[MacDV] Re: Editing MPEG2 files (clarification)

[Gordon B. Alley]

HOLD ON ANOTHER MIN

Alex's suggestion will allow you to create DV files from the MPEG2 files.

But just be aware that DV files converted from MPEG2 files will be 
lower quality than DV files created from the original masters. The 
conversion to MPEG2 results in a lot of compression. If you edit DV 
files created this way in iMovie, and send the result to iDVD, it 
will be compressed AGAIN. I've never tried this myself, but I've seen 
a lot of discussion of this process on this list and others.

If the quality is important, let the production company make DV 
copies directly from the master tapes.

On Fri, 24 Sep 2004 18:10:05 +0100, Alex <alex at fotomotion.net> wrote:
>HOLD ON A MIN
>
>As you have already had the Beta Tape transferred to mpeg2 format you
>may as well use the files that you have.
>QuickTime Pro player has an mpeg2 codec that will allow you to open the
>.mv2 files in it.
>Open the .m2v file in the QuickTime player, you will probably have a
>separate .aiff or .AC3 file for the movies sound.
>Once open Go to the File menu and Export the movie as a DV stream.
>Once that is done them open the new movie in the QuickTime Player and
>also open the .aiff sound file. [.AC3 is not supported in QuickTime :-(
>]
>In the sound files Window select all and copy.
>Then go into your newly created DV file, select all, then go to the
>Edit Menu and select Add Scaled
>The Sound will now be copied in place over the DV movie.
>Go to the File Menu and select Save As and save the movie as Self
>contained.
>You will now have a DV stream that you can open in iMove edit and
>export for iDVD
>
>Alex
>----------------------------------------------------
>On 24 Sep 2004, at 17:27, Brian Olesky wrote:
>
>>  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

-- 
Gordon Alley  <*>
<mailto:galley at texas.net>
<http://galley.home.texas.net>