What is the best quality encoder settings for iDVD

SShare to Master File. In the first popup select Computer.

DInt ont think much of Windershare or its brethren as an encoding tool.

Just coming back to this thread.

It took me a while to set up iDVD on a current OS.

FWIW, in tests I am unable to confirm that Best Performance encoding is CBR.

If unconstrained by disk size, I found Best Performance and Professional Setting to encode at virtually the same bit rate – just under 8 Mbps. (As you all have noted, the Pro setting takes much longer than the others.)

In my experience (and admittedly I've been away from DVD's for some time) lower bit rates – down to about 6 Mbps were seldom detectable in the image quality, assuming the scenes were shot well. Since I assume the concert was shot well, I'm at a loss to explain why the Pro setting would produce such dodgy results

I just re-read the support doc I linked the OP to and it is pretty explicit in stating: "encode your video, resulting in the best quality of video possible on your burned DVD. You can select this option regardless of your project’s duration (up to 2 hours of video for a single-layer disc and 4 hours for a double-layer disc").

Russ

As you seem to be keen to get the best quality from your DVD I would suggest that you use FCPX and Share >DVD.

Although iDVD has better menus than FCPX, I believe you will get better quality from FCPX than iDVD.

iDVD is/was great for DVD quality in the days of DV tape,i.e. .dv

However iDVD seems to struggle with High Def material, going from 1920/1080 to 720/576 in UK (480 in US)

I experimented some months ago with FCPX Trial and found that FCPX>Share >DVD produced better quality than iDVD for HD material.

FCPX>Share>DVD automatically chooses the maximum quality bit rate up to about 2.5 hours per layer.

I would suggest you use 2 discs for your 2.2 hour video ( a good excuse for a break after first hour, they may need it?)

An hour on each disc will give better quality than 2 hours on one.

A DVD case can hold 2 discs." A keepsake package they can put on their book shelf."

You still could try dual layer if you wanted just the one disc.

If you do do 2 discs, then each half can be selected in the timeline for Share> DVD with In,Out points.

It's a good idea to check iDVD Project Info to make sure things are setup correctly:

Professional Quality should produce the best results for the length of theTimeline involved.

Video Mode should match the Video Standard you shot the footage. (NTSC or PAL). I'm in PAL land so mine needs to be altered to PAL.

Most apps default to NTSC so check this out if your footage is not so good.

Al