The best compression before iDVD

I have several iMovies projects and they are huge (I know why). I have not decided yet how I will group them into multiple DVDs. However I am running out of HD space. One of my projects is 26Gb and it is only 1 hour. I know that in DVD size it means only 2G. Many of the projects are finished but they are still using precious HD space.
My question is: In what format do you recommend to compress the iMovie projects to have them close to DVD format to later put them strait into iDVD? I don't want to loose quality or my 16:9 ratio aspect.
Thank you.
MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Please disregard my first reply. After re-reading the original question I rethought my answer and tried to edit, but I ran out of time. Here's my better response:
The best compression that I know of is what iDVD does for you when you save your iDVD project as a disk image. The disk image is a relatively small file (2-4 GB) that can be burned to DVD whenever you want. Each disk image will create one DVD, so you cannot burn more than one image to the same DVD. If you know you NEVER want to edit the iMovie projects and you simply want to save it for burning DVDs later, you can then delete the iMovie project and save only the disk image. This is what I have done with all my iMovies, although I have also kept all my original footage on mini DV tapes.
Going back to your original post, I guess this means you would have to go ahead and decide how to divide up the projects among DVDs, and all that goes with that, before you could free up any disc space. Plus, you'll need at least 10% of your disc space free to even save as a disk image, or things will not go smoothly. So, if you must free up space before going to iDVD and you can't use an external hard drive, then your best bet is to export your iMovie projects back onto mini DV tape. Then you can begin to complete each movie in iDVD, one at a time. As others (more expert that me) have already stated, you don't want to compress in any way before iDVD, as you will suffer significant loss of quality.

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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...)

The best compression algorithm to use

Hello Suners,
I have a 7 GB file and i need to compress it to be 2 GB at most in order to upload it and download it faster.
What is the best compression algorithm to use in this case? can i get the desired size and if i do how could i decompress it?

abulseed wrote:
OK,
in fact it's not just a one file it's a folder containing number of files with different types the total size of them is 7GB,
is there an algorithm can compress that folder to at most 2GB and if there one give me a link.You seem to be missing the point that it's the actual data in the files that matters for compression. A 7 GB file consisting of the words "Hello World" over and over again will compress quite significantly. A 7GB image file on the other hand will not compress hardly at all.
Take the java.util.zip package read [http://java.sun.com/developer/technicalArticles/Programming/compression/] and try for yourself with your data. If you are hoping to compress unknown data from 7Gb to 2GB the answer is that that promise is impossible to make.

What is the best compression scheme?

Material shot on HD, downconverted to DV, edited in FCP and now I want to put in onto a DVD. About an hour of material.
What is the best compression scheme? So far testing seems to be export as 10 bit uncompressed and let DVD SP compress it but it's still not great. Lots of compression artifacts in the dark backgrounds.

Also place compression markers at those points in your presentation, where you have sudden scene changes but not because you made an edit at that point. FCP automatically places compression markers at edit points during the edit process in FCP. Then when you export out of FCP, be sure to use the DVD SP Markers export option, (Export as Quicktime Movie) this will then include any compression and chapter markers you've placed in FCP, which will be used by Compressor, during the encoding process to the .m2v file, which helps avoid artifacting on sudden scene changes.
The chapter markers will then be embeded in the .m2v file and used by DVD SP when imported. Personally, I use BitVice, (as my m2v encoder) but compressor works well as well.

Whats the best alternative to idvd for burning a disk with pics to play in a dvd player?

Whats the best alternative to idvd for burning a disk with pics to play in a dvd player? I don't want to deal with older versions of ilife.

Whats the best alternative to idvd for burning a disk
In my opinion, there are none.
Yes, there are other programs that will put a movie on a DVD. I have tried most of the other substitutes including Toast, Burn, DVD Creator, Wondershare, and others. None of them come anywhere near the ease-of-use and power of iDVD.
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

Want the best quality imovie/idvd project

Hi all
Just imported a video from my Sony digital8 cam using imovie. I'm having a little troubele deciding from idvd or imovie, which is the right direction? Can someone share a good home video back up system? I'm trying to import my home videos from my Sony digital8 camcorder

