My very 1st HDV burn to dvd/need advice please

[Canon GL-2 Guy]

Need advice with my very 1st HDV MPEG-2 file to dvd burn.

The tools here I imagine should be able to do the job nicely,I'm just uncertain as to which ones.

Even though encoded at top quality as the video only contained about 6.5 minutes of footage, the size of the MPEG-2 file is only about 2.6 gigs so there’s plenty of room for it to fit on a standard dvd.

The format is HD widescreen 16:9 since the footage originated from a Canon XH-A1.

Normally if this file were just a straight 480p SD NTSC project, I would use Qu Enc 0.72 or DVD Flick in combination with Image Burn.

Qu Enc failed after a time when trying to create the VOBS. Maybe the settings were wrong.

DVD Flick yielded an .ISO image that was only 450 megs or so (only about 17% of the original file size) which was way too small, so that didn’t work.

Here’s what G-Spot has to say:

1440 x 1080
29.97
Sar/Par 1.333 (4:3)
Dar/ 1.778 (16:9)
Fields 59.940
N =15 M=3 (99%)
12,093 frames
Kbps 54,551
MPEG-2 Stream
Sys Bitrate 73826/kb/s VBR

MPEG-1 layer 2
48000 HZ
128 kb/s Stereo

How can I preserve quality & get a successful burn considering the above?

Thanks Guys!

[aedipuss]

depends on what you want to play it on. as SD DVD or as HD with a blu-ray player.

[Canon GL-2 Guy]

Well actually it goes both ways:

1) I want to give it out to other people (who may or may not have a blu-ray player) preferably in 16:9 HD.

So, to be safe in this case SD with the 16:9 aspect preserved on a dvd

and:

2) Make a master/archival copy for myself who does have a blu ray player.

I was wondering how to best make a HD version too.

Is it not possible to have a HD version as originally shot on a std dvd?

The file is an MPEG-2.

[aedipuss]

HD is high def loosely defined as anything over 480p. SD would be a normal DVD. HD on a DVDr is different than a normal DVD. so no you can't have it both ways.

first for HD on DVD try importing the edited HDV file into multiAVCHD. it should be able to put your video onto DVD as HD. there will be a few changes as things like mpeg-2 audio aren't permitted.

for SD normal DVD edit, render out to dvd spec mpeg-2 and ac-3 audio, then author a DVD. if you need the tools to do so maybe try avstodvd as a decent all-in-one package.

my normal method is HDV onto comp with HDVsplit, import into vegas pro9 - render to dvd spec vid and aud, import them into dvdlab pro and author.

[edDV]

If this is going to others you can encode and author a normal 720x480i/29.97 (top field first) DVD, then in the spare root space include an HD MPeg2 or h.264 file (depending on space on disk) in an MKV container. Handbreak will accept your HD MPeg2 (m2t) file and export to constant quality h.264 in an MKV wrapper. These will play on computers and most media players. If you know they have a Blu-Ray player or PS3, make a separate DVDR disc using MultiAVCHD.

[johns0]

Multiavchd can also output the hdv as sd-dvd.

[Canon GL-2 Guy]

Update:

I’ve been very deeply involved in trying to solve another problem for the past couple of days which failed so now it’s back to this mission. Sorry for the delay in response & thanks for all input to date.

To recap & to try to be a bit clearer!

Right now I have my very 1st (1440 by 1080i) HDV fully edited project (comprised of a series of .m2t clips along with a few slides) on my Premiere Pro CS3 master timeline waiting to be processed further.

My problem is I don't know the difference in quality, appropriateness of the choices & what will result from each after using Adobe Media Encoder when encoding between the MPEG-2, MPEG-2 Blu Ray options and (what I've always used until now) MPEG-2 DVD. Obviously, the last will not be all that great.

I do not know choice which to use.

