What is the best quality encoder settings for best resolution through iDVD?
My movie file source is 30p 1080X1920 using pro res 422
I heard using a double layer disc is best. So I have a double layer disc for the 2.2 hour movie.
Thanks, Gary
Final Cut Pro X, Mac OS X (10.6.8)
I generally recommend a Master File with either Pro Res 422 or Pro Res LT codec – because of the intra-frame compression.
Russ
edit: Or are you referring to the iDVD project settings?
Yes, iDVD project settings. It says best quality and professional quality
The Professional setting should give you the highest quality dual layer disk. Please see this support doc.
Good luck.
Russ
OK, so the option said I could do the project on a single layer. I did double layer and pro quality. When comparing with single layer Best quality the double layer pro quality looked actually worse, with some tearing. So, I tried, but I guess I will just have to settle for the fact that 720 looks hideous
the namimg scheme in iDVD was a bit .... misleading.
best performance - CBR-encoding, gives best (!!) overall results in terms of quality
high quality - VBR-encoding, meant for longer projects
pro quality - two-pass VBR-encoding, meant to squeeze even more on a disk...
'quality' itself is defined by bit-rate - no manual setting optional in iDVD, simply determined by length:
≤60min = ~9 mbps = maximum bitrate allowed by standard
60-90min = ~6 mbps = acceptable quality
90-120min = ~4 mbps = who wants to watch two hours of shaky homevideo anyhow? 😉
so, for 'best' in iDVD, stay under 60min, set 'best performance'
for worse, squeeze as much as possible onto a single disk.....
I fully agree with Karsten, Best Performance gives the highest quality (aka "Bit Rate) as long as you keep the running length to about 70 minutes.
It's usually quoted as 60 minutes max but that again is incorrect/misleading. I suppose it's given because some people might want to make the most incredibly complex menus taking up loads of space on the disc.
Provided you keep the menus down to a sensible degree of complexity there is no problem getting up to and even over 70 minutes.
Regarding 2 hour videos, the thought of watching one fills me with excruciating dread . . . even Hollywood has problems maintaining that length!
The whole point of using FCP X etc. is to edit films which usually entails reducing what was shot to tell a coherent and interesting story that doesn't have the audience wishing they were somewhere else after the first minute.
Ian R. Brown wrote:
Regarding 2 hour videos, the thought of watching one fills me with excruciating dread . . . even Hollywood has problems maintaining that length!
Joke:
In Oz, Home video is running in direct competition with sleeping pills. 😁
What's it like in your part of the world? 😮
Al
Ian and Carson, thanks for your technical info but you lack understanding of Performance videos. The clients do not want three quarters of a dance recital.
As you have to show the full 2+ hours there are several possibilities but remember that even the best DVD video will not be up to the quality of the original 1080 footage as it will be reduced to standard definition.
You can use a DL disc and the "Better Performance" setting (which gives the highest possible quality) should be able to cope with the 2.2 hours.
However, DL discs can be notoriously unreliable . . . most of the ones I have used or had sent to me have been very dodgy, varying from not being able to play certain parts to not being able to play at all. This has occurred with both video and data discs to the point where I never wish to see another one!
You would probably be much safer with a single layer disc and using the "Professional" setting. It won't be as good as "Better Performance" but it should still be quite watchable.
In my experience, dancers, actors and musicians are less critical of the technical quality of the video as they are concentrating on watching the quality of the performance.
Be aware that "Pro" quality will take a long time to render.
As a rough rule of thumb, "High" quality will take about 2x longer than "Better Performance" and "Pro" quality will take 4x longer.
Probably the same, Al.
Tomorrow, I am going to watch a film competition and though they have all been produced by experienced amateurs, anything over ten minutes is likely to be quite trying . . . in the past we have even had entries as long as 30 minutes!
Thanks Ian. The time it takes to encode is not an issue. I was once a film cameraman. I remember places called film labs and two day waits.
My first attempt at a DL disc was a failure, although I used Pro quality and not Better Quality. It was, as you say, DODGY
I am going Pro quality while wishing the public had embraced blu-ray
garyfromladysmith wrote:
Ian and Carson, thanks for your technical info but you lack understanding of Performance videos. The clients do not want three quarters of a dance recital.
thank you, Jerry, for telling me what I'm lacking....
Have fun with you client!
-bye-
The other possibility I forgot to mention is to forget (obsolete?) discs and export your video in all its full hi-def glory to an .mp4 file which could be put on an SD card, a thumb drive or a hard drive which the client could play through most modern TVs or BD players or Media players.
Alternatively it could be uploaded to the internet for viewing on any computer. The downside is that it would be a long 10GB upload though you could reduce your video to 720p and still get quality much better than any DVD.
Agree, but people cling on to old traditions: a keepsake package they can put on their book shelf. I tell clients that if they want to view their performance, especially in an premier showing for the group, do it as you mention above.
Good point re MP4 Does FC pro have an mp4 setting? or, I guess I could convert .mov file to mp4 in Wondershare converter.
What is the best quality encoder settings for iDVD
