Best way to go HDV to DVD in Final Cut Express HD
 

Hi,

I have about 20 mins of HDV footage from a Sony Z1 which I need to edit and then burn onto a DVD.

I tried a test from some footage from my Z1 using iMovie HD and then iDVD. The end result looked quite bad, the footage looked very "stuttered and choppy".

I have ordered a copy of FCE HD which is due today. Any advance tips on the best workflow and DVD output quality for HDV footage going to a DVD using FCE HD?

FYI- Using 15" Macbook Pro 1.83Ghz 2GB RAM.

Thanks....

I assume that your only burn option is iDVD?

If so, i think the main thing to do is down sample your HD first. I have encoded some HDV with iDVD too and I had the same effect you described. Downsample it to DV or DVCPro50 and then use it in iDVD.

What if your using DVD Studio pro and compressor. Hopefully that doesnt need to be exported twice as well?

i'd agree with Steve

there's a good workflow here http://www3.telus.net/bonsai/ which you may be able to adapt to your FCE system

To answer Patrick:

Compressor will handle HDV just fine. No need to downcovert first. I've done it a million times. The issue here is with iDVD.