AVCHD to DVD: Export Options?

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AVCHD to DVD: Export Options?

Hi
I'm currently editing a school show in FCE, shot on a multi-cam, AVCHD camcorder set-up. I'm editing the files in native format because a few copies on Blu-Ray will be needed. My problem is this; what export settings do I need to apply to the finished edit to optimise it for DVD burning, as 95% of required copies are on this format? I've tried the standard Export/Quicktime Movie option, and whereas I can burn lovely, pristine Blu-Ray copies from this file, (using Toast 10 Titanium), when I try to burn the file as a DVD, (using Toast's DVD burn option), the disc when viewed is of a pretty low quality and horribly interlaced on anything that moves even slightly. I'v tried customising the settings in Toast, specifically selecting "progressive" in the "Field Dominance" option, but the burn still looks crap!
I'm wondering whether my problem starts within Final Cut Express somewhere. If so, what is the optimum export setting with a view to creating decent-looking DVDs?
Thanks

iMac 27" 8 Gig, 2 TB, Mac OS X (10.6.5), Final Cut Express 4.0.1

Posted on Nov 29, 2010 7:08 AM

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Answer 1

MartinR

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Nov 29, 2010 7:29 AM in response to Andrew Teilo

+" ... I'm editing the files in native format ..."+

You are editing raw AVCHD (H.264) in Final Cut Express? How did you get the files from your camcorder into FCE? Did you use Log & Transfer? Did you ever have to render your video while editing? What are your sequence settings (aka easy setup)?

Normally, you use an AVCHD-Apple Intermediate Codec easy setup in FCE and Log & Transfer the clips from your camcorder(s) into FCE. This gives you clip files that are QuickTime/Apple Intermediate Codec for editing. Then, when you export to QT Movie you get a QT/AIC file for use in iDVD, Toast, etc. The authoring tool (iDVD or Toast) takes care of the necessary encoding to burn either DVD or BluRay media.

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Answer 2

Andrew Teilo Author

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Nov 29, 2010 7:25 AM in response to MartinR

Hello Martin.
Yes, I import using the Log and Transfer command, and edit 1920 x 1080 (25fps). I do this because FCE always asks whether I want to use the native size to work with, and I always answer "Yes".

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Answer 3

Andrew Teilo Author

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Nov 29, 2010 7:30 AM in response to Andrew Teilo

Sorry MArtin, a few more details....
No, I never have to render files, (apart from having applied some extensive filtering, etc.)
My Easy Setup details look something like this...
Format: HD
Rate: All Rates
Use: AVCHD-Apple Intermediate Codec 1920 x 1080i 60

I notice already that the easy setup details don't match the files I ingest into the Mac exactly, but they seem to work perfectly, and give me stunning Blu-Ray discs.

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Answer 4

MartinR

Level 7

24,996 points

Nov 29, 2010 7:32 AM in response to Andrew Teilo

Since you used Log & Transfer, you are actually editing QuickTime/Apple Intermediate Codec video files, not "native" AVCHD.

Export to QT Movie. Import the resulting file into iDVD. Set up & burn a DVD. See what results you get there.

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Answer 5

Andrew Teilo Author

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Nov 29, 2010 7:41 AM in response to MartinR

Once again, sorry Martin. I only read a partially downloaded response of yours.
Further to my two recent posts, you are, of course, right; the files are indeed Quicktime movie files; whilst on holiday this year I used to archive stuff from my camcorder by Logging an Transferring clips into FCE on my Macbook. I'd then look for the files using spotlight and once found, drag them all into an external hard drive.
Is my gripe, then, with Toast? I've not had problems with the product, or company, before, and Toast always comes highly recommended by those in the know. And to stress, I know I'm using interlaced files, but how do I de-interlace and commit properly to DVD? Would iDVD - of all things - be a better bet in this instance?

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Answer 6

MartinR

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24,996 points

Nov 29, 2010 7:44 AM in response to Andrew Teilo

The mismatch is probably the root cause of the problem. You are in a PAL country; if you shot 1080i50 then you should be using a matching Easy Setup in FCE, not 1080i60. I don't know how this would affect bluray, but it would cause issues for standard def.

Try this -

Make a backup copy of your FCE project file. +(Very important. Don't skip this. Always make a backup before experimenting.)+
Then, control-click your sequence in the FCE Browser. In the window that opens, click Settings. In the next window click Load Sequence Preset. Select AVCHD-Apple Intermediate Codec 1920x1080i50. This will change your sequence to 1080i50.

Then export to QT Movie; import into iDVD or Toast and burn a DVD. You may want to try this with a short video segment first just to see what the results may be.

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Answer 7

Andrew Teilo Author

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Nov 29, 2010 7:49 AM in response to MartinR

I'm onto it now!
I'll let you, and everyone else, know how I get on.
Thx Martin...

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Answer 8

Dec 4, 2010 4:39 PM in response to Andrew Teilo

Toast will read the Apple Intermediate Codec (AIC) format in a QT reference movie and generate a DVD. However, I have found that you get better results if you export your movie from FCE using "Quicktime Conversion" and select a DV stream as output. This DV movie (standard definition) can then be imported into toast to make a DVD. The main difference is that the Toast DVD encoding from AIC produces moire and other noise patterns that are much subdued when the DVD is written from the intermediate codec files. You might give it a try.

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