Best format to convert edited videos to

[larrybco]

I am using x7 ultimate. trying to figure out what is the best format to save my edited video out to giving me a quality video that's not to large. currently i'm converting to "mpeg transport stream" as it's the only setting that seems to give me a high quality video. However, the video is very large. Anyone have any recommendation. thanks Larry S.

[Ken Berry]

What is the format of the original video you want to convert? There is little point in converting standard definition video, say, to high def, which is normally what transport stream mpeg means. But there are two types of it too -- one is mpeg-2 which is Blu-Ray compatible, and one is AVCHD -- which is mpeg-4 converted with the H.264 codec -- which normally gives smaller files than its mpeg-2 equivalent, while retaining the same quality. Other forms of mpeg-4 will also give small files. Another format which gives excellent quality and small size is Matroshka .mkv, but I am pretty sure X7 can't deal with that.

[larrybco]

My original video is HD in AVCHD. i didn't realize I was not going to the right area to save out my edited video. The original video is 2 hr 9 min. I rendered it out in mpeg-4 (1920- 1080, 30p, 15Mbps. quality is good but it's 12.4 GB. I need to get it down to fit on a DVD really. thanks

[BrianCee]

When you say - - " I need to get it down to fit on a DVD really. thanks"

do you mean a standard everyday DVD which will play on a standard DVD player ? or did you have a different use in mind

for a standard DVD to play in a standard DVD player you need to use mpeg-2 - it's the worldwide standard - no alternative for a 'standard' DVD - - you could of course choose Blu-ray if you have a blu-ray burner and a blu-ray player.

That is maybe one of the reasons that less and less people are burning DVD's - if your TV has a USB or other sort of inlet port - then find out the highest quality format that the TVwill play from that - then render your videos in that format ad put them on a USB stick or portable hard drive.


...

[larrybco]

Thanks for the advice Brian and Ken....I think that willl get me pointed in the right direction.
Larry S.

[John-T-Smith]

Your original AVCHD is "about" 13Gig per hour (If I remember correctly) so your 2+ hour original is "about" 26Gig... is that close to your actual size?

A single layer DVD holds about 4.3Gig and a dual layer holds about 7.9 Gig http://www.videohelp.com/dvd

So there is a LOT of reduction taking place to convert from AVCHD to the MPEG-2 format of a DVD

[larrybco]

not sure just how large the original is. the final 2 hr is cut down from a bunch of segments to get this short but your probably right. I'll try the mpeg 2 and see how it looks. thanks

[Ken Berry]

To get a DVD-compatible mpeg-2 which will fit more than 2 hours onto a single layer DVD, the bitrate will need to be around 4000 kbps. This will reduce the quality of the video to no better than VHS tape. To get something better, I would probably cut the project in two and burn two DVDs with a much higher quality bitrate of 8000 kbps.

However, just bear in mind that even with that, you are in effect halving the original bitrate (down from 15,000 kbps) and so the DVD will still not look anywhere near as good.

[larrybco]

so how do they squeeze a 2 hr movie onto a dvd that you buy but I can only get my 2 hours on one at VHS quality?
Thanks Ken,

[Ken Berry]

Because they use a totally different method of producing the discs. First a master is made which uses very expensive studio equipment and many passes during the rendering process to produce the best quality possible in the least possible space. Then the discs are pressed from this master, not "burned" as we have to do, where at most a couple of passes is all that is possible...

[canuck]

Because they use software that costs a lot more then using inexpensive software like VS.

[John-T-Smith]

A long studio movie is also put on a dual layer DVD... see what I posted yesterday about single/dual layer capacity

If you have a dual layer burner I **think** VS will write to that in dual layer mode... I have a dual layer writer and blank discs, but I have not had to use a dual layer with what I have done so far using VS

[larrybco]

Appreciate all the knowledge and time guys!!
thanks, Larry s.