HDV project in FCE to SD DVD at DVinfo.net

Steve Lewis · June 5th, 2008, 03:15 AM

So, I know there have been questions like this before, however I couldn't find a thread that was FCE/P specific, so I want to know the correct steps to go through in order to go from an HDV timeline to being able to export a widescreen (I'm assuming letterboxed) SD file to dump into iDVD. Simple steps would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
-Steve

Steve Lewis · June 11th, 2008, 02:03 PM

Please someone help! I am having sinister troubles!

Alec Moreno · June 12th, 2008, 07:10 PM

1. Export your HDV timeline to a self-contained Quicktime file.

2. Drag and drop that file into your iDVD template.

3. Author with iDVD as normal.
____________________

Not all DVD players will recognize your DVD as widescreen when played on a 4:3 monitor. Most will play it correctly, but some will squeeze the the video to fill the screen. Of the players that have a problem, most can be fixed by changing the video settings in the player (not the TV)...and a very few just cannot handle a widescreen video created in iDVD at all.

By the way, I suggest you stick to the 4:3 mode in iDVD even though you're authoring a widescreen project. The 4:3 mode only applies to the menus, so your video will retain the same quality as if you authored in 16:9, however, you will not have to deal with the button problems that have traditionally plagued the 16:9 menus in iDVD. It's a good little program, but there are bugs. I recommend the '06 version if you can get your hands on it.

Alec Moreno
http://www.1Day1ShotProductions.com

Steve Lewis · June 12th, 2008, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alec Moreno

1. Export your HDV timeline to a self-contained Quicktime file.

2. Drag and drop that file into your iDVD template.

3. Author with iDVD as normal.

Thanks for the help! But, why does it have to be self-contained?
-Steve

Alec Moreno · June 12th, 2008, 07:44 PM

That's just the way iDVD works.

Victor Kellar · June 13th, 2008, 09:35 PM

Does it have to be self contained for the HDV file. In SD, I've created dozens and dozens of DVDs in iDVD using non self contained QT files ... as long as everything is on the same puter there is no prob. Again, this SD through and through

Alec Moreno · June 13th, 2008, 10:43 PM

Now that I think about it, I've never tried anything but a self-contained file. All the official literature I've ever read said to use self-contained files, and I never gave it a second thought.

Thanks for the heads up.

Regardless of your workflow, watch out for the iDVD bugs (such as the way '06 deletes the audio track after the last chapter marker when you insert automatic chapter markers, or the the way '07 moves the chapter markers you've imported within your video file). Also, in my opinion, iDVD has trouble retaining the darks in your footage and tends to push the saturation a bit (though my only tests have been side by side comparisons). It's definitely passable, but if you can make the move to a better authoring program, you'll have more control over the final product.

By the way, in iDVD, importing an HD movie will reduce the practical running time of your disc since the resulting video size on the authored DVD will be larger than a 4:3 letterboxed video. I suggest you keep the length of your video to a maximum of about 80 minutes. In my experience, the image degrades to an unacceptable degree if you push it too far beyond this. In my opinion, the best way to check the quality of a video with a long run time is to find a slow cross dissolve (if you've used one) and see if it pixelates. If the video quality is suffering due to its length, you'll likely see it at this point first.

Alec Moreno
http://www.1Day1ShotProductions.com

Shaun Roemich · June 18th, 2008, 04:33 PM

Use Self-Contained if you will ever be transferring the file to another computer or deleting any of your project media before authoring your FINAL copy. This means that ALL the video information is written to disk. To do otherwise is to create a file which will reference media on your drives (which you may later choose to delete and thusly destroy the link the non Self-Contained file is attempting to access).

