Topic: HD > DVD (Mac)

[willndmb]

looking to figure out how to go from my Canon HV20 (HD footage) to DVD on a Mac
if anyone has info or links please lmk
I have iMovie and FCP, i like capturing to iMovie because it is easier for me (for some reason FCP doesn't always want to work correct)
willing to export to FCP if need be
thanks for any pointers/help

[beatkilla]

Do you want to downrez to standard definition or make a avchd dvd that will play on a bluray player or ps3?

[willndmb]

Do you want to downrez to standard definition or make a avchd dvd that will play on a bluray player or ps3?

pref avchd but down to sd would be ok

[kingkita]

Final Cut

[willndmb]

Final Cut

i got that far
i don't know what to do in fc
i am looking for tips/pointers of where i can read/see the steps to take in fcp that will allow me to export via compressor to dvdsp and burn
(when i search google - i get results about a program that will convert the files but have not found anything directly to fcp)
thanks

[allan]

Youre on the right track, we always use imovie to import because it will make clips of every time you stop recording, great for when youre making a music video. you should be able it pull up those clips in a finder window and drag/drop them into the media browser and then place them from there onto the timeline. What kind of file does the HV20 make?

[willndmb]

hdv 1080i

i found one link that said to use applepro (or something - have to look for the exact name) as the fcp setting and that will allow for native editing in the timeline of fcp
but i have not found much on exporting the finished timeline to disc

[allan]

when you place the clips in the timeline, it should pop up a note that asks if you want to use a certain preset, I always say yes to this as FCP looks at the clips and picks the right setting generally. As far as exporting your final product, use compressor and start with a preset for HD and tweak it for what you need.

[willndmb]

when you place the clips in the timeline, it should pop up a note that asks if you want to use a certain preset, I always say yes to this as FCP looks at the clips and picks the right setting generally. As far as exporting your final product, use compressor and start with a preset for HD and tweak it for what you need.

thanks
i plan to do a small test run over the weekend if i can

[bluntforcetrauma]

HV20 is tape based.  So you want to capture in imovie and export onto DVD? well when you import using HDV then when finished with your project> you can send it to iDVD to add titles and chapters> save as > TS_Video folder, or save as ... disc image then burn to DVD. 

If you are using AVCHD based camcorder ( which the Hv20 and HVxx series does not) you can use Voltaic which takes avchd files and converts to .mov quicktime files and can be used with imovie HD 6 which is really the best program from imovie with using the slick rick plug ins, you looks just as good as FCP.

hope it helps

[willndmb]

HV20 is tape based.  So you want to capture in imovie and export onto DVD? well when you import using HDV then when finished with your project> you can send it to iDVD to add titles and chapters> save as > TS_Video folder, or save as ... disc image then burn to DVD. 

If you are using AVCHD based camcorder ( which the Hv20 and HVxx series does not) you can use Voltaic which takes avchd files and converts to .mov quicktime files and can be used with imovie HD 6 which is really the best program from imovie with using the slick rick plug ins, you looks just as good as FCP.

hope it helps

what if i wanted to capture in iMovie but build/burn in DVD Studio Pro?
same idea? what would you recommend as the best export file type?
thanks

[bluntforcetrauma]

HV20 is tape based.  So you want to capture in imovie and export onto DVD? well when you import using HDV then when finished with your project> you can send it to iDVD to add titles and chapters> save as > TS_Video folder, or save as ... disc image then burn to DVD. 

If you are using AVCHD based camcorder ( which the Hv20 and HVxx series does not) you can use Voltaic which takes avchd files and converts to .mov quicktime files and can be used with imovie HD 6 which is really the best program from imovie with using the slick rick plug ins, you looks just as good as FCP.

hope it helps

what if i wanted to capture in iMovie but build/burn in DVD Studio Pro?
same idea? what would you recommend as the best export file type?
thanks

