By jove -I think CBR mpeg 2 encoding is fixed

Yoyodyne wrote on 6/21/2005, 11:53 PM
I just did a CBR mpeg 2 encode with the new build of DVD architect and it looks like my dread "unknown error" message is gone! Thanks a ton Sony - this is great. I've been plauged with not being able to do a constant bitrate mpeg 2 encode for a few months now - ever since 5d. Everything else has worked great but that pesky little issue. Sony said that the new build of DVD architect might address this problem - it does something to the mainconcept mpeg 2 render engine - and it did.

YEEEHAAAA!

Thanks a TON Sony!

Yoyodyne

Comments

Mahesh wrote on 6/22/2005, 1:23 AM
Thanks for the update Yoyodyne.
I might pickup enough courage to install DVDA3 in first instance to go with 5.0b.
jlafferty wrote on 6/22/2005, 5:45 AM
Just curious -- why CBR over VBR?
farss wrote on 6/22/2005, 5:56 AM
If you don't need to fit a lot of material onto a DVD then there's really no advantage to VBR. If you really to fit a lot on then 2 pass VBR is the best.
Yoyodyne wrote on 6/22/2005, 10:13 AM
In my case I need to prep a show for playback on a media server - it's pretty picky about the mpeg compression. It needs CBR at 6megs to work properly.
Shane Jensen wrote on 6/22/2005, 10:30 AM
I installed the new DVDA update and it worked for me as well. I rendered two long videos at CBR using 6,000 also and it rendered just fine when it didn't originally. However, the only thing I did different is I had it set to progressive rather than bottom field first, but I don't think that's it. I'm going to re-render those two videos again at the standard bottom field first (because I don't like the progressive) and see if it still works.

To anyone else who is planning on doing this, remember Sony said that you don't need the full version of DVDA, just installing the trial version is all you have to do and that updates the Main Concept plugin. So, if you don't plan on using DVDA just install the trial version and that is all you need to do.
ForumAdmin wrote on 6/23/2005, 9:27 AM
Mahesh: You should install the DVDA update- there's a high probability that the rendering problems you have reported in the past will be resolved by doing this.
Mahesh wrote on 6/23/2005, 2:28 PM
Forumadmin
Thanks for the encouragement. Downloading DADA3.0a now. Hopefully I would be downloading v6.0b next week if DVDA install is successful.
Mahesh wrote on 8/1/2005, 6:48 AM
Mahesh: You should install the DVDA update- there's a high probability that the rendering problems you have reported in the past will be resolved by doing this.
Installed DVDA3.0b today and Yes, test render using CBR worked fine.
I am going to hold-off installing V6 but would like to switch to DVDA3.
I did not use the DVDA2 because , for me, the interlace flicker (in PAL) was unacceptable.
Before I swith to DVDA3 I am looking at forum members, especially those using PAL; to instill some confidence in me. Please bear with me whilst I list my reasons.
1-I have been using DVD Workshop for authoring for 3+ years.
2-I used Pioneer A03 with DVDWS but now use DVDWS to author, Nero/A108 for master burn and bank of A105's for duplication.
3- I ship 100+ DVDs for stage shows, 300+ for graduation and 3+ for weddings.
4-So far, I had to replace total of 5 DVDs with +R.

So I am reluctant to switch the authoring program but DVDWS V1.3 is quite old and as I have paid for DVDA3 I should try it.

So in first instance, can you, the DVDA experts, answer some questions for me.

1-Having edited in Vegas, is it best to render to MPEG stream in Vegas or bring the AVI in DVDA3

2-I always author my DVD to have one or more menus with image background and text-ony for buttons. Is there a dummy's guide to get me started? I would create chapter markers in Vegas.

TIA






jetdv wrote on 8/1/2005, 7:19 AM
1-Having edited in Vegas, is it best to render to MPEG stream in Vegas or bring the AVI in DVDA3

It is best to render to MPEG2 and AC-3 in Vegas as you get more control of the parameters. It is easier to render to AVI and let DVDA3 figure out the proper bitrates and just take care of everything. I usually do the MPEG2 in Vegas.

One exception - multi-angle DVDs: render the AVI in Vegas.


2-I always author my DVD to have one or more menus with image background and text-ony for buttons. Is there a dummy's guide to get me started? I would create chapter markers in Vegas.

There are several training DVD sets and I have some basics in Vol 1 #7 of my newsletters. For the chapter markers, simply place markers on the timeline in Vegas and check the "include markers" option on the Render As screen. These will be imported into DVDA as chapter points.
farss wrote on 8/1/2005, 7:23 AM
1. Encode out of Vegas, way more control
2. Try the manual, basic operations in DVDA are the same across all versions so if you were able to do it before you'll be fine in DVDA3.

I'm curious about the flicker problems you say had, where were you getting these?

Bob (in PAL land).
Mahesh wrote on 8/1/2005, 7:34 AM
Thanks Edward.
Yes, I should have remebered about having more control over bit rates in Vegas. I knew there was a reason but could not think why.

I had read your newletter. Very informative. I shall have another read. Thank you. I guess I am lazy and/or I tend to forget important things to set. So I use templates whenever I can. I was hoping to create a template which had ALL the correct settings and acceptable fonts.

Bob,
The flicker problem was very subjective. When I first got DVDA2, I replicated a project I had in DVD Workshop. i.e using same background image, same font size, colours etc. for the main menu. Menu page in DVD Workshop was much cleaner, with its anti-flicker filter than in DVDA. I guess that is why I reverted back to DVDWS. I hav been informed by a forum member that the AF filter in DVDA3 seems to work.
I understand I should be reading the manual but I was looking at some expert opinions.