iMovie '11 > iDVD (AVCHD / DV)

Try this.

SHARE/to MEDIA BROWSER in Large size.

In iDVD, drag your movie into the project from the Media Browser. It is at the bottom right of the iDVD window.

In iDVD, set project properties to Professional Quality.

Hi !

I always (... I mean, before Lion OS) use this method:

1) Import the clips into iMove in Original Size

2) Make your project

3) Export using QT (no image compression and image size 960 x 540). You'll get very huge files, but with the best quality

4) Drag the final clip into iDvd and complete your project. Be sure you have "Professional encoding" on the preferences of iDvd (... I don't know if "Professional encoding" is the right translation because my language is italian).

After many tests, this is the way I found to get the best results on a DVD.

Hope this hepls,

Ciao !

I usually import in Full size (1920x1080) because I am makeing HD videos for the web or Applt TV. It also preserves the highest level of quality for future use. If all you are doing is making standard definition DVDs, there is no advantage to importing in Full. You can import in Large and have a file 25% the size.

Hi

As I see it - Have no HD Camera or AVCHD - But I often start project in full HD with still photos well over 12Mb size (eg 18Mb).

And iMovie can handle HD well ( I think )

BUT - There are no HD-DVD - as DVD is as standard SD-Video and can never be any better (if to be played on Standard DVD-Player)

And I find the resulting DVD to be better by - Share to Media Browser and as Large (not HD) (I never use "Share to iDVD" from any iMovie version 1 to '11 (whenever it came to be a possibility - iMovie RENDERS BADLY ! )

And use of size Larger than "Large" or smaller has resulted in less quality DVD - TO ME ! ! !

From FCE/P - I export as QuickTime - AND NO NO NO QuickTime Conversion ! ! - Those that get a better to superior result by doing so - SHOULD describe it - from material used to what and how this conversion was selected - DUE TO that I NEVER Succeeded in doing it and would GREATLY appreciate to know HOWTO get a better result.

Yours very interested Bengt W

A second question but less important at the moment is all my old miniDV tapes - should i use iMovie 6 for these?

I have used every iMovie from 02 to 11.

I have found that whenever I want to make a DVD is best to use iMovie 06 or Final Cut express.

There is a reduction in quality of the image between iMovie 06 and iMovie 08 through 11.

The difference is the single field processing used by iMovie 11 (for faster editing) and the fact that it throws out every other horizontal line.

Final Cut Express and Adobe Premiere Elements 9 will give full quality but are more complicated to use.

In my opinion iMovie 06 with iDVD 09 or iDVD 11 is way to go.

Your workflow is editing DV clips and making DVDs, iMovie '06 is better suited. Your movie will arrive at iDVD in DV format, which is an ideal match for making a DVD: same resolution, same pixels, aspect ratio, and original quality.

iMovie 06 and iDVD 09/11 is a 100% "lossless" combination and my DVD's look like they came from Hollywood!

grahamlaws wrote:

Stefano76 wrote:

Hi !

I always (... I mean, before Lion OS) use this method:

1) Import the clips into iMove in Original Size

2) Make your project

3) Export using QT (no image compression and image size 960 x 540). You'll get very huge files, but with the best quality

4) Drag the final clip into iDvd and complete your project. Be sure you have "Professional encoding" on the preferences of iDvd (... I don't know if "Professional encoding" is the right translation because my language is italian).

After many tests, this is the way I found to get the best results on a DVD.

Hope this hepls,

Ciao !

Yep these do create huge files! a 3min (i think) clip ended up as 10GB @ 960x540! So by your method the majority of the 'squashing' (rendering) is done by iDVD rather than iMovie?

Will have to try this as well, but if i'm right that it was a 3min clip, then 30mins would be 100GB! and i'd start to be short on HDD space...

Yes, the rendering is done by iDVD.

Consider that iDVD always converts the clips of the project in MPEG2 format (standard compression for DVDs); this is why I prefer to have the "source" video file with full details and quality (38min = 88GB).

Moreover, iMovie export is quicker if you use "no compression", so you don't have to wait twice.

I understand the problem of huge files; I use an external hard drive for this.

Once the DVD project is completed, I delete the huge video files since I don't need them anymore.

Are your comments above related ONLY to dv content?

Is iMovie '11 'harmful' to AVCHD content also?

I get good results with iMovie 11 as long as I don't make a DVD. If I post the video to the Internet the quality seems reasonable.

I revert to iMovie 06 when I want to make a DVD.

The Post "

Successfully import HD movies to iDVD for buring to a DVD with best settings

" may give you a big help.