There is an ongoing debate as to whether it is wiser to use a 3rd. party software to prepare files before importing them into  AvidDVD (DVDitProHD) or not.

I prefer the direct to AvidDVD (DVDitProHD) approach and explain why in this short presentation.

Regards
Douglas

Edit Added: PS. Since making this tutorial it has been pointed out to me (further down in this thread) that you can, of course, use the same "template" in the upper workflow and just replace the video files on the DVDit timelines with either the DVD or Blu-Ray encoded ones without having to re-author.

 Thanks again Douglas,

part of the discussion can be explained I think because of the fact that quite a few users don't have AvidDVD and are therefore forced to use third party encoders

jknikman:

 Thanks again Douglas,

part of the discussion can be explained I think because of the fact that quite a few users don't have AvidDVD and are therefore forced to use third party encoders

 Good point, Hans

I hadn't considered that!

I was referring more to those who actually have AvidDVD or DVDitPro HD and are advocating what I guess you might call a 4th party encoder to prepare for import into the above mentioned programmes.

Regards,

Douglas

 Just had a quick look Douglas, came to the redoing part creating dvd versus creating bluray from a third party app when you say that you´ll have to redo all your editing when going from dvd to bluray.

I Never do that, just to "save as" from Avid dvd, add the extension "blu" before the name of my project and drag the bluray encoded m2v file over the previous dvd encoded videofile, this way replacing it, the wav file stays untouched from the dvd project, a 30 seconds job, fast and easy, always works .

Maybe those tips should be in the Avid DVD forum ?

 Sounds like an interesting solution.

Does that mean that any chapter points/ subtitles etc. that were on the 1st version are still there after you drag the Blu-ray encoded m2v file into place?
Or do you have to redo them?

Regards,

Douglas

Edit Added:

Also, in my case, I don't have only 1 long clip imported. There are usually 12 to 20 shorter movies, each imported seperately.
How easy is that to do in 30 seconds?

Different types of jobs will have different types of solutions. In my case, I don't see that it would work.... but I am far from infallible

drbgaijin:

 Sounds like an interesting solution.

Does that mean that any chapter points/ subtitles etc. that were on the 1st version are still there after you drag the Blu-ray encoded m2v file into place?
Or do you have to redo them?

Everything in the menu stays the same, you are only changing source media, you can even do it in the same project but in this case, you´ll have to remember, or doublecheck everytime, if it is a dvd or bluray file that you have added to your timeline and we gets older and older right ?

Also, the differences in 2 pass encoding versus one pass might be more visible if you have bad source media from the beginning, I was working with such a project a couple of days ago and it was a huge difference.

mjolnarn:

...............you´ll have to remember, or doublecheck everytime, if it is a dvd or bluray file that you have added to your timeline and we gets older and older right ?......

Definitely getting older here. That part about "doublechecking" has convinced me that I should stick with the direct to DVDitProHD method. No need for an old man to doublecheck!

mjolnarn:

Also, the differences in 2 pass encoding versus one pass might be more visible if you have bad source media from the beginning.....

I have no problems there as I am working with my own HDV source material only.
I have never noticed any difference in Blu-Ray done with 2pass encoding vs. VBR with the encoding parameters set high enough.  If I look at DVD encoding I can see the difference between 1 and 2 pass .....

Thanks for your input.
For my part I will stick with what I am doing now.
But it is useful for others to realise there are many approaches to this process (as I think I pointed pointed out in the above video)

Regards,
Douglas

BTW .. off - topic -don't want start new post ... Tomas - as I know you're using Canopus converter for preview at the external monitor. How it works with MC ?? Have you any AV delays on the external monitor  and speakers ? Any problems ?

Max

maxvideo:

BTW .. off - topic -don't want start new post ... Tomas - as I know you're using Canopus converter for preview at the external monitor. How it works with MC ?? Have you any AV delays on the external monitor  and speakers ? Any problems ?

Yes , a lot of delays so I cannot use it for syncing buth it works great for colour editing and other similar stuff as well of previewing all my work before exporting it out from the app, I use the FSP for checking sync, I actually run both FSP on one of my Syncmasters as well as previewing on my 42 inch plasma connected to the bob when i look at my finished work before exporting it.

Edited later .

i haven´t connected the audio to my plasma out from the bob, only the s-vhs connection , it might be sync on my plasma if I do so, will check

mjolnarn:

maxvideo:

BTW .. off - topic -don't want start new post ... Tomas - as I know you're using Canopus converter for preview at the external monitor. How it works with MC ?? Have you any AV delays on the external monitor  and speakers ? Any problems ?

 

Yes , a lot of delays so I cannot use it for syncing buth it works great for colour editing and other similar stuff as well of previewing all my work before exporting it out from the app, I use the FSP for checking sync, I actually run both FSP on one of my Syncmasters as well as previewing on my 42 inch plasma connected to the bob when i look at my finished work before exporting it.

Edited later .

i haven´t connected the audio to my plasma out from the bob, only the s-vhs connection , it might be sync on my plasma if I do so, will check

 

 Ok, just checked, it seems to be in sync when the audio also is connected to the bob

Thank you for your reply, Tomas. I work with external video monitor and Control L speakers / not with MC s/ware now/. If I  send a video and audio via Canopus  it  can be  in sync and  without  delays, as I  understand.

Best, Max

mjolnarn:

drbgaijin:

 Sounds like an interesting solution.

Does that mean that any chapter points/ subtitles etc. that were on the 1st version are still there after you drag the Blu-ray encoded m2v file into place?
Or do you have to redo them?

 

Everything in the menu stays the same, you are only changing source media...........

Tomas,
I don't have time to check that part just now.
But - you say "Everything in the menu..."

Do you actually mean menu?
The chapter points/subtitles etc. are not part of the menu system - they are on the timeline for each Movie title.

If you change the movie... do all the chapter points and subtitles remain in place?

Regards,

Douglas

If you follow my workflow and just drag the " other " m2v file to the title window where the " brother " m2v is placed , you will get a warning from Avid dvd that you are going to replace the file , so, yes , all have stayed the same in the cases I have done that , the files are of the same type and at the exact same length , using the same audio file which you not should replace of course .

If you will test some different menu constructions, there might be certain setups that this workflow not will function with altough I haven´t seen it yet but for ordinary bread and butter editing, I haven´t seen any probs .

And this don´t take much time Douglas, you don´t have to take my word for it , you are familiar with the app , just do a fast test and tell if it worked as well for you  as for me .

If you are afraid of destroying a long , nice and advanced menu you just have created , just go up and " save as " and start working in the other project in the same way that you are copying sequenses in MC and continue to work with the copied sequense  .

Thanks Tomas,

I just confirmed that it works as you said

Just as an aside:
This means I will now continue to use my workflow and strengthen it by remembering what you have pointed out for me.
Soon I hope to have the 6th in my DVDit tutorial series done.
After that, due to a couple of viewers requests , I will continue to go into more depth with DVDit, and your advice will be included in one of those new tutorials.

Thank you.

Regards,
Douglas

Douglas, it is always nice to be working together with you and making tests that in the end will come out as help for other users , you´re welcome ,  nice that it worked as well for you as for me , I really like that workflow .