+I'm having a little troubele deciding from idvd or imovie, which is the right direction?+
It depends on what you want as an end result.
iMovie is an editing program so that you can crop your movies, add titles, effects, transitions, add still photos and audio files.
iDVD is an authoring program so that you can create a burned DVD disk of your videos, photos, etc. You create your movies in iMovie and then drop the finished movie into an iDVD project to burn it to a DVD disk so that you/others can view it on a TV from a set-top DVD player. iDVD has to compress data when it is burned, so you don't want to be burning DVDs to preserve your home videos if you want to edit them later in iMovie.
If you just want to burn them to back them up and you don't want/need to do any editing, you might want to look into just using a stand-alone DVD recorder. You could connect your dig8 camcorder and record to DVD disk directly.
You can also use iDVD to create slideshows and burn them.
You should go to Apple's support site for iLife and watch the tutorial videos for both iDVD and iMovie 6:
http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/#idvd
http://www.apple.com/support/ilife/tutorials/idvd/index.html
http://www.apple.com/support/ilife/tutorials/imovie/
+Can someone share a good home video back up system?+
Again, it depends on what end result you want. Some people think that they want to import all their video footage into iMovies, and save all of it on their computers. However, that requires HUGE amounts of drive space. Each of my iMovies runs from 25-60 GB. It is better to import the footage for each movie at a time, as you work on your iMovie.
A large external drive just for doing movies is a great idea. Get as large a drive as you can afford! Be sure to format it for macs first before importing anything. Keep the iMovie and iDVD apps on your main drive.
I. Save your original raw digital 8 tapes. Data is already in digital format. Be sure to keep your camcorder so you can reimport if you want. If you really want a back up for these original tapes, you can connect your dig 8 camcorder to a miniDV camcorder and record to miniDV tapes. I did this for my VHS tapes as they were getting too old and I was concerned about further degradation. I like having a digital format of my original video VHS and Hi 8 tapes. This may not be necessary for you since all your tapes are already digital.
2. Import videos into iMovie, doing just one movie at a time to save drive space, edit, then export the movie to miniDV tapes with a miniDV camcorder. This process gives you tape(s) of your EDITED iMovie. I use these tapes as a backup for my iMovies, since I delete my iMovies after exporting them and after I have burned my DVD of that movie. (See next).
3. Create iDVD projects from edited iMovies, do 'save as disk image' for each one so that you have an image file of all your projects. Since disk images are self-contained, you can safely delete the original iMovie and iDVD projects without losing the ability to burn DVDs in the future. It also saves drive space. Use the disk image file for the actual burning of the DVD disk, using Disk Utility.
Now you have a set of raw original tapes, a set of edited mini DV tapes, a burned DVD and the disk image file of each project. You should copy all the disk images to another external drive as a backup.
I don't worry about backing up the DV tapes, as I can always reimport them. The tapes are small and store easily. It is recommended for longer life of the tapes that you get them out once a year and rewind them, but I have not been doing that.
Yes, you can take one of your burned DVD disks and create a disk image from it, and use it to burn more disks, but that means that your future burns depend on that disk staying in good shape until you want it. DVD disks can crack, break, melt, etc depending on who uses them. I prefer to know that my disk images are saved and backed up for when I need them.

What's the best compression setting for exporting video to DVD?

My QT self contained file from FCP is 13 GB (1:02 min long) when I use DV NTSC while exporting. When iDVD finished encoding it, it went down to 3.4 GB (that includes video files in my iDVD menus).
*Since the DVD media is 4.7 GB can I make better quality DVD by lessening compression while exporting from FCP?*
I don't think there is a way to tweak compression in iDVD. And my second question:
*Is "self contained" file better quality than just a reference file?*
*I would like to make the best possible quality DVD and am looking for some tips on what settings would help me achieve it.*

Hi Joby,
Compressor is what you need.
Import your file, choose DVD best quality 90 minutes from the settings tab (lower left window in Compressor). This will allow your movie to be converted as MPEG 2 and ac3 dolby stereo (best compression for DVD audio).
The inspector window (lower right window) will allow you to decide/arrange settings as you like.
If you are not sure about best bit rate choice use the [Bit Budget|http://www.kenstone.net/fcphomepage/bitbudget.html]
As you can see the inspector window offers a range of customizable settings if you are not familiar with those the manual (main menu>help>user manual) will answer all your questions. Simply type a word or definition in the search area and most likely the manual will provide the info you seek.
Self contained means that you create a file with exact copies from your original frames and edit on the timeline, a self-contained file becomes independent from your timeline. A reference movie as the definition says totally refers to your FCP project and wouldn't work on a different machine without referenced media files.
There is no difference in quality between the two QTmovie options.
Hope that helps
G.
PS. Extra info about Compressor and h the best way to create your DVD [here|http://www.kenstone.net/fcphomepage/fcp_homepageindex.html#dvd]

What is the best replacement for iDVD

I just bought a new iMac and found out that iDVD has vanished. What's the best approch for making slide shows from iPhoto and burning to a DVD?

