[3dAnimation]

Faster than real time MPEG-2 encoding is amazing. That's the power of AltiVec!

But the real question is what compression were they using? It was probably CBR. Constant bit rate is only one pass and 'easier' to do. VBR, variable bit rate, has mutiple passes, and requires more horse power. VBR is used for professional DVDs because you get the same (or better) quaility video at smaller sizes. Hence, more video on the disc.

This is how Apple upped the limit of iDVD2 to 90 minutes. They used VBR. If the test you saw at the store was running iDVD2, than chances are it WAS vbr! That would be cool.

I'd still like to see a comparision using the MPEG export from FCP.

Thanks for the info!

GregM.

[NeoMac]

For those of you interested in this stuff ...

The DVD encoding (MPEG2 encoding) ability of the Dual-1Ghz is impressive. At I walked in to an Apple Retail Store, they did a 'iDVD shootout' between a 933 and a Dual-1Ghz

The Dual 1Ghz encoded a 150 second clip in 105 seconds.

Roughly, 42 seconds per minute of DV. Smokin'!