Working on project. Help with Quality and Compatibility.

[27am_dot_com]

I'm writing to ask for a bit of direction.

A partner and I are wrapping up a DVD project. The data has been compiled and footage has been shot and is now in AVI files.

But now we enter an area that is not a strength for either of us: DVD creation.

With that said, I have a few questions listed below.

First off our main focus at this point is high quality and the other, of course is compatibility.

The DVD will have text segments that need to come across legible so clarity is very important. If there is a trick to also maintain the same aspect ratio for every TV set (meaning, what shows up on the computer at the far edges should also show up on all television sets) then a few pointers on that would be welcomed as well.

As far as burning technology, I'm pretty sure we're equipped by now. We have a new HP DVD writer that burns only DVD+R and DVD+RW. We also have a new Sony that does every format. For media we have the full spectrum (DVD+R and DVD-R and the RWs).

For software we have Intervideo WinDVD, Cyberlink Powerproducer. These weren't very effective so we grabbed the new Nero and the new Roxio and a Ulead Disc Creator.

So I'm here to tap into your expertise. We have the AVI videos, we have the burning tools... what would you suggest we do as the next step to ensure the highest level of Quality and the highest level of Compatibility??

I also have about 5 "test" stations at my disposal: computer, portable DVD player, theatre stand-alone DVD player and 2 other stand alone players.

Any recommendations? Please and thank you.

With appreciation,
Rob Toth

[Baldrick]

If you want the best quality and control don't use all-in-one solutions like roxio.

1. Convert the avi to dvd mpeg2 with with Mainconcept mpeg encoder, CCE, Canopus procoder or Tmpgenc. Be sure to use the included dvd templates for dvd compatibility.
2. Author the dvd mpeg2 to a dvd-video with Ulead Workshop, Tmpgenc dvd author, dvd architect.
3. Burn on good dvd-r media or good dvd+r media with bitsetting.

[27am_dot_com]

I appreciate the tip. From my searches on this forum, I was starting to get the feel that I needed to tap into a few "optimizer" software. So I already downloaded TMPGENC although haven't even ran it yet.

I'll get that done. In fact... let me multitask.

So this seems self explanatory except for the aspect ratio. Should I be looking at 1:1 or 4:3?

What about these features? Do I care about these? ... Source range / Clip frame / Noise reduction.

Then there's talk of resolution and bit rates. Should I be making changes here?

As for step 2, step 3 from your reply .. on step 3 you mention burn on good media (I think we got that covered) but you said "with bitsetting". How do I choose that during a burn?

Okay, many thanks.
- Rob Toth

[Nelson37]

Have worked on the text issue.

Put a 16-pixel border all around the edges of the screen on the text segments, in order to prevent TV-overscan from cutting off sides. Or simply move the text away from the outer limits. Aspect ratio has very little to do with this.

Make text as simple as possible. NO ITALICS. No fancy fonts, the fewer curves, the better. Possibly run a smoother on the text portions. If imported, import as BMP files, NOT as Jpeg. Use large font, bold may help. Use hi-contrast colors. If scrolling, scroll SLOWLY. If possible, avoid scrolling. If possible, have audio segment read the text as presented. If you are attempting to use a large quantity of text to present information, strongly recommend you find another way.

Preview the readability of the text ON A TELEVISION. Be prepared to completely change the text portion to make it readable. PC screen is not adequate to represent readability problems on a TV.

Are any members of your target audience old? Likely not to have large (27" or bigger) TV? Non-native-speakers of the language the text will be in? These people will not only probably not benefit from the text presentation, but will find it extremely annoying.

[edDV]

Further to the above, some links for use of type for TV presentation.

http://www.uwsp.edu/it/telecomm/utdlr/tutorials/tvgraphics/fortv.htm

other
http://www.bitstream.com/font_rendering/products/dev_fonts/tv_packs/tv_fontpack.html
http://developer.msntv.com/Designing/Graphics.asp

[edDV]

If intended for a wide audience, you should always design your graphics for the lowest common denominator viewer. I suggest you get one of those $89 13" Advent color sets (lacks comb filter) from K-Mart and use that to evaluate text readability using a NTSC composite connection.

[27am_dot_com]

Very good information. Thanks gentlemen. That's why I came to the experts for this one.

The replies and links to the TV graphic and TV fonts was very useful. The whole time I've been thinking it's the limitations of the burning software. I do lose some of the image quality (as I've tested the DVD on the computer and there is quality loss) but on a TV screen, the letters were reading as if they were in Hebrew. Needless to say, this was unacceptable.

Since then, we've moved the text and images in to avoid having anything at the extreme borders and we eliminated some of the colors and increased font text size. I'll have to see how this all comes out on the burns we do tonight.

Now what about adding copyright encryption to the DVD? How involved is that? We certainly don't want to make it a simple matter for others to create a copy of this.

[akrako1]

Now what about adding copyright encryption to the DVD? How involved is that? We certainly don't want to make it a simple matter for others to create a copy of this.

Unless you feel like contacting Macrovision and arranging to pay for a license, you're outta luck. For most small businesses and individuals, this is extremely cost prohibitive. The fact is, if somebody really wants to copy it, then can. They could simply come to this site and read a guide on how to copy just about anything with free software (and we'd help them if they had problems). And assuming you're using single-layer discs, copying would be even easier - a snap for even a novice. You'd feel like an ass if you spent a bunch of money on a license. Other folks have expressed frustration at this - mainly people making semi-commercial dvd's for weddings, albums, etc. But if the MPAA can't stop it, you won't either.

[edDV]

Watch how the pros do it on TV. Best to think of it as presentation graphics, like doing a PowerPoint presentation to the back row of an auditorium.

[Nelson37]

Oh, no. And we had such a nice thread here, too. You've gone and mentioned the Thing Which Cannot Be Done.

Check the old threads, there are some simple suggestions, they are easily bypassed. Expensive, licensed solutions are bypassed about as easily. Keeping honest people honest is about the best you can do.