Increase Encode Quality for DVD Studio Pro using Compressor
By encoding with Compressor when you export from Final Cut Pro you can receive a higher quality encode than if you allow DVD Studio Pro to do the encoding. There are multiple settings in Compressor, and you can manipulate them to get the best possible encode.
To export through Compressor all you need to do is highlight the sequence in Final Cut Pro that you want to export, select the File menu, drag down to Export, select Using Copressor.
Once Compressor opens just go down to the Batch window, click the icon in the Setting column and select a setting.
Selecting any of the DVD Best Quality options will give you an encode superior to that which you would receive in DVD Studio Pro. Selecting the All option will give you the Mpeg2 video, as well as both PCM and AC3 audio. Even though you will only use one of the audio files, this is an easy way to set up Compressor, and if you want to switch to the other audio file once you know how much disc space you are using, it will be all ready for you. After selecting a setting, you will need to select a destination for the files. Once you have done that, you are ready to click the Submit button. Depending on what type of machine you are using, and how big the project is this make take a while.
Once the encode is complete you will be able to import them into DVD Studio Pro. Unlike Quicktime files you will see a green dot in the status column indicating that they are already encoded. When you go to burn the disc DVD Studio Pro will only have to mux and format the disc which will take much less time, and the overall quality is going to be better because you used Compressor for the encode.