What really sucks is that imovie HD6 is like no other, meaning its written on a different codec than imovie 8, 9 and now 11.  YOU can capture in Imovie Hd 6 and use those files to work in other programs.  I know you can capture in Imovie HD6 and use that in say imovie 09 but again the later versions of Imovie drop frames making it a so called more friendly versions to work on when uploading to the web, but to the more serious quality minded folks that does not do so well.  I dont know if capturing in Imovie HD 6 that you can use in DVD studio Pro, that i dont know.  Just that capturing in any imovie above HD6 it does drop frames so that so called editing is easier.  I would have to believe but again not exactly sure, but if you were to build and capture in imovie HD 6 what is great is that you can then export your " version" back to the camera if tape based and save it on " tape" then import into Studio Pro. But again that might not be necessary because you might be able to go right to Imovie HD 6 to DVD studio pro.  usually the best export file is " Best quality or best performance i think its called.  dont quote me on that.  For example, i filmed Roger Waters using panny DMC 7 AVCHD and just took the files and converting them to .mov files or quicktime files without lose of frames using Voltaic.  This is a bunch of rambling i apologize, lmk a little more about STudio Pro?  I just know that if you are using HDV or HD taped based video do not use Imovie above HD 6 because it inherently will give a poor visual quality due to the dropped frames. I am sure this probably did not help to much.  But i do work a lot with imovie HD6, so if you i can help zero in on the topic please LMK

thanks

( worst reply in history--i read this and it sucks--sorry)

next one i hope to do better

[willndmb]

ok let me ask you this
do you know if i can get iMovie HD (6.0.3) to install on a 2010 mbp?
i have the iMovie HD from my imac and somewhere i have the original install discs that came with the iMac
besides the dropped frame aspect, i am used to iMovie HD since I use it for 99% of my dvd stuff vs the newer versions
thanks

[tapeheadtoo]

Just that capturing in any imovie above HD6 it does drop frames so that so called editing is easier.  ... <snip> ...
 For example, i filmed Roger Waters using panny DMC 7 AVCHD and just took the files and converting them to .mov files or quicktime files without lose of frames using Voltaic. 

Is that a known fact, that capturing in >iMovie 6 causes dropped frames?  When capturing with iMovie, the footage is transcoded into AIC (Apple Intermediate Codec) which can then be edited by iMovie and/or FCE/FCP.  As far as I know, that process does not result in any dropped frames.  I've never experienced any problems capturing in iMovie 9 and using the resultant files for editing in iMovie 9 or FCE.  I have used Voltaic as well, for when I only had the .mts files and not the entire AVCHD folder structure (which iMovie needs)and that works well too. My understanding is that Voltaic is doing the same thing, transcoding to AIC.

[bluntforcetrauma]

Just that capturing in any imovie above HD6 it does drop frames so that so called editing is easier.  ... <snip> ...
 For example, i filmed Roger Waters using panny DMC 7 AVCHD and just took the files and converting them to .mov files or quicktime files without lose of frames using Voltaic. 

Is that a known fact, that capturing in >iMovie 6 causes dropped frames?  When capturing with iMovie, the footage is transcoded into AIC (Apple Intermediate Codec) which can then be edited by iMovie and/or FCE/FCP.  As far as I know, that process does not result in any dropped frames.  I've never experienced any problems capturing in iMovie 9 and using the resultant files for editing in iMovie 9 or FCE.  I have used Voltaic as well, for when I only had the .mts files and not the entire AVCHD folder structure (which iMovie needs)and that works well too. My understanding is that Voltaic is doing the same thing, transcoding to AIC.

Drop frames may not be the proper term but yes it is transcoded to AIC but i do know that any imovie above HD6 is not structured the same way. Imovie9, imovie11, the resulting file is supposedly not as high quality picture as imovie HD6.  I will try to research more and try to find the proper terminology.  I use the voltaic on all my AVCHD files to turn them in usable footage with imovie HD6 and use the slick rick plug ins.  Maybe that was another reason why I use imovie HD6 because the fact you need the whole folder structure for imovie. And imovie 9 and imovie 11 jsut have very limiting editing, but as you use FCP then of course there is not that shortfall.

[tapeheadtoo]

Drop frames may not be the proper term but yes it is transcoded to AIC but i do know that any imovie above HD6 is not structured the same way. Imovie9, imovie11, the resulting file is supposedly not as high quality picture as imovie HD6.  I will try to research more and try to find the proper terminology.  I use the voltaic on all my AVCHD files to turn them in usable footage with imovie HD6 and use the slick rick plug ins.  Maybe that was another reason why I use imovie HD6 because the fact you need the whole folder structure for imovie. And imovie 9 and imovie 11 jsut have very limiting editing, but as you use FCP then of course there is not that shortfall.

