BTW.. using DVD-A says that my project size is 5,4GB but movies are only 3,7GB total..

This makes perfect sense. The MPEG file has compressed audio giving you a size of 3.7 Gig. With it set on PCM (uncompressed), it has to uncompress the audio giving you a size of 5.4 Gig. THEN, selecting AC-3 then re-compresses the audio getting you back to 3.7 Gig. What I normally do is render the MPEG and AC-3 files from Vegas and then tell DVDA to use BOTH of these files - the MPEG for the video and the AC-3 for the audio and these files are NOT re-encoded by DVDA.

Yes, when rendering the .mpg video just make sure Audio is not
selected. Then render the .ac3 file by itself.

I am having the same problem. I rendered the mpeg as mpeg2- DVD-a ntsc video stream. I rendered it again with
SF AC3-Stereo templet. When I bring the mpeg2 and ac3 files into DVDA. I get 2 links in the main menu. Can't
get them to link as one file. Also have yet to get DVDA to burn a complete dvd always gives an eror message.
So I have been burning with nero Express that came with the dvd burner.

Actually, I leave the audio selected. Mine is a FULL MPG file with audio. I just tell DVDA to use the separately rendered AC3 file instead for the audio.

Yes.. I shall do that,, but as the manual says, no recompress is needed when importing from a vegas4 templated mpeg-file.. It does not work... :(

Don't drag the AC3 file to the menu! After dragging the MPG file to the menu, double-click it and a timeline will appear. On the right-hand side of that screen is two text boxes - one for a video file and one for an audio file. Drage the AC3 file to the audio box and then it will use the AC3 file instead of the audio included in the MPG file.

This manual reference is refering to the "DVD Architect NTSC video stream" and "DVD Architect PAL video stream" templates. You have to render the audio separately either as WAV (i.e. PCM) or AC-3 to avoid recompress. I understand your confusion.

Thanks for the help

..well it starts to clear.. ;)

Since it's clear to zued I'll hijack this thread :)

Footage is originally from DV-tape, imported as AVI-file into Vegas4.

I render mpg video file - MainConcept MPEG-2, DVD Architect PAL Video stream.
I render ac3 audio file - Sonic Foundry AC-3, Stereo DVD

When inserting video the (correct) audio file is automatically selected as corresponding audio.
(I have tried selecting manually as well, with the same result).

The Problem:
When selecting "Optimize DVD" DVD-A indicates the need to recompress my AC3 stereo audio. However, if I change audio format to "AC-3 5.1 Surround" I get a green checkmark. Hmmm....strange....

.. hijacker...

same to me.. but i got it to work with "GUI multiple project render.js" -script..
there I got an option(template) that says ac3 - stereo, this template i not in vegas4, only one, and that one renders 5.1 dolby sound..

you can find this script at:
http://www.sundancemediagroup.com/help/kb/kb_files.asp

OT: Zued - Är du svensk?

Ok, tried that script. It seems to work. Will try some more vo really verify this.
It shouldn't be needed, though.

To me it seems to be the same render settings as is available when renedering filemormat "Sonic Foundry AC-3" with the template "Stereo DVD".
If you hit "Custom..." and use the "Template" drop down box, two different templates are available. "Stero DVD" & "5.1 Surround DVD".

So what difference should using the script really make?
I think it's up to Sonic Foundry to analyze the initial problem, in my earlier post.