What formats will iDVD accept?

what formats I can import into iDVD 6 to create a DVD

The iDVD6 Help menu is your friend:

(the latter part of your question regarding mpeg 2 is highlighted / answered below also).

Video and image formats that work with iDVD
You can use these movie and graphic formats in iDVD:

Most video or image files supported by QuickTime (see the list of unsupported QuickTime formats below).
High definition video (HDV).
16:9 widescreen formats.
AAC, MP3, and AIFF audio files.
MPEG-4 and iSight video imported as an iMovie HD movie.
High definition video that you add to your project is converted to work with the format of your project. iDVD supports using 16:9 widescreen video, so that when your DVD plays on a DVD player that supports widescreen format, the footage appears in its original aspect ratio.

The following video and image formats are not supported in iDVD:

Copyrighted or protected videos.
Movies saved in thousands of colors using the "none" compression setting in iMovie.
48-bit color images (16 bits per color). To use source files in one of these formats in iDVD, save them in a supported format.
Aurora uncompressed files. For best results, export Aurora clips as DV-format video before importing them into iDVD.
QuickTime VR, MPEG-1 or MPEG-2, Flash, streaming or encrypted movies, or QuickTime spanned movies. You can't add MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 files to an iDVD project because they don't contain standard video tracks.
QuickTime Fast Start movies. (Fast Start movies are intended for Internet playback.) When saving a QuickTime movie for use with iDVD, click the Options button in the QuickTime Export dialog and make sure that the "Prepare for Internet Streaming" checkbox is not selected.
Note: You can add any file to the DVD-ROM portion of your DVD so viewers can copy the file onto another computer.

Hope this info is helpful.

SDMacuser

I tried to play mpeg2 and it will not play.

That's correct. You can use something like mpeg streamclip or Visual Hub ( http://www.techspansion.com/visualhub/ ) to convert mpg2 into something the iApps can use. Note that mpeg streamclip requires you purchase the QT mpg2 plugin to transcode mpg2 content.

rider...

There really aren't any great choice there. You might be able to use the H.264 Generic (MP4) or mpeg-4 Generic (mp4)

With your new iMac you might want to consider getting the elgato eyeTV hybrid - not only will you be able to capture TV shows (analog and HD digital) from cable or off the air - the device will also let you input S-video (or composite video) from a VCR. This would get your content into the Mac easily. http://www.elgato.com/index.php?file=products_eyetvhybrid

I got one for my iMac Intel dual-core and it's GREAT! Just like a TiVo

And even if you do get one of the MPEG4 variants to work, iDVD will re-compress it to MPEG2, so compression losses will be enhanced.

But I agree with F Shippey, I'd start with the MPEG4 and H264 variants. Avoid muxed files.


John B.

ATI TV Wonder 650 .... I want to capture in windows then transfer the stuff into my Mac to use iDVD to author.

I guess I'm the only one who would advise against this approach. Reason- You'd be far better off with any of the following:

1. Elgato/EyeTV already mentioned above. Very good product.

2. Use the analog to Digital Pass thru feature available on many minidv camcorders and then import via firewire into your mac for editing within iMovie>iDVD

3. Use a Media Converter Box like the Sony DA1 or DA2 (which Sony no longer manufactures). However, I believe Canopus also makes a great one/s specifically for this analog to Digital conversion process. (i personally like Canopus products because they do a great job at keeping the audio and video in perfect sync even on longer video imports/playbacks. Other converters may not work quite as well .... ie, MovieBox (where the audio has been known /reported to drift on longer playbacks).

4. I also use a Canopus ADVC-50 pci card (with fw) that allows direct import into FCP and iMovie ...works great! (picked it up on ebay for under $50).

Hope the above suggestions are helpful.

SDMacuser

ATI TV Wonder 650 .... I want to capture in windows then transfer the stuff into my Mac to use iDVD to author.

I guess I'm the only one who would advise against this approach

I asume what you MEANT to say was:" I guess I'm NOT the only one who would advise against this approach", since none of the rest of us said anything about using a PC.

yes, you are correct.