After FX to DVD question???

[beenyweenies]

I would like to output a video from After fx to dvd.

Uncompressed AVI's work ok. But they are HUGE!

What is the best output format for DVD?

Is there an MPEG output in after fx?

Thanks

You don't really want to output from AE directly to MPEG. The best method is to output to some uncompressed format, then use a third party tool to convert that file for DVD. Other tools out there, such as those by Sonic Solutions (and some freebies as well) are simply better suited for this task.

Your best bet is to output to your uncompressed format of choice (AVIs seem popular around here), then use a DVD compression tool to convert that file to MPEG. I would recommend letting your DVD authoring software do this conversion, but there are many freebie tools available (search Google for DVD compression software or something).

Good Luck!

[blanka]

You don't really want to output from AE directly to MPEG. The best method is to output to some uncompressed format, then use a third party tool to convert that file for DVD. Other tools out there, such as those by Sonic Solutions (and some freebies as well) are simply better suited for this task.

Your best bet is to output to your uncompressed format of choice (AVIs seem popular around here), then use a DVD compression tool to convert that file to MPEG. I would recommend letting your DVD authoring software do this conversion, but there are many freebie tools available (search Google for DVD compression software or something).

Good Luck!

Hey Beenie,

Thanks.
As I mentioned uncompressed works perfectly. But they are enoumous about a gig per 30 seconds.

Can you or anyone else recomend another output format?

Thanks

[beenyweenies]

Hey Beenie,

Thanks.
As I mentioned uncompressed works perfectly. But they are enoumous about a gig per 30 seconds.

Can you or anyone else recomend another output format?

Thanks

Uncompressed AVIs should be about a gig a minute or so. That's just the breaks of working with high quality video. You don't want to feed an inferior file into a compression program AT ALL, for two (or more) reasons. One is that the resulting file will look that much worse - it's garbage in, garbage out. I'm sure you don't want your DVD to look like web quality video. Another reason is that most compression tools will look for areas of the frame that are similar and treat them as one big area, for example a white wall, to conserve file size. It's basically easier (and smaller) to consider a white wall one big square of white, rather than 100,000 pixels each containing slightly varying detail. Because a DVD can only hold so much data, the compressor will smooth these areas somewhat, saving precious space for areas that truly need the detail, like skin tones, high action camera movement etc. It also allows the compressor to process your file much quicker. So if your file is of compromised quality, the compressor will have to unnecessarily chew through a lot of pixelization, banding, etc. just to produce a larger, lower quality DVD. Not good.

I know this is probably more than you ever wanted to know, but in essence working with video requires having a lot of hard disk space and accepting the large file sizes as part of the process.

[blanka]

Uncompressed AVIs should be about a gig a minute or so. That's just the breaks of working with high quality video. You don't want to feed an inferior file into a compression program AT ALL, for two (or more) reasons. One is that the resulting file will look that much worse - it's garbage in, garbage out. I'm sure you don't want your DVD to look like web quality video. Another reason is that most compression tools will look for areas of the frame that are similar and treat them as one big area, for example a white wall, to conserve file size. It's basically easier (and smaller) to consider a white wall one big square of white, rather than 100,000 pixels each containing slightly varying detail. Because a DVD can only hold so much data, the compressor will smooth these areas somewhat, saving precious space for areas that truly need the detail, like skin tones, high action camera movement etc. It also allows the compressor to process your file much quicker. So if your file is of compromised quality, the compressor will have to unnecessarily chew through a lot of pixelization, banding, etc. just to produce a larger, lower quality DVD. Not good.

I know this is probably more than you ever wanted to know, but in essence working with video requires having a lot of hard disk space and accepting the large file sizes as part of the process.

Thanks for the info.

So are you saying UNCOMPRESSED is the ONLY output from After fx to make a DVD?

There are no MPEG compressions I can use?

[beenyweenies]

Thanks for the info.

So are you saying UNCOMPRESSED is the ONLY output from After fx to make a DVD?

There are no MPEG compressions I can use?

you can output to any format you want, provided you have the correct codec installed on your machine. One of the few exceptions is that MPEG2 output only works on Windows machines.

My points above were meant to steer you away from quality problems, not to imply there was no option. The great thing about AE is that you have pretty much unlimited choices in how you work, but there are tried and true methods that produce better results, that's all.

[stevester1]

by the way, mpeg2 (for dvd and tv purposes) has a color range which differs from your normal one in AE, i suggest in your final composition you create an adjustment layer on top of your video layer and apply the levels plugin, and in the main RGB tab. set the Output whie to 235, which is for-sure tv safe.

[blanka]

you can output to any format you want, provided you have the correct codec installed on your machine. One of the few exceptions is that MPEG2 output only works on Windows machines.

My points above were meant to steer you away from quality problems, not to imply there was no option. The great thing about AE is that you have pretty much unlimited choices in how you work, but there are tried and true methods that produce better results, that's all.

I have an mpeg2 codec installed.

With the correct codec installed, I can output directly to MPEG2 from After FX?
I don't see an Mpeg 2 output option

Using a pc/win of course.

[JaMo]

im in the same boat.

my reel has been rendered out to an uncompressed .avi and comes in at 9.5 gigs for just 3 mintues and 52 seconds. (looks like i need to re-render it though using the levels adjustment layer). i dont know if its normal but my computer wont hardly even play such a huge file. it skips around and what not and hte music comes in and out.

so im guessing i need to take the uncompressed file and encode with mpeg2? should i use a program like virtual dub?

also i hear sorenson 3 for quicktime is outstandind for internet playback.

im just a little confused as what to do right now.


edit* is it ok for me to use virtual witht he huffy uv codec to get the file size to around 2 gigs so that i can transfer it to dvd? the raw avi at 9.5 gigs would be hard to transport to my freinds house where the dvd burner is.

[keving007]

I have an mpeg2 codec installed.

With the correct codec installed, I can output directly to MPEG2 from After FX?
I don't see an Mpeg 2 output option

Using a pc/win of course.

I know this thread is a little old, but wanted to make sure the specific question is answered.

Yes you can output MPEG2 from AE7. If you should or not is another discussion. From the Composition Menu, 'Add to Render Queue'. Then in the Output Module there are selections for MPEG2 and MPEG2-DVD. This uses the MainConcept MPEG codec. There is a simple one time activation which is free and anonymous. I hope this answeres the original question.

kev

[suztv]

I have had similar issues in relation to size - but I might be able to offer a few suggestions.

While it is true that uncompressed video is the best for re-compressing for DVD (Mpeg) output, I have found that most of the time the animation compression, TGA, or H.264 in quicktime (XVID for AVI) looks great and is good enough for DVD output while the file size is drastically smaller than an uncompressed file. Albeit - it will always look better if you use a completely uncompressed .mov or avi file.

I like to use Pegasys Tsunami Encoder - it handles all sorts of file types and compresses very quickly. However, most DVD programs can usually convert your video files into the correct format for DVD compilation.

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