dvd auth software with Pioneer DVR104 and Vegas

jetdv wrote on 9/12/2002, 8:36 AM

Why not use Vegas' MPEG 2 encoder? All programs should accept the MPEG 2 file produced by Vegas.

CDM wrote on 9/12/2002, 9:29 AM

I DO use it. I'm talking about how to then get that mpeg to work in other programs. I encoded a 3.02 gig file (1 hr. 42 minute feature) and just wanted to burn it onto a DVD so my client could watch it. Every program I tried (save DVDWS whose demo had expired) would accept the file or would tell me it was well over 4.8 gigs - which it isn't. I tried Maestro, DVD Movie Maker, Power Director Pro 2.5, Scenarist... None of them worked.

JohnnyRoy wrote on 9/12/2002, 9:32 AM

I create my MPEG2 files with the Vegas MainConcept encoder using the NTSC DVD template and use Ulead DVD MovieFactory to burn DVDs. It's only $45 USD and can also make simple menus with chapter points if you like. Not bad for the price.

~jr

Active wrote on 9/12/2002, 9:45 AM

its expensive (over $1500) but why not see if you can get a demo of ReelDVD works great for this - plus you have all the other options that come with it if you need them !

also encoded to dolby digital AC3 audio

glen.

CDM wrote on 9/12/2002, 9:54 AM

have you ever tried it with a file this large? It didn't accept mine.

nolonemo wrote on 9/12/2002, 9:56 AM

Take a look on www.vcdhelp.com. There may be some program that will create the DVD directory structure that you can then simply burn to disk using your DVD burning program.

JohnnyRoy wrote on 9/12/2002, 10:03 AM

I've tried it with VBR files up to 3.2GB and it took the file just fine. This was only 1hr 11min of video. For yours to be 3.02GB and 1hr 45min it must use a different bitrate. Perhaps that's the problem. I just used the standard DVD MPEG2 template in Vegas with no changes.

~jr

CDM wrote on 9/12/2002, 10:14 AM

hmmm. I think I did max 6000 and average 4000 because I wanted to make sure it would fit. It's weird that Workshop Pro would accept it but not Movie Factory.

oh well. thanks!

dsanders wrote on 9/12/2002, 11:03 AM

The ReelDVD demo is available from the Sonic (www.sonic.com) web site. The Demo is good for 30 days, no watermarks or anything like that. But the demo does not include the dolby encoder. By the way, I believe the street price of ReelDVD is around $1000, not $1500 (list price).

Sonic has other programs available - DVDit and MyDVD which are cheaper and accept the MainConcept MPEG files just fine. However, the quality of the programs is a little suspect.

In either case, there is a big difference between $100 and under DVD authoring apps and professional apps.

Too bad Sonic Foundry doesn't sell a DVD authoring app - maybe called MonteCarlo DVD!

dsanders wrote on 9/12/2002, 11:03 AM

The ReelDVD demo is available from the Sonic (www.sonic.com) web site. The Demo is good for 30 days, no watermarks or anything like that. But the demo does not include the dolby encoder. By the way, I believe the street price of ReelDVD is around $1000, not $1500 (list price).

Sonic has other programs available - DVDit and MyDVD which are cheaper and accept the MainConcept MPEG files just fine. However, the quality of the programs is a little suspect.

In either case, there is a big difference between $100 and under DVD authoring apps and professional apps.

Too bad Sonic Foundry doesn't sell a DVD authoring app - maybe called MonteCarlo DVD!

CDM wrote on 9/12/2002, 11:45 AM

I totally forgot about Sonic's stuff because for a while the demos were unavailable.

thanks.

I'll check it out

CDM wrote on 9/12/2002, 12:31 PM

well, I downloaded reeldvd and when I try to import an mpeg from the DVD NTSC template in Vegas, it says it only supports video of 16:9 or 4:3. Then it says it's switching to PAL and then says the file was rejected.
the only thing I can get it to accept are .m2v files.

vonhosen wrote on 9/12/2002, 1:43 PM

With ReelDVD you are supposed to bring in elementary streams, .m2v for video & PCM or Dolby files for audio.

