Using "extras" to put HD footage on DVD

dxdy wrote on 8/30/2016, 6:29 PM

I have a good client, three shoots a year, who has not and probably never will wrap her head around the down-rezzing from HD to SD for DVDs. I have slowly gotten about 1/3 of her customers to adopt BluRay (at least it’s from this century), but the ballet recitals she puts on in the high school theater are mostly distributed on DVD.

I think I found a workaround, and I am interested in this forum’s members’ opinions and experience.

I recently started experimenting with Handbrake, and found I could produce a really good looking mp4 at very low bitrates (as low as 4Mbit, maybe up to 6 Mbit), and therefore, small file sizes.

With the small file size, I can put a 30 minute DVD program and a Handbrake converted mp4 on a single 4.7GB DVD. People with computers or BluRay players can use the MP4. Even though the MP4 files are smaller than the DVD directory, they look so much better.

There are downsides. First, I have to be able to explain how to get to the MP4 for computer and BluRay users, with different scenarios if they are using Macs, Win 7, or Win 8 or 10. Next, I worry about compatibility with older DVD players. I have tried reading the DVDs on some older machines – a Sony from 7 years ago, and another from 10 years ago work fine. On a 15 year old KLH, not so much, the machine reports “no disk”.

During my testing I also found that there is a flawed version of VLC player out there, that won’t display menus from burned DVDs. Version 2.2.4 seems to have fixed that.

My source is Canon MXF 50 Mbit, interlaced.  I edit in Vegas Pro 13, output a Sony XDCAM file (large), and read that into Handbrake. I had to get Handbrake’s cropping under control (dancers’ feet kept disappearing), but once I did I was loving the results. When I get some spare time, I will work on the Frameserver to HandBrake process.

What do you all think? Any experience with “extras” on DVDs?

Comments

john_dennis wrote on 8/30/2016, 8:51 PM

For very short videos, I've actually included the source files and the Vegas project in the Extras folder. These were snippets of video I shot of others that I thought they would like to have in a playable form like DVD. If they ever come back and want something else done with it, the files are right there on the disk.

Because of the size limitations of the DVD media, you would probably be better off buying some inexpensive USB flash drives to give them a copy of the HD media.

ushere wrote on 8/30/2016, 8:58 PM

USB flash drives

only way to go. i haven't burnt a dvd in over 3 years and have had nothing but happy clients.

Chienworks wrote on 8/30/2016, 10:25 PM

I would have a LOT of unhappy clients if i didn't deliver on DVDs. Or, more accurately, i wouldn't have many clients anymore.

ushere wrote on 8/30/2016, 10:56 PM

interesting, but i suppose it really depends on your market. the local event shooter is still trying to persuade her customers to move to br, but they're still demanding dvd yet complaining it isn't hd ;-)

NickHope wrote on 8/30/2016, 11:57 PM

I think it's a great idea, if you have space on the DVD.

I worry about compatibility with older DVD players. I have tried reading the DVDs on some older machines – a Sony from 7 years ago, and another from 10 years ago work fine. On a 15 year old KLH, not so much, the machine reports “no disk”.

During my testing I also found that there is a flawed version of VLC player out there, that won’t display menus from burned DVDs. Version 2.2.4 seems to have fixed that.

Before you assume that the incompatibility is because of the file in "Extras", note that DVD Architect produces DVDs that are not fully compliant with standards (or at least, unconventional). I run my DVDs through a convoluted process to make them more compliant, each of which involves the use of PcgEdit, as described in these 3 threads:

Even if your DVDs don't exhibit those bugs, just running the authored folders through PcgEdit will reveal "dicrepancies".

Also note that DVD Architect 6.0 has at least 1 bug that was not in 5.2, which is why I use the earlier version.