Quality of DVDSP

OK this is my first attempt at making a DVD so please be patient. I've watched all of the Lynda.com tutorials and read the user manual. I shot my first feature film on a Canon XL2 in 16:9 at 25p, digitised some of the footage directly into FCP, and downloaded other footage via iMovie. I have used Color in some scenes and Adobe After Effects in others. Played back on my iMAC on FCP the footage of the whole film looks great, exported as a Quicktime movie it also looks good on the iMac ( although not 16:9 ) and it is this QT movie that I imported into DVDSP. But when I watch the DVD created by DVDSP on a variety of domestic screens and DVD players, there is consistent poor quality on some scenes only. By going frame by frame on my older G5 I noticed that at one stage , every 12th frame was heavily pixellated. Also some of the AE effects and FCP composited effects are poor on the DVD especially where there is a lot of black. I would be very grateful for any advice. Cheers Doug

Thank you for your help. I'm in a steep learning curve here ( that probably doesn't make sense ) - I'm now getting much better results with Compressor then DVDSP and also utilising Verbatim media.

Similar Messages

  • Video Quality on dvdsp Menus

    Hi Ive just moved from iDVD to DVDSP
    and noticed the Quality of the Video on DVDSP Menus looks very poor compared to Video on menus
    IDVD?

    What are you doing with the menus? What sort of video are you bringing in?
    To get the best quality, you should send your standard definition video through Compressor and create a MPEG-2 file. Create your overlay file in Photoshop. Bring both files into DVD SP and define your button areas. Do not add any text or graphics with DVD SP.

  • DVDSP 3 Not Importing m2v file, Unexpectedley Quits

    I'm experiencing a very consistent quit, and I'm looking for a work around.
    In trying to import an asset, I've created a reference movie file, and in the same folder placed the two compressed pieces that I'm trying to import (.aiff and .m2v). I can import the audio, but not the video. I can't even select it to trash it.
    Any suggestions?

    Hi Hal,
    Thanks for responding.
    I downloaded and installed the latest proapp support file, as you suggested, and I tried opeing the file in QT (Pro). What's really curious to me is the behavior of the .m2v file. The only way I can trash it is by selecting it either with a set of files in the same folder, or by trashing the whole folder. Just selecting it by itself in the Finder causes the Finder window to go away. Selecting the file in DVDSP 3 causes an immediate quit. Same thing with trying to open it in QT.
    My workflow has been FCP (4.5) sequence Export, QT movie (reference) > Compressor (60 min High Quality Encode) > DVDSP 3 Import... As I've said, I can import audio, no problem (.aiff). Bringing in the .m2v has been impossible, so far. Each time I select the file, the application (DVDSP 3) quits.

  • Basic Questions - capturing miniDV, exporting to DVD?

    I apologize for the basic questions, but it's been a while since I've done this start to finish...like five years.
    I shot a bunch of miniDV sports footage on a Canon GL2 and I am digitizing the footage via firewire (straight from my camera to my computer). I am using Final Cut HD. The output will be to DVD.
    The Easy Setup is set to DV-NTSC. The sequence and capture settings are both set to DV-NTSC 48kHz.
    1. Under system settings > playback control > What are the correct settins for "RT", "video quality" and "pulldown pattern"? Do these ultimately affect the output quality?
    2. What is the "best" way to output to DVD (using the least compression, looking the best)? The end product will be about 35 minutes long. Should I output to QT and burn in DVD studio Pro, or "print to video" using an external DVD burner via a Sony converter box (how I used to export to VHS)?
    Thanks for pointing me in the right direction! I'm rather desperate...

    Depending upon whether you mean desperate in terms of time required to deliver the project or just for a solution, you can quickly output to DVD using iDVD as follows.
    If the FCP project resides on the same computer as iDVD (or a connected FW drive), simply 'export' - 'quicktime movie' (uncheck the 'make movie self-contained' checkbox and use 'current settings')
    Open iDVD and drag the resultant quicktime file into one of the themes you have chosen. (In the iDVD preferences set to NTSC and as the project is less than 60 mins you can use 'best quality' or 'best performance'. (There is no option to compress audio in idVD)
    The iDVD interface is pretty straight forward to negotiate.
    You will have more control over the output quality using DVDSP, but the learning curve is a little steeper than iDVD, however the DVDSP tutorial manual is very good for a quick start - you have 2 options in DVDSP, either use compressor to compress audio and video before authoring the disc in DVDSP or drag the afore mentioned quicktime file into the assets pane of DVDSP and let DVDSP do the compression.
    (I'm not an expert, but I believe this method doesn't give you the option to compress the audio - compressing the audio is one way of giving you more latitude in giving the video better quality)
    So I reckon that to get the best results you ought to compress using compressor before bringing into DVDSP.
    This thread is very useful as a basic Compressor tutorial.
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3621676&#3621676
    Along with the DVDSP tutorial manual, I authored and outputted a 60 min DVD with 2 menus and chapters, using Compressor and the DVDSP templates having had no prior experience at all with either Compressor or DVDSP in less than a day and I'm not particularly competent, so I know these 2 resources are user friendly.
    Good luck,
    Dave

