Re: Burning highest possible quality DVD from FCP 5.03/DVDSP 4.0

Using Compressor as a stand alone app is probably more reliable than using DVDSP for your encoding. Using Compressor will also allow you to compress your audio into the .ac3 format at the same time to maximize the compatability with the most amount of consumer DVD players. As one of this forum's leaders metioned in the thread below, you should consider limiting your maximum bit rate to no more than 7 because some DVD players may choke on bit rates higher than that.

The workflow I use is as follows: export a self-contained Quicktime movie from FCP, video only, then export the audio separately using the 'export audio to AIF' command. Bring these elements into Compressor and encode the video to MPEG2 using the preset 2pass VBR best quality. 2 pass VBR will give you the best result if you have lots of fast action in the video. The CBR setting may be just as good an encode result if your video has mostly static shots such as talking heads from interviews, etc. It's up to you to experiment by doing test encoding with bits of your video to determine which settings are right for your movie. CBR will result in a faster encoding time, while VBR will take longer to do. Compress your audio then bring everything into DVDSP and drop the two elements into a track and you're good to go.

[TimJBD] "Should I just save a QT movie uncompressed?"

Not if you're thinking of using the uncompressed movie to burn directly onto a DVD. It won't play in any DVD player. Your movie HAS to be encoded into the MPEG2 file format, the DVD standard. Even allowing for the maximum MPEG2 bit rates encoded with Compressor you won't run out of room with a 35 min. video, even on a single layer disc.

- Don