From exporting to burning the DVD

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From exporting to burning the DVD

Helloooo,

So I've been shooting with a Canon HV20 and now the HV30 at the HD 1080i60. So I was told to export the footage to Quick Time Movie at the best settings. So then I created a simple DVD setup with iDVD, but the final DVD isn't in full screen mode, rather 720x720 or something.

I'm wondering if iDVD is doing something to the exported QT movie, or is there a better program to be using for creating DVDs?

Thanks for your time,

-Ronan

Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.5), Canon HV30 Video Camera

Posted on Nov 23, 2008 6:10 PM

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Answer 1

David S.

Level 7

20,636 points

Nov 23, 2008 6:24 PM in response to ronmdon

If you are trying to create a high definition DVD in iDVD, you will not be able to do that.

You will need:

1. Encore CS3 or CS4 from Adobe or Toast 9 with the blu ray burning option;

2. A blu ray burner from Lacie or OWC;

3. Blu ray discs

4. A blu ray set top player.

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Answer 2

ronmdon Author

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Nov 23, 2008 6:32 PM in response to David S.

Hmmmm, well that setup you mentioned has to be a bit of extra $.

I mean how do you put a HD1080i60 footage onto a DVD? Should I be exporting the Final Cut footage in a different format to fit on a DVD.

I mean the DVD plays and all, but the quality is crap at full screen....?

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Answer 3

David S.

Level 7

20,636 points

Nov 23, 2008 6:46 PM in response to ronmdon

First of all, playing a DVD at full screen is going to look pretty bad on a computer screen. I have no idea what "crap" means, so you need to describe it in better terms.

You are enlarging several times beyond what it is encoded for which is 720x480.

Enlarge that to 2560 x1600 for example is going to result in a very poor image.

You export current settings audio and video self contained.

Then you take that file into iDVD and elect a 16:9 preset and encode.

However, playing that DVD at full screen on a computer will always look bad.

Remember as well that HDV footage is heavily, heavily compressed when you shoot it.

And that footage goes through another heavy compression when a DVD is made.

If you start with that nuch compression, you are going to end up with less than optimal footage on a DVD.

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Answer 4

ronmdon Author

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Nov 23, 2008 6:49 PM in response to David S.

So then how do you put HD footage onto a DVD? I mean this shouldn't be that hard....should it?

What is the point of shooting in HD if you can't showcase it on a DVD afterwords?

Sorry, I'm just a bit confused....

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Answer 5

David S.

Level 7

20,636 points

Nov 23, 2008 6:55 PM in response to ronmdon

It would be helpful if you explain what you are trying to do.

Are you trying to create a SD DVD with HDV footage?

Or are you trying to create a HD DVD with HDV footage?

Because, if it is the former there are a number of labor intensive procedures to improve the quality of the DVD.

But as I said, there are at least ten flavors of high definition video.

HDV is the worst for the amount of compression. Producing a good looking SD DVD requires a lot of homework.

If you want to show case HDV footage on a high definition DVD player, then you need to spend some money

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Answer 6

ronmdon Author

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Nov 23, 2008 7:02 PM in response to David S.

I didn't really have much of an idea of what I was getting into when I undertook this little documentary project, ha, it's much more than I was expecting.

Well I just want to make a DVD with the HD footage I captured with the Canon HV20, assuming there is noticeable difference in the quality of HD versus DV, and I was hoping to create a DVD to show the documentary with the quality being the best for the type of camera I took the footage with.

For me it's just that when I export the QT movie from FCP at the best quality, it looks good on the screen, sharp, clear, good color, but then after the iDVD and on the DVD the footage at full screen looks fuzzy and distorted...

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Answer 7

David S.

Level 7

20,636 points

Nov 23, 2008 7:10 PM in response to ronmdon

*the footage at full screen looks fuzzy and distorted*

As I said earlier, if you are playing the footage on a computer at full screen, it will look fuzzy. You are enlarging the footage.

You judge it by how you play it at actual size, which is command -1 or on a television through a good upconverting DVD set top.

A commercial SD, or blu ray DVD also will look fuzzy if played full screen on a computer.

Because you have DVD SP with FCP, you can create a HD DVD that will play on Intel Macs and Toshiba HD DVDs and will look better.

Or use the blu ray procedure I suggested.

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Answer 8

Nov 23, 2008 7:35 PM in response to ronmdon

Sounds like you're wanting to output your HDV program to Blu-ray, which is currently the only visable HD delivery option for optical disc. If so, do a search on this forum for "Blu-ray" and you should find some help.

-DH

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