Best Export Format for iDVD to cut down on multiplexing and processing

KidVid wrote:

My processor is what it is and my Ram has been optimized. Is there some video/audio format/ bit rate that will require less time to convert and process?

All depends on what format you need for what purpose. If you need a DVD it'll have to be MPEG-2 or for web use it'll have to be h.264. Other than that there are tons of codecs and containers available. All conversion takes time and to cut down on that time you will need a faster machine.

KidVid wrote:

Also whenever I have a random burning error its almost always a “multiplexing error” so maybe if I make the “multiplexing” a little easier maybe I can prevent that headache.

To avoid burn errors in iDVD create a disk image of your project, test that image file with DVD Player, and, if satisfied, burn with any dedicated disc burning app at no more than 4x to avoid errors.

KidVid wrote:

Any thoughts about inve$ting in the fastest burners available? Isn’t the actual “burn” process the very last step that usually only takes about 2 minutes anyway?

See the speed limit above.

See Bengt Wärleby's post on encoding errors in this topic: Multiplexing Error: Apple Support Communities.

Follow this workflow to help ensure the best quality video DVD:

Once you have the project as you want it save it as a disk image via the File ➙ Save as Disk Image menu option. This will separate the encoding process from the burn process.

To check the encoding mount the disk image and launch DVD Player and play it. If it plays OK with DVD Player the encoding was good.

Then burn to disk with Disk Utility or Toast at the slowest speed available (2x-4x) to assure the best burn quality. Always use top quality media: Verbatim, Maxell or Taiyo Yuden DVD-R are the most recommended in these forums.

OT

Multiplexing errors is not my area of expertise. That would be Bengt or Klaus1's.

Would adjusting the burn speed down to 2x offer any help in any phase beside the actual physical burn phase?

No. It will just assure a better burn allowing more time over each area by the laser to do it's thing.

Good afternoon,

KidVid wrote:

So theoretically…exporting out as MPEG-2 will help cut down on multiplexing and processing in iDVD?

JK - don't want to do this because iDVD cannot handle MPEG-2 files as input. There are a couple recommendations if you search in this forum about how to export from FCP to best use iDVD. For example: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2025676?start=0&tstart=0

Could this also help if one decides to make a disk image of a completed iDVD project that has MPEG-2 files in it?

JK - no, two of the big advantages of disk images are that the disk image option breaks down the burning process (thus reducing the workload on iDVD and the consequent errors) and the disk image is created without physically burning a DVD (this also reduces errors on the first and subsequent generations of DVDs).

John