File conversion - HD mp4 to Widescreen SD 16:9 MPEG-2 DVD

[Canon GL-2 Guy]

Is the following workflow the best I can do?

I did not opt to join the ADOBE cloud and pay the piper for a subscription.

So my edition of Premiere Pro is 6.02.

1) I take a high quality HD .mp4 file, import onto PP timeline and export as Lagarith RGB.

2) I then run a simple but effective script in Virtualdub in the YV12 colorspace in fast compression mode which yields a SD Lagarith file.

3) That in turn is converted to widescreen 16:9 SD MPEG-2 DVD file when processed back in Premiere Pro.

The result is ok provided I'm not looking at it on my 23" HD IPS monitor blown up.

a) Would it do anything worthwhile visually to process the MPEG-2 file at a higher bitrate than 9 which is the highest speed PP offers?

b) if so how would that be accomplished? The finished program is only about 27-28 minutes and comes out around 2 gigs so I have space to work with.

Any comments, suggestions or advice wanted. I've been using the above steps for years and just maybe there is a better way.

Thanks in advance.

Bruce

[newpball]

Not sure why you want to go through hoops.

Create a standard SD sequence in PP and drop your HD sequence into it. Use 'keep settings' and 'set to size' (or 'scale to size' if it is CS6).

Export with hq scaling to DVD with the 16:9 option at a high bitrate.

PP will do the rest, it will convert the color and do a great scaling.


The DVD spec has a maximum bitrate you cannot go beyond that.

[jagabo]

DVD video is limited to 9800 kbps (or less depending on the audio bitrate). You probably won't notice much of a difference between a 9000 kbps encoding and a 9800 kbps encoding. But, as I understand it, the MPEG2 encoder in PP isn't very good. You may notice a difference using a better MPEG2 encoder -- like HcEnc.

[Cornucopia]

Processing and encoding in PPro is good-to-very good, but not GREAT. Creating a workflow with lossless intermediates when you send your material to GREAT processors and GREAT encoders can optimize your look.

But, AVISynth can often be a better processor than can Vdub. And you may be able to avoid or limit quality-reducing colorspace conversions.
Also, HCEnc probably does look better as an MPEG2 VBR encoder than PPro/AME/MainconceptLite.

That, and I agree with jagabo, you should maximize your bitrate to DVD specs whenever possible.

Next, There should be no reason for you to be re-importing your processed stuff BACK into PPro. It should be something like MP4 HD/LL HD->edit->LL HD->process->LL SD->encode->MPEG2 SD.

Scott

[Cornucopia]

stupid duplicating tablet...