burning QT file to disc the playback stutters

Why am I getting this stutter? Why does it not stutter every time I play it? If I drag the QT file from the DVD onto the computer desk top and play from there it never stutters. The stutter is not visible in FCx4, it is not visible when I play the QT file on the desk top. It is only visible when I play the file from the DVD, and again, not every time I play it. What is going on?

How did you packetize the data? By default, H.264 data is normally packetized for computer playback. However, it can also be optimized specifically for streaming or for CD/DVD playback.

The person I am making the dvd for requested the mpeg4 codec

What does this person mean by MPEG-4—MPEG-4, chapter 2 or MPEG-4, chapter 10 (aka MPEG-4/AVC or H.264)? If MPEG-4, chapter 2, then explain to this individual that the file will have to copied to his or her computer for playback. If MPEG-4, chapter 10, then use settings that activate the "Optimized for" pop-up and select the "CD/DVD-ROM" option.

mp4 part 10. he wants to upload to you tube and imdb, so the quality needs to be good.

MPEG-4/AVC (MPEG-4, Part 10/H.264/x264) normally provides the best quality in the smallest file space. Generally speaking, Part 2 may require 2.0 to 2.5 times the video data rate to provide the same level of quality as a PArt 10 encode.

the optimized for drop down is always greyed out, and though I've tried different settings I'm not sure how to adjust the settings to ungrey optimized for

You need to activate the 2-pass option and provide a target video data rate to invoke the "Optimize for CD/DVD-ROM" pop-up option. (A video data rate as high as 4.0-8.0 Mbps is probably okay but you may be able to get by with half that rate and still retsin commercial DVD-like quality depending on the content.) However, burning optical media in this manner is only required if you/the individual plans to play the content back on a computer directly from the CD/DVD. If the individual is uploading the file to YouTube for reconversion to FLV, then this is not really needed.