iDVD Encoding

[thomamon]

So I tried burning something for the first time today using iDVD. I was unhappy with the playback.

I'm not quite sure how to explain what happened, perhaps the best way to say it were that the pixels looked very square? It wasn't sharp at all.

It was not HD, it was something old in SD, but still, the original was much better looking then this and so is the mp4 it came from.

Any tips?

 

[simsaladimbamba]

What steps and settings did you take and use exactly to get the .mp4 onto a video DVD?

 

[thomamon]

What steps and settings did you take and use exactly to get the .mp4 onto a video DVD?

I captured using my HD PVR then using that I converted to MP4.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

I captured using my HD PVR then using that I converted to MP4.

Can you be more precise? What settings did you use in iDVD and what steps and settings did you take to get from .mp4 file (which seems fine in your eyes) to get the video DVD.
If you are unsure and just can repeat the steps, maybe you can you make a screenshots and attach them to your next post?
And how does the video DVD look when played via VLC Player or the Mac OS X DVD Player application?

 

[thomamon]

Can you be more precise? What settings did you use in iDVD and what steps and settings did you take to get from .mp4 file (which seems fine in your eyes) to get the video DVD.
If you are unsure and just can repeat the steps, maybe you can you make a screenshots and attach them to your next post?
And how does the video DVD look when played via VLC Player or the Mac OS X DVD Player application?

I tried two options in iDVD. Once I tried with Best Performance and the other time I tried with Professional Quality. Both looked the same to me.

I am confused by the second part of your question, but I will try to explain the best.

I captured using the HD PVR and captired at about 11MB. I then used that program to convert to mp4. If your not sure what I am talking about, this is the software I used.

If you need more info, I will gladly do screen caps for ya!

 

[simsaladimbamba]

I tried two options in iDVD. Once I tried with Best Performance and the other time I tried with Professional Quality. Both looked the same to me.

You mentioned in your PM the DVD looks the same on your Mac.
As I don't use iDVD I can't help you with the settings. Maybe someone else more versed in that matter can help.

I captured using the HD PVR and captired at about 11MB.

Do you mean the resulting file was 11 MB or what does that "11MB" mean?

I then used that program to convert to mp4. If your not sure what I am talking about, this is the software I used.

You mean the capturing program? What is its name?

Btw, how long is the video and what DVD medium do you use? 4.7 GB or 8.5 GB?

Tried Burn with the .mp4 file yet?

And how big is the .mp4 file and could you upload it (if it is less than 500 MB and your upload speed can do that)?
You could send me the link via PM, if you don't want to have it public.

And just for confirmation, as I am currently confused due to a high intake of sugar, the exported .mp4 file looks good?

 

[thomamon]

Do you mean the resulting file was 11 MB or what does that "11MB" mean?

The bitrate I captured at was 11mbps is what I mean. The final file size of the mp4 is 943MB and it is Standard Definition.

You mean the capturing program? What is its name?

I use HD PVR capture, that is wierd, i thought I posted a link to it. Here it is:
http://www.hdpvrcapture.com/cms/

Btw, how long is the video and what DVD medium do you use? 4.7 GB or 8.5 GB?

I used a single layer DVD, so 4.7.

Tried Burn with the .mp4 file yet?8.5 GB?

I have not, but I can try that!

And how big is the .mp4 file and could you upload it (if it is less than 500 MB and your upload speed can do that)?
You could send me the link via PM, if you don't want to have it public.

I have my own server, I can upload it. But the file size is 900MB as I stated above. Perhaps I can just edit a clip out with mpegstream??? I use that to edit out commercials.

And just for confirmation, as I am currently confused due to a high intake of sugar, the exported .mp4 file looks good?

Yes, the MP4 looks good

 

[simsaladimbamba]

The bitrate I captured at was 11mbps is what I mean. The final file size of the mp4 is 943MB and it is Standard Definition.

Ah, okay.

I use HD PVR capture, that is wierd, i thought I posted a link to it. Here it is:
http://www.hdpvrcapture.com/cms/

Will have a look at it, but since it is not the culprit, who know what will come from it. Maybe little kittens.

I used a single layer DVD, so 4.7.

How long is the video you want to put onto DVD?

I have my own server, I can upload it. But the file size is 900MB as I stated above. Perhaps I can just edit a clip out with mpegstream??? I use that to edit out commercials.

That is up to you. I can handle a 900 MB download, and only a portion of it might not work.

My suspicion is that the video is too long for a 4.7 GB DVD, which can hold 90 minutes in barely acceptable quality.

In order to find out, what may be wrong with your video, you can use the following three applications to analyse a sample .vob file from your DVD.

• VideoSpec (free)
• MediaInfo (free)
• Media Inspector (2.99 USD € in the Mac App Store (MAS))

When done, you can use the "Report" (VideoSpec) and "Export" (Media Inspector) button to export a report,
attachable to your next post via the

button.
In MediaInfo you have to go to the Menu Bar, select View > Text and copy the text via CMD+A > CMD+C and paste it via CMD+V into your next post.​

 

[thomamon]

How long is the video you want to put onto DVD?

It was two 37 minute programs

That is up to you. I can handle a 900 MB download, and only a portion of it might not work.

