Tips on using Compressor to fit 130mins on 1 DVD...

Hi all,
I need to fit 130 mins on one DVD single layer and I don't have much experience with Compressor which I have on an old iMac G4.
I would use dual layers but often I can't get DvD players to recognize dual layer verbatims..
This disk will be copied by the customer and mailed out to various locations and played on consumer DVD players for which the remotes
have been typically lost.
Can someone teach me how to determine my settings in Compressor.
The media is from FCE and is 4x3 NTSC. No DVD chapters. Customer needs the disk to auto play upon insert into a DVD player.
There is very little movement in the media just a person standing there and talking.
Thanks,
Al

You'll need to create a custom preset; duplicate the 120 minute preset then modify the video bit rate to accommodate the extended run time. Look online for a "bit rate calculator" to help determine the setting to use.
Also, on that older version of Compressor, I'm not sure if the Dolby Digital (AC3) encoder was included. At first it wasn't, then in later versions it was included, but each DVD preset had an AIFF and an AC3 encoder - you only need the AC3 encoder. In the last few versions, the AIFF encoder was not included in the DVD presets.
If you're version of Compressor doesn't include AC3 you should have received an application named A.Pack. You can do the AC3 encoding there if needed.
-DH

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Hi,
Converted some files across to my hard drive using Elgato Video Capture.
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Thanks

Elgato should be able to capture full res SD 720x576. If not you should consider another converter or capturing with iDVD.
All PAL DVD footage must be converted to 720x576 MPG-2 in order for DSP/iDVD to make a DVD.
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Some DVD-R recorders will do an OK job of this and Toast has a feature that will recompress your dual-layer DVD(more than 4.3GB) to fit on a DVD-5 but there are many variables to this equation and no real hard and fast answers.

Should I use Compressor 4 before sending over to DVD Studio Pro

I am making a FCP X movie and when it's finished I want to put it on a DVD using DVD Studio Pro. I have done this before but now I'm wondering if I should first export it to Compressor 4 and then to DVD Studio Pro. I understand that if I was puting it on YouTube or an iPod device I would need to Compress it however why would I need to go to Compresss 4 first if ultimately going to DVD Studio Pro? Would I get a better Codec quality then what I get from exporting in FCP X using their default Compression format i.e. Quicktime? Should I use an Apple ProRes Compression from Compressor 4? I guess I really don't understand the encoding quality options very well however I do want the best quality on my finished DVD. The DVD or Sequence is somewhere around 20 - 25 minutes if that makes any difference in your response.

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Are you "sending" to compressor? Probably not the best way to work.
First step: make sure the sequence is COMPLETELY rendered. If you don't understand how to do that, post back.
Then, I'd strongly recommend that you export a quicktime file with current settings (file: export: quicktime movie NOT quicktime conversion) and bring that file into compressor and chose the appropriate preset.
This workflow isolates each step and makes it easier to troubleshoot.
Here are a few user tips that might be helpful
Some tips for using compressor
Common FCP Troubleshooting tips
sending to compressor from fcp - a few issues

How do I get surround sound after compressing a movie using compressor

I am using compressor to create files for authoring DVDs using DVD Studio Pro 4. I want to get surround sound 5.1. How do I go about doing it? I have using Dolby 2.0 so far. Thanks for your help.

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How to achieve good non-interlaced video using compressor (newbie question)

Dear all,
I am completely at sea but I know that I have to use the "none" setting for the field order and cannot for the life of me work this out.
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What I did:
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5. Double-clicked the "setting" and then-
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Let me see if I can wrap my head around what you're trying to do. You started with an HD timeline 1280 x 720 (16:9). Into this you want to add your SD PAL clips, shrunk down for a picture in picture effect (a completely different concept from multicam.) But your shrunk down clips have nasty interlacing, and the one clip which was meant to be full frame looks like rubbish, right? Sorry but there's no way to blow a clip up 180% and have it look even halfway decent. At least not in FCP. Compressor has an upscale algorithm, available in the same Frame Controls tab where you did the de-interlacing, which can give you somewhat better results. There's also a plug-in from Red Giant called Instant HD which may or may not yield better results than Compressor.
Here's where you went wrong. The clips to be shrunk should have been deinterlaced before bringing them into FCP, and into your sequence. Go ahead and do this, using the ProRes 422 setting, with the deinterlacing technique from before.
Your sequence in FCP is fine, except that you want to change its compressor to ProRes 422 so that it matches your newly imported de-interlaced clips.
You want to de-interlace your P2 1080i clips beforehand as well. The other change to make to your sequence is to change Field Dominance to None.
If you've already finished your edit, you can still do all of the de-interlacing, outputting all of the results to a new folder. But you have to do every source clip in its entirety if you want to re-link to retain your edit.
When Compressor's done - this will probably take all night - open your FCP project, select all the source clips, right-click and choose Reconnect Media. Locate the newly de-interlaced ProRes clips and Connect.
Then you only need to export your sequence as a Quicktime Movie, Current Settings, Self-contained. This will give you a pristine master which will play fine on your computer, and from which you may then use Compressor to create a web or dvd version as needed.

