DVD settings...

[Yammeryammeryammer]

Hey,
I just finished burning a DVD for a little demo, and upon watching it I noticed some of the picture left a trail for some reason. It isn't a huge problem but it is kind of noticable. I was using Final Cut Express, and exported the video as a Quicktime file for iDVD, and I was wondering if anyone knew the optimal settings for video when exported from Final Cut. Like how often key frames should be added, 29.97 fps should be optimal for DV right? Any thoughts regarding DVD making? Thanks.

[machead]

have you tried exporting as a FCE file . It takes less time than a QT file (I never use QT for DVD authoring). Your trail effect thingy is probably as a result of your Key Frame settings.

cheers

[Micaso]

29.97 fps is ideal, but you want to keyframe at least once every 15 frames and keep it a factor or 30 (ie. 1, 3, 5, 6, 10, 30). This is what it said in a hints and tips manual. Also under...I think settings, in the quicktime menu of export...or options...or the options of settings...anyways, there is a setting "DV/DVCPro - NTSC" or "DV/DVC - NTSC Pro" or something which is what iMovie exports to when going straight to iDVD.

Machead, although DVD Studio Pro does, I didn't know iDVD could handle an FCE or FCP3 file. Are you sure it can?

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ May 16, 2003 08:17 PM: Message edited by: Micaso ]</font>

[machead]

absolutely positive. I export as a final cut movie (I use FCE) and drag and drop into iDVD. The final cut movie can be opened in QuickTime player.

QuickTime is the engine behind FCP, FCE, iMovie, iDVD

[Yammeryammeryammer]

Cool, thanks Machead. But the keyframe settings, I have used the same ones before and never experienced anything like this. So I try to keep it at 15. Any suggestions as to what a good key framing rate is?

[Micaso]

Right on, i didn't know that. That'll save some time.

[machead]

there are no keyframe settings when you export as a FCE movie. Its a big pure file with no compression. QuickTime ' .mov' files are designed for web and CD-rom. they're a compromise between quality and file size, keyframing is a method of reducing file size. You can use them for DVD, but I'd recommend a pure big FCE file and then let iDVD encode it.

Glad to be of help guys.

[machead]

Hi Yammeryammeryammer

your keyframing issues may arise from the style of footage your compressing. Panning shots and quick movement shots will require a low key-frame number, a static shot can use a high key-frame number. I hope this explains Key-Framing. I personally un-check the key frame box, when exporting for web or CD-rom.

[Alex]

Anyone have an opinion on optimim bit rate?

[machead]

is the error message saying, 'that was an un supported action'?