to a DVD without using iDVD?

Is it possible, after finalizing an iMovie project, to burn it directly from iMovie 11 to a DVD without first exporting it to iDVD?
The project consists of old Super 8 movies that were digitized and imported into iMovie 11, so the quality doesn't start out very well; I don't want the quality to get any worse. I am looking for a quick way to share this file with family members who only have a DVD player.
Looking for answers quickly, as we just finished the project and my daughter want my daughter, who is leaving tomorrow a.m. to return home, to take it with her. Thanks for any help.

If your movie is less than about 13 minutes, and you want super quality, forget iDVD. I found a way to create a super high-quality .mov file that fits on a DVD and you can burn it yourself, and anyone can play it. If you're willing to live with a slightly degraded version, you can put a 106-minute video on a DVD, and it'll look just fine to a group sitting in a room.
Having slogged my way through iMovie’s “Help,” online Apple Help and numerous blogs like this one with solutions that were frustratingly varied, hard to follow and even outright contradictory, I gave up and did my own methodical tests to see which combination of options and settings yielded the best result for creating a file on my desktop that can be shared.
Here’s what I worked with: I have a four-minute movie created in iMovie ’11, with nice titles and credits that fade in and out, and one-second cross dissolves in the film. The movie is 3x4 aspect ratio, not letterbox. Looks smooth and clean as can be in iMovie, full screen. (If it matters, I am working on a Mac OS 10.6.8; Processor 2 x 2.66 Ghz 6-core Intel Xeon; Memory 8 GB 1333 Mhz DDR3. I don’t see any “RAM” numbers for my computer.)
Tried exporting through Quicktime and not exporting through Quicktime. Most settings resulted in titles that were either fuzzy or were not clean and smooth during the fades, and often videos that were choppy and would freeze every second or so. Some had clean imagery and would play fine but got very pixilated during transitions (dissolves). Some that were much larger (higher megabyte numbers) and took longer to generate the file were actually of lower quality. Go figure.
Of all the tests I did, the best results came from doing the following. Here are two options:
For a small, convenient file that came to only 176 MB for my 4-minute movie, if you’re willing to live with some very slight image degradation and titles that show some slight compression during fades -- but looks perfect from across a room:
1) Share > Export using Quicktime > “Export: Movie to Quicktime” / “Use: Most Recent Settings”
2) Click “Options”
3) Click “Settings”
4) Compression: MPEG-4 Video
5) Frame Rate: Current
6) Key Frames: Every 24 frames
7) Frame Reordering -- unchecked
8) Compressor Quality: Best
9) Data Rate: “Restrict to 6400 kbits/sec”
10) Click “OK” and return to “Movie Settings”
11) Ignore “Filter” unless you want to alter the look of your video.
12) Adjust “Size” accordingly to your wishes. I clicked it, then selected “1920 x 1080 HD” and checked “Preserve aspect ratio using: Fit within dimensions.” This results in an image 1440 x 1080 (to fit within 1920 x 1080). Remember that if you don’t preserve your original aspect ratio you’ll get a larger/wider movie, but the top and bottom of your image will be cut off.
13) If your video is silent, make sure “Sound” is unchecked. I read somewhere that this speeds up the file-creating process.
14) Hit “OK”
15) Be sure to check where you want your file to appear. I chose “Desktop.”
16) Hit “Save”
That’s it! In my case, after about six minutes, I had a “.mov” file on my desktop that anyone can easily play (people may have to have Quicktime, though, as I understand it, but I believe that’s a free download; you do NOT need Quicktime Pro which costs $). I uploaded the file to a file-sharing site (Hightail) for others to download, and, testing it, it took me only a few moments to download (I have a FiOS fiber-optic connection, so if you don’t, it will likely take a little longer). The downloaded file played perfectly and suffered no degradation whatever from the one I generated to my desktop from iMovie.
For a super high-res version, if you’re willing to live with the size, the ONLY difference is No. 9: Change your Data Rate to “Automatic.” But as mentioned in the beginning, a standard DVD-R will only hold about 13 minutes of footage at this quality.
Oddly, this super-quality version took about the same six minutes to generate the desktop .mov file, but the resulting 1.44 GB file is far, far superior. You’ll be thrilled with the result!
The only downside –– to all of the file tests I did –– is that there is a slight loss of color saturation and contrast from the original iMovie imagery I worked with, particularly with the reds and oranges which become a bit muted. The blacks/darks came up a bit, yielding slightly less contrast. But these drawbacks are minor, to me.
If someone knows of a way to preserve the exact original color saturation and contrast, I’m all ears.
Ken M.