  • Resolution for menu for DVD played in computer

    I am making a video DVD that will mostly be played on computers.
    Typically when I build a layered NTSC menu in Photoshop it is 720 x 540 at 72 dpi then once I have finished the menu I resize to 720x480.
    This looks soft to me when viewed on a computer and I was wondering what is the ideal image size and resolution to make menus for computer viewing given all those variables. I experimented with increasing the image size to 1280x1024 at 72dpi with seeming an only small increase in quality.
    I am guessing the dpi has to go up but don't know the best combination. Any advice is appreciated!
    Thanks

    Hi
    No matter whay file dimensions you use, everyhting in yuor SD NTSC DVD will be encoded to 720x480. Ussually using graphic files bigger than just the necesary size gives you WORST quality because DVDSP is not good resizing items.
    Check if your are using HArdware or Software based menu encoding and change to the opposite to test if you get any improvement in your menu quality.
    Hope that helps !
      Alberto
    Message was edited by: Silal

  • Help...  Best image quality from FCP to DVDSP... (FCP project at 1440 x 960

    Hi all,
    Yes, I just finished an edit in FCP with frame dimensions of 1440 x 960 (Not HD). (Don't ask . I am on the hunt for input for the best way to get the highest quality when I take the 1440 x 960 video down to Standard definition DVDSP. For example, should I just drag-n-drop a reference movie into DVDSP and let DVDSP do the resizing?.... or maybe I should use Compressor to resize first? etc.. etc.. etc... (If I should use Compressor to do the resizing... a little help on what settings to use would be great)
    This is a graphically heavy video with a lot of client logos, animations, etc.
    Thanks a bunch,
    Matt

    What format are the assets? As PDTV said, don't even think about recompressing an MPEG2 file if you wish to retain quality.
    There are tools such as DVD2One which you could look at, but if this is 8GB of MPEG2 then use a DL disc.

  • Exporting to DVD via compressor and DVDSP - fixing poor quality dissolves

    Hi,
    Im having real problems with the quality of the dissolves when exporting my 59min project out of FCP, into Compressor and then into DVDSP. I exported it out to Compressor 2, used DVD best quality, 90 min, 16:9 (project is for PAL) , had the bit rate 6.5 - 7.5 etc. In the finished product the dissolves are grainy and really noticeable during the transition of 1 sec.
    When we were doing test burns, using a reference movie (export/quicktime/untick make movie self contained etc) and burnt through Toast, all was fine. so I know it is not the work done in FCP its the settings or something in Compressor or something in DVDSP? Not sure.
    I built and burnt the project through DVDSP and also took the build (Video TS folder) and burnt it thorugh Toast as well and got the same result! Very frustrating and now I have to deliver a sub standard product to my client for a launch tomorrow. They are burning off 50 copies for it. Very upsetting. But before they do the replication of 1000 I want to sort this out.
    Is there another way to get my project out of FCP and into Compressor? For example is it possbile to export a Quicktime and full quality? I've never done this and was wondering if it is an option.
    Hope you can help.
    Thanks.

    You can modify the encoding settings in the DVDSP Preferences menu. There's a tab at the far right labeled "Encoding".
    Just to confim - when I import the QT file into DVDSP, do I then just drag it onto the timeline as you would with the M2V file? Then just drag in the AC3 audio file.
    Yes.
    Then do I do a 'Build' in DVDSP to get the Video TS folder? Do you normally burn then through the DVDSP or burn in Toast for example.
    I normally build to my secondary internal drive first and open that folder with DVD Player, just to make sure I connected everything properly. I prefer to check my project in DVD Player rather than use the built-in simulator, primarily because I can then fast forward my tracks to make sure my jump points and buttons work.
    When I'm ready to burn a disc, I burn directly from DVDSP.

  • Subtitles: FCP or DVDSP? Best workflow and quality?

    I have always placed subtitles in FCP. I am now looking at DVDSP instead. This will help I know if I ever need a second language option. But how is the workflow and is the quality good?
    For me it seems easier in FCP, because I can make editing decisions while seeing the subtitle. Having to make a locked and final edit and still not have subtitles in place appears more difficult and prone to problems. Anyone find these problems easy to deal with using DVDSP for subtitles?

