Best quality SD DVD from HPX-170 HD 720 footage?

evolvnyc

evolvnyc

Well-known member
I've tried searching and can't get any results as the terms are too common I guess... Just want to know if anyone can point me to a tutorial or step-by-step instructions (I mean REALLY specific - not just "use compressor")? I have tried every setting I can think of and I keep getting files that look like crap, I have tried compressor, quicktime, fcp and dvd sp. I must have settings wrong, so I'd appreciate it if you could share your workflow in an extremely detailed manner or point me to instructions that cover EVERYTHING, every setting, sizes, which boxes to click etc. I'm lost and have to author this dvd tonight, any help greatly appreciated!
 
It really is simple- assuming you're working in NTSC and coming from 720p/24p. You send to Compressor from FCP timeline and encode 16:9 24p MPEG-2 using the highest quality NTSC preset that matches your program length. Encode to MPEG2, drag into DVDSP and author. Make sure you have set the track containing your footage to 16:9 Letterbox. It will look as good as it can. But you also need to keep in mind that SD is what it is. It's never going to look as good as your 720P DVCPROHD files did.

Noah
 
But what do I set it as when I send it to compressor? There are all these drop-down menus that must be wrong because when I don't adjust them, it looks terrible. Should HD footage be interlaced on a dvd? I mean Planet Earth was shot in HD and those dvd's aren't interlaced...? (My footage is 720p 60, not 24p but it shouldn't matter, right?) Thanks for your help!
 
You shouldn't have to do anything- select the 90 minute best preset and go. Make sure it's 29.97 Progressive. This is all in your manual btw...

Noah
 
Okay, well I guess I was asking for alternatives with details because I've followed the manual to a T and I still get a crappy looking dvd with insane interlace lines, so either some setting I don't know about is set wrong, or there's a better way. This can't be the best quality because it's un-watchable and I've seen dvd's other people have made on the HPX on the same settings and it looks fine. (I realize that downsizing from HD to an SD dvd is a quality loss, but it shouldn't look terrible, right? Am I missing something? This is a $5,000 camera, I'm baffled.) I've made nicer looking dvds from DVX SD footage. Suggestions on other settings to double check maybe?
 
There should not be interlaced lines if you've confirmed that the footage is set to Progressive in Compressor. If that's still happening there's some setting in FCP you need to recheck. Why shoot 60p btw? 24p is the best for a DVD.

Noah
 
I was using the camera handheld and didn't want to deal with strobing from all the movements so I just shot straight 60.
 
Yeah don't do that. :) Next time stick with 24pA mode or even better 720p/24pN. That's the best mode and will get you a much better looking DVD in the end. If you are having strobish movements- either relax with the handheld or change your shutter speed. But don't go 60p- kind of a bone yourself in post format for a lot of reasons. As you've learned...

Noah
 
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