Fitting large project onto DVD

Friends,
I have a project at that is 4.9 gigs at high quality. How do I shrink it down to fit onto a 4 gig DVD. Maybe the answer is obvious but I am becoming increasingly frustrated. I am sure all of us have been there a time or two. So in short, how do I change the bit rate?
Please help.
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Also use Compressor to export your audio file from an AIFF to an AC3 if you haven't already. This will ensure bit-rate compatability and also shrink the file size.
If you're looking for a quick fix you can still build from DVDSP then use Popcorn to fit it onto your DVD.

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If you are using a 4.7gb DVD and the video is 110min then use the 120min preset then click on the icon that shows you the "estimate size". In my opinion it is very accurate, but it doesn't include the audio in that calculation. So just bring down the Mbps (the top slider) down about .5 of a bit rate and then your audio should fit just fine and you can use the 120 min setting.
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Do third party replacement tips fit on the apple in ear headphones? I prefer foam tips as they block out much more sound, but I'm not sure if Apple use the standard fitting for headphone tips!?!?!?!

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Make no mistake, these are the best 'phones under $200 I have ever heard. The bass is deep and warm, very detailed, and totally lacking fuzz or buzz that I can hear in the Sennheiser set. Look at getting tips from a better headphone. The trick is it has to have a soft rubber base that can expand over Apple's slightly larger stub. Some tips, like the Shure foam tips, have a rigid plastic sleave in the tip to keep it's position correct, and these won't expand over the larger Apple posts."

Issues with Motion in Using Compressor for a PAL DVD

I am new to DVD Studio Pro and Compressor and am trying to create a DVD of a 50 minute PAL project that I made using FCP. I have found a couple tutorials on how to export my project using compressor to be compatible with DSP via pre sets (DVD: Best Quality 4:3) and actually manipulating the controls myself. I have found in using both techniques that during any scene with motion, the edges of the moving actor become blurred and grainy. The tutorials that I checked out I assume (since they were from the US) were for NTSC projects, is there any other considerations that I should make in compressing a PAL project, which might contribute to this graininess? Any ideas?
Any help would be much appreciated. I have included my settings from Compressor below.
Thanks.
Name: MPEG-2 6.2Mbps 2-pass 4:3
Description: Fits up to 90 minutes of video with Dolby Digital audio at 192 Kbps or 60 minutes with AIFF audio on a DVD-5
File Extension: m2v
Estimated file size: 273.48 MB
Type: MPEG-2 video elementary stream
Video Encoder
Format: M2V
Width: 720
Height: 576
Pixel aspect ratio: PAL CCIR 601
Crop: None
Frame rate: 25
Frame Controls: Off
Aspect ratio: 4:3
Field dominance: Bottom first
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Best motion estimation
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DVD Studio Pro meta-data enabled

The general concepts are the same in terms of maintaining quality throughout the work process in terms of Codecs, exports etc.
As to the motion areas, compression markers in FCP can help in problem areas. What you should do is grab some of the problems sections and drop markers in there and encode them. Some of the frame controls can help, depending on source footage. What was the original material and cpautred/edited? Sometimes things in there can also give quality hits.
Lastly some things (like real black outfits on light backgrounds) can cause some edging issues which can take some work to clean up as much as possible...

Using compressor DVD Studio Pro 4 will only accept ac3 format in the burn process. ac3 makes a nnsense of the good sound delivered, 30% reduction in volume, auto volume levelling giving unwanted volume variations. Used to be able to burn using AIFF/WAVE,

AS Above. Edited in FCPX. Excellent sound file. Using Compressor 4 to DVD Studio 4. Wanting AIFF or WAVE sound for acurate sound.
Previously DVD Studio 4 has accepted AIFF etc and delivered sound as reuired. Now, during the burn process everything other than ac3 is declined as 'video bit rate too high', but will burn if the AIFF format is replaced with ac3 (which I presume meanss the 'video bit rate too high' is referring to the sound file)
The issue with ac3 format is the huge reduction in original volume and worse, the 'auto volume levelling' that makes a nonsense of the original soundtrack - with simply aweful unwanted variations in volume Throughout the the dvd.
I have tried everything I can think of to get around this. The 'volume gain' in compressor doesn't make any difference. Exporting just AIFF and the Video to DVD 4 doesn't make any difference, it always declines anything but the aweful sound ac3 delivers.
I have customers awaiting a musci DVD, not with thei quality I can't.
Cheers
Phil

