From SOURCE to FINAL DVD... how to do it the LORDSMURF way

[lordsmurf]

I've gotten a lot of e-mails and PMs recently asking me exactly what I do most of the time. Since most of these came from users at this forum, I thought I'd share it here. These are all rather quick methods too. I can make a DVD in a minimal amount of time, as this method uses fast software on good hardware.

MPEG METHOD:
1. Capture MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 in ATI MMC
2. Edit in Womble MPEG-VCR (MPEG-2 Edition)
3. Demux in TMPGEnc
4. Convert MP2 audio to WAV in Besweet
5. Open WAV in SoundForge 6 or DartPro98 and restore as needed
6. Open WAV in Besweet and convert to AC3 if needed (can skip this step if AC3 not needed)
7. Open Photoshop and make menu images
8. Open TMPGEnc DVD Author or DVDit! PE, import assets, and author disc
9. Burn folders in either TMPGEnc DVD Author Burning Tool or Nero 5.5.10.20 DVD-Video template

AVI METHOD:
1. Capture HuffYUV or MJPEG in ATI MMC
2. Import into Adobe Premiere and edit
3. Export to MainConcept's Adobe MPEG Encoder 1.3
4. If audio needs work, refer to step #3-6 of the MPEG METHOD
5. Same as Step #7-9 of the MPEG METHOD

HEAVILY RESTORE VIDEO:
1. Capture either MPEG or AVI in ATI MMC, maybe use ATI MMC 8.x VideoSoap filters
2. Open in TMPGEnc if ATI MMC VideoSoap was not enough
3. Apply filters as needed and then encode to MPEG as per guides at lordsmurf.com
4. If audio needs work, refer to step #3-6 of the MPEG METHOD
5. Same as Step #7-9 of the MPEG METHOD

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AUDIO NOTES: I had been opening the MP2 audio directly in SoundForge 6 then saving to WAV, letting DVDit! PE convert to AC3. Sometimes this method is still required, depending on how Besweet cooperates with the audio source. Besweet's AC3ENC.DLL is not perfect.

RESTORE NOTES: Software is only half the battle. You must have professional or pro-sumer playback equipment (good VCR with filters like JVC 9800 and good TBC like DataVideo TBC-1000) and be able to master the filters in both the hardware and the software. Most of my work is MPEG METHOD, as I always use the JVC 9800 and TBC, which typically does enough light-to-medium RESTORING of the video before capture, thus eliminating the need to HEAVILY RESTORE VIDEO.

AUTHORING SCREW-UP NOTES: If I make a mistake, and the disc will be too large, I typically author to the hard drive anyway and allow DVD2ONE or DVDSHRINK to correct my error. I've only done this once or twice. On occasion I also do it on purpose (typically because I'm taking two discs and compressing them onto one with a new menu).

DVD BACKUPS: I use DVD2ONE for most discs. I use DVD SHRINK 3 Beta 5 if the source DVD is full with already-medium bitrates (normally episode discs). Rarely use other methods now. This is fast and works great. I really don't back up as much as I capture and create all-new content.

VCD TO DVD: I do exactly like the guide on my site. Quick and easy. Works quite well. ISO Buster and TMPGEnc DVD Author is all that is needed.

PAL TO NTSC: I don't do it. I have an APEX 1100W that plays any region in any format. No need to convert. I buy discs worldwide.

NON-CAPTURED SOURCE: I don't really download movies or anything else for that matter. On the rare occasion that I get digital source, I skip the capture step (obviously), and merely encode to final VCD or DVD. Restoration done as needed. Also I pay close attention to every aspect of the source (resolution, framerate, etc), so that conversion goes smoothly.

LORDSMURF.COM UPDATES: More guides at my site are forthcoming, and while I was able to make a decent number of updates this past week, I couldn't finish. Blame new-low-quality Princo White 4x, a defective batch of Optodisc Gold 4x, and a dying Pioneer 103 that suddenly refuses DVD-RW and CD-R. In the next 96 hours, I hope to have everything else up (though some may be beta version for a while, and clearly marked as such).

I've done many other things in the past, and probably will in the future. This is what I'm doing right this moment, OCTOBER 2003.

Thanks Lord Smurf for other useful guide !

I "invite" you to write a quick tutorial about very basic editing with Adobe Preiere 6 (basically cutting out comercials, joining separate files into one and fade-in-out) 8)

[lordsmurf]

Thanks Lord Smurf for other useful guide !

I "invite" you to write a quick tutorial about very basic editing with Adobe Preiere 6 (basically cutting out comercials, joining separate files into one and fade-in-out) 8)

Easy one.

#1 - Open Premiere, right click on red X, import your sources. I did two small MPEGs here, just to be quick. Drag them to VIDEO 1 area of the timeline.



#2 - Video cut tool is the razor blade on the timeline bar tools (forgot to screen capture that one).

#3 - Goto to TRANSITIONS tab in one of the control windows. Drag the ADDITIVE DISSOLVE to the TRANSITIONS area of the timeline. Use your mouse to make it longer or shorter. This is a fade-to-black transition. Others are available too.



#4 - Double click the transition on the toolbar to edit it. A/B reverses the effect.



Premiere is like Photoshop, gotta play with it for a while to get the hang of it.

[sitlet]

hey, how do you like dvdit PE? i have premiere 6.5 and im looking at either getting dvdit or tmpgenc dvd author

[lordsmurf]

hey, how do you like dvdit PE? i have premiere 6.5 and im looking at either getting dvdit or tmpgenc dvd author

DVDit! does everything but multiple VTS and motion menu. It gives great control over everything else. It's only fast if you have DVD-ready files (no audio re-encoding, and NEVER let it encode video). I mainly use this for special discs and my cartoon collections (episode discs). Looks professional (almost).

TMPGEnc is limited (getting better to customize recently) and is very fast. Great for quick movies and things where menus are not important. Also does multiple VTS, limited motion menus. I mainly use it for single- or double-movie discs. Looks homemade.