Video Format Converter

[elpezpr]

Hi. I am getting a couple of projects where I get a DVD and I have to do the post in PT. I am in need of a program that will let me capture DVD's and convert them to a QT file that I can use in PT. I also need the program to convert and downsize other QT's that I get that are too big for PT and the computer stalls. It's a hassle going back and forth having the client bring me a smaller file. Thanks

[minister]

Squared 5 - MPEG Streamclip video converter for Mac and Windows

and

The Apple Store (U.S.) - QuickTime 7 Pro for Mac OS X

and/or

QT Sync - About

[Tibbon]

To rip from the DVD you might need something like Handbrake.

If you make a .DV file that's uncompressed, then it will be less processor intensive, but more hard drive intensive. If you have a solid fibre channel, firewire, scsi or sata raid then the tracks + the DV shoudln't be a problem.

If you do it as mpeg or other compression, then you're going to use a lot more processing power.

You might want to look into something like ReVision that can use an older Mac to playback the video file, but acts as a VTC and syncs up to PT.

Watch your frame rates and all, or your sync is going to get sloppy if it's longer than a few minutes long. For a 3 minute music video i doubt that anyone would notice 29.97 vs 30fps, but for a movie it's going to become so amazingly apparent that something is wrong.

Post is the type of thing that seems simple and cheap to do on the side, but it has it's own entire can of worms and proprietary gear that fixes odd little problems.

[elpezpr]

Hi. Thanks for your responses. I am new to video file management. The way I usually work is I have the audio on 1 fw drive and the video on another fw drive. It works very good like this. The problem is that sometimes I get bigger Quicktimes (over 30mb) and the computer stalls. I want to be able to compress/downsize them by myself in order to work with them. I was told I could do this on QuickTime Pro. Is this correct? Right now I have a friend that does this for me with River Past Video Cleaner but he does this at his job and sometimes I have to wait too much for him to send them back. I have a Sony DSR-11 DVCAM Recorder with i.LINK (firewire). What software could I use to capture the DVD through the Sony DSR-11? (conecting the analog out of a DVD player to the analog in on the Sony)

Thanks

[Tibbon]

If you uncompress a 10 minute video to .DV it will be well over a gB. However, the drive should be able to pull that just fine.

[dragan]

minister left you great links.

MPEG Streamclip can import your DVDs. It's free, but it won't work without a MPEG-something component, which you can download from Apple website for $20.

QT Pro will let you compress/downsize the videos, or change formats.

Both are worth the price.

[elpezpr]

Thanks for all you help!!!

[T_R_S]

Use Handbrake - It freeware
Best and fastest DVD to Quicktime ripper works on XP and OS X.