I have always rendered the video to MPEGII with Vegas Video and the default MPEG setting, so the final result looks the same no matter what DVD authoring app I've used. I haven't done anything that was long enough to require me to drop the video bit rate inorder for it to fit, but theoretically, now that I can use AC-3 for my audio, I should be able to fit more "minutes" on the same disk at the same bit rate.

Now this part is just from memory from posts I've read, but I believe the bit rate for PCM is 1.6Mb/sec, and the high end AC-3 bit rate is 0.448Mb/sec (448Kb/sec - with 192Kb/sec being the low end). If I'm remembering correctly, that means that using AC-3 audio leaves me with an extra 1.15Mb/sec of bandwidth. I can either up the video bit rate by this amount to get higher quality, OR I can leave the video bandwidth the same and get about 12% more minutes on the disk.

Again, these numbers are just what I can remember. YMMV.

Assuming AC3 audio, a 120 minute video on a DVD-R would have to have a bitrate of around 4.5 Mmbps. That's about borderline for decent quality. Without AC3 audio you would have to split it into two DVD-R's to get decent or better quality. The ability to reduce audio file size is about the only advantage I see in using AC3 audio. For really good quality at low bitrates you would need a realtime hardware encoder which is very expensive. Thus the comparisons at the "affordable" end of the spectrum in which DVDA and ReelDVD lie.

John

Anyone else have any video quality opinions for DVDA vs other programs they may have tried?

Thanks,
John

Prior to DVD-A I was burning with Dazzle's DVD complete. I have not noticed any difference in the quality of the fished DVD video. I like the greater control I have in designing the appearance of the menus and other things that DVD-A gives me. I believe SF is working very hard to correct the initial release issues with DVD-A. Unlike some companies who are just after the all mighty buck, I think this company truly cares about and has pride in the products they produce. I am so appreciative of the customer service that SF so readily gives to it's customers. (Former VideoWave victim) I know it can be frustrating when software doesn't do as it claims. However I believe all will be fine soon with DVD-A and it's just going to get better!

When I first started using DVD Architect it didn't seem to be able to do the things that I could do in DVD Workshop. However after playing with it for a while I discovered that although not obvious all the features were there and the work flow was more intuitive and faster. It just took a while to figure out how to do it. I like that all I have to do is place a link on the screen and it makes a button with picture on it. I like the one click sub menus. I like the automatiic creation of buttons on the scene selection menu. The one click addition of chapter points. The direct loading of background video and audio. The quick and easy editing of clips. The motion backgrounds and buttons that preview in motion. The one key stroke to go in and out of preview mode. I am sure that there are other features that I will discover as I continue to use the program. I think it is pretty darn good for a first release of a new product.