I watched the video "From Avid Media Composer to DVD in easy steps" and everything goes ok until I open up Avid DVD and when I try and import my squeezed video (which plays fine by itself) it plays the sound but the pictures are a series of upside down stills when I scrub through the timeline. Can anyone tell me if I'm doing something wrong? Thanks

Simon

Please enter your system specifications in your profile...

Done!

I export QT ref out of MC and use it in Avid DVD (without Squeezing it), it works beautifully with no problems at all. HTH

Hello Luca,

Seems like the "Squeeze syndrome" is becoming a regular topic.

Hello Simon,
As Luca suggests, try going direct to AvidDVD with you MC QT-reference file.
AvidDVD can do the transcoding.

I took a look back over the past year and find that almost all problems creating DVDs or BluRay discs with AvidDVD are from files that have been run through Squeeze.
Don't get me wrong.
Squeeze is a top notch programme that does a good job of transcoding.
But there are times when it is not necessary to use Squeeze as the middle man.
As I have noticed running your QT reference though Squeeze can introduce problems - sometimes.

Regards,

Douglas

Edit : After reading my post I see that it looks like I am blaming Squeeze alone!
This is, of course, not correct.
What I am doing is pointing my finger at any unnecessary 3rd party/middle man transcoding whether it be Procoder, Adobe Media creator, etc. etc.
Suggestion.  When going from MC via a QT-reference file, try the direct method first.
If it is not successful, then begin to try other methods.

The only problem I believe between Squeeze and Avid DVD is outputting files (from Squeeze) with files with the wrong (for Avid DVD) file extension or outputting a Program stream from Squeeze instead of Elementary streams.

These export file types are basic to all encoding software going to DVD authoring software.

IMO several of the alternative encoders that do a better job faster than encoding in Avid DVD. Take 5 minutes to find which output file format from your encoder works for you in Avid DVD. Then save it as an appropriately named template in the encoder. Note that it will realistically take a lot longer than 5 minutes to customise your MPEG 2 encode parameters the first time to get the absolute best results, but once achieved just save them as a  template.

Andrew, your additional thoughts are all quite valid too.
I think we have the problem of so many different starting points (file format, resolution etc.) going through many different transcoders and outputting to different media (DVD-R, DVD+R, BD-R, BD-RE etc.)
In the end it will be, as you say, finding what works for "you".

To add a counter balance to some of your points, I would like to throw in this:

AndrewAction:

IMO several of the alternative encoders that do a better job faster than encoding in Avid DVD

I am finding that does not always hold. I have been testing Adobe Encore and TMPGEnc Authoring Works and find that they  1. often take longer and 2. often choke on QT reference files.
Also Faster is not alway Better ( It is a little like the slider you sometimes meet where the far right says "Faster-lower quality" ... and the far left "Slower - higher quality")

AndrewAction:

The only problem I believe between Squeeze and Avid DVD is outputting files (from Squeeze) with files with the wrong (for Avid DVD) file extension or outputting a Program stream from Squeeze instead of Elementary streams.

This is true. But the question I am always coming back to is why go through Squeeze at all, if DVDit can transcode a perfectly good DVD or Blu-Ray with a QT-reference direct from MC?

I have heard a person once say that he/she transcodes the MC output files in Adobe Media Encoder. They told me proudly that "It takes all night to do the transcoding -  but when I am finished I can drop the files into AvidDVD..... and they are not transcoded again!  I save a lot of time by doing that"

Regards,
Douglas

 

drbgaijin:

Seems like the "Squeeze syndrome" is becoming a regular topic.

Yes indeed, quite a few similiar posts at the mean time... Why go via Squeeze if You can go directly to Avid DVD? It's just a waste of time, IMO. I use Squeeze for transcoding from exotic file formats to Avid compatible formats and for delivering compressed files via FTP for clients approval and the like, other tasks than DVD m aking and the software works extremely well, fast and good quality.

I know this thread is about Avid DVD, and that many people wonder where Sonic is going with their development of this product.
I can let you all know that in 2 or 3 days from now it will be common knowledge that Sonic are releasing Sonic BD Power Station (for Blu-Ray and DVD)
At a cost of 2,499 usd it is not cheap.
But for the professional user of MC, it may be the future........

Regards,
Douglas

 

drbgaijin:

I can let you all know that in 2 or 3 days from now it will be common knowledge that Sonic are releasing Sonic BD Power Station (for Blu-Ray and DVD)
At a cost of 2,499 usd it is not cheap.

Interesting that they finally are releasing a new app, seems to be some activity on the bd market at last.

For the price of that app, it really have to be very good however, they do have some competitors in a total different price range.

mjolnarn:

For the price of that app, it really have to be very good however, they do have some competitors in a total different price range.

Google for it Tomas, read the specifications.
You will understand that the "competitors" you are probably thinking about are not only in a totally different price range.... they are also at a totally different (lower) level.

I was thinking that this new BD Powerstation was something for the professionals using MC.
Thus the extra quality and price tag.
I am not sure how much Scenarist costs these days, but this new Powerstation seems to have a much better interface.

If interest blows up about this new product I will start a new thread over in the "Other Discussions" area, as it isn't really OT here.

Sorry all for the diversion.

Regards
Douglas

 

I have no complaints with the speed of the DVD encoding within DVDit. For AVI to mpeg2 roughly a 1minute source media to output media rate. For HDV to DVD a 1:2 rate.

With the 3/gig memory switch engaged, all 4 cores are well utilized. The slider set to highest quality, CBR.

Also, reading the specs and demands for this new app, it seems only to be working with XP SP3, Vista is not mentioned and might not work as DX 9 is especially mentioned, also notice the minimum screen resolution.

Windows^® XP Professional, Service Pack 3, 32-bit

Microsoft Direct X 9.0c

Microsoft Windows Media Player 10 or later

Apple QuickTime 7 or later

3GHz processor (multi-core processor recommended)

Monitor with minimum 1600x1200 screen resolution (1920x1200 recommended) and 32-bit color support

Edited..  And no BD avchd output, only Mpeg 2 and VC1

drbgaijin:

This is true. But the question I am always coming back to is why go through Squeeze at all, if DVDit can transcode a perfectly good DVD or Blu-Ray with a QT-reference direct from MC?

I can only talk for myself here. I most often go other directions for encodes because I choose to use the best tool for each individual job. This now means DVDit and Avid DVD are not used very much even though I have owned and used DVDit since it was first released..

mjolnarn:

Also, reading the specs and demands for this new app, it seems only to be working with XP SP3, Vista is not mentioned and might not work as DX 9 is especially mentioned, also notice the minimum screen resolution.

Tomas, that is just what I was saying - it is a professional programme to be used by professionals.

Regards,
Douglas