Architect compressing my raw video too much

Jasonh wrote on 2/12/2007, 2:08 PM
My AVI file that I imported into DVD architect is well under 4.7GB, yet it automatically compresses it to around 1.5 GB instead of its native 4.02 GB, and it is messing up my animations. The raw AVI file looks fine though. I can't figure out how to prevent the file from being compressed so much. Any advice or suggestions?

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 2/12/2007, 3:43 PM
DVDs must be MPEG2. There's no way to make a standard DVD that contains an AVI file.
johnmeyer wrote on 2/12/2007, 4:10 PM
If your AVI is from a DV camera, then 4.07 GBytes represents about 19 minutes of video. As Kelly already stated, you MUST encode to MPEG-2 in order to create a DVD; the AVI file cannot be used without encoding to MPEG-2. If you encode at the highest bitrate allowed (9.8 mbs), the file MPEG-2 file that will result from this 4.07 GByte AVI file will be 1.3 Gbytes. If you instead render at the maximum average rate that most people would recommend (i.e., you really shouldn't encode at the maximum rate) -- which is 8,000 mbs -- then you'll end up with about 1.0 GBytes.
MPM wrote on 2/12/2007, 4:18 PM
As already posted, DVDs need to be mpg2. Most players further have a limit on how high the bit rate can go, so pumping up the bandwidth is not normally an option.

If you do your mpg2 encoding before you import the vid into DVDA, like in Vegas, you'll have more control over the encoder settings, which can help a lot. Make sure your fields & fps are set correctly, & maybe even try cbr.

If you're doing animation like Anime: what fps are you using? Animation can be at 24 fps adding pulldown in the encoder settings, or full spec 25/29.976.

If mass distribution is not important, DviX is supported by more and more players, and *might* give you more options, including a higher bandwidth relative to compression than available with mpg2.

Last thing I can think of is color conversions, depending on the avi format or compression you're using. Some formats simply transfer better.
Jasonh wrote on 2/12/2007, 4:42 PM
Usually what I do is import an AVI and I guess Architect compresses it to MPEG2 on its own. I've never had a problem until today, when I tried to import an AVI file containing some complex animations.

You gave me an idea and I was able to fix the problem by exporting to MPEG2 from Vegas, and then taking that MPEG2 file and importing it into Architect. Works like a charm!