Re: HD burn to DVD

les wrote:
I'm in the transition of moving on to HD, having bought the camera,
and reworking the computer needed.
A question came to me regarding whether the new 1080i program
will transfer in full resolution to a standard DL-DVD, or will I next
need to consider BluRay disks for distribution?
I am approaching a similar transition to HD and was going to research
the same question. I was going to start by going to websites like
www.videohelp.comandwww.doom9.organdwww.dvinfo.net
because I'm sure that we aren't the first to ask this question (and have
it answered). But maybe someone here has already found out.

I just got a Sony PMW-EX1 camcorder and Vegas 9 Pro and a
Pioneer BDR203 drive, but still wanting to investigate distribution
of short subjects on regular video DVD discs as BD are still around
$10 each. Of course DVDR were $10 each at one time and I
expect that BD will drop to something closer to $1 each at some
point. (Hopefully).
****************************************
I experimented with this two years ago, with HD-DVD, but the principle
is the same for Blu-Ray. Experiments were successful, but I quit -
see below.
1) You can use a standard burner, and standard media.
2) A regular DVD-R will hold up to 20 minutes at full BD resolution,
making a BD video disc
3) A double layer will hold approx 40 minutes. I presume your BD
drive will work fine with regular media, but don't know for sure. I
know Sony is very particular and is trying to keep prices high.
Pioneer should be more flexible.
4) You have the option of making a video disc (with menus just like a
regular DVD), or a AVCHD data disc. Most Blu-Ray players will read
the data disc, but not all, so I am told. The data disc cannot have
menus, it just plays.
5) I stopped making HD discs because my friends do not have HD
players. Many have HDTV's, but not BluRay players. This is necessary
to watch a BluRay disc. Even though burned on a standard DVD, it is
now a BluRay disc.
6) So, I continue to shoot in HD, edit in HD, then render to SD and
burn SD DVD's. Since I save my projects, when, AND IF, BluRay becomes
popular, I can simply render and burn BD discs easily with minimum of
work. Most of my DVD's are underwater videos less than 15 minutes,
and even longer ones are less than 40 minutes so regular burners and
discs will work for my projects. But, again, regular players will not
play them if burned as BD or AVCHD.
7) BD discs are now under $5 US, and burners have come down under
$200. Still, not many homes have BD players, but all have SD DVD
players. I'm watching this closely. Some BD players are now under
$150.
8) When I have a show or presentation to give, I have generally taken
the edited video and record back to the camcorder, making a HD tape.
I then plug the camcorder into my LCD projector. I don't worry about
menus because this is usually for a live presentation where I narrate,
and stop/start the camcorder. Otherwise, for presentations on BD
discs I would have to carry the large BD DVD player, or play out of my
laptop, which works, but camcorder is smaller. The projector is
actually SD, but has component input cables, and the images are indeed
better than a SD DVD.
9) I have heard of reducing the bitrate and getting longer times on
regular media, with good quality, so they report. I have not done
this.
10) As DR reports, Ulead VideoStudio is a good program for taking your
edited HD file and burning to regular media. They have settings
designed especially for doing this so learning curve is short. Ulead
has a 30 day free trial that is not crippled or watermarked, so I
recommend trying this to see how you like. VS is less than $100,
with some versions maximum to $120. I did use Ulead professional
version Media Studio 8, but now am converting over to Magix ProX. I
have no experience with Vegas or other programs, but many principles
are the same.

Sorry to repeat what some have said above, but thought I could add a
little and help.

Jim McGauhey
Washington State

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