How do you burn an iMovie project to a DVD without using iDVD themes?

I created a presentation (slide show with music) in iMovie and need to burn it to a DVD. When I pull it into iDVD, it forces me to pick a theme which puts more music in. I just want it the way I have it in iMovie! How do I do that?

(From fellow poster Mishmumken: )
How to create a DVD in iDVD without menu (there are several options):
1. Easy: Drop your iMovie in the autoplay box in iDVD's Map View, then set your autoplay item (your movie) to loop continously. Disadvantage: The DVD plays until you hit stop on the remote
2. Still easy: If you don't want your (autoplay) movie to loop, you can create a black theme by replacing the background of a static theme with a black background and no content in the dropzone (text needs to be black as well). Disadvantage: The menu is still there and will play after the movie. You don't see it, but your disc keeps spinning in the player.
3. Still quite easy but takes more time: Export the iMovie to DV tape, and then re-import using One-Step DVD.
Disadvantage: One-Step DVD creation has been known to be not 100% reliable.
4. (My preferred method) Easy enough but needs 3rd party software: Roxio Toast lets you burn your iMovie to DVD without menu - just drag the iMovie project to the Toast Window and click burn. Disadvantage: you'll need to spend some extra $$ for the software. In Toast, you just drop the iMovie project on the Window and click Burn.
5. The "hard way": Postproduction with myDVDedit (freeware)
Tools necessary: myDVDedit ( http://www.mydvdedit.com )
• create a disc image of your iDVD project, then double-click to mount it.
• Extract the VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folders to a location of your choice. select the VIDEO_TS folder and hit Cmd + I to open the Inspector window
• Set permissions to "read & write" and include all enclosed items; Ignore the warning.
• Open the VIDEO_TS folder with myDVDedit. You'll find all items enclosed in your DVD in the left hand panel.
• Select the menu (usually named VTS Menu) and delete it
• Choose from the menu File > Test with DVD Player to see if your DVD behaves as planned.If it works save and close myDVDedit.
• Before burning the folders to Video DVD, set permissions back to "read only", then create a disc image burnable with Disc Utility from a VIDEO_TS folder using Laine D. Lee's DVD Imager:
http://lonestar.utsa.edu/llee/applescript/dvdimager.html
Our resident expert, Old Toad, also recommends this: there is a 3rd export/share option that give better results. That's to use the Share ➙ Media Browser menu option. Then in iDVD go to the Media Browser and drag the movie into iDVD where you want it.
Hope this helps!

Best export for dvd quality using final cut express hd?

hey guys
i have final cut express hd...what would be the best export settings to get nice highquality dvd?
i am going to put about 25, short 5 minute clips in the dvd..will it be able to fit and all be a nice quality?
any suggestions?
thankyou!

Yes, provided you use dual layer DVD-R and your burner supports this newer media.
Otherwise the most you can burn to DVD-R SL media is 120 mins. (but keep in mind menus, titles, photos, etc all consume space as well thereby reducing the available amount of run time / QT Playback.

How can I burn a dvd without using iDVD?

It doesn't come with new macs anymore. I want to burn an iMovie i made, but my new mac didn't come with iDVD. I asked someone at an apple store and they told me that they weren't making it anymore. I need to burn something and make a menu, but I don't know how?!?!?! I need help!

