New to Mac - DVD disc creating driving me nuts!

[GE90]

Hi all

Recently made the change from W7 to Mac, and have hit a brick wall!

I have a Panasonic HD camcorder, and always used the Panasonic HD Writer software to create my own DVD's - just family stuff! I always selected high quality AVCHD, and while not Bluray, the finished discs were brilliant. However, this software is not compatible with Mac, so tried iDVD and DVD Creator. However, although I have selected the best quality, it is nowhere near as good as I was getting with HD Writer....

Has anyone got any ideas? Having been widowed at 29, I know the value of video, and want to archive in a good quality.

Thanks

[Degudodger]

I absolutely love Mac OSX but there are two programs I use which aren't natively comparable with OSX one of which is VCDS. I run XP on a virtual machine using parallels :)

[GE90]

Thanks, I hit another wall when I considered some form of dual boot - the latest Mavericks OS X will only accept Windows 8, which I am not keen on, and is not compatible with the HD Writer software!

Help!

[Degudodger]

If you are only going to use 1-2 applications on Windows either by dual boot or virtual machine look at Windows XP or Windows 7, the latter i detest but sometimes its easier to get hold of.

Regards Video editing software. I tend to you iMovie or Final Cut, the latter is a bit more involved can produce the goods 

[micaerin]

I use iMovie to create my movies and then use roxio toast with the bluray add on to burn in HD to Bluray discs. Bluray burners and blank discs have come down in price a lot over the last few months. in my opinion its worth paying for and keeping it in full HD

[GE90]

Thanks all - considering buying Toast and going for Blu Ray!

[rich83]

Dont archive to disc.... safer to leave it on a hard drive in terms of longevity

[GE90]

Dont archive to disc.... safer to leave it on a hard drive in terms of longevity

Oh no, just don't know now! What if I created a disc, and then somehow kept the original AVCHD clips? Thanks

[rich83]

Dont archive to disc.... safer to leave it on a hard drive in terms of longevity

Oh no, just don't know now! What if I created a disc, and then somehow kept the original AVCHD clips? Thanks

Keep it in as many places and formats as possible... especially if it something really important!

[GE90]

Right, so perhaps DVD Discs (I do 2 copies, one at left at another address), save the ISO files, and keep 2 backups of the original AVCHD clips - that should do it...?

Thanks again!

[rich83]

Should do it yes. I would also burn the thing to a DVD in mp4 or avi format ... just incase.

[GE90]

I use iMovie to create my movies and then use roxio toast with the bluray add on to burn in HD to Bluray discs. Bluray burners and blank discs have come down in price a lot over the last few months. in my opinion its worth paying for and keeping it in full HD

Can I ask how you export from iMovie to Toast please? I guess there is a method to keep the HD quality?

Thanks

[micaerin]

save it as a quicktime movie in 1080p from iMovie and then burn that file via toast

[GE90]

save it as a quicktime movie in 1080p from iMovie and then burn that file via toast

I see. I have tried Toast, but I think the menu screen templates in iDVD are much better, but as I understand it, will not burn to Blue Ray!

Decisions, decisions!

[Deako]

I download the simple Burn application.