How to convert HD to SD
 

I'm trying to find the best way to export a PAL HD video project from FCP (via Compressor) to DVD Studio Pro whilst maintaining the best quality that I can. I want to do this to make the video playable on a standard PAL DVD player and a computer. I also want to keep the 16:9 aspect ratio. I've read Ken Stone's article on this matter but his method seems to apply to later versions of FCP - I have version 5.1.4 which doesn't support Apple ProRes 422. Any suggestions?

Thanks
Simon

You don't have ProRes but you do have AIC. Try that.

Simon,

I don't remember the name of the thread but in a post months ago I shared the exact Compressor settings you'll need to encode the best-looking MPEG2 PAL files for DVDSP. These settings will also work in your version of Compressor.

Many thanks Shaun and Robert for your replies. The AIC method does work and I have now been able to successfully transfer my film onto a DVD and watch it on a SD DVD player. However, the aspect ratio was squashed to 4:3; do you know how to return it to its original 16:9 aspect ratio? Also I've noticed that a few shots jump or repeat themselves on viewing; this has never happened before. We did shoot the film with two cameras; one was the Canon XL-H1A (1080i) and the other was a Sony (not sure which model but it was HDV) which may have used progressive mode rather than interlaced. As I say on all previous incarnations of the film viewed on DVDs this jumping did not happen.

Cheers
Simon

Simon: if you authored your DVD in DVD Studio Pro, it's a matter of setting the aspect ratio of the track in question in the Inspector. If you used iDVD, I can't recall.

In IDVD, when you start a new project it asks if you want a Standard 4:3 or Widescreen 16:9 project.

Jonathan