The total video bit rate is determined by audio & video. Depending on what rate your video file was encoded at will determine how much room is left for audio. PCM(aiff/wav) audio requires a bigger piece of the pie. Video bit rate too high means your overall(video+audio) rate is going above 9Mbps which the format won't allow. The only way to use aiff would be to lower your video file's data rate. The length of your program is also a factor in all of this.
I had some problems in the past with using aiff instead ac3. Although there shouldn't be any issue I experienced playback issues on some players that couldn't be explained but were cleared up by ac3. I have been using the same specs as Dave's suggestion for almost nine years and have not had any issues with mix, quality, or levels.

Is there any way to use Compressor 4 with iMovie '11?

I'm a student filmmaker without the money for Final Cut Pro X. Footage from my Canon VIXIA HF S20 (AVCHD format) looks just about perfect when I import it into iMovie and when I cut together a project. However, when I finalize the project, the darker hues in my footage always come out pixelated and crappy. Whether it's 1080p or 480p, this is always the case.
I've been told that Compressor 4 does a much better job of encoding and exporting, but it's completely integrated with Final Cut Pro X and not iMovie. Is there any way I can take raw project files from iMovie and export them using Compressor? Or must I be forced to save up for Final Cut Pro X?

You should be able to use Compressor with iMovie - it's a standalone app - but, of course, there will be no "Send To" buttons. But I really doubt that it will help you much.
sdharwadker wrote:
However, when I finalize the project, the darker hues in my footage always come out pixelated and crappy. Whether it's 1080p or 480p, this is always the case.
Finalizing means that iMovie renders your video in different sizes. Have you tried to export or "Share to Media Browser"?
mish

Poor result using Compressor

I need help. I use a Sony camera (HDR CX560) bought in US with NTSC as standard. I live in Europe and would like to burn a DVD for my Blue-Ray player showing it on my PAL TV.
The footage is 1080i, 1920x1080, 29,97 fps.
I have tried several different ways of achieving good results, but with no luck:
1. Editing in Final Cut Pro with original specs (1080i, 29,97). The result showing in FCP viewer is not perfect, but quite good. A little bit of stuttering and a bit blury pictures. I have tried "Send to Compressor...", selected MPEG-2 for DVD in Compressor (customized to 16:9 TV format). The process stops after a minute - a file is being created, but only the first 30 seconds of the movie is visible. I also tried Share>Export file using Compressor settings. The file created does not have acceptable quality, mostly bescause of very disturbing stripes. I also tried Share>Master file but the output is not good enough (using codec Apple ProRes422 (HQ) - same stripes.
2. Editing in Final Cut Pro with european standard (1080i, 25i). The result in FCP viewer is good with one exception - a lot of stuttering images while panning. I tried all the output/share alternatives mentioned above, with poor result.
I use OS X 10.8.3, Final Cut Pro X 10.0.8 and Compressor 4.0.7
Can anyone help?

pnils wrote:
. Created a project with the original settings (1080i, 1920x1080, 29,97 fps).
FCP is usually pretty bullet proof in handling formats – and most of the time letting it set the project properties is the best way.
From what you've said about the camera and the footage, you shouldn't encounter any potential problems until after you export and start the standards conversion.
Create another project. When the new project dialogue window appears, make sure the settings are set to automatic (video properties set by first clip). Take one of the 1080i 60 clips and edit it to the timeline to set those properties. Export that clip as a test. If it plays smoothly, and it should, proceed to delete the clip from the project and paste the problem sequence to the new project. Delete all project render files and event render files. Now export (don't bother to re-render).
Post back with results.
Russ

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)

Problem exporting video using compressor for a final cut pro vid

I've created a video in Final Cut Pro and trying to export using compressor to apple tv. Each time about half way through it crashes final cut and gives me the 'final cut pro had to quit unexpectedly'.
Haven't a clue what is going on, it happened sometimes when i was trying to conform to HD but when i did it bit by bit it was ok.
All the media is online so really haven't a clue. I've tried using quicktime conversion in pro-res then bashing into compressor and it works but interlacing is all over the shop, even with de-interlace filter.
ANy answers with regards to why its crashing greaty appreciated!
P.S when it crashes says something about a pro-core plugin
Message was edited by: jim__bob

Hi Jim,
Can you update your profile, we don't know what your hardware set up is or your OS, or version of FCS. It could give you answers a lot faster if we know your details from the off.
Ok, what format is your original media, what are your sequence settings please.
DM

Tips on using Compressor to fit 130mins on 1 DVD...

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