Sorry, but I haven't found a way to burn a movie directly from iMovie since iMovie HD (6) (note: burn project to disk):
Whereas, there are no options to burn in the current iMovie version:
You can share it to online sites and you can export it, but you can't burn it.

What is the best compression for HD footage for online use?

I have a sequence with the following specs:
HD (960x720) (16:9), HD 960x720 aspect ratio, DVCPRO HD 720p60 compressor and need to output a 300x250 file for an online banner.
Was wondering what you think the best looking compression would be for me to use plus whats the best way for me to keep the aspect ratio consistent within the new dimensions.
Any help would be much appreciated! thanks!

While a lot of people have Flash, not all of them have the latest version (or even the previous version). Newer versions of the Flash Player support better video codecs. I still encounter people (corporations) that are still only using Flash Player 7…

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.

What is the best compression choice for importing audio?

Hi
What is the best setting for importing audio into itunes?
thnx

There is no "best", it depends on what is important to you.
If you want the same fidelity as the CD use AIFF, but this will result in very large files and reduce the number of songs you can put on your iPod.
If you want more songs on your iPod use 128 AAC. I wouldn't go any smaller for music.
If you want a compromise try Apple Lossless. Keep in mind if you have a Shuffle that Apple Lossless files won't work on that device.

What is the best compression for HDV 1080i60 video to be played on iTunes?

Hello guys,
I would like to make an HDV video podcast for iTunes and possibly for other podcasting sites. My source format is HVD 1080i60, each episode would be about 10 minutes long. So I am wondering what format, compression and settings work best while keeping reasonable quality.
Thank you for any tip or advise.

One thing I forgot to mention: the Apple TV setting H.264 file won't play on an iPod. If you did need an iPod/iPhone compatible version, then the export setting to use would be Movie to iPod. This will make a 640x360 file. The full explanation of the differences between iPod and Apple TV formats is at http://www.apple.com/itunes/store/podcaststechspecs.html#formattingvideo

What is the best compression for youtube videos ?

I know I can go in export movie, then chosse medium for youtube, but is there a better compression because when I upload it on youtube, the quality is much lower. Should i export with QuickTime or i dunno ?
Thnx for aswering !!

What is your source material? If it is DV, then sending to YouTube in the Medium Preset is fine.
If your source is AVCHD, you could import at 1920x1080. Then after editing, share using QuickTime at 1280x720 in h.264. Then upload to YouTube through the website.

What is the best compression format for 1440 x 1080 24fps HDV?

I have a short film, around 13 minutes long, which I've recently completed. It was filmed in 1440 x 1080 24fps in HDV. What compressed video format would produce the highest quality "lossless" compression of the film? I'm planning on using the video file as my highest quality master copy –besides the FCP file itself. Thanks.

Your master should be exported as QT movie (not compression) keeping same settings and self-contained checked (No loss of quality is involved, the result is a perfect copy of each frame from your original media).
Any other conversion will involve compression then potential loss of quality.
That master will play fine on your machine but don't expect it to play on PCs.
However, you can send it to tape or take the exported self-contained file to a post house for DigiBeta or other transfer if you need screening copies of your video.
For the web H.264 is a great choice, amazing quality and fairly small file size with proper settings.
G.

Who knows the best compression software?

I have Stuffit expander but I need a good program to zip files for people on Macs or PCs. I haven't been able to find one online. Can anyone suggest a good compression software for Mac?
Thanks

Hi ZacharyZack, I too have & use Stuffit Deluxe 10, you can upgrade your version for only $29.99 if you want to have full & simple controll on stuffing & expanding, encrypting files.
http://www.stuffit.com/mac/deluxe/index.html
But has macjack said for compressing files for free OS-X can do this has mentioned.

The best compression before iDVD

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