question: generating files for a DVD

[delaluz]

I'm creating a DVD for a song & dance performance with 10 acts. For ease of editing I decided to edit each act as a separate project. My project used 3 different cameras each shooting in HD. I already created proxy files for the editing. My plan was to:

1. edit each of the acts as one project project
2. generate a "high quality" file for each project
3. after all 10 files were generated I would open a "composite" project and with the 10 generated files butted against each other & then generate the DVD from that file.

The reason I'm doing this is because if I did it in one project it would be very hard to keep all of the cameras in sync.

What would be the best file format to generate each of the 10 projects in to ensure the best quality?

Please note I don't care about ling render times.

[Ken Berry]

What would be the best file format to generate each of the 10 projects in to ensure the best quality?

We could be talking about two things here. First off, I would generate my HD file in exactly the same format and Properties as the original video. So if it is AVCHD with a bitrate of 18 Mbps, that is what I would generate the new HD file as.

But the other point is the DVD. I assume you know that you have to down-convert the HD files if you are making a standard def DVD. Moreover, the conversion has to be to SD mpeg-2 since that is the format required by the international DVD standard. The best quality will use a bitrate of 8000 kbps (you can go higher than this, though no more than 9999 kbps -- though most stand-alone players don't like anything much over 8000 kbps). But that bitrate will only allow about one hour of video on a single layer DVD. You can fit more on by lowering the bitrate, but of course that also means you will lower the quality -- and you are already taking quite a quality hit by going from HD to SD.

Then again, you can actually burn AVCHD in that format to a standard DVD. This is called a "hybrid" disc. The problem is that using a bitrate of 18 Mbps, you will only be able to burn about 20 minutes of AVCHD to a single layer DVD -- though again more by lowering the bitrate. Note, however, that such discs can only be played by a Blu-Ray player.

[delaluz]

Thanks!

[lata]

Hi

Just to add the total duration of your 10 videos will determine the data rate used to create the Mpeg2 files.
As an example 60 minutes will use 8000kbps ish.

Also

Once you have the 10 separate Mpeg2 files you can burn these to a disc creating a separate thumbnail/link for each.
This will allow you to play any video.
You can of course combine them into one and have the single movie.
Just an option?

[delaluz]

Here's some more info:

All of the 10 acts will add up to around 90 minutes. So let's say I want to generate a 2 hour DVD
Most of the footage is AVCHD 1980 x 1080 60i which is around 17Mbps.
My objective is to create a 2 hour DVD with best video quality possible that will play on most consumer DVD players.

Let me rephrase my question. It looks like I could either:

1. During the process of generating each of the 10 files I could select a resolution so that all of the 10 files will fit on a DVD when I combine them.

or

2. During the process of generating each of the 10 files I could create AVCHD files that are the same format as the source files. Then I will combine all 10 files into one project & then when I generate a DVD I will specify that I want to create a 2 hour DVD and VideoStudio will manage how to do the conversion.

In other words I could "shrink" each of the file 10 files when I generate them (method #1). Or, I could leave them close to their original resolution I then combine them & "shrink" them in one step (method #2).

I think I will go with method #1. Any comments?

Thanks!

[lata]

Hi

First render each project to same as original properties,. That will retain the HD quality, as a backup if you like.

Then convert the new Avchd files to DVD Mpeg2, whether you combine the 10 into one or keep them separate is up to you, the difference will show when creating the disc menu. (Video Studio can batch Convert?)
You can of course render the original avchd projects direct to Mpeg2 DVD

Do you wish to play each video from the disc, then return to menu to play another video, with the option to play all, Or do you wish to have one video play from beginning to end.

To create a video file to fit to disc that file has to be less that 4.3 Gb.
As a guide:-
8000Kbps will allow for 70 minutes of video to disc
6000Kbps will allow for 90 minutes per disc
4000Kbps will allow for 120 minutes, this being similar to VHS quality.

As your total duration is 90 minutes, using Make Movie Templates Manager create a new template to the following settings, the template will be available from Share Create Video File- adjacent to the Custom option.

MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Upper Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 16:9
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 6000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)

You may find that 6500kbps may be suitable but if over 4.3 Gb will not fit to disc.

Note:- if you set the project properties to use the above settings, you can render using Create Video File - Same as Project properties.

[delaluz]

Trevor,

Thanks! I'm editing the acts now & will try to gen the DVD in a couple of days. You told m exactly what I needed to know.

[Ken Berry]

I certainly agree with Trevor that whatever you do, you should first, after editing each clip, render them back to their original AVCHD properties -- either as a backup, as Trevor suggested, or, in my added opinion, for your own use at home. It always seems a shame to me that people have high quality HD camcorders, but then downconvert to standard definition DVDs. However, I fully understand the reasons for that as I too have many friends and family who simply don't have the equipment (or knowledge!) to play high def clips in their original formats.

Most modern HDTVs these days can play certain HD formats, including AVCHD, directly from a USB stick drive either plugged directly into them or plugged into a device which is then connected to the HDTV via HDMI, such as a Blu-Ray player (including the PlayStation 3 or 4), networked computers, some DVD players and media boxes. These days I rarely make DVDs apart from the occasional one for family or friends without this capacity, though that number steadily falls almost by the day. But for my own "shows" at home, I exclusively use the HD originals (edited of course) played from my PS3 (as my HDTV is a little older and won't play video directly from its USB jack, only photos).