What's the best mpg decoder for the Mac?
 

I'm making lots of DVDs with iDVD 3... ad I'm using the decoder included with QuickTime and iDVD3. Is there a better mpg decoder out there that I can use to get better picture quality?


MrV

Thanks

Re: What's the best mpg decoder for the Mac?
 

<<<-- Originally posted by William Velasquez : I'm making lots of DVDs with iDVD 3... ad I'm using the decoder included with QuickTime and iDVD3. Is there a better mpg decoder out there that I can use to get better picture quality?


MrV

Thanks -->>>

The Apple Compressor that comes with Final Cut Pro 4 and DVD Studio Pro 2.

Otherwise, you can buy one that MacAddict says got beaten by Apple Compressor in their tests called Discreet Cleaner (www.discreet.com, $549). For that kind of money, buy DVDSP 2 for $500 and get the Apple Compressor FREE! (Or buy the FCP 4 upgrade, unless you don't have it).

FREEBIE FREEBIE FREEBIE! Zip, zero, nada!

heath

Thanks Heath for your reply.

I am thinking about upgrading to FCP4 and DVDSP 2 soon.... so I guess I should see the a better picture quality then.

:)

--MrV

William,

Are you exporting raw DV files from FCP, then importing them into iDVD? If you do that, the image quality should be fine. (select "Export" then "Final Cut Pro"...then just drag and drop that file into the iDVD project window)

If you're exporting as Quicktime, then importing into iDVD, you'll see a drop in image quality.

Hello John,

Yes!!!!

I'm exporting raw dv as quicktime then droping them in iDVD3.

Thanks! I'll start exporting from now on as FCP Movie and get a better picture quality.

WOOOO HOOOO!!!

off to export!

Thanks John :)

--MrV

IMHO(and many many others) that(the old QT) encoder isn't that good as you're finding. You have to keep the bitrate up and it washes your footage out. Compressor as mentioned is good but IMHO BitVice is better a lot of the time. http://www.innobits.se

Jake

I guess I should mention that if you get dvdsp you can use any 3rd party encoder you like. From free(pc) to very expensive $$$$$ and there are afew mentioned here not all mac though http://www.dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html#5.3.1

Jake