HD to DVD

Darrin383

Newbie Joined: Jul 19, 2009 01:32 Messages: 11 Offline

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Dec 29, 2012 17:06

I have a samsung HD camcorder that I believe records in MP4 (AVCHD) format? When I open the file on my computer it is an MP4 file. I create my movie in PD, then burn it to a DVD, the quality of the video is really bad. . .far below regular DVD quality? I then produced the movie in MP4 and saved it to my hard drive, then used another program that I thought would burn the file to a dvd in a movie format so the DVD player would read it. . .didn't work. DVD player doesn't recognize the file type? So. .. I am slowly realizing that figuring out how to share HD video is a nightmare. What are the options? Blue ray disks are expensive for home movies. . .looking for options and advise. Thanks. ..oh. ..and I did search the PD forums concerning this subject to no avail. ..any tips or advise would be appreciated.

All vodi

Senior Contributor Location: Canada Joined: Aug 21, 2009 11:24 Messages: 1431 Offline

Dec 29, 2012 17:16

Darrin383 ,

You are looking for a quick answer. What you are trying to do is what PD was designed for. Please read the user manual and look at the various help guides as per the top page of this forum. Win 10, i7

Robert2 S

Senior Contributor Location: Australia Joined: Apr 22, 2009 05:57 Messages: 1461 Offline

Dec 29, 2012 17:19

Hi Darrin383,

You have come across the problem you cannot burn high definition video to a normal DVD, it is a physical restriction of normal DVD's.

Having said that there is a trick, you can burn Blu-ray quality to a normal DVD by using AVCHD. There is the option on the create Disk portion in PowerDirector.......BUT the disk will only play on a computer and some blu-ray and DVD players, not all DVD players. Also you will only get about 20 minutes of high Definition AVCHD video on a normal DVD. My youtube channel====> http://www.youtube.com/user/relate2?feature=mhsn

Darrin383

Newbie Joined: Jul 19, 2009 01:32 Messages: 11 Offline

Dec 29, 2012 17:53

Ok, thanks for the tip, that helps clear up the mystery. I have the deluxe version of PD11 and the AVCHD button is grey. . .my version must not allow that function. Once I get the AVCHD button working, and I get a movie edited in the time line, do you produce the movie to your hard drive, then create the disk from that file? Or...do you skip produce and create the disk?

Robert2 S

Senior Contributor Location: Australia Joined: Apr 22, 2009 05:57 Messages: 1461 Offline

Dec 29, 2012 17:58

I do not burn DVD's or AVCHD disks, some people have reported problems burning disks inside PD and burn to a folder and burn a disk using a different program, it is up to you. My youtube channel====> http://www.youtube.com/user/relate2?feature=mhsn

Darrin383

Newbie Joined: Jul 19, 2009 01:32 Messages: 11 Offline

Dec 29, 2012 19:04

I am thinking of not investing money into a dieing media. . .dvds and bluerays. . .I think I will just produce the movies in MP4 format, save them to my external hard drive that is hooked to my wireless network. . .watch the vids on the big screen via the play station. . .

James Dotson

Senior Contributor Location: Tennessee Joined: Aug 24, 2009 20:40 Messages: 3066 Offline

Dec 29, 2012 19:33

That is exactly what I did. I found that most of the people I talked to prefered to watch my videos on YouTube rather than buying a disc, and I personally watch movies on my computer or PS3, both of which can play HD mp4, plus I can save up to 8 movies on a dual layer DVD. __________________________________
CORNBLOSSOM

Darrin383

Newbie Joined: Jul 19, 2009 01:32 Messages: 11 Offline

Dec 29, 2012 20:22

Cool...another question. . .I burned a MP4 file to a dvd and it played fine on the PS3. . .but. . .does it play full HD doing it this way?

Robert2 S

Senior Contributor Location: Australia Joined: Apr 22, 2009 05:57 Messages: 1461 Offline

Dec 29, 2012 20:31

HD is anything 1280 X 720 or higher a normal DVD cannot play this resolution, hence the need for AVCHD on a normal DVD.

EDIT===== Google "DVD resolution" and you will see the maximum resolutions you can burn to a normal DVD disk.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Dec 29. 2012 20:42

My youtube channel====> http://www.youtube.com/user/relate2?feature=mhsn

James Dotson

Senior Contributor Location: Tennessee Joined: Aug 24, 2009 20:40 Messages: 3066 Offline

Dec 29, 2012 21:01

If you burn it as a DVD it is standard definition (480i). If you burn the MP4 as a data disc it will play at the resolution of the mp4. To do it that way you cannot use PD to burn the disc. Produce the movie, then use 3rd party software to burn it to disc. You may loose autoplay function of a DVD, but it should still play on the PlayStation 3. __________________________________
CORNBLOSSOM