Hi, I am trying to make a normal DVD that will play on a regular DVD player from

a quicktime made from a sequence in Avid Media Composer, 3.0.  I've tried several

different settings, and they all produce DVDs that work on my laptop and computer,

but they will not play smoothly on my TV.  There are stops and starts, picture break-up,

etc.  Does anyone have some tips on what settings to use to make a normal DVD?  I'm

using Toast 8.  Thanks.

DVD's are just MPEG-2 files.  Encode your QT movie to MPEG-2 using an Encoder app and then author that file using a DVD authoring app.  It sounds like you're just creating a QT and going straight to Toast, which will likely do it's best to create the DVD compliant MPEG-2 file, but Toast is not an Encoder app. 

Thanks- so the Avid doesn't do any compression, or is it just unreliable?  I was using the MPEG-4 setting at one point and thought it would work.  Can you suggest any encoder applications and authoring apps (for Mac) for someone on a budget?  Thanks again.

I know Kenton said that Toast doesnt work with qt reference, but I use it often, especially when I have a mixture of HD and SD material in a timeline

St.John

St.John:

Kenton said that Toast doesnt work with qt reference

?Huh?

I never said that.  I said that Toast is probably not the best Encoder.  

jfilm:

you suggest any encoder applications and authoring apps (for Mac) for someone on a budget?

Who's not on a budget?

Sorenson Squeeze comes with MC and works on Mac.  For DVD authoring, I use DVDSP (part of the FCP suite) 

jfilm:

so the Avid doesn't do any compression, or is it just unreliable?

What are you guy's mis-reading about my post?  

1. Export as a QTref from Avid
   
2. Encode QTref to MPEG-2 using Encoder
   
3. Author MPEG-2 file to DVD using Authoring app.
   

Simplified breakdown of my workflow:

1-export QT or QT Ref from Avid

2-encode the video to m2v (I use Bitvice)

3-encode the audio to ac3 (I use Compressor for this)

4-drop the m2v and ac3 files into a DVD authoring program (I use DVDSP)

5-once done authoring, make a VIDEO_TS folder

6-drop the VIDEO_TS folder into a disc burning app (I use Toast)

Todd Sanderson:

Simplified breakdown of my workflow:

 

1-export QT or QT Ref from Avid

2-encode the video to m2v (I use Bitvice)

3-encode the audio to ac3 (I use Compressor for this)

4-drop the m2v and ac3 files into a DVD authoring program (I use DVDSP)

5-once done authoring, make a VIDEO_TS folder

6-drop the VIDEO_TS folder into a disc burning app (I use Toast)

 

My process is nearly identical except I use Episode for the m2v and ac3 creation.

Kenton.VanNatten:

Todd Sanderson:

Simplified breakdown of my workflow:

 

1-export QT or QT Ref from Avid

2-encode the video to m2v (I use Bitvice)

3-encode the audio to ac3 (I use Compressor for this)

4-drop the m2v and ac3 files into a DVD authoring program (I use DVDSP)

5-once done authoring, make a VIDEO_TS folder

6-drop the VIDEO_TS folder into a disc burning app (I use Toast)

 

My process is nearly identical except I use Episode for the m2v and ac3 creation.

Maybe I am missing something but why not do:

1-export QT or QT ref from Avid

2-drop QT file in to a DVD authoring program ( I use DVDSP also)

3-build and burn from DVDSP

??

Please enlighten me as to why I would want to encode the video and audio files separately, then drop them in to DVDSP and then burn using toast.  What are the advantages of doing it how you guys do it compared to my workflow?

Thanks,

Steve

IF you have FCS on your system, that's the best way to go for me too. Compression is done with compressor (Which is a decent encoder, there are better but it does a nice job) and does everything in one step.

In my opinion, Bitvice is a far better encoder than Compressor... thus I take that extra step.

MiamiSteve:

Maybe I am missing something but why not do:

1-export QT or QT ref from Avid

2-drop QT file in to a DVD authoring program ( I use DVDSP also)

3-build and burn from DVDSP

??

Please enlighten me as to why I would want to encode the video and audio files separately, then drop them in to DVDSP and then burn using toast.  What are the advantages of doing it how you guys do it compared to my workflow?

Control.  

When you bring a QT into DVDSP it's going to encode it to MPEG-2.  What level of control do you have over the encoded result?  Using a dedicated encoder app gives you that.  In other words, "Horses for Courses"

I can see your point.  However I haven't had a problem with my workflow so I guess if it isn't broke don't fix it. 

I'm with you Steve, it's another thing that Apple does very well, make a nice DVD so that you don't have to think about encoding settings.

Most of the time my DVDs are for approvals so tossing a QT ref into DVDSP and burn is all I have to do. Not a lot of control needed.