Video University: Video University Forums: Mac Video: Workflow from Final Cut to DVDSP

VideoUniversity.com
Home	Free Library	Store
Free Catalog Please support VU by making your B&H purchases and links through this B&H ad. Doesn't cost a penny more.

See The New VU Postcard Catalog

To post in the forums see the Forum Guidelines.

Join or Renew Today.
New Benefits for all VU Members

Forum Guidelines and FAQ
Main Index	Search Posts
Who's Online	Log In

Home: Video University Forums: Mac Video:
Workflow from Final Cut to DVDSP

seanmac
Novice

Jun 6, 2007, 3:59 AM

Post #1 of 10 (965 views)
Shortcut

Workflow from Final Cut to DVDSP	Can't Post

Hi all,

I've been using Final Cut Pro for a while now but I've always used iDVD and have had great results. I wanted to use DVDSP for a long time but never seemed to have the time. Well, this week I bit the bullet and used it for the first time. I exported the movie from Final Cut as usual (1st option under export - is this correct - export as final cut movie or is this lowering quality?) then I opened DVDSP, selected my menu, imported my assets (exported movie from Final Cut) connected all the tracks and put on background music. I then simulated the disc and hit burn. The results were terrible with lots of pixelation around video with more movements. My compression is obviously way off and needs tweaked. I played a bit with the values in the preferences (2 pass vbr etc) but no change. I know I must be doing something wrong and losing quality somewhere along the chain. Do I need to alter my workflow?

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Sean.

carnicelli
User

Jun 6, 2007, 9:16 AM

Post #2 of 10 (960 views)
Shortcut

Re: [seanmac] Workflow from Final Cut to DVDSP [In reply to]	Can't Post

Sean,

Here's my workflow. I export a quicktime reference movie from FCP. Make sure to select the DVDSP marker info. Then I take the reference movie into compressor. I've found the VBR (best) presets work pretty good. Make sure to also compress your audio to AC3. Once compressor is done you import the mpg2 and ac3 files into DVDSP.

Bill Carnicelli
Carnicelli Media Productions Inc

seanmac
Novice

Jun 6, 2007, 9:33 AM

Post #3 of 10 (957 views)
Shortcut

Re: [carnicelli] Workflow from Final Cut to DVDSP [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks Bill.
So, do I need to place DVDSP markers on my timeline in FCP then? Instead of placing a chapter marker at the beginning and end, I can change it to DVDSP markers?
Looking forward to trying this again later.
Sean.

2ndMile
Enthusiast

Jun 6, 2007, 10:03 AM

Post #4 of 10 (954 views)
Shortcut

Re: [seanmac] Workflow from Final Cut to DVDSP [In reply to]	Can't Post

I find placing markers in FCP much easier than doing it in DVDSP. Easiest way is to hit the accent (`) key twice and name your marker and click on the Add Chapter Marker button. Be sure to select to export the markers.

Taking the QT file from FCP to Compressor is the best way to get the most quality out of your project. You have total control over the settings.

Take that into DVDSP and magic all your markers appear.

Brian Morris
2ndMile Blog

seanmac
Novice

Jun 6, 2007, 10:26 AM

Post #5 of 10 (950 views)
Shortcut

Re: [2ndMile] Workflow from Final Cut to DVDSP [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks Brian.
I already do add chapter markers via FCP and they were all there in DVDSP. Bill had mentioned about placing "DVDSP" markers, not chapter markers (maybe its the same Blush

). I can't remember the exact application layout from here so I'll look when I get home for DVDSP markers. If there is separate markers for DVDSP, do I just place them at the beginning and end of my movie?
Thanks again Brian.
Sean.

carnicelli
User

Jun 6, 2007, 10:58 AM

Post #6 of 10 (949 views)
Shortcut

Re: [seanmac] Workflow from Final Cut to DVDSP [In reply to]	Can't Post

Sean,

When you export your quicktime movie a export window comes up. In the bottom of the window are some settings that you can adjust. You need to make sure that the setting for "Markers" is set to DVD Studio Pro markers. That way all your chapter markers in your FCP timeline show up as chapter markers in DVDSP.

Bill Carnicelli
Carnicelli Media Productions Inc

2ndMile
Enthusiast

Jun 6, 2007, 12:49 PM

Post #7 of 10 (933 views)
Shortcut

Re: [seanmac] Workflow from Final Cut to DVDSP [In reply to]	Can't Post

Are you thinking about In and Out points when you export? I am not sure why you are saying to put them at the beginning and end. The chapter markers are to mark segments that you might want to jump to or allow the viewer to skip over a segment by going to the next chapter. A chapter mark is automatically placed at the beginning and there is no need to place one at the end. The is what the End Jump menu item is for.

Does that make sense?

Brian Morris
2ndMile Blog

seanmac
Novice

Jun 6, 2007, 3:33 PM

Post #8 of 10 (928 views)
Shortcut

Re: [2ndMile] Workflow from Final Cut to DVDSP [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Brian,

Yeah it does make sense, thanks! I already do that for my chapters (none at the end but I always put one at the start and never had problems with it-maybe it's overwritten) but I thought that I had to something different for DVDSP markers to delineate the start and end of my movie export. I'll try the export again now and it will make more sense to me when I can actually see what I'm trying to talk about. I'll need to figure out Compressor and get the hang of it.

Thanks a million Brian and to all who helped. Lots of info to try out now.
Sean.

seanmac
Novice

Jun 7, 2007, 3:20 AM

Post #9 of 10 (919 views)
Shortcut

Re: [2ndMile] Workflow from Final Cut to DVDSP [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi guys,

Just a quick followup to this, got Compressor working last night although had some weird behaviour. I was able to export from FCP, then create a batch in Compressor but when I hit submit, I got the window that Compressor had unexpectedly quit. I tried a few more times and nothing. Well, fans started going bananas so I checked the activity monitor only to find loads of Qmasterd processes and also a compressord process still there. I opened the batch monitor and found that the batch I created was actually running. So, I think it must have been a false alarm that compressor quit so I must be able to turn it off. What happens when everyone else hits submit - does compressor shut down?
Thanks.
Sean.

carnicelli
User

Jun 7, 2007, 9:40 AM

Post #10 of 10 (915 views)
Shortcut

Re: [seanmac] Workflow from Final Cut to DVDSP [In reply to]	Can't Post

Sean,

Compressor shouldn't be quitting. When I hit the submit button the batch monitor window comes up to show the progress of the encoding. I'm not sure which version of compressor you are using but make sure you have all the latest updates for your version for FCP, Compressor, and Pro Applications support from the Apple site.

Bill Carnicelli
Carnicelli Media Productions Inc