Quality Settings for DVD

[unixphreak]

I am looking for the best quality settings for BTV, so that when I burn to a DVD it does not take hours to transcode. I am using Nero 6 Nero Vision Express. I am aware that there seem to be hundreds of posts on how to master DVD's, so If you can post a link to the correct thread, or the right info, that would be helpful.

I am also using pvr-250, on an AMD 64 3000.

Thanks!!

[whitewolfcan]

From my experience, Vision Express tends to re-transcode everything, no matter what your file setting is.

I used Ulead DVD Movie Factory, which doesn't re-transcode the file, as long as it's DVD-compliant. For more information, I used Google to search for "DVD compliant setting" and here's the results: http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=...g_en%7Clang_ja

My setting are customized based on the default "NTSC DVD Ready Hi-Res " setting. I modified the setting from fixed bit rate to variable bit rate with the range from 4000 to 9000 kbps.

Hope this helps.

WWC

[SmokyMtnz]

You have probably checked out these sources before, but they are worth repeating just in case a reader is looking for information.

Be sure to check out the sticky thread titled DVD Authoring Guide. Lots of great info there. Also check out VideoHelp.com. Great website!

My BTV quality settings are 720 x 480 @ 1200 kilobits per second. I use Womble MPEG Video Wizard 2003 to edit. (No transcoding to another bitrate. If you do, it will take forever.) I then use Sonic My DVD to author to my hard drive. (I am assuming that Sonic My DVD transcodes it to a DVD complient rate. Burned DVDs work perfect on my three DVD players.) Then use DVD Shrink to shrink it, if necessary, and burn it. All this takes less than an hour for two 45 minute shows.

Everyone has their own way to author and burn a DVD. No one way is best for everyone. Experiment and see what works best for you.

[ejdriscoll]

I use 352x480 @ constant 4.00 Mb/s (this is one of the built-in qualities, "better" I think).

VideoRedo to edit out commercials, DVD Movie Factory to burn. No transcoding at any step in the process, and you can fit about 2hr 20mins of video onto a DVD at this quality (which nicely fits 3 hrs worth of programming once you edit out the commercials). Takes me about 15 minutes to edit and 15-20 minutes to burn 3 hours worth of shows.

DVD Movie Factory can also do edits without transcoding, but you run into audio sync problems. Editing with VideoRedo (or Womble) avoids those.