Creating SD-DVD's from HD Source

ChuckS

ChuckS

Veteran
I've been working exclusively in HD for the past three years and I'm dumbfounded how quickly I have forgotten how to do the most basic things in SD, or more specifically DVDStudeoPro [which I have avoided like the plague].

I've been creating Blu-ray rushes through "Share to" which also works great for the occasional SD-DVD, a producer just asked me for 10 SD-DVD copies.

I copied the Audio TS and Video TS folders from the SD-DVD I created through the "Share to" process and that didn't work, though it did play in one of my DVD players it wouldn't play on the Mac or PC so I'm guessing this is not the right way to do this.

What is the easiest way to burn 10 SD-DVD's? I don't need to author the DVD, no need for menus or chapter markers etc., just play.
 
Toast.

Easiest, takes most formats, converts, has auto play. I'm doing one tonight from an HD project. Outputting a 480p version from Compressor and then letting Toast do the rest.
 
I now agree with kgimedia.

I've been using Toast for non critical DVD burning. But my current project has shown me that when you want the best SD-DVD quality from HD edits, Toast ain't it.

I wish DVD Studio Pro weren't such a clunker of an app. What a visual and mental mess that is.
 
Transcode from a self contained FCP file, and use the appropriate Compressor SD DVD settings.

Then take the resulting m2v and ac3 files into DVD SP, and use it to author the DVD.

DVD SP is one of the simplest full featured authoring packages out there.

good luck.
 
Thanks David.

All the templates suck in DVD Studio Pro, so learning to generate better looking menus is bably needed.

But I'll just make one going through the burning process and see how the video quality is first then worry about making the menu and such nicer. I have one client that prefers DVDs and I've been unsuccessful at getting the video quality to match every other device platform I am used to.
 
Using compressor as David suggests gives you a much better final product on an SD downconversion than simply letting DVDSP do it for you. In fact, I use frame controls in Compressor and add a little sharpening on conversion with great results.

If you are used to Blu-Ray outputs of HD source, an SD dvd is going to look terrible. However, compressor does a great job of keep the video un-pixelated and smooth.


Jason
 
What I've noticed so far is that color looks like crap with Compressor converted video with the appropriate settings for DVD output.
 
Just in case anyone else needs this information:

This was provided by Jude Cotter at LAFCPUG
• Open DVDSP.
• Make sure you have the correct settings for your desired output and country. If you make changes, start a new project.
• Find the 'Assets' tab at the bottom left.
• Import your footage here with the 'import' button
• Find the 'Graphical view' window' above this
• Select the blue menu button and hit the delete key to remove it
• Drag and drop your imported footage from the Assets tab to the green track 1 box
• Right click on the green box and choose 'first play'. This makes the DVD just start up with this vision
• Burn

Here is a Tutorial of the same process thanks to Strypes at LAFCPUG
http://strypesinpost.com/tag/dvd-studio-pro/

This is exactly what I was looking for, fast, easy, and uses the software I already have.
 
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