Advice On Settings For Dvd's (Videowave/mydvd)

[PayTheBills]

I use Creator 2011 to make DVD's. I typically start by making a slideshow of camera stills (and I always use the opan/zoom option) and then open in Videowave to tweak. That involves pan/zoom edits, interspersing short videos clips and minor edits to the audio tracks. Then I save to an mpeg and move on to the next slideshow. After I have all the individual mpegs I use MyDVD to create the DVD. I'm never completely satisfied with the playback quality of the DVD on my widescreen TV. I always assumed it was the source image files but I've upgraded cameras and although the source images are much improved the DVD production is only marginally improved.

 

I'm interested in any guidance on best practices for creating DVD's (I don't have a Blu-ray burner). That could include any info on proper setting for creating mpegs (or another format) as well as the DVD.

[sknis]

I use Creator 2011 to make DVD's. I typically start by making a slideshow of camera stills (and I always use the opan/zoom option) and then open in Videowave to tweak. That involves pan/zoom edits, interspersing short videos clips and minor edits to the audio tracks. Then I save to an mpeg and move on to the next slideshow. After I have all the individual mpegs I use MyDVD to create the DVD. I'm never completely satisfied with the playback quality of the DVD on my widescreen TV. I always assumed it was the source image files but I've upgraded cameras and although the source images are much improved the DVD production is only marginally improved.

 

I'm interested in any guidance on best practices for creating DVD's (I don't have a Blu-ray burner). That could include any info on proper setting for creating mpegs (or another format) as well as the DVD.

 

When you make a DVD, you are making a standard definition DVD - 720 by 480 lines of resolution. There is no way to make it better. You can make it worse by selecting fit to disc or by trying to put more than one hour of video on a single layer DVD.

 

Although you don;t have a blu ray burner, do you have a blu ray player that will play the AVCHD format? Check your owners manual. You can make an AVCHD disc using a standard burner and a standard disc. What limits you is the time - about 40 minutes on a single layer disc. The quality would be 1920 by 1080 or there abouts depending on what you select and when in the world you are located. Let us know if you want more information on AVCHD discs OOPs, I thnk Creator 2011 wll do AVCHD !

[PayTheBills]

Thanks for the response, the AVCHD route sounds promising! I'd gladly sacrifice length of production for quality.

[Jim_Hardin]

Just so you will have some numbers to plan with:

 

DVD AVCHD Capacity:

AVCHD on a 4.7 DVD (thanks to ggrussell)

• HQ – 00:40:24 @ 1920 X 1080P = 40 min
  
• SP – 00:50:16 @ 1920 X 1080I
  
• LP – 1:00:00 @ 1440 X 1080I
  
• EP – 1:24:31 1280 X 720P

 

AVCHD on 8.5 DVD

• HQ – 1:13
  
• SP – 1:24
  
• LP – 1:39
  
• EP – 2:15

 

HQ and even SP are Stuinning...

 

But LP and even EP are not too shabby either, depending on what they are being played on

[PayTheBills]

As per the manual looks like my Blu-Ray player doesn't take AVCHD, might have to just burn one to make sure. Otherwise I guess its decision time: new Blu-Ray player or new Blu-Ray burner!

 

And thanks for the info on capacity.