Bring your audio in as 16bit 48kHz .wav file for the built in encoder to encode to AC-3 2/0 (Dolby digital stereo)

Use the video only DVD NTSC template in VV3 adjusted to what bitrate you require & then do a second (much quicker) render from the timeline to produce the required .wav file

As a side note although ReelDVD only has a dolby stereo built in encoder it will accept any variation of Dolby including 5.1 if you bring the files in after encoding them with external encoder.

dsanders wrote on 9/12/2002, 1:51 PM

The error message is screwed up!

The following is from the ReelDVD Knowledgebase:

"This is the typical response of ReeLDVD when you try to force feed it
"Program Streams". You must create "Elementary Streams" from your encode process. A Program Stream has the video and audio already multiplexed together, an Elementary Stream has two seperate files, one for video and one for audio. This is the only option for bringing your asset files into
ReelDVD."

You must give ReelDVD an Elementry Video Only Stream and a PCM Audio file. When you buy the products, the PCM will be converted to Stereo Dobly Digital (if you want).

VOGuy wrote on 9/12/2002, 6:00 PM

Hi Charlesdem

Since I'm not a video professional, I had to keep my budget low -- But my primary video product (My "Voice For Video" demo.) is sent to video professionals, who, believe me, tell me if they have a problem with the video quality. (I do explain that most of the source material came from VHS tapes.)

I use the same system JohnnyRoy uses, the Vegas MainConcept encoder using the NTSC DVD template and the Ulead DVD MovieFactory. It works well with the DVR104, and so far (using cheap dvd-r) I've only had one person (out of about 50) who had problems playing the DVD (oddly, they had a MAC with a built in DVR104.)

Travis
Travis Voice Services - http://www.announcing.biz

CDM wrote on 9/12/2002, 7:36 PM

thanks everyone for the advice!

John_Beech wrote on 9/16/2002, 7:43 PM

I'm planning on getting ReelDVD 3.0 - any users of it here? Do you know of a forum similar to this one for it?

vonhosen wrote on 9/17/2002, 1:10 AM

Sonic do their own forum for DVDit & ReelDVD section is a recent adition.
http://forums.sonic.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi

Here is a link to a longer established Reel forum
http://www.guygraphics.com/cgi-bin/ib3/ikonboard.cgi?s=3c598a957707ffff;act=SF;f=31

Don't use it myself yet but considering it. Waiting to see what DVDit 5.0 due out in fall (probably more like Chistmas) offers. It is going to be built on same code as Sonic's DVD Producer.

vonhosen wrote on 9/18/2002, 3:40 PM

Another ReelDVD resource site

http://www.crazypants.com/index.htm

dsanders wrote on 9/18/2002, 4:42 PM

The internal muxing engine in MyDVD and DVDit is pretty generic. The engine in ReelDVD and Producer is much better. For the time being, I would stay away from MyDVD and DVDit. Both programs have a lot of bugs - just scan through their forum. A new version of MyDVD was announced in June for an early July release. But that release has not happened. Sonic Solutions is blaming it on production difficulities (not buggy software). A new version of DVDit is due out this fall also. But given thier track record, I would not expect it until winter!

Basically, in my opinion, Sonic Solutions is going through some growing pains. They offer at least 6 completly different DVD authoring apps (from $50 to $50,000) and seem to be having dificulities in deceiding what features should be withheld from the cheaper apps. If all you want to do is to place video on a disc that will play in a DVD player, then MyDVD and DVDit should work for you. (DVDit gives you better control over chapter points and, with the $600 PE version, the ability to encode in Stereo Digital Dolby (not 5.1)). If you want more control over menus and a more sophisicated print to tape feature, you'll need ReelDVD ($1000). If you want to produce commerical quality (Hollywood style) DVDs, you will need Fusion or Producer - both of which will cost many, many thousands of dollars.

SonyEPM wrote on 9/19/2002, 8:25 AM

"Jamz" (forum name, MPEG beta tester) has used REELDVD for quite awhile, seems to have a high opinion of it. Perhaps he'll surface and chime in.