Scott Barnhill · June 15th, 2009, 12:44 AM

There's a post I did on here using FCS2 and I-DVD

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/dvd-autho...h-results.html

June 5th, 2008, 03:15 AM	#1
Steve Lewis Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Goleta, CA Posts: 233	HDV project in FCE to SD DVD So, I know there have been questions like this before, however I couldn't find a thread that was FCE/P specific, so I want to know the correct steps to go through in order to go from an HDV timeline to being able to export a widescreen (I'm assuming letterboxed) SD file to dump into iDVD. Simple steps would be greatly appreciated, thanks! -Steve __________________ www.spreefilms.com - Give me a museum and I'll fill it!

June 11th, 2008, 02:03 PM	#2
Steve Lewis Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Goleta, CA Posts: 233	Please someone help! I am having sinister troubles! __________________ www.spreefilms.com - Give me a museum and I'll fill it!

June 18th, 2008, 04:33 PM	#8
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	Use Self-Contained if you will ever be transferring the file to another computer or deleting any of your project media before authoring your FINAL copy. This means that ALL the video information is written to disk. To do otherwise is to create a file which will reference media on your drives (which you may later choose to delete and thusly destroy the link the non Self-Contained file is attempting to access). __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

June 12th, 2008, 07:10 PM	#3
Alec Moreno Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Glendora, CA Posts: 184	1. Export your HDV timeline to a self-contained Quicktime file. 2. Drag and drop that file into your iDVD template. 3. Author with iDVD as normal. ____________________ Not all DVD players will recognize your DVD as widescreen when played on a 4:3 monitor. Most will play it correctly, but some will squeeze the the video to fill the screen. Of the players that have a problem, most can be fixed by changing the video settings in the player (not the TV)...and a very few just cannot handle a widescreen video created in iDVD at all. By the way, I suggest you stick to the 4:3 mode in iDVD even though you're authoring a widescreen project. The 4:3 mode only applies to the menus, so your video will retain the same quality as if you authored in 16:9, however, you will not have to deal with the button problems that have traditionally plagued the 16:9 menus in iDVD. It's a good little program, but there are bugs. I recommend the '06 version if you can get your hands on it. Alec Moreno http://www.1Day1ShotProductions.com

June 12th, 2008, 07:44 PM	#5
Alec Moreno Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Glendora, CA Posts: 184	That's just the way iDVD works.

June 13th, 2008, 09:35 PM	#6
Victor Kellar Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Ontario Canada Posts: 239	Does it have to be self contained for the HDV file. In SD, I've created dozens and dozens of DVDs in iDVD using non self contained QT files ... as long as everything is on the same puter there is no prob. Again, this SD through and through

June 13th, 2008, 10:43 PM	#7
Alec Moreno Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Glendora, CA Posts: 184	Now that I think about it, I've never tried anything but a self-contained file. All the official literature I've ever read said to use self-contained files, and I never gave it a second thought. Thanks for the heads up. Regardless of your workflow, watch out for the iDVD bugs (such as the way '06 deletes the audio track after the last chapter marker when you insert automatic chapter markers, or the the way '07 moves the chapter markers you've imported within your video file). Also, in my opinion, iDVD has trouble retaining the darks in your footage and tends to push the saturation a bit (though my only tests have been side by side comparisons). It's definitely passable, but if you can make the move to a better authoring program, you'll have more control over the final product. By the way, in iDVD, importing an HD movie will reduce the practical running time of your disc since the resulting video size on the authored DVD will be larger than a 4:3 letterboxed video. I suggest you keep the length of your video to a maximum of about 80 minutes. In my experience, the image degrades to an unacceptable degree if you push it too far beyond this. In my opinion, the best way to check the quality of a video with a long run time is to find a slow cross dissolve (if you've used one) and see if it pixelates. If the video quality is suffering due to its length, you'll likely see it at this point first. Alec Moreno http://www.1Day1ShotProductions.com

June 15th, 2009, 12:44 AM	#9
Scott Barnhill Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Diego, Ca Posts: 31	There's a post I did on here using FCS2 and I-DVD http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/dvd-autho...h-results.html