    Jon Braeley wrote:
    I am talking about subtitles not captions
    Maybe. the function isn't the issue, it's the delivery method that makes the determination. Are you encoding to Line 21, burning the text over the video, or creating a stream of subtitle data? Most DVD players cannot handle Line 21, that's a function of the television set. All DVD players can access up to 32 subtitle streams. If you're burning the subs into the video, it doesn't matter how you play the video.
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    So, where you create the subtitles is determined by two things: a) your need for flexibility (for changes or to receive data from another source) and b) your need for quality. Subs created and drawn onto the screen by the DVD player will be fairly high quality. Text that is burned into the video will never be any better than the encoder settings you used for the MPEG2.
    bogiesan

  • Trying to get my fcp project to burn to dvd at the highest quality? Ive used compressor and then tried to put it in dvdsp put its not working. I am having problems with the audio or when i burn it , i cant play the dvd? any help would be appreciated

    Ive used compressor and then tried to put it in dvdsp put its not working. I am having problems with the audio or when i burn it , i cant play the dvd? any help would be appreciated

    I suspect you are attempting to burn an HD DVD, which will not play on a DVD player...
    But if you provide more details such as the settings you are applying in Compressor, then we would be able to provide you more accurate information.
    How are you adding the files to Compressor?
    In FCP, what are your footage properties (command-9) and sequence settings (command-0)

  • How to get best quality titles in DVDSP

    I usually do my titles right in DVDSP. They are not great, a little fuzzy and aliasing.
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    The best way to create still menus, is in Photoshop. Photoshop has presets for all sorts of video standards. When you are ready save a PICT version that you will bring into DVD SP.

  • HD edited footage in FCP 5.1 to DVDSP 4 to "build and format" to where now?

    97 minute movie shot with Sony's HDV-FX1, edited in FCP 5.1, exported to QuickTime movie, full quality, current settings. Imported into DVDSP 4.1, parsed, no problem, authored with HD settings, and built project. DSP produced a proper HDDVD_TS folder. With Apple DVD Player 4.6.5 on my duel 1.8 G5, this plays just fine.
    With Toast 8 and a NU Technology Blu-ray burner (Matshita BD-MLT SW 5528), DVD-ROM (UDF), new disc, named and imported the HD file. Clicked record, selected 1x DB write speed to be on the safe side, used both a Panasonic BD-RW and a TDK BD-RW single layer disc and burned successfully. Neither disc now, to my ultimate frustration, will play in our Samsung Blu-ray DVD player or play with Apple's DVD Player. Both report a message about not supporting the media type, although the disc does mount on my G5 via the Blu-ray drive.
    Thoughts on where to go from here? Our movie plays fine downconverted to 480i, but we would love to see it play in High def at 1080i.
    Any thoughts would be much appreciated.
    Larry
    G5 Dual 1.8   Mac OS X (10.4.9)   FCP 5.1 DVDSP 4.1

    David,
    That is the answer to why I am unable to use the "build and format" option in DSP? Seems crazy that the option is there, but the function isn't.
    Did the Toast product manager give any hint as to when this option may be available? I knew were we sailing into unchartered waters, but we had hoped that by the time we were done with post that the path had already been navigated
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    Larry

  • Movie with BEST POSSIBLE QUALITY on DVD

    Hi,
    I completed a short family movie (15 min) in PAL format with Final Cut Express HD. How do I get it from there onto a DVD in PAL format with the BEST POSSIBLE QUALITY?
    Thank you in advance for your help,
    Thomas
    Dual 2.7 GHz Power Mac G5   Mac OS X (10.4.8)   1.5 GB DDR SDRAM

    I completed a short family movie (15 min) in PAL format with Final Cut Express HD. How do I get it from there onto a DVD in PAL format with the BEST POSSIBLE QUALITY?
    Given the fact your PAL movie is only 15 mins. long in terms of QT playback, here are the settings I'd recommend if you're concerned about higher quality playback:
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  • 8.0Gig DVDSP file size.  How To Make Smaller?

    Just when I keep thinking I'm "finally" done with my project . . . something else comes up. The file size of the project is presently about 8 Gigs. The duplication house I went to suggested NOT having a project of that size, as the media that they would have to use on it would not be as reliable on certain DVD players. They suggested fitting the project to a single 4.7 Gig disk.
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    Video only track of the film = 2.5 Gigs
    Audio track of the film = 741MB
    Director Commentary track = 741MB
    Video only of Deleted Scene = 173MB
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    Thank you very much in advance for all the help and support,
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    Javier72 wrote:
    Thanks again, Drew. The audio is aiff. It's at 41 Kh. Is there a specific AC3 format that I should export the audio to? I know/imagine that there are various manners of exporting audio to AC3, so I want to make sure that it's the "right" one, so to speak.
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    http://dvdstepbystep.com/fasttrackover.php
    In my first post there are examples of the audio and the .dmg is a project you can download and look at to see how it is done (as for jut about anything in DVD SP there is more than one approach )

  • Adobe Media Encoder not working w/ DVDSP

    I'm doing a test to see if the video quality of a 1920x1080 video file will look better at about 8mb/s coming out of Compressor 4 vs CS5.5
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  • Export from final cut pro for DVDsp

    I was following the DVD step by step web page create a menu for DVDsp, and it say to export the movie from FCP as a background. How do I do this?
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    When you expert from FCP the video can be used as a menu background. There are two things to consider:
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