Burning Best Quality DVDs

[Dennis Brucks]

Thanks -- also reaffirms why I'll never buy an over-estimated product like a Mac again :-D

 

[Alex.Mitchell]

When you're creating NTSC dubs of your work with a source that is higher resolution than SD, your scaling algorithms and compression options are really, really important. A few notes:

1. iDVD does not use high-quality scaling algorithms when it creates SD files. This introduces aliasing and moire into tour footage. From that point on, you're already starting with a file that is harder to compress, especially when...
2. iDVD doesn't give you any control over how your video is encoded. No control over GOP structure, bit rate, audio codec, compression markers, etc.*
3. It's been a while since I've used it, but I'm almost certain that iDVD will not create 24p encodes. It takes 24p material and applies a 2:3 pulldown, and then renders it as MPEG2 at 60i. Really not ideal.*
4. iDVD never actually shows you what your renders are going to look like. If you test out your DVDs in iDVD, you're actually just watching the source clips, not the MPEG2 encodes that it will eventually create. Bare this in mind!

Professional encoders with professional options are really important guys. I know a lot of people rip on Compressor, but it has always been extremely effective for me. Familiarize yourself with your software!