What is the best video format to save as(export to in QTPro)? I want to keep most of the quality, be able to open in iMovie/iDVD, save in iTunes to transfer to my iPod, and most everything else.
Then use the "Movie to DV Stream" export option. This produces a DV/DV file which is compatible will all versions of iMovie. Unfortunately, it retains the most quality by using relatively high data rates which produces very large source files. It is a "frame level" editing format suitable for both editing in iMovie and burning to iDVD. If you have iMovie HD, then your can also save your files as AIC/AIFF files. This format is also well suited for editing and burning DVD but has a somewhat lower video data rate as it was intended for use as an intermediate compression format for the editing of HD sourced content. Both are easily converted to iPhone, iPod, and/or TV files if the AVI content has to be edited before use on such devices but if editing is not required, your would likely do better to convert directly from whatever compression format is in the AVI files to H.264/AAC files in MOV, MP4, or M4V file containers. Further, if you are using iLife '08 for editing and burning your DVDs, then you also have the option to convert additional compression formats like Motion-JPEG or Photo-JPEG (less quality but smaller files) or MPEG-4 or H.264 (even lower quality when video data rates are limited by the user but having the smallest file sizes).
Basically, you need to do a bit of research and make some "informed" decisions. The "best" format depends on your specific goals and your "tolerance" for what you consider "high quality." Compression, by its very nature, discards data in order to make file content smaller for easier distribution. Once lost, this data can never be regained. By using a compression format like DV or AIC, you are not gaining any quality -- merely preventing any further significant loss during the transcoding process. All strategies here require a compromise in terms of time, space, and efficiency. Only you can decide which factor is the most or least important for any specific project/work flow you may choose to undertake. If you plan ahead, you will be less likely to waste your time on fruitless endeavors or become frustrated and more likely to achieve your desired goals.
