Can I avoid re-encoding of .mov files with Compressor and DVD Studio Pro?

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Can I avoid re-encoding of .mov files with Compressor and DVD Studio Pro?

Hello,

I've had some projects banned at one of the tracking sites because my iMovie 6.0.1/iDVD 7.1.1 workflow involves re-encoding of the iMovie .mov file to MPEG 2 when authored in iDVD. I did some research, and was advised that I could get around the re-encoding by using Compressor and DVD Studio Pro instead of iDVD. But, when I import the iMovie file to Compressor for authoring in DVD Studio Pro, the result is another MPEG 2 file. So, am I missing something, or is there no way for me to avoid re-encoding with Apple video production tools.

Thanks for any assistance.

MacBookPro4,1, Mac OS X (10.5), intel Core 2 Duo, 2.6 GHz

Posted on Jun 12, 2011 2:05 PM

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Answer 1

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

Jun 12, 2011 2:11 PM in response to gspanos44

DVD authoring uses MPEG 2 video files as it's basis. No way around that, it is part of the DVD Video specification.

What is a tracking site?

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Answer 2

gspanos44 Author

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Jun 12, 2011 3:22 PM in response to Nick Holmes

OK, thanks. A BitTorrent tracking site is a server that assists in the communication between peers using the BitTorrent protocol. Most have no problem with re-encoding, though one tracker in particular regards it as "lossy."

Is it fair to call iMovie/iDVD or FCP/DVD Studio Pro sharing "lossy re-encoding?"

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Answer 3

namyrb

Level 1

25 points

Jun 12, 2011 3:59 PM in response to gspanos44

"Lossy" means degradation of quality. If your source files are shot in HD at a high bit rate and you want to put those files onto a playable DVD, then yes it is "lossy."

But you should disregard the place where you read that you can get around re-encoding (it's actually called transcoding) by using Compressor and DVD studio pro. Transcoding is one of the sole purposes of having Compressor...

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Answer 4

gspanos44 Author

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Jun 12, 2011 4:12 PM in response to namyrb

What I'm being told is that lossiness can be avoided by using certain PC tools, or something other than iMovie/iDVD or Final Cut Studio. Here's my usual workflow with iMovie/iDVD:

DVD .vob files>MPEGStreamclip 1.8.1>dv file>iMovie 6.0.3>iDVD 7.1.1>VIDEO_TS folder>BitTorrent file>tracker

The complaint is that the dv file is uncompressed then decompressed in the dv file>iMovie 6.0.3>iDVD 7.1.1 step. I do notice slight degradation, but is there a way around it short of making a deal with the PC devil?

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Answer 5

namyrb

Level 1

25 points

Jun 12, 2011 4:49 PM in response to gspanos44

The simple fact that you have to encode your files into an mpeg-2 stream means that you're going to experience a loss in quality. Check the bitrate of your DV files. The max bitrate for all of the elementary steams (audio, video) on a DVD is 9.8mbps. So if your source has a higher bitrate than that... you're going to experience "lossiness."

However there are some tricks that I've read about that increase the overall quality of compression... and yes they are for windows. Check out AVIsynth and MeGUI... there is a learning curve to learning these tools though. I never followed through with it.

EDIT: Also forgot to mention that learning these things takes TIME. Quality encoding takes much longer than realtime.

You can also check out some higher quality mpeg2 encoders like cinemacraft and HC encoder, although the former costs $$$. The quality you get from these encoders are much better than what you have in iDVD and DVDSP/Compressor.

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Answer 6

gspanos44 Author

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Jun 12, 2011 5:07 PM in response to namyrb

Very helpful. Thanks.

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