DVD stutter

I'll bet you a dollar that you are not using AC3 audio files. AIF audio files caue bit rate problems--sounds like that to me--use A PACk if you have 3.0 and Compressor if you have 4.0 to create AC3 aka Dolby audio files.

Are you sure that your DVD-R media is compatible with your JVC DVD player? If you're not sure then try a different brand of media or try burning at a slower rate (1X or 2X).

Hi Catherine,

Did you export at a high bitrate? That could cause the stuttering as well.

I personally wouldn't use compressor. I always used the mpeg2 option via the quicktime conversion upon export. Set your min bitrate for 4.5 or 5 and your max to 6.5 or lower. This, of course, depends on what your source footage is (ie. for VHS tapes, I would probably use a slightly higher minimum bitrate.
Choose "best" for the motion and 2 pass VBR. Some folks suggest using CBR, but I noticed a quality reduction in using that setting.

Then create your ac3 files using Apack or compressor (for version 4).

BUT, before I do that, try your DVD in your neighbour's DVD player. It could be the player.

Cheers,
Keebler

Hi.
I find burning speed a key issue for table-top player compatibility. 1X is about the only way to go (which means getting your hands on TOAST).
Whatever others might say about Compressor (sorry), it works fine for me. And APack is a must for the audio.

Please let us know if you are still stuck.
D

Great point about Toast David. I can't believe I forgot that as I'm a big fan of it.

Regarding compressor - have you tried a sample of bitvice?
I was hooked on the quicktime conversion to mpeg-2, but tried a sample movie in both (same settings). when done, I ran the m2v's in quicktime..hands down difference b/n the 2. I repeated for compressor and still couldn't believe it.
Hope you don't think i'm telling you what to do...just maybe helping you see something i didn't see before, but now i'm glad I did 🙂

Cheers,
Keebler

Dear Keebler,
Are you saying that Bitvice is better than Compressor?
If you say it is, then I guess I will have to try it out.
(Most of my stuff ends up on a television screen rather than on a computer.)
I like Compressor 'cos it does an OK job and came bundled with DVDSP...
D

Hi Dave,

From the tests I ran, yup...BV is better.
I couldn't believe the difference in colour (BV's were much deeper and richer).
I was hoping Compressor 2 was better 😟
Of course, this is my personal preferences...others may vary 🙂

My work goes to TV as well so I feel much better using BV.

Cheers,
Keebler

Keebler said:

From the tests I ran, yup...BV is better.

I couldn't believe the difference in colour (BV's were much deeper and richer).

That's my experience too, although I'm not sure I'd call it deeper and richer, more like simply darker. In any case, I'm not sure I would call that a benefit because in my hands Bitvice causes brightness shifts from the original DV source whereas Compressor's MPEG2 output is nearly an exact match for the original. Personally, I'd prefer that the output looks as much like the input as possible. If I want a darker image I'll adjust the video in my FCP sequence, I don't expect the MPEG2 compressor to change my video for me.

However, I'm using NTSC sources and output so maybe you'll see different results with PAL. Also, since I'm using Apple's MPEG2 Playback component to view the finished results I guess that Apple's Compressor has a potential advantage because they are handling both the encode (to MPEG2) and the decode for playback.

In any case, Bitvice is a good product, they have a demo that you can download so it's worth a look to see if you prefer their output.