Making 1080p DVD with iDVD

Question

Making 1080p DVD with iDVD

Hello.

I'm using iDVD that came with iLife '09.

I recently made some HD (1080p) home videos using iMovie (great program BTW)and I've wanted to burn them to DVD and keeping that 1080p quality.

Problem is I've read some threads and I've just realised that it's not possible to make high-dif DVDs using iDVD... is this true?

I know they're not 1080p because when I play them on the playstation 3, it indicates it's only 480p resolution.

What I've interested is why can't iDVD make HD DVDs... doesn't it just need to burn my 1080p mp4s on to the DVD?

Also, since iDVD can't make my HD DVDs, is there any other programs you guys can recommend to me, on Apple or Windows (Windows 7) that will allow me to transport my 1080 mp4s on to a DVD without loss in resoution?

Thanks in advance.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.5)

Posted on Jan 30, 2011 12:50 AM

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Answer 1

F Shippey

Level 7

21,500 points

Jan 30, 2011 7:50 AM in response to foldedclothes

What I've interested is why can't iDVD make HD DVDs..

Because, DVDs are ONLY standard definition devices. Widescreen content is anamorphically squeezed into the standard 4:3 size for recording and then unsqueezed on playback.

doesn't it just need to burn my 1080p mp4s on to the DVD?

Nope. DVDs MUST use mpg-2 encoding

Also, since iDVD can't make my HD DVDs, is there any other programs you guys can recommend to me

If you have a Blu-ray player, Roxio's Toast Titanium will let you put about 20 minutes of Blu-ray playable HD content on a regular DVD disc. If you want to make longer discs, you will need to buy an external Bl-ray recorder.

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Answer 2

SDMacuser

Level 6

13,585 points

Jan 30, 2011 8:33 AM in response to foldedclothes

Also, since iDVD can't make my HD DVDs, is there any other programs you guys can recommend to me ...

No software I can recommend that hasn't already been mentioned above (ie, Roxio Toast). But there is a hardware approach (no pc required) that costs about the same as apple's iLife software that may be of some help. Have you looked into Sony's DvDirect? That's what I use. The brochure I received with this device states the following and I quote:

Record up to
95 minutes of HD video on a
single DVD for playback on
compatible Blu-ray Disc™
players and PlayStation 3
consoles.

Please keep in mind I have not yet tested this device to the full potential so I cannot comment or advise as to final quality. Most of my own work is under 60 minutes playback and it looks pretty darn good. Although menus and automated chapters are not nearly as nice as those within iDvd.

click here

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Answer 3

Jan 31, 2011 9:05 AM in response to foldedclothes

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2424451&tstart=0

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Answer 4

Jan 31, 2011 5:21 PM in response to SDMacuser

SDMacuser has a good suggestion for some but it will not work with a tape-based camcorder or connecting it to a mac. So, I don't think it answers the original question of taking a video project from imovie or fce and making an hd disk from it. I tried all kinds of different methods to burn a bluray disk from my HD quicktime video and it wasn't possible. I was disappointed with it's lack of connectivity...

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Answer 5

Jan 31, 2011 6:35 PM in response to Robert Wilkins2

You can burn a Blu-ray disc with Toast, Final Cut Pro, or Encore. Toast and FCP can also make AVCHD discs. Read the link above for various workflows.

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Answer 6

SDMacuser

Level 6

13,585 points

Jan 31, 2011 7:42 PM in response to Robert Wilkins2

SDMacuser has a good suggestion for some but it will not work with a tape-based camcorder or connecting it to a mac.

Robert ... My camcorder is a Canon HV30 (Tape based / MiniDV). It shoots hi def and it is very much tape based and works flawlessly with the above DVDirect from Sony via i.Link (firewire). The DVDirect is a standalone burner so you are correct in saying it will not connect to a mac / pc.

Message was edited by: SDMacuser

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Answer 7

Feb 1, 2011 1:09 AM in response to Robert Wilkins2

If you have a tape camcorder, and use iMovie 6, you can export your iMovie back to the camcorder and then connect it to the device that SDMacuser describes.

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Answer 8

Feb 1, 2011 8:05 AM in response to SDMacuser

@SDMacuser, you're right about camcorders. I have an HV30 as well. Thank you for correcting me. The poster of this thread was asking for advice on burning something HD from his video and more specifically, his imovie project. I'm guessing that he's referring to footage that he's edited in one way or another. Without a tedious process of exporting his video project back to his camcorder and then to DVDirect, there's no way he can use his edited video on his mac and connect it to the DVDirect device.

I think that's what he was asking for...

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Answer 9

SDMacuser

Level 6

13,585 points

Feb 1, 2011 9:41 PM in response to Robert Wilkins2

there's no way he can use his edited video on his mac and connect it to the DVDirect device.

Short of what Bev has already suggested above (which is a viable work around), you are completely correct.

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Answer 10

catspaw

Level 5

4,344 points

Feb 6, 2011 6:30 PM in response to Beverly Maneatis

Hi Beverly - Happy New Year! A totally OT question: did you ever get my emails re imovie 6 or were they trashed as Spam?

Message was edited by: catspaw

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Answer 11

Feb 24, 2011 9:50 PM in response to catspaw

Hi Bruce,
Thanks for the greetings...same to you!
Yes, I just recently send the info to the person who wanted it. Will let you know via email how it works out. Thank you so much for sending it to me.
Email response sent to you also.

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