Make a couple of phone calls.
iDVD is a “Must Have".   (Yes, it should be included.)
Call Apple they will sent out iDVD at no charge.
800-692-7753
800-275-2273
Most people report that by asking here:   http://www.apple.com/feedback/idvd.html
or here:   http://www.apple.com/contact/
they got a free copy of iDVD.
If that doesn't work you can purchase iLife 11 on disk (don't get the download) for about $39.

After bringing in the movie from a video camera in iMovie and enhancing it tiles and transitions etc how do you and where do you save the project for burning DVD's using iDVD?

Where do you save a movie project for burning DVD's using iDVD?

I recommend that you use SHARE/TO MEDIA BROWSER in Large size. Then in iDVD, you open the Media Browser and navigate to your project. You can drag it into your iDVD project from there.
You can also use SHARE/EXPORT MOVIE and save to the location of your choice. You can then drag and drop into iDVD.

How to burn to DVD without using a menu

How can I burn a project to DVD without using a menu? When I open iDVD, it wants me to select a menu. I just want my project to play without using any kind of menu. Can someone walk me through this? Thanks.

If you use iDVD it is quite simple: after creating the iDVD project, open the tree view, where the project is presented as a tree of menus. Drag your movie from the finder to the top (root) node of the tree, and burn the DVD. Your movie will be played just after inserting the DVD in the player, without showing any menu.
Piero

Making a slideshow on a DVD not using IDVD?

How can I make a DVD slide show without using IDVD? I dont like it as I cant get a full

You don't.
Use iDVD.
Purchase iLife 11 (or iLife 09) (includes iDVD) on disk.
IDVD is a wonderful piece of software and well worth the low cost of $40.
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MC623Z-A-iLife-VERSION/dp/B003XKRZES/ref=sr_1_1?ie=U
http://dealmac.com/lw/artclick.html?1,527850,1872219

How to create an instance for RemoteSession without using create() method

How to create an instance for RemoteSession without using create() method?

What's RemoteSession? Not in the JDK. And does the question have anything to do with concurrency?

HT5100 How do I sign up for Itunes without using a credit card?

How do I sign up for Itunes without using a credit card?

Take a look here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2534
Read the steps carefully as the order in which you follow them is critical. Note that you can do this only when creating a new Apple ID. You cannot use an existing ID.
You will of course not be able to get anything other than the free apps, iTunes U content or podcasts without entering in some sort of payment method (credit card, prepaid iTunes card, gift certificate, etc.)
Regards.
Forum Tip: Since you're new here, you've probably not discovered the Search feature available on every Communities page, but next time, it might save you time (and everyone else from having to answer the same question multiple times) if you search a couple of ways for a topic, both in the relevant forums and in the Apple Knowledge Base, before you post a question.

Export for DVD with Animation codec without alphas channels not working?

I'm using FCP 5 with DVDSP. My FCP projects consist of quicktime movies that are using the Animation compressor (for lossless quality), and the movies contain alpha channels (thus they were rendered at Millions + colors to preserve the alphas).
This is my problem. I want to now export a quicktime movie to use in DVDSP with animation compression, so it is again lossless quality (obviously to presever the quality through these steps). But I do NOT want to preserve the alpha channels, because what I've learned is that when made into a DVD, the alphas are not preserved and the image looks wrong (as if without the alphas).
So I basically want to "flatten" the video, if there was some way.
I would assume the solution would be to, in FCP, export a quicktime at animation compression, but set to Millions for colors, and not Millions + (I was taught that the Millions + will preserve the alpha info).
Well, what's happening is when I set it to that, it renders, but then I get info on the movie in Quicktime and it says it has Millions + still. And thus, it looks wrong in DVDSP.
What is going on? Is this a bug in FCP?
Does anyone have an idea as to how to get around this. The only thing that has worked for me is to export the Quicktime movie with "none" for compression, but that's making the movie SO large that I can't work with it and it doesn't play right when I make the DVD.
I really appreciate anyones help on the matter. Thanks!
Brian,.
Quad-core 2.5 G5 Mac OS X (10.4.6) 30" Apple Cinema Display
Quad-core 2.5 G5 Mac OS X (10.4.3) 30" Apple Cinema Display

