jhind1972
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: can I compress 2hrs of HD footage using compressor so it fits onto a standard DVD

I am filming a production that lasts 2hr-2hrs 30mins. I need to put onto standard DVD to distribute to the cast afterwards as a gift. Will compressor compress the footage to about an hour so it will fit onto 1 DVD and how would I do this?

I haven't downloaded Compressor as yet and have never used it, if it can't be done I don't want to waste my money.

Thanks in advance

Posted on Jun 23, 2015 2:35 AM

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jhind1972

Q: can I compress 2hrs of HD footage using compressor so it fits onto a standard DVD

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  • Helpful answers

  • by BenB,Helpful

    BenB BenB Jun 28, 2015 9:42 AM in response to jhind1972
    Level 6 (10,036 points)
    Audio
    Jun 28, 2015 9:42 AM in response to jhind1972

    It will do it, but normally 2 hours is the limit for SD DVD.  You can get more on one, but you're using higher compression that may show image quality degradation.  Compressor can do it.  Also, Toast will do it, also.  If you have no use for Compressor but to make DVDs like this, go with Toast.  If you regularly have other compression needs, get Compressor.

  • by Edward A. Oates,Helpful

    Edward A. Oates Edward A. Oates Jul 6, 2015 9:42 AM in response to jhind1972
    Level 5 (4,880 points)
    Jul 6, 2015 9:42 AM in response to jhind1972

    In compressor, use the "automatic" bit rate options. I just compressed a two hour HD (1080P60 to start!) after editing, and it fit fine.

     

    If it won't fit, compressor should tell you with the yellow triangle warning.

  • by jhind1972,

    jhind1972 jhind1972 Jul 12, 2015 4:08 AM in response to Edward A. Oates
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 12, 2015 4:08 AM in response to Edward A. Oates

    Thank you for your response, would I have to input any information i.e source video and destination (standard DVD)?

  • by jhind1972,

    jhind1972 jhind1972 Jul 12, 2015 4:14 AM in response to BenB
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 12, 2015 4:14 AM in response to BenB

    Thanks Ben I'll have a look at Toast, does Compressor burn direct to DVD with DVD menu's etc?

    I'm using iDVD to burn DVD's but the newer iMac's won't recognise the program and i can't find one that is as good i.e the Motion Menu's. Looks like Apple have stopped updating iDVD and the old DVD Pro that came with the old Final Cut is no longer available. Any help would be appreciated

  • by Russ H,

    Russ H Russ H Jul 12, 2015 6:41 AM in response to jhind1972
    Level 7 (21,905 points)
    Quicktime
    Jul 12, 2015 6:41 AM in response to jhind1972

    Compressor will burn directly but with very basic menus. Its DVD capabilities are essentially the same as FCP X, except that there are some additional encoding controls – none of which involve authoring.

     

    jhind1972 wrote:

     

    I'm using iDVD to burn DVD's but the newer iMac's won't recognise the program

    Have you not been able to install iDVD? AFAIK, it should install. So should DVD Pro.

     

    Russ

  • by jhind1972,

    jhind1972 jhind1972 Jul 12, 2015 9:34 AM in response to Edward A. Oates
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 12, 2015 9:34 AM in response to Edward A. Oates

    Hi Edward,

    Ive downloaded Compressor but not sure which setting to use, there is a large list on the left of screen. There is Create DVD which wants to convert to Dolby Digital and MPEG-2, is this the correct setting? I can't see anything to do with BIT rate changing?

    Am I missing something?

  • by Russ H,

    Russ H Russ H Jul 12, 2015 11:20 AM in response to jhind1972
    Level 7 (21,905 points)
    Quicktime
    Jul 12, 2015 11:20 AM in response to jhind1972

    Compressor 4.2 is much more user-friendly than previous versions, but it is still not the most accessible application and tough to learn by trial and error.

     

    Tom Wolsky has a concise description of Compressor  here and it's a useful guide to both new and old users.

     

    You need to make a custom preset – building it from a duplicate of the built-in Create DVD. Then make you adjustments to your MPEG-2 bit rate

     

    Russ

  • by jhind1972,

    jhind1972 jhind1972 Jul 14, 2015 9:39 AM in response to Russ H
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 14, 2015 9:39 AM in response to Russ H

    Thanks Russ I'll try that, used the Create DVD preset and it worked, only problem is iDVD won't recognise the MPEG 2 so can't use that to burn and add good menu theme. compressor burned to a standard DVD with a basic menu so guess that will have to do for now.

    Thanks again

  • by jhind1972,

    jhind1972 jhind1972 Jul 25, 2015 10:58 PM in response to Russ H
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 25, 2015 10:58 PM in response to Russ H

    Thanks Russ,

    I'm in the middle of sussing the program out, I've compressed a 1hr 30min Quicktime FCP video using the Create DVD option, which has worked fine. It's been converted to MP2 though which my iDVD program doesn't recognise so I need to revert it back to Quicktime :/

    I've dowloaded a conversion program and hope it will convert the MP2 back to Quicktime without uncompressing the video, which I'm then hoping will work with iDVD and fit onto a standard DVD, bit of a faff.....otherwise I'll have to bypass the compression faze and just use Dual Layer DVD's instead.

    Thanks Jason

  • by Russ H,

    Russ H Russ H Jul 26, 2015 5:29 AM in response to jhind1972
    Level 7 (21,905 points)
    Quicktime
    Jul 26, 2015 5:29 AM in response to jhind1972

    Afraid it's not going to work in iDVD…unless you use a dual layer disk format. Pretty sure that 2 hours is the limit for iDVD. The only other alternatives would be  to split the movie into two disks or to use another authoring application.

     

    If you can use the dual layer format, then bypass Compressor altogether and give iDVD your originally exported movie; it will not accept MPEG2, as you've already noted. Don't convert the MPEG2 back to QuickTime; you will need to mux the separate audio and video streams and you will also lose quality.

     

    Russ

  • by jhind1972,

    jhind1972 jhind1972 Jul 26, 2015 5:40 AM in response to Russ H
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 26, 2015 5:40 AM in response to Russ H

    Thanks Russ,

     

    Appreciate your help on this one, all noted think I'll stick with my original plan of the Dual Layer DVD's

     

    Thanks again!!