Uploading now!

My suspicion is that the video is too long for a 4.7 GB DVD, which can hold 90 minutes in barely acceptable quality.

It is less then that

In order to find out, what may be wrong with your video, you can use the following three applications to analyse a sample .vob file from your DVD.

• VideoSpec (free)
• MediaInfo (free)
• Media Inspector (2.99 USD € in the Mac App Store (MAS))

When done, you can use the "Report" (VideoSpec) and "Export" (Media Inspector) button to export a report,
attachable to your next post via the Image button.
In MediaInfo you have to go to the Menu Bar, select View > Text and copy the text via CMD+A > CMD+C and paste it via CMD+V into your next post.​

[/QUOTE]Trying now!

 

[thomamon]

Is this correct? How do I know which file to select on the DVD?

 

[thomamon]

One more!

 

[simsaladimbamba]

The bitrate and video length seem to be okay, pretty standard to be honest.

 

[thomamon]

OK, here are the two latest text files.

UPDATE:

I am so confused. I just tried what you suggested here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=14161793#post14161793

It converted to m4v, but when it went to open in Streamline, it said unsupported file type.

I am at a total loss at this point at which way to try it and what to do.

Thinking I will agree with you and start fresh tomorrow!

UPDATE 2:

Tried them both in the DVD player. The iDVD one still dissapointing, but a bit better. Burn had great picture, but on one of the videos the audio was not synched.

Going to bed!

 

[simsaladimbamba]

As far as I can see from the reports, the video DVD created with Burn has a QF of 1.5 and the iDVD DVD has a QF of 0.5. As far as I found out, QF is the frame quality, thus Burn seems to be having a three times better quality.
As I can't test iDVD and see for myself, you may have to change some settings yourself and see if that helps.
First I would try Preferences > Projects > Encoding > Professional Quality.

 

[thomamon]

As far as I can see from the reports, the video DVD created with Burn has a QF of 1.5 and the iDVD DVD has a QF of 0.5. As far as I found out, QF is the frame quality, thus Burn seems to be having a three times better quality.
As I can't test iDVD and see for myself, you may have to change some settings yourself and see if that helps.
First I would try Preferences > Projects > Encoding > Professional Quality.

I did have it set to Professional...

BTW, just checked and my iDVD is 7.x

Is that the latest?

 

[simsaladimbamba]

I did have it set to Professional...

BTW, just checked and my iDVD is 7.x

Is that the latest?

Yep, that is the latest.
Then I don't know what else to do.

What about an Apple TV?

 

[thomamon]

Yep, that is the latest.
Then I don't know what else to do.

What about an Apple TV?

Well, can you tell me the process again and I'll try one more time. I got so confused the other day I forgot what the last one I was suppose to do was.

I do have Apple TV!

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Well, can you tell me the process again and I'll try one more time. I got so confused the other day I forgot what the last one I was suppose to do was.

I do have Apple TV!

I have told you several processes. I post the one I prefer:

Use the method outlined in the following guide to get .mov files using the Apple Intermediate Codec from the .mts files, which you can then use in iDVD.
Transcoding .MTS files (AVCHD footage) to an editable format (.MOV)

 

[thomamon]

I have told you several processes. I post the one I prefer:

Use the method outlined in the following guide to get .mov files using the Apple Intermediate Codec from the .mts files, which you can then use in iDVD.
Transcoding .MTS files (AVCHD footage) to an editable format (.MOV)

I tried that and it did not work. It makes the file but when I go to open it in Streamclip it says "File Open Error: unrecognized file type"

Urrr

 

[simsaladimbamba]

I tried that and it did not work. It makes the file but when I go to open it in Streamclip it says "File Open Error: unrecognized file type"

Urrr

MPEG Streamclip can't read the .m4v file?

 

[thomamon]

MPEG Streamclip can't read the .m4v file?

Correct! All I did was drag the MTS onto ReWrap2m4v

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Correct! All I did was drag the MTS onto ReWrap2m4v

We may have already done it, but I can't find it now, but could you use VideoSpec (the video analysation application) to analyse the .mts file and the resulting .m4v file and attach the .txt file?

My question about the Apple TV was, why do you need it on DVD, when you can play it back via Apple TV?

 

[thomamon]

We may have already done it, but I can't find it now, but could you use VideoSpec (the video analysation application) to analyse the .mts file and the resulting .m4v file and attach the .txt file?

My question about the Apple TV was, why do you need it on DVD, when you can play it back via Apple TV?

We did not do it for this part, will do it and post soon in a couple minutes.

I like to have a DVD as backup and this particular project is for a friend!

EDIT: OK Added it! I think you can figure out which is which

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Thanks. I am still stumped, which may be my lack of sleep (3 hours), but I have another favour to ask.
If possible, could you upload a sample .mts file and the resulting .m4v file, does only need to be a minute long?

 

[thomamon]

Thanks. I am still stumped, which may be my lack of sleep (3 hours), but I have another favour to ask.
If possible, could you upload a sample .mts file and the resulting .m4v file, does only need to be a minute long?

Sure, give me a couple minutes and I'll do it now!

EDIT: Added picture file