Thanks for the suggestions. I have not yet tried laying a solid black video track underneath to see what it does, but it seems like a good idea and I'll try it out to see what happens when I get back home.
I'll try to explain what I mean by the image looking wrong.
I'm picking up where another left off, so I'm not sure of how he cut the quicktime movie together; all I know is that they used alpha channels in Photoshop and After Effects to make the image looks the way they want it. This is a drawn character laid on a white background with a black frame around the entire image. It looks the way he wants it to in the quicktime movie, and this quicktime movie is 720x480, animation millions colors +, 24fps.
This movie, along with others of the like, need to be cut together in FCP and then put on a DVD with DVDSP. When I export it and it looks "wrong", what's happening is there is a black block behind the drawn character. The guy that made the movies in AE says that, that is what it looks like when the alpha channel is not working correctly.
To test things, I've changed the quicktime compression settings in the sequence settings. If I set it to anything that is not animation, I get that black block in the viewer. (Note though, that if I set it to animation, millions + or not +, it shows the alpha correctly both ways).
In FCP's user manual it says that if you're passing your movie on to a DVD, to use a high or lossless compression to keep the quality up, like animation or PhotoJPEG. For this reason, I haven't wanted to go to DV - especially with this type of image (graphic drawn shapes), it's easy to see a quality difference.
It really seems like there is a lot of voodoo involved with compression settings. As for now the best "fool-proof" solution I've found is to re-render the movie in After Effects at millions (not+) so that it won't contain the alpha channel info, and FCP seems to like that a lot more.
I just wish I could get FCP to work with the movies as they were because I'm having to re-edit everything to work with these new movies now.
Thanks again for the tips and insight.
Quad-core 2.5 G5 Mac OS X (10.4.3) 30" Apple Cinema Display
Quad-core 2.5 G5 Mac OS X (10.4.3) 30" Apple Cinema Display

Exporting for DVD

Hi,
Ridiculous question I know but here goes.
I have a 2 1/2 hour show that I videoed on MiniDV and have edited in Final Cut. The image quality is as good as I want it, not perfect but fine, but when I export to use in DVD Studio I loose quality. I'v used Compressor and converted it to MPEG-2, but is there any way I can just export straight from Final Cut Pro without loosing image quality, keeping all the settings and so on I used in Final Cut Pro?
Im burning on to Dual Layer DVDs so space isn't really an issue.
Does it have to be MPEG-2? Is there a different, higher quality format I can use? Or is the only thing I can do to try keep the quality raising the bitrate?
Anyone with an insight to share with me can treat me like a luddite and use baby speak
Cheers

Heya,
All DVD's are authored to MPEG-2 format. You must compress the file to MPEG-2 in order to play on a standard DVD player. SD MiniDV is roughly 13gigs per hour. So for 2 1/2 hours of footage you're looking at around 30 gigs that needs to be compressed to fit onto a DVD.
You should also take into consideration the bitrate of MPEG-2 compression. Considering that the audio is compressed to AC3 a safe bitrate compression for DVD video is around 7.5 mbp/s. A bitrate higher than that may cause errors during playback on some DVD players.
single layer vs. dual layer makes no difference on the total bitrate compression it only means you can fit longer duration of the compressed bitrate. Sending to Compressor and using a customized setting of MPEG-2 compression with 7.5 bitrate for video and AC3 for audio is the best quality you'll get on a standard DVD.
Welcome to the forum.

