Do I have to recompress raw MPEG2 footage for a DVD?

[vivsavage]

I have some raw MPEG2 footage that I've edited in Final Cut Pro and now I want to burn that onto a DVD. My questions is: since it was already MPEG2 footage from the start, is there a way to get it onto DVD without compressing the footage again (using Compressor or Quicktime or whatever)? If I use a high bitrate, will it maintain the quality of the original?

[jimmalenko]

If you have saved it back as MPEG-2, just author it and burn. No need to reconvert it.

[thecoalman]

I have some raw MPEG2 footage

Are they DVD compliant?

I use a high bitrate, will it maintain the quality of the original?

If they are DVD compliant use the same exact video settings when you go to encode, It should only have to encode the parts you edited. This will maintain the highest quality of the original and decrease the amount of time required to create the it.

[ZippyP.]

Not sure if it's DVD compliant? Check it with Gspot and post the results here, we'll tell you.

[vivsavage]

Are they DVD compliant?

Yes. The footage is extracted from TS files off a DVD that I'm re-editing.

[BJ_M]

FCP will recompress the mpeg completly i am thinking ... so it may have started compliant - but depends on how you re-compressed it ...

FCP is not that good at mpeg editing or compression... but will do ..