Hmm.  I'm trying to find out more about this also.  If what you say is correct, then I might consider going back to iMovie HD/6 to capture.  Or simply capture with FCE.  That should be optimal for editing in FCE, no?  I've been going through iMovie HD first so I can throw up my YT clips first will working on the full DVDs in FCE.  But now I've discovered it's way easier to sync the entire show first in FCE, then just cut the individual clips from that timeline (instead of having to sync all the tracks separately in iMovie HD for YT).  So I really don't need to go through any version of iMovie at all.

I'll be interested to see if you find anything about the HD6 vs later capturing though, if only for academic reasons.  Also, what are "slick rick" plugins for Voltaic?  My Google searches for "slick rick" and "voltaic plugins" are coming up empty...

[bluntforcetrauma]

Drop frames may not be the proper term but yes it is transcoded to AIC but i do know that any imovie above HD6 is not structured the same way. Imovie9, imovie11, the resulting file is supposedly not as high quality picture as imovie HD6.  I will try to research more and try to find the proper terminology.  I use the voltaic on all my AVCHD files to turn them in usable footage with imovie HD6 and use the slick rick plug ins.  Maybe that was another reason why I use imovie HD6 because the fact you need the whole folder structure for imovie. And imovie 9 and imovie 11 jsut have very limiting editing, but as you use FCP then of course there is not that shortfall.

Hmm.  I'm trying to find out more about this also.  If what you say is correct, then I might consider going back to iMovie HD/6 to capture.  Or simply capture with FCE.  That should be optimal for editing in FCE, no?  I've been going through iMovie HD first so I can throw up my YT clips first will working on the full DVDs in FCE.  But now I've discovered it's way easier to sync the entire show first in FCE, then just cut the individual clips from that timeline (instead of having to sync all the tracks separately in iMovie HD for YT).  So I really don't need to go through any version of iMovie at all.

I'll be interested to see if you find anything about the HD6 vs later capturing though, if only for academic reasons.  Also, what are "slick rick" plugins for Voltaic?  My Google searches for "slick rick" and "voltaic plugins" are coming up empty...

Actually google geethree they make the slick plug ins for imovie and FCP they can tell you the technical differences and possible advantages and or disadvantages to imovie HD 6 vs. the upgrades and FCP. FYI there entire line of plug ins for imovie only work with imovie HD6 or FCP, which inherently tells that the technical aspect of imovie 8, 9 and 11 are different. Now is it good different or bad different, i dont know.  That is above my pay scale. But the guys who make the plug ins were apple developers and can hopefully shed light on the differences.
I did send the message out to  the guys at geethree who makes slick plug ins, they are actually  previous apple developers who worked on AIC and they are the ones that are able to inform on why the whole structure of the imovie HD6 program is different then updated versions, and why the updated versions are more for the upload to web oriented content, it has been stated that quality is less on those updated versions of imovie.
apple discussion boards on their main web site is great for information also.

sidenote

Now if someone could tell me if Schoeps CCM4 and/or CCM41 come as a lemo or attached mic cable that would be great. And if there is lemo does it add a robust cable exit to the cable?

[tapeheadtoo]

Okay, I just found the following explanation in the online Apple forum:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I would use iMovie 06 with iDVD 09/11, why?

iMovie 09/11 uses 'single field processing' meaning every other horizontal line of the video is thrown out, which reduces the sharpness of the footage. iMovie 06 uses ALL of the image to form the video.

If your primary workflow is editing DV clips and making DVDs, iMovie '06 is better suited. Your movie will arrive at iDVD in DV format, which is an ideal match for making a DVD: same resolution, same pixels aspect ratio, and original quality. If you share your movie from iMovie 09/11, it gets re-rendered at 640x480 or less, and then iDVD upscales it back to 720x480. The end result is obviously not as good.

iMovie 06 and iDVD 09/11 is a "lossless" combination. My movies are diamond sharp, with the same quality you get from Hollywood.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This explanation is good enough for me.

I've been wondering why my DVDs don't look as crisp as I would like.  I thought perhaps it was due to also seeing my Blu-rays of the same projects.  Of course, SD will always look "not as good" in comparison.  But the above is a compelling argument that my DVD's _could_ look better.

Now I'm mad that I've distributed lots of DVDs that could have been sharper.  Should I go back and redo them all???  Yeah, another project for the back burner, like "scan all my old family photographs," "transfer all my old DAT masters," and "digitally archive my 1,500 Yes cassettes." 

