Best Compression to a DVD

[Don Schechter]

Okay. We've got this great HPX 720p footage. No blu-ray HD DVD options yet....anyone have recommendations for best compression settings (FCP/Compressor)....especially for short films (under 10 minutes)?

 

[EditingFX]

I've had happiness making SD 16:9 anamorphic dvds. Fill da screen, baby.

 

[Don Schechter]

I've had happiness making SD 16:9 anamorphic dvds. Fill da screen, baby.

16:9 no problemo....but in terms of bit rate/compressor....

 

[MrGlory]

Here's what we use ( a tweaked 90min best quality DVD setting) and it works out to almost HD looking quality depending on the setup (if anyone has any further suggestions I'm all ears as well) the main "trick" we've found is to make sure to turn on frame controls and put everything on best:

-----------------
Type: MPEG-2 video elementary stream
Usage:SD DVD
Video Encoder
Format: M2V
Width: 720
Height: 480
Pixel aspect ratio: NTSC CCIR 601/DV (16:9)
Crop: None
Padding: None
Frame rate: 23.976
Frame Controls On:
Retiming: (Best) High quality Motion Compensated
Resize Filter: Statistical Prediction
Deinterlace Filter: Best (Motion Compensated)
Adaptive Details: On
Antialias: 0
Detail Level: 0
Field Output: Same as Source
Start timecode from source
Aspect ratio: 16:9
Field dominance: Automatic:
Selected Progressive
Average data rate: 6.2 (Mbps)
2 Pass VBR enabled
Maximum data rate: 7.7 (Mbps)
High quality
Best motion estimation
Closed GOP Size: 12, Structure: IBBP
DVD Studio Pro meta-data enabled

 

[EditingFX]

My standard "size is no issue" bitrate is 7.5Mbps. Not so high as to "choke" semi-compatible players. And call me a slacker, but I've no complaints using Compressor.