Why does my HDV footage look so crap when mastered to DVD?

[Chas Briggs]

Ok can anyone help me? Im shooting with my XHA1 set in hd 16.9 I'm using Sony Direct dvd burner and if i use fire wire or composite out the TV stations keep telling me that my video is letter boxing when they play my dvd and yes letter boxing on my camera is off and Sony keeps telling me that the burning will burn the same size as what my camera is set to I'm beginning to Sony is full of it, how can I fix this.

HELP PLEASE!

[Brian Boyko]

Originally Posted by David McGiffert

"time to learn dvdsp I think"

Yes!

To use a XH-A1 and FCP and then iDVD seems
a touch counter-productive.

You will love DVDSP, jump in...


David

I could never get DVD Studio Pro to... well, to actually BURN a goddamn DVD!

For very simple projects, I use DVDFlick, which is open source; for more complex projects, DVD Architect seems to be the way to go.

[Luke Oliver]

learn to master DVD studio
i used to use idvd but after basic tuturiols on youtube i mastered DVD studio, the quality is much much better than IDVD, just remeber to bump up the settings in the preference.

And its much much faster than IDVD

[Chas Briggs]

I'm a news stringer and have to make dvd's out in the field so thats why i got sony dvd direct

[Shaun Roemich]

Chas: You say you're shooting in 16:9 in HD and burning an SD DVD and it's letterboxed? How else would it work? You're recording in 16:9. Therefore it's going to letterbox on 4:3. Unless you're looking for a 4:3 centre cut, in which case I would never expect a video appliance to do what you're asking OR if your discs are STILL letterboxing on 16:9 screens, in which case you are recording discs as "letterboxed" instead of "anamorphic".

More details please.

[Chas Briggs]

[QUOTE=Shaun Roemich;1009109]Chas: You say you're shooting in 16:9 in HD and burning an SD DVD and it's letterboxed? How else would it work? You're recording in 16:9. Therefore it's going to letterbox on 4:3. Unless you're looking for a 4:3 centre cut, in which case I would never expect a video appliance to do what you're asking OR if your discs are STILL letterboxing on 16:9 screens, in which case you are recording discs as "letterboxed" instead of "anamorphic".

More details please.

Well I'm shooting in 16.9 burning using sony dvd direct vrd-mc 5 there book says to get 16.9 from my footage i need to set my camera tv type to 4.3 well my camera is an XHA1 there is no tv type setting. The TV stations use old style 4.3 square monitors does this help. oh and i tried to call you and on my end it says i cant reach you your not in the usa.any way did this info help

[Dan Quintero]

If you've got the time learn how to use DVD Studio Pro along with Compressor, assuming you have access to both.

From FCP, export to Compressor using the Best Quality 90 Minute format template (only if you're amount of media total length is under 90 minutes). Then import that to DVD Studio Pro. It's shouldn't have to re compress it. Make sure your clip is set to 4:3, 16:9 Letterbox, 16:9 Pan-Scan, or 16:9 pan-scan/letterbox, whatever you're preference is.

It takes awhile to get to know it and to see how it reacts once it's in a DVD player, but the pay off is knowing how to use the software. I think it's worth it.

[Shaun Roemich]

It sounds like you're wanting 16:9 anamorphic.

In order to do that, you need to find a menu in the camera that says something like "stretch" (sorry, I have no time on the new Canons but it HAS to be there somewhere) in reference to your downconvert options. When the video plays out to your recorder, it will be 4:3 aspect stretched vertically. This is normal for 16:9 anamorphic, which uses ALL 480 lines of vertical resolution and uses a pixel aspect ratio of 1.2 to get widescreen 16:9.

I ASSUME the broadcaster knows that you are sending them 16:9 and indeed WANTS 16:9 material. Otherwise, you're already doing it "right"

[Chas Briggs]

Originally Posted by Shaun Roemich

It sounds like you're wanting 16:9 anamorphic.

In order to do that, you need to find a menu in the camera that says something like "stretch" (sorry, I have no time on the new Canons but it HAS to be there somewhere) in reference to your downconvert options. When the video plays out to your recorder, it will be 4:3 aspect stretched vertically. This is normal for 16:9 anamorphic, which uses ALL 480 lines of vertical resolution and uses a pixel aspect ratio of 1.2 to get widescreen 16:9.

I ASSUME the broadcaster knows that you are sending them 16:9 and indeed WANTS 16:9 material. Otherwise, you're already doing it "right"

no there is nothing just down convert with no options on size. there is letter box off or on i have it set to off. should i try it with it on.

[Chas Briggs]

Originally Posted by Dan Quintero

If you've got the time learn how to use DVD Studio Pro along with Compressor, assuming you have access to both.

From FCP, export to Compressor using the Best Quality 90 Minute format template (only if you're amount of media total length is under 90 minutes). Then import that to DVD Studio Pro. It's shouldn't have to re compress it. Make sure your clip is set to 4:3, 16:9 Letterbox, 16:9 Pan-Scan, or 16:9 pan-scan/letterbox, whatever you're preference is.

It takes awhile to get to know it and to see how it reacts once it's in a DVD player, but the pay off is knowing how to use the software. I think it's worth it.

that wont work I'm out in the field with no computer i have a Sony laptop but its worthless and 6 years old

[Shaun Roemich]

Ok Chas. I'm going over and above here: I have downloaded the owners manual and I'm prepared to talk you through this but I need some very specific questions answered.

How are you getting the video TO the Sony recorder? Firewire, composite or component out?

[Chas Briggs]

Originally Posted by Shaun Roemich

Ok Chas. I'm going over and above here: I have downloaded the owners manual and I'm prepared to talk you through this but I need some very specific questions answered.

How are you getting the video TO the Sony recorder? Firewire, composite or component out?

I have tried both fire wire and composite oh and thanks for going above and beyond lol

[Shaun Roemich]

Ok, according to the chart on Page 97 of the English Owners Manual, you need to select [Off] under the [Letterbox] menu item, and come out the video terminal outs. If you have a monitor attached to your Sony recorder, your footage will look stretched vertically. Believe it or not, this IS what you want at this stage. The DVD player at the other end of this process will deal with the DVD properly and letterbox your footage for 4:3 TVs or pass along a 16:9 signal for widescreen.

[Chas Briggs]

Originally Posted by Shaun Roemich

Ok, according to the chart on Page 97 of the English Owners Manual, you need to select [Off] under the [Letterbox] menu item, and come out the video terminal outs. If you have a monitor attached to your Sony recorder, your footage will look stretched vertically. Believe it or not, this IS what you want at this stage. The DVD player at the other end of this process will deal with the DVD properly and letterbox your footage for 4:3 TVs or pass along a 16:9 signal for widescreen.

which owners manual the one for my camera or for sony dvd direct. note on my camera i have letter box set to off. the sony recorder has no way to attach a monitor.

now the camera has a few video terminals either fire wire or composite

[Shaun Roemich]

I was refring to the Canon Owners Manual. I'm downloading the Sony DVD recorder's now.