[MacDV] Editing MPEG2 files (clarification)

[Brian Olesky]

OK, thanks everyone, I've got it. As usual, the "experts" at the production
company only know PC (I should've known--Production Company? PC?), so that's
where the bad advice came from. They're making me all new DV files, and I
guess I just import them to iMovie, add my titles, then burn with iDVD.
Amazing how simple life gets when the fog clears.

Brian 

On 9/24/04 10:51 AM, "James Asherman" <jimash at optonline.net> wrote:

> 
> On Friday, September 24, 2004, at 11:33  AM, Brian Olesky wrote:
> 
>> OK, thru offlist and other posts, I've now learned enough to make my
>> question a little clearer.
>> 
>> What I want to be able to do is take a bunch of professionally
>> produced 15
>> to 60 second videos, which I have on individual BetaSP tapes, and
>> string
>> them together in varying compilations, to make custom reels that I can
>> burn
>> to DVD. Meaning I really don't have to do any film editing, just
>> compiling.
>> 
>> So what I've learned is, I don't need iMovie at all (unless I want to
>> add
>> some titles). And that I may have done the right thing by going
>> straight to
>> MPEG2s, because that's the format iDVD will need to enable me to make
>> these
>> custom DVDs?
> 
> Nope. iDVD works with DV files. It does it's own mpeg2 encoding. I do
> not think you will have any luck loading mpeg2 files into iDVD
> especially if they are mixed with Dv files from iMovie.
> (Which will make nice titles)
> 
>> 
>> And that if I want to make some title cards to add in here and there,
>> that's
>> what I'd use iMovie for?
> Yes. But you would be MUCH better off even with DV files on a DVD data
> disc to use for your short edits.
>> 
>> And one last question--If all I want to do is lay out 10 or 12 of the
>> MPEG2s
>> in a specific order, and then add a few titles at the front and back,
>> with
>> maybe a few more in the middle between clips, do I have to upgrade to
>> DVD
>> Studio Pro? iDVD can't do this? It seems pretty basic.
> 
> You might be able to use TOAST6 to do this but I don't know how much
> you can control sequential playback. With iDVD you really have to use
> iMovie or Final Cut to ultimately control sequential playback.
> (important if you add a title in the DVD building stage.)
> I really think only DVDSP gives you complete sequential control.
> That said  I am getting GREAT results using the chapter markers in FCP
> or iMovie and using iDVD. But iDVD doesn't start with Mpeg files. DV.
> Your production house friend was misinformed. If you wanted to mess
> around editing mpeg you should have gotten a SOny computer
> 
>> 
>> Sorry if I'm boring everyone with a Video 101 question, but I'm new
>> here and
>> don't know the flow yet.
>> 
>> Again, TIA,
>> Brian
>> 
> Das ok.
> J
> 
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