I guess there are really no "dumb" questions so here goes:

1) Given my goal to put HDV video on a standard size dvd that will play on most computers & dvd players (any Blu ray players would be a bonus). Which option from the above should be exercised which would maximize quality?

2) Is MPEG-2 better for my situation or MPEG-2 Blu ray? What's the pros and cons of each? MPEG-2 DVD will effectively kill the HD widescreen quality aspect.

3) I'm not a big fan of Encore necessarily. What way/program or programs should I author the dvd so that when it plays it retains the full size (widescreen), aspect ratio and quality? Low cost or freeware solution preferable.

What I really want to do is come up with an encoded MPEG-2 file with Adobe Media Encoder which retains the above specs and author it on something else.

Thanks so much for your continued help & interest.

[Canon GL-2 Guy]

Yes EdDV et. al.

In a nutshell the objectives are as follows initially from the CS3 timeline & thereafter with other apps. To create:

1) An HD MPEG-2 file on a standard dvd:

a) To be used at home on a blu ray player & for archival/back-up purposes
b) To submitted to my local access cable tv station so they can put it on their server for broadcast.

2) The very same file authored on a dvd to give to others as the need arises.

Thanks all.

[aedipuss]

the only thing that will play on most dvd players is a dvd. make it using the same settings you would use for SD material, but make sure widescreen is selected and it will be 16x9. use a bitrate calculator to fill a dvdr. use 2 pass vbr if it's under 5k. there is nothing wrong with the pp mainconcept encoder, it can create nice mpeg-2.

try the muliAVCHD program for yourself if it's under about 20 minutes, as that's all that will fit on a HD vid on DVDr.

[Canon GL-2 Guy]

How do I best get the material in order from the CS3 timeline to Mullti-AVCHD without having to reconstruct the whole sequence/timeline over again?

[aedipuss]

cs3, ..... just guessing but it most likely can't "smart" render HDV? i'd try HDV output first anyway and see how it turns out. if it doesn't work well try the blu-ray mpeg2 setting at a high bitrate. that should give you 1920x1080 square pixel video for multliAVCHD work with.

[edDV]

Yes EdDV et. al.

In a nutshell the objectives are as follows initially from the CS3 timeline & thereafter with other apps. To create:

1) An HD MPEG-2 file on a standard dvd:

a) To be used at home on a blu ray player & for archival/back-up purposes
b) To submitted to my local access cable tv station so they can put it on their server for broadcast.

2) The very same file authored on a dvd to give to others as the need arises.

Thanks all.

You may need as many as four encodes

1. Archive HDV (back to tape). This will still be original first generation quality for unprocessed clips.

2. An alternate next best way to archive your edit is Blu-Ray spec MPeg2 (1440x1080i/29.97) at 25 Mb/s. You can save up to 20 minutes in this format to fit a DVDR-5 or about 36 minutes to fit a DVDR-9. This disc may or not play in your Blu-Ray player. You need to test it. The file will be acceptable for Blu-Ray (BD disc) authoring.

3. An AVCHD MPeg4 (h.264) (1440x1080i or 1920x1080i) file using MultiAVCHD. You would import your #2 above Blu-Ray MPeg2 archive. MultiAVCHD may accept your #1 HDV file. I haven't tried that. The AVCHD format file will play from a DVDR 5/9 disc in most Blu-Ray players.

4. A downsized 720x480i/29.97 upper field first standard MPeg2 DVD. This will play in any DVD player and would probably be accepted by your local cable access channel. Comcast here will not accept a high definition disc or file. I've never heard of a high definition community access channel.

[aedipuss]

on the community access front, check with them on the format you need to submit. the one in town here it's dvd spec mpeg2 video with mpeg2 audio.

[edDV]

on the community access front, check with them on the format you need to submit. the one in town here it's dvd spec mpeg2 video with mpeg2 audio.

Here it was S-VHS only but now they take strict DVD and MiniDV.

It all gets uploaded to a donated standard def Profile server.