Hi Happy -

You said the magic letters... DVD.

DVD is just what it is... & will be nothing like the quality of your original video!

By comparison:
Original resolution = 1980x1020
DVD resolution = 720 x 576 pixels (PAL), 720 x 480 pixels (NTSC)

Original bitrate = 17MBps
DVD bitrate = about 9.8MBps (max)

Since a SL DVD holds only 4.7GB, obviously something's got to give way - quality!

DVD is convenient & universal, but it's a huge compromise.

Here are some different options (just searched through 110 pages in the DZ forum, without a search facility, & couldn't locate this):

Below: +++ = pros, --- = cons, !!! = worth considering

1. Playback from camera, direct to TV.
+++ raw quality, no re-encoding - best quality option
--- doesn't allow editing, except "on-camera"
!!! HDMI cable for best quality

2. Video file played through HD Media Player
+++ no disc burning (& no waste from bad burns) - play file directly from USB storage device
+++ allows editing prior to producing file
+++ no further re-encoding for disc production
+++ cost/environmetal advantage
!!! HDMI cable for best quality

3. Burn to Blu-Ray Disc
+++ allows bitrate of up to 40MBps
+++ resolutions of 1440x1080 & 1920x1080 @ 24MBps possible in PD
+++ best DISC choice for maintaining quality
+++ greater storage capacity - single layer: 25GB (4hr HD, 11hr SD), dual layer: 50GB (9hr SD, 23hr SD)
+++ more efficient data transfer (& getting better!)
--- cost of discs
--- use of BR burners & players is not universal
!!! higher bitrate = better quality & bigger size
!!! HDMI cable for best quality
!!! burned with blue laser (shorter wavelength)

4. Burn to AVCHD DVD
+++ best quality option for standard DVD
+++ resolutions of 1440x1080 & 1920x1080 possible in PD
--- standard DVD players cannot decode HD formats (a bit like burning audio to a DVD disc and expecting your Audio CD player to play it)
!!! play back on a PS3 or Blu-ray players (newer ones all support AVCHD).

5. Burn to DVD
+++ convenient - fairly universal
+++ low cost
--- Quality sacrificed for convenience
--- bitrate of about 9.8MBps
--- Standard DVDs burnt in one of two resolutions: 720 x 576 pixels (PAL), or 720 x 480 pixels (NTSC)
--- DVD players' ability to upscale is highly variable
!!! Storage capacity: Single layer: 4.7GB, Dual layer: 8.5GB
!!! burned with red laser (longer wavelength)

6. Playback on PC
+++ convenient
+++ connect/stream to TV or data projector
+++ no quality sacrifice with disc burning
+++ similar advantages to HD Media Player option
--- quality depends on screen resolution (PC)


Cheers - Tony


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Tony

Read your last post with great interest. I just bought a Panasonic HD camcorder that procuces AVCHD files. I am using the standard version of PD and was wondering about upgrading to the Ultra. I know the ultra version will allow me to edit AVCHD files. Will it allow me to save the edited files in AVCHD format and burn them to a standard dvd for playing on a Blu Ray player that accesses AVCHD files. If so, how will the video look on a HD tv? The reason I purchased the HD cam is to have better looking movies and thus far the movies I have burned do not look a whole lot better than the ones I burned with my standard def camcorder.

Thanks in advance, Bob

Hi Bob -

From what I've read in the forums, there's no easy way of "upgrading" from the Deluxe version to PD8 Ultra... but you'd need to contact CyberLink about that.

Using PD8 Ultra, you can burn AVCHD DVDs. These will play on most (newer) BR players. I don't have any statistical evidence on the difference between a video burnt to DVD (mpeg-2 formatting) & AVCHD DVD - but I can tell you there's a huge difference in quality & clarity, especially when burning with the HD 1920x1080 option. Then there's Blu-ray, which is leaps ahead in quality.

Of course, the bitrate used the burn AVCHD DVDs is much higher than for standard DVDs - so less video can fit on a disc.

Cheers - Tony
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Tony, thanks for the quick reply. I do not think that I can upgrade from the Deluxe version. I would be willing to buy the Ultra version if the video output is better.

I am going to be in the market for a new computer soon and I might just go with having a Blu Ray burner installed into it. That is...........if I can talk my wife into it!

Bob

Tony

Like I stated above, I am in the market for a new machine. Can you give me some idea of what kind of machine and some specs that you would include for editing movies. I am a PC guy. Thanks.

Bob

I couldn't help but jump in here as I just built a new PC mainly for video editing.

If you aren't feeling that adventurous, you can custom build a new PC easily from Dell or HP at their web sites.

What's your budget? That is big determining factor.

Some things to look for in a new video editing system:

1. Intel i5 or i7 processor - I have an i7 930 which I highly recommend. AMD isn't as good for video editing in general.
2. At least two fast hard drives: one for your OS and programs, one for your video editing "scratch" drive and other multimedia. I have 2 WD 1GIG Caviar Black SATA drives but if I had the money I would opt for Solid State Drives (or at least one).
3. A good motherboard (I like ASUS) that will allow you to expand and is rock solid.
4. A separate CPU cooling system if you plan to overclock your processor. This is important! The one that comes stock with the Intel CPU is not sufficient for overclocking.

Of lesser importance:

1. Video card - you want something current from ATI or Nvidia but it doesn't need to be top of the line expensive unless you're a big gamer.
2. RAM - go with 6MG regular memory (I have Corsair), again the super expensive "fast" memory isn't critical to have.
3. USB Backup drive!
4. DVD/Blu Ray drive - if you want to have your video on physical media for distribution, etc.

Good luck!

Kevin Windows 7 Home Premium - 64 Bit
Intel I7 930 (overclocked 3.6)
RAID 0 WD Caviar Black 2GIG, WD Green 1GIG (Backup)
8 GIG Corsair RAM
NVIDIA 1GIG GTX 460

I think you meant 2) RAM 6GB and 4) Blu Ray drive should be a burner, otherwise all you can is play the files. Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit
Velocity Micro
Intel Core 2 CPU 6700 @ 2.66GHz
RAM 6GB
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS v258.96
ViewSonic VX2255wm-4 dual extended display
K-Lite 32bit & 64bit
1680x1050
Windows 7 Basic background no Aero
Hitachi 400gb system dr