HD to first-quality SD DVD - finally!

[pjsssss]

Thanks for sharing Alan!

[AJL14]

Hi Philip,

Always learning something! I'll try it. I used the layout only because it seems to increase the number of pixels by stretching the vertical percentage. But maybe I don't need to do that. I'll try it with a resolution test pattern and see if there's any difference.

Have a great weekend.
Alan

[Philip]

When you imported the m2t into a HDV project why didn't you change the settings to DV Widescreen. That is what I do. I render that timeline to a widescreen DVD and it works great. No need to use the layout tool.

[AJL14]

Hi guys,

This might be old knowledge to many of you, but on this forum I've witnessed a great deal of discussion and dissatisfaction with various techniques to get an HD or HDV edit transfered to a great-quality SD DVD. I, myself, have tried each and every way I've seen suggested, and with the same mediocre results - especially from what was an HD quality shoot.

I just finished experimenting with a technique I have not seen posted on the forum (that dosn't mean many of you don't do it this way) that has resulted in a really great looking DVD - finally. I just wanted to share this with whomever might want a little visual joy in their life! I have a stack of terrible-looking DVD's that are going to get melted into a paperweight!

Since I'm transfering the HD edit back to HDV for archiving, I have ended up with an *.m2t file of the EDIUS edit. Sooooo.....I opened a new 1080 project, imported the *.m2t file, changed the project to a DV720x480 48Khz project, rendered the timeline, transfered the render to DVD VOB files and recorded a 2 hour DVD+R DL, and it looks terrific. Almost imperseptible jaggies, great resolution and clarity, and just a small amount of "line jitter" from the line conversion. Much better by far - for some reason - than when I just took the HD timeline and traveled the same road to SD.

To continue my experiment, I took the same procedure and altered the "layout" of the *.m2t file - stretching it to "full frame" height, then re-rendered - resulting in an anamorphic DVD which looks sensational on one of my wide-screen TV's which stretches a 3x4 picture horizontally to fill the 16x9screen, and on a laptop which can do the same.

As I said - if many of you have done it this way, forgive my imposition. But if you haven't, and you're one of the one's who is still dissatisfied - try it. You'll like it!

Best to all,
Alan