Compression Rates . .

Hugh Harrer wrote on 7/13/2009, 4:04 PM
I am interested in the highest quality - least compression - renders for DVD authoring using VS Platinum Pro pack and DVD Arch Studio.

Questions:

1. How to render from VMSP. Is the Mpeg 2 compression rate fixed? Seems to be. Also, I’m doing surround audio and the AC3 bit rate definitely seems fixed. Is this correct? Or does it vary video comp based on intended file size - perhaps a single layer DVD (but I can find no options here)?

2. If the above is true, is it better to render from VMSP with some less compressed (or lossless? Does such exist?) codec and import into DVD Arch Studio and allow it to do the compression? I seem to remember the DVD Arch has a media size option - which would allow larger files. If this is the best method, what codec should be used from VMSP to export?

3. Can DVD Arch render for and burn dual layer disks?

4. Quite certain that the AC3 bit rate from VMSP is fixed (it says so . . .). Is it, also, in DVD Arch? Could I import 6 wav files (or a 6 channel wav) and get less compression there? Audio is my profession, though, and I have other encoding options there . . .

5. Am I going to be, like, WAY happier if I upgrade to Vega Pro?

Sorry for the long question - but it’s an important issue.

Hope someone can help.

Hugh

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 7/13/2009, 4:48 PM
1. Yes, it's fixed. It's pretty good where it is, but you can only fit maybe 100 minutes of video on a single-layer disc. If you need more than that then you can render to DV .avi (nearly lossless, and it's Vegas' native codec), then use the Fit to Disc option under optimize. This will let DVDA pick the best bitrate to fit the material on the disc. Note that normally this is only used when you want a lower bitrate than the fixed one that Vegas offers. I believe Vegas is fixed at 6mbps. I don't know if DVDA will pick a higher bitrate if your material is shorter; i've never tried it. If you go above 9 you risk stuttering and other playback issues.

2. Sure, if you have special needs to fit more material. Lossless is probably overkill. It may be a tiny bit better than DV, but not much, and the file sizes will be about 8 times bigger and the process will take a lot longer.

3. I don't know about the Studio version. The Pro version does. Check the manual or help screens for dual-layer. It may tell you there that 'this feature is only available in the Pro version', or it may not.

4. Dunno, never tried it.

5. If choosing rendering settings is that important to you then yes, you'd probably be way happier with Vegas Pro. Personally, i find the unlimited tracks is what makes me way happier. :)
Hugh Harrer wrote on 7/13/2009, 6:44 PM
Thanks for the quick help!

I do broadcast audio and post for a living. Recently, however, I’ve been picking up some jobs where I’m doing a tad of video fix up AND the audio mixing and layback AND DVD authoring - so I guess if this keeps up I will go “pro”.

I’m trying the DV.avi export. It exports stereo audio only so I will need to see if I can specify the 5.1 tracks in DVD Arch.

I’m also going to do an A/B test to see if - in the end - it looks better.

On this project I was working off 64 minutes of 9.6MBs Mpeg2 footage to start with, and dual layer was not a problem for the final product. But VMSP took it WAY down . . . I was concerned about quality.

Are you an unofficial official moderator of sorts on this site? You seem very helpful.

Thanks.

Hugh
Chienworks wrote on 7/13/2009, 7:32 PM
Not the slightest bit official in any capacity. I'm just another enthusiastic user.