Pinnacle 7.09 creating mpeg2 as dvd compatible file

[james smith]

Does anyone know the best way to put high quality video on cdr using Pinnalcle studio 7.09?
No problems editing my holiday video, which I saved as an mpeg2 file using Pinnacle’s ‘DVD Compatible’ setting in the setup options (720x576 6,000kb/sec).
However, when I play back the video, scenes that have black areas start shimmering and the pixels in the dark area can be seen.
It’s not a major problem - and the overall quality is very good, but I wonder if perhaps it’s Pinnacle’s mpeg conversion that the weak link. Should I be saving the edited video as an Avi file and using different mpeg software to convert?
I’m also trying to discover how to put the finished movie onto a cdr that will play in my standalone DVD player. My Deccavideo 5100 will play the mpeg2 clips but I can only start/pause/stop the clip.
I tried saving my movie with Pinnacle’s ‘SVCD Compatible’ mode (480x576) and then burning with Nero to make an SVCD.
It plays ok as an SVCD, and I can move back and forward, but there is some obvious loss of quality from DVD to SVCD.
I next experimented by trying to burn the original DVD file as an SVCD with Nero but had compatibility problems with the picture breaking up slightly every few minutes.
Please can anyone help.

[CMP1223]

I would suggest using a program like TMPGEnc to convert. Usually any encoder that comes with editing software, exept high-end produtcs, is inferior to this standalone free program. SVCD is a tricky format and I suggest use play around to get good results.

-Chris

[kitty]

I have gotten better results outputting to a high quality AVI and encoding that with TMPGenc. Worth a try.

[Feuerwehr]

Chris hit the nail on the head. Pinnacle Studio 7 is great as an editing program, but the encoders are unsatisfactory. Output your video as an AVI file and encode with TmpGEnc. It is a slower process, but it's simple and the results will produce high quality video!
Jim

[james smith]

Thanks everyone for all the advice. Downloaded TMPGenc and used it to create MPGEG2 files for my movies. Results: fantastic!! No more blockiness.
Quality is brilliant and I have been able to burn svcds which play without a hitch on standalone dvd player.
Has anyone upgraded to Pinnacle 7.13? - apparently it has an improved MPEG decoder and is less likely to crash.