How to convert HD to SD at DVinfo.net

Simon Glidewell · October 9th, 2009, 01:55 AM

I'm trying to find the best way to export a PAL HD video project from FCP (via Compressor) to DVD Studio Pro whilst maintaining the best quality that I can. I want to do this to make the video playable on a standard PAL DVD player and a computer. I also want to keep the 16:9 aspect ratio. I've read Ken Stone's article on this matter but his method seems to apply to later versions of FCP - I have version 5.1.4 which doesn't support Apple ProRes 422. Any suggestions?

Thanks
Simon

Shaun Roemich · October 9th, 2009, 07:01 AM

You don't have ProRes but you do have AIC. Try that.

Robert Lane · October 9th, 2009, 10:13 AM

Simon,

I don't remember the name of the thread but in a post months ago I shared the exact Compressor settings you'll need to encode the best-looking MPEG2 PAL files for DVDSP. These settings will also work in your version of Compressor.

Simon Glidewell · October 12th, 2009, 03:57 AM

Many thanks Shaun and Robert for your replies. The AIC method does work and I have now been able to successfully transfer my film onto a DVD and watch it on a SD DVD player. However, the aspect ratio was squashed to 4:3; do you know how to return it to its original 16:9 aspect ratio? Also I've noticed that a few shots jump or repeat themselves on viewing; this has never happened before. We did shoot the film with two cameras; one was the Canon XL-H1A (1080i) and the other was a Sony (not sure which model but it was HDV) which may have used progressive mode rather than interlaced. As I say on all previous incarnations of the film viewed on DVDs this jumping did not happen.

Cheers
Simon

Shaun Roemich · October 12th, 2009, 08:34 AM

Simon: if you authored your DVD in DVD Studio Pro, it's a matter of setting the aspect ratio of the track in question in the Inspector. If you used iDVD, I can't recall.

Jonathan Levin · October 12th, 2009, 10:30 AM

In IDVD, when you start a new project it asks if you want a Standard 4:3 or Widescreen 16:9 project.

Jonathan

October 9th, 2009, 01:55 AM	#1
Simon Glidewell Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Manosque (France) Posts: 94	How to convert HD to SD I'm trying to find the best way to export a PAL HD video project from FCP (via Compressor) to DVD Studio Pro whilst maintaining the best quality that I can. I want to do this to make the video playable on a standard PAL DVD player and a computer. I also want to keep the 16:9 aspect ratio. I've read Ken Stone's article on this matter but his method seems to apply to later versions of FCP - I have version 5.1.4 which doesn't support Apple ProRes 422. Any suggestions? Thanks Simon Last edited by Simon Glidewell; October 9th, 2009 at 03:34 AM.

October 9th, 2009, 07:01 AM	#2
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	You don't have ProRes but you do have AIC. Try that. __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

October 12th, 2009, 08:34 AM	#5
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	Simon: if you authored your DVD in DVD Studio Pro, it's a matter of setting the aspect ratio of the track in question in the Inspector. If you used iDVD, I can't recall. __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

October 9th, 2009, 10:13 AM	#3
Robert Lane Go Go Godzilla Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Scottsdale, AZ USA Posts: 2,825 Images: 15	Simon, I don't remember the name of the thread but in a post months ago I shared the exact Compressor settings you'll need to encode the best-looking MPEG2 PAL files for DVDSP. These settings will also work in your version of Compressor.

October 12th, 2009, 03:57 AM	#4
Simon Glidewell Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Manosque (France) Posts: 94	Many thanks Shaun and Robert for your replies. The AIC method does work and I have now been able to successfully transfer my film onto a DVD and watch it on a SD DVD player. However, the aspect ratio was squashed to 4:3; do you know how to return it to its original 16:9 aspect ratio? Also I've noticed that a few shots jump or repeat themselves on viewing; this has never happened before. We did shoot the film with two cameras; one was the Canon XL-H1A (1080i) and the other was a Sony (not sure which model but it was HDV) which may have used progressive mode rather than interlaced. As I say on all previous incarnations of the film viewed on DVDs this jumping did not happen. Cheers Simon

October 12th, 2009, 10:30 AM	#6
Jonathan Levin Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chicago, Illinois USA Posts: 692	In IDVD, when you start a new project it asks if you want a Standard 4:3 or Widescreen 16:9 project. Jonathan