Acceptable Compression For MPEG to DVD

Steven-Warrens wrote on 10/1/2019, 1:57 AM

Hi. Guys,

I'm new to the community. This is my first post. I'm intelligent. I do not know everything. I'm willing to learn. Here goes my question(s):

I know changing bit rates etc. to make media fit on dvd's CAN cause video quality issues. I avoid this at all cost when possible. Dvd's are cheap. However, I'm curious if anyone would know a little about the percentage "indicator", within the button that reads "fit to disc". It's more of a statement really. Based on MY settings, (I have included screen shots), bit rate, MPEG, etc, what would be the approximate percentage my project would have to be, in order for DVD Architect to stop complaining that my file size is to large to burn, (even when I've selected shrink to disc)? I'd use (1) dvd9, and, if still needed, (1) dvd5 I suppose.

I've found no reference in the software manual or other posts that deal with my some what odd question. In one of the screen shots, one can see on a DvD5 single layer, the percent would be 305% of a 4.7gb disc size. That's ridiculous. When I change the DVD media to 8.5gb, or a Dvd9, it's still over 100%. I'm curious the magic percentage the programmers deemed appropriate to say.............. "Nope, not compressing it. No "Shrink To Fit" here. It's going to look to bad to compress".

Thanks and I look forward to the response(s).

Comments

EricLNZ wrote on 10/1/2019, 3:06 AM

The starting point is we need to know the length in time of the total of your videos.

Also the general advice is to not let DVDA recompress your videos. Export them from Vegas Pro or VMS to files suitable for DVDA without it needing to recompress them as that loses quality.

Personally I exported my videos for DVD with 7,000 Kbps CBR video bitrate. You can go higher but 7,000 should ensure all players can handle it.

Steven-Warrens wrote on 10/1/2019, 3:33 AM

Thanks for the info EricLNZ. To answer your question, my total video length is 04:56:00.058 This total length is listed under duration of all the screen shots I posted as well. Kinda small text though. Any idea on the percentage question with this new information? Thanks again for the last post.

EricLNZ wrote on 10/1/2019, 5:03 AM

That's almost five hours! It would need 4 - 4.7Gb discs for decent quality. To try and get it on one double layer disk would involve dropping the bitrate to around 3,000 (quick guess) and at that bitrate the quality would be below what I'd accept.

You can of course put SD mpg on a Blu-ray disk provided the file is compatible. It goes on uncompressed but is your original file(s) with a m2ts suffix. A Blu-ray player then upscales it just as it would a DVD disc. Even with a Blu-ray you would probably need a bitrate less than 7,000 to get your monster 5 hours on a 25gb disc!

vkmast wrote on 10/1/2019, 5:16 AM

Still a good tutorial.

Steven-Warrens wrote on 10/1/2019, 11:02 AM

@ vkmast, Thank you for the link to the tutorial. I have actually watched it this week, prior to your post. I agree that it's an excellent tutorial. I went ahead and downloaded the bit rate calculator. It seems to be a little hard to come by. I've got it now for keeps. There was something in the video I missed the first time. In the DVDA tutorial, I've learned that there is a setting to display the "Free Space" left on the disk as a number (mb/gb), OR, as a percentage by default. The tutorial says the number is default. My millage varied. In my initial question I guess I was not very clear. I'll tray and rephrase.

@ vkmast, @ EricLNZ, @ ALL: Does anyone know what would the "Free Space" indicator have to be at for DVDA to "agree" to burn the DVD without a manual bit change intervention? I am sure the software has programming that might say for example, don't "Fit to disc" if compression exceeds say 30 - 40 % for example, (which also effects the free space). It's obviously not a user defined option.

These questions may be two very different ones. It MAY be more appropriate for the development team of the software, (DVDA). I just figured I'd ask the community first. Many times, you guys are actually contributing to there next version with your valuable information. Thanks again. Input is always appreciated. I want to learn. Mainly useless information no one cares about. :)

Steven-Warrens wrote on 10/1/2019, 11:15 AM

@ EricLNZ

"but is your original file(s) with a m2ts suffix."

They are not m2ts as the suffix. I exported with Vegas Pro 17. I "rendered as", (the entire file), to one of the MPEG-2 presets for DVDA. This was so I would not have trouble burning. I've NOW edited the file as to be able to render (2) separate portions that I will highlight/select,set a "loop playback" to, then render each portion I've done this for as separate files. I can then use (1) DVD9 and (1) DVD5 without compressing either past DVDA "spec." Also, at this point, I could render the DVD's from Vegas. I'll probably use DVDA just because I can get a "master file" for use with say Image Burn to mass produce each DVD.

So, if yourself or anyone else has a better idea, I'm open to suggestions. I'm after shortest time consumed for best possible quality.

EricLNZ wrote on 10/1/2019, 5:57 PM

@Steven-Warrens What I was trying to say was that they become m2ts files when placed on a Blu-ray disc but actually they are still the original mpeg2 files. The only change is probably to the file header.

Of interest what bitrate does the calculator indicate for you to get all your nearly five hours on a disk?

Steven-Warrens wrote on 10/1/2019, 8:33 PM

@ EricLNZ, I think your correct on the file header comment. Here is the screen shot of what the bit rate calculator recommends to fit about 5 hours on a dvd9. It's actually 04:55:59;29 I've rounded up as he did in the tutorial. Let me know your thoughts on the calculation? I may acutually try it when I get board and have nothing better to do. :)

EricLNZ wrote on 10/1/2019, 9:23 PM

Thanks for that Steven. Average 3,528 kbps. Fits in with my benchmark of 80 mins at 7,000 fitting on a single layer DVD. It's lower than what I'd be comfortable with but the quality will depend on what the images are. A slideshow with static images and no transitions needs less bits than moving images, pans, transitions etc. Let us know how you get on.

Steven-Warrens wrote on 10/1/2019, 10:29 PM

@ EricLNZ - I've actually split up the 5 hours in Vegas Pro 17 so I can render each DVD to an appropriate size that needs no compression.I'll let you know what I think it looks like, (compressed), when I go down that rabbit hole. :) . Thanks for all your info. Look forward to out next chat.