Newbie codec question

[fotoruss]

Hi all,

Being self taught I am struggling to comprehend all the different codecs and how they apply to certain applications. After failing to find my answer (and getting more confused in the process!), can someone please advise me regarding my situation....?

I am extracting certain scenes from DVD's using MPEG Streamclip and then importing them into Final Cut Pro 2 for some cutting etc, and then compressing the final clip as a MOV file to be played only on computer (not made into a DVD). Here are the details of what I am doing, I would appreciate any advise if this is the correct way...

1. Export scene from MPEG Streamclip with Apple Motion JPEG A compression at 100% quality and standard 1024x576 (16:9) resolution.
2. Import into FCP with these settings: 1280x720, HDTV 720p (16:9), Compression: Uncompressed 10-bit 4:2:2. Being 1280x720 as opposed to 1024x576 requires me to scale the image up a bit.
3. Compress using Compressor with H.264 codec.

Unfortunately I have already exported all of my scene clips from MPEG Streamclip so they will have to stay with Motion JPEG A.

As like so many, I want to achieve great quality with manageable file sizes. At current tests I get a file size of 5.6mb from 4 seconds, which I am happy with.

Thoughts?

Many thanks!

[guns1inger]

What specifically are you asking ?

As a process it seems long winded and involves extra re-encoding which is always a risk to quality, however that seems to be the way with video in an Apple environment unless you restrict yourself to a very small subset of video types. Given those constraints, the process seems OK. I would question whether or not a lossless codec could have been used when saving from mpeg-streamclip. Even at 100% quality, I believe jpeg-a is still lossy. I would also question the wisdom of upscaling to 1280 x 720 as well, unless you are editing the footage with actual HD footage.

Hard drive capacity is so cheap now that if you want quality, file size should not be a constraint. The goal during capture and editing should be quality regardless of file size, and only at the final hurdle should filesize become a consideration.

[Nelson37]

i don't see what your question is.

Why, exactly, are you taking 720x480 DVD video and upscaling it, not once, but TWICE? This will do more damage to quality than most intermediate codec decisions.

Is this something unique to Apple equipment? I have no knowledge of these, I'm a PC technician.

[fotoruss]

Thanks for your response.

You're right, it does seem long-winded workflow. I don't know of any other way of extracting clips from DVD's, editing them, and then re-saving them. Would you have any other suggestions as a different workflow?

In the future, any clips I extract using MPEG Streamclip I won't use JPEG A, but a lossless codec. As you say, HDD space is very cheap nowadays. Any suggestion on a lossless format? Uncompressed 8/10 bit?


@ Nelson37:
I guess my question is what you think of the above workflow, and can you suggest any changes?

It's a PAL DVD with native resolution 1024x576, which I am upscaling in FCP to 1280x720. The reason I am doing this is to fit in with other footage that is going to be projected. The computer projecting it uses a digital Matrox triple-head-to-go and has a max of 720p per output. The projector will shoot at 1080i, so I believe the projector will scale the image up even larger. I know this doesn't sound good for trying to keep the best quality.

I didn't think I was upsacling it twice during the workflow above? Please let me know if I am or any other thoughts.

Thanks!!

[filmboss80]

It's a PAL DVD with native resolution 1024x576...

Impossible. Maximum resolution for a PAL DVD is 720 x 576. What type of footage are you going to use with it?

[fotoruss]

It's a PAL DVD with native resolution 1024x576...

Impossible. Maximum resolution for a PAL DVD is 720 x 576. What type of footage are you going to use with it?

Note taken, thank you

I make my own composite video clips that I would like the DVD clips to be at the same resolution.

Do you think I am heading the right direction or going about it a bit wonky?

Thanks

[Nelson37]

Since you can't change the resolution of the DVD clips without quality loss, and you want everything at the same res, change the resolution of the clips you are going to add in.

OR, get the DVD clips from a blu-ray sample instead, and make your clips match that, or Downsize the blu-ray clips.

Eliminate ALL compression steps before the final encode.

[fotoruss]

Since you can't change the resolution of the DVD clips without quality loss, and you want everything at the same res, change the resolution of the clips you are going to add in.

OR, get the DVD clips from a blu-ray sample instead, and make your clips match that, or Downsize the blu-ray clips.

Eliminate ALL compression steps before the final encode.

Ok thanks. When you say change the resolution of the clips I am going to add in, do you mean make them the same as the DVD (1024x576)?

When I project the video, the computer will match the projector settings and scale/strech this to 1280x720... so it's going to lose quality anyway?

When I first take the clips from the DVD I will now use a lossless codec... any suggestions as to which one?

Thanks