Exporting for Web VS exporting for DVD

So here's the story:
I am pretty familiar with exporting my movies for the web and stuff like compression, etc but I was just asked to burn some of my movies for DVD distribution. As stupid as I am, I sent those guys the files that I use for web distribution and of course I get a reply that goes something like this: "This isn't DVD quality. We need the full movie file, highest quality/bit rate, frame rate, de-interlaced versions of the movie."
Can someone help me understand what that means??
If I were to export the movie uncompressed I might as well give up right now. It's all HD. I won't be able to fit even one of my movie files on the biggest hard drive.
Does anyone know what "the highest quality/bit rate, frame rate" etc. means? I feel like a retard right now.
Thanks for your help!

Assuming you are using Final Cut Express, your best bet is to create a master DVD and have a good service provider duplicate the disk.
In FCE, do the following:
Make sure everything is rendered:
*Sequence > Render All > Both*
*Sequence > Render Only > Mixdown*
Then save your project.
Export to QuickTime Movie (not QuickTime Conversion)
UNcheck the option called "Make Movie Self-Contained"
Check the option to Include chapter markers (if you have chapter markers in your sequence)
Save
Then import the resulting QT reference movie into iDVD and build your DVD project. Burn the finished project to disk and give it to the duplicators.
If that's not acceptable to them then you should
1) find another duplication house that will do the work or
2) get the exact specifications from them as to what they require; if this is the case you will probably need to get an external hard drive that you can use to save the project for them.
What is the exact nature of your source video? HDV? AVCHD? Something else? Do you have mixed formats in your sequence?

Exporting for DVD requires extremely low volumes, is that normal?

Hi,
I have completed a project and when exporting to dvd I find I need to lower the master volume by 18 db for it to not cause tv speakers to pop, I try it out on several different tv's with the same result.
When I mix my audio none of it exceeds 0 db, nothing is in the red and nonetheless I lowered by 6 db, but it won't be enough until I export at -18 Db.
I do this by lowerng the master audio level from 0 to -18.
Is this normal?

Hunt, thanks for the reply!
I do the same, well I use beyer dynamic dt 770 pro headphones for monitoring, then I test the audio out on a stereo and a 5.1 surround setup.
If I export the audio on a cd it sounds great everywhere, put it on dvd and it goes to hell.
Is it possible that audio cd's are at 44100 16 bit wheras dvd audio is 48000 khz?
Doesn't make much sense to me, but the way I see it the irony is this:
Play and audio cd where the audio peaks at 0db through your tv and it sounds great, play a dvd with the same audio on it and it kills the speakers :S
Is it possible that mpeg2 encoding boosts audio levels for some reason and you need to correct it by pushing audio levels down?
I found this link after doing some research:
http://dvcreators.net/discuss/showthread.php?t=25404
Basically this question was asked:
1. *is there a certain db level an audio track should be if you plan to burn to DVD?
amongst others,
The reply was:
Use the audio meters to gauge audio level. Peaks should be at -16 to -12.
Why is this do you think?
-2 db would not work when I burn to dvd, it would kill the speakers of either a surround system or a stereo tv system, including my samung hdtv.
When I export to dvd I first export from premiere the built in Mpeg-2 DVD setting and then use either windows dvd maker or idvd on my mac to burn to dvd.

Issues with DVD quality using iDVD

Dear All,
I badly need advice on a very frustrating problem: I'm having major issues with the quality of the DVDs burnt on my iMac when using iDVD.
Here below are the steps that I follow
I upload the HDV 1080i 60 footage to FCE 4 using the apple Intermediate codec.
Once the editing is done, I export to QT (self-contained)
I use the QT in iDVD and then burn it
The result is sub-par compare to any street DVDs, the motion is sometimes slightly jerky.
What do I do wrong? Coming from HDV footage, I would expect a cisp and clear result in standard definition DVD.
I am wondering if this has to do with the capability of my equipment or a poor use of both softwares.
Thank you in advance for the advices
produced using

After rendered everything did the video resolution and quality look good in FCE when you set your canvas view size to 100%?
If the answer to the first question is yes, then the export settings are the problem. Please list all the settings used for your QT export.

Exporting for DVD without using iDVD

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for