Hello,
I have several longer movies that I have made adding up to around 24 gb ( exported in quicktime using .264h). I plan on using DVD-9 dual layer discs so 8.5 gb. I have downloaded handbrake compressor and was wondering if the software is a waste of my time and I should get a different one? I also want to know the best settings I can have so that I dont run out of room on the DVD. Thank You!
Final Cut Pro X, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)
sorry for sounding rude, but:
• file size doesn't matter
• export to h.264 is of no use, harms quality only
• Handbrake is of no use for creating disks (it's a ripper/converter, no creator)
…
export a 'master file' of your Project from FCPX, to avoid lossy&useless 'intermediates'; file-size is probably around 40GB/h - don't worry 😉
what you need is an authoring tool - which converts (final codec is mp2), resizes (final res is 720x480) and 'muxx' your video, finally creates the standard-compliant file structure ( _ts/vob etc), and disk-format (udf) for videoDVD.
Use Toast or iDVD. Very convenient tools. Stay under 1h content for max. quality on SL-DVDr; using DL-DVDr for projects <2h is of no use.-
In case, you own legacy FC/pro, use DVDSP (very little convenient, esp. compared to Toast/iDVD, but tons of additinal options, e.g. menu desing/features).
If you don't have iDVD or another authoring program, you can use FCP or Compressor to make a basic DVD. Basic means a simple menu, with no sub menus; and a single track. You can, however, add chapter markers. Create a disk image by choosing Hard Drive for Output Device if you think you might burn multiple copies in the future. The quality is quite good.
And if you do have an authoring program: Karsten is completely correct about not using h.264 (or x.264) as source files. Instead use Pro Res 422. And don't be concerned about the huge sizes. They can always be trashed and the original media retained for archives.
Final comment: if your projects are more than two hours, consider splitting the project and making two single layer disks for better quality (and better reliability).
Good luck.
Russ
I have iDVD. So the best way to do it is export to a master file? The best settings for that ?export is pro res 422? Then bring them into iDVD and that compresses it? Just want to make sure I have everything so it turns out the best quality on a dl disc. I have to use a dl DVD9 otherwise the replication place has to make the menu for 400$ which is outgrageous.
MidwestMass wrote:
I have iDVD. So the best way to do it is export to a master file? The best settings for that ?export is pro res 422? Then bring them into iDVD and that compresses it?
Yes, yes, and yes.
I have to use a dl DVD9 otherwise the replication place has to make the menu for 400$ which is outgrageous.
You didn't say how long your movie is, but I'm assuming it's longer than 2 hours.
Russ
MidwestMass wrote:
… Just want to make sure I have everything so it turns out the best quality on a dl disc.…
'quality' is limited - aside by input - by standards, which allow a max bit-rate of 9.x mbps.
as mentioned above:
in 'best' quality a sl-dvd fits ~1h content (incl. menus!)
a dl disk fits twice.
but, limited to standards, 1h content doesn't get 'better' on a dl disk - the 9mbps limit is for any dvd.
what is the length min:sec of your project?
It is about 3.5 hrs in length.
iDVD should encode that at around 4 Mbps.
Just a heads-up that you can't test the breal point (where it switches from one layer to the next layer).
Also, with a dual layer DVD, forget what I mentioned about making a disk image.
Give it a try. If you're not happy with the quality, break your proeject up into 2 or 3 sections and burn sets of multiple disks.
Russ
MidwestMass wrote:
It is about 3.5 hrs in length.
that is an … epic length. 😉
even on a DLdisk, the quality will be on the lowest end of optional.
consider to split your project into parts, add a nice title "Insert Disk#2 for part II" sort-of, and you're done.
Best DVD compression settings?