[bluntforcetrauma]

Okay, I just found the following explanation in the online Apple forum:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I would use iMovie 06 with iDVD 09/11, why?

iMovie 09/11 uses 'single field processing' meaning every other horizontal line of the video is thrown out, which reduces the sharpness of the footage. iMovie 06 uses ALL of the image to form the video.

If your primary workflow is editing DV clips and making DVDs, iMovie '06 is better suited. Your movie will arrive at iDVD in DV format, which is an ideal match for making a DVD: same resolution, same pixels aspect ratio, and original quality. If you share your movie from iMovie 09/11, it gets re-rendered at 640x480 or less, and then iDVD upscales it back to 720x480. The end result is obviously not as good.

iMovie 06 and iDVD 09/11 is a "lossless" combination. My movies are diamond sharp, with the same quality you get from Hollywood.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This explanation is good enough for me.

I've been wondering why my DVDs don't look as crisp as I would like.  I thought perhaps it was due to also seeing my Blu-rays of the same projects.  Of course, SD will always look "not as good" in comparison.  But the above is a compelling argument that my DVD's _could_ look better.

Now I'm mad that I've distributed lots of DVDs that could have been sharper.  Should I go back and redo them all???  Yeah, another project for the back burner, like "scan all my old family photographs," "transfer all my old DAT masters," and "digitally archive my 1,500 Yes cassettes."

see I thought there was a visual difference when working with imovie HD6 vs. 09 and 11 I just am not smart enough to explain it with the right terminology, and thats why i dont use 09 or 11 because others were saying that the quality is not as good due to inherent design of 09 and imovie 11.
Thats why i do my projects in imovie HD 6 and use Voltaic to take AVCHD to .mov files. no loss in resolution.

In fact i filmed Colin Hay acoustic concert ( men at work fame) with AVCHD and convert that to .mov with voltaic worked in imovie HD 6.  I just have not uploaded it yet.  Actually because my audio did not turn out very well.

[tapeheadtoo]

Thats why i do my projects in imovie HD 6 and use Voltaic to take AVCHD to .mov files. no loss in resolution.

In fact i filmed Colin Hay acoustic concert ( men at work fame) with AVCHD and convert that to .mov with voltaic worked in imovie HD 6. 

Why don't you just capture the footage in iMovie HD 6 to edit it directly?  That way you wouldn't need the extra Voltaic step?  Or perhaps I am misunderstanding this...

[willndmb]

so does anyone know if i can load iMovie 6 onto a 2010 MBP?
I don't want to screw anything up with my current configuration if it will not work
thanks

[bluntforcetrauma]

Thats why i do my projects in imovie HD 6 and use Voltaic to take AVCHD to .mov files. no loss in resolution.

In fact i filmed Colin Hay acoustic concert ( men at work fame) with AVCHD and convert that to .mov with voltaic worked in imovie HD 6. 

Why don't you just capture the footage in iMovie HD 6 to edit it directly?  That way you wouldn't need the extra Voltaic step?  Or perhaps I am misunderstanding this...

imovie HD 6 does not accept AVCHD so it has to be conveted to a .mov file


There are numerous differences in the user interface, features, and workflow between iMovie HD 6 and iMovie 8/9/11.  Many of these are personal preferences in how you prefer to edit.

The one main technical difference is the iMovie HD 6 is designed as a .dv video editor.  All clips and edits are stored in a .dv format, so there is no loss in image quality from the original video.  This works especially well if you have a DV video camera, or make lots standard DVD's.  Newer versions of iMovie convert video to an intermediate file format when importing.  In most cases this is not a significant issue, but it you export/import multiple times you will see a loss in image quality as the "generations" continue.

[bluntforcetrauma]

so does anyone know if i can load iMovie 6 onto a 2010 MBP?
I don't want to screw anything up with my current configuration if it will not work
thanks

imovie HD 6 can run on the latest sofware SL 10.6 so it should have no problem on your MBP

[willndmb]

so does anyone know if i can load iMovie 6 onto a 2010 MBP?
I don't want to screw anything up with my current configuration if it will not work
thanks

imovie HD 6 can run on the latest sofware SL 10.6 so it should have no problem on your MBP

sweet thanks
time to dig out my discs