Settings for producin DVDs from HD source

andrzej wrote on 10/21/2007, 8:16 PM
I have a source video material recorded on my HD Sony HDR-HC1 at 1080i in NTSC. I use Sony Platinum Studio version 6. The files captured by VPS have extension of .M2T. I want to produce the highest quality possible DVD in NTSC and PAL formats. What are the best settings for:

1. Project in Vegas for editing
2. Producing final files for PAL and NTSC widescreen DVDs?

I am hoping for some simple advise as I am very confused with various options available (e.g. interlacing vs progressive, resolutions and frame speeds, etc.).

Thanks

Andrew

Comments

4eyes wrote on 10/22/2007, 8:28 AM
I didn't think that VMS 6 could edit & output in HD format.
But if DVD Architech Studio can read the .m2t files then the best resolution & quality you can get is having DVD architech Studio perform the rendering from HDV to SD.
So setup your properties in DVDA Studio, insert the HDV file, and force DVDA to re-encode to SD using Dolby Audio at least 8000kbs (I use 9000 or higher), force Upper_Field_First, 16:9.
That is if the program can read the file.
It is worth it to upgrade to VMS 8 Platinum for HDV editing. If you already have VMS 6 then the upgrade isn't that expensive compared to the full price. I would order the retail version though so you can get the physical DVD Media for installation.
I think also in your case going by other posts you may want to un-install VMS 6 first before upgrading, not sure but some have reported problems.
andrzej wrote on 10/22/2007, 7:41 PM
Thank you 4eyes. I think I might think about upgrading to ver. 8 .... I am a bit confused about your comments re. DVDA. I did not think that DVDA allowed to do rendering (isn't the rendering done in VMS first)? What I did so far is:

1. Import HD footage from my camera/ tape to Sone Vegas Studio Platinum 6 which loded as .m2T file (at 1080i resolution)
2. I did some basic editing
3. I used the "make movie" option "burn it to DVD", which performed a long rendering process and transfered the result to DVDA.
4. I added menu/ titles in DVDA
5. I created DVD in DVDA (this was quick as I gues it used the already rendered file from the Vegas Movie Studio. I used the "make DVD" option

I am not very happy with the final quality of video (I did not even pay attention to audio at this time). I am not sure what I can do to improve it?

I am not sure what settings to use to produce a copy of my project to DVD in PAL format and get a good video quality.

Andrew