So I've been struggling for over a week trying to burn a SD DVD but they keep turning out like crap.
Here is what I am doing.
I am capturing with my HD PVR to MTS, then I convert to mp4 and slightly edit with Streamclip. I have also tried exporting to a .mov before importing into iDVD.
I make a project in iDVD, at Professional Quality.
But playback is much worse then the mp4 or mov.
Any tips?
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.2)
.mp4 - is no video-codec it's a container as .avi, .m4v, .mov, .wmv etc and can contain many kinds of video-codecs - some can be used by iMovie/iDVD/FinalCut and many can not.
There are two versions of QuickTime
• QT-X Version 10.0 (131) - and -
• QT version 7.7 (1680.25) - and this can be in plain mode or in Pro mode ($20)
This is the one I use in Pro mode - and here I can export as .MPEG4 / H.264
In both versions You can open Your movie and then open Inspector (cmd+I) and read format/codec: nnnnnnnnnn - What does it say ?
If You use MPEG Streamclip (free on internet) - and this opens Your movie it might be able to make the H.264 coding. Try.
Yours Bengt W
EXTERNAL Hard disks - Well this can also create problems.
It / they - HAS TO BE - Mac OS Extended (hfs) formatted - NOTHING ELSE WILL DO ! ! (for Video - no matter if iMovie or FinalCut - it is a must)
Select one at a time on DeskTop then press (cmd+I) or go to File and down to Show Info. and read formatted as:
What's it say ?
UNIX/DOS/FAT32/Mac OS Exchange - will not do ! !
Just a thought.
Yours Bengt W
First off, here is a FAQ for the program I use to capture/convert.
I can not open the MTS in Quicktime of Streamline unless it is converted to mp4. Very frustrating. It does open with VLC tho.
Here is the info on inspector from the mp4, let me know if this helps and if you need anything else.
Format: H.264, 720 x 480, Millions AAC, Stereo, 48.000 kHz
FPS: 59.94
Data Size: 1.57 GB
Data Rate: 3.44 Mbit/s
I also have this that I converted from the mp4 using Streamline.
Format:
Apple Intermediate Codec, 720 x 480
Linear PCM, 16 bit big-endian signed integer, 2 channels, 48000 Hz
Now we reach my limits - and I fall back on mere speculating.
• Can it be so that Your material is in progressiv mode p60
• No DVD is in progressiv mode - they are interlaced as standard.
I would get JES_Deinterlacer (also free on internet) and here try to find if it can convert the material to
interlaced SD-Video 29.97fps (NTSC) as I belive You use this - I'm in EU and use 25fps (PAL)
JES_Deinterlacer does fps conversions very well and for free - alt in pro sector has an astronomical cost and the quality is not so that I note any.
Yours Bengt W
Just DL'd this program.
I don't see options on how to set framerate???
I'm so sorry
BTW, The external drive is MAC OS Extended...
I'm so frustrated I can't make a good looking DVD and that other program does not have an option to change the FPS
Yes, that's expected. It's with iMovie 6 HD that you can avoid one additional level of encoding by dragging the iMovie project file into the iDVD menu window.
It's with iMovie 6 HD that you can avoid one additional level of encoding by dragging the iMovie project file into the iDVD menu window.
OK, I'm very nervous to disagree with a level X.
I use iMovie 06 and iDVD 11.
I don't understand how iDVD can NOT do all the encoding.
After I share my movie with iDVD, I quit iMovie 06. iDVD is the ONLY application running.
Also, I tried making the DVD both ways and I cannot tell any quality difference (and I'm very picky).
No, you're right. Maybe I wasn't clear. What I'm saying if you drag the iMovie project file into the iDVD menu you avoid having iMovie go thru the encoding process while exporting the movie out of iMovie and then adding the movie to iDVD. (Dang, another long convoluted sentenance) Therefore the iDVD encoding is the only encoding the iMovie goes thru.
I don't know how much difference it would be as it may be up to the discerning eye of the user. It's just one less process to put the movie thru.
Why do my DVD's look like crap?
