Encoding in DVDA

papa_ioan wrote on 6/21/2004, 12:58 AM
I'm brand new to DVDA and I have a question: if I have an already compliant file (mpeg-2/mp3) created with a third party software (TMPEG encoder) is it possible to use it as-is without re-encoding it in DVDA?

e.g. - I captured a home video VHS (about 3 and a half hours) and I encoded it in TMPEG enc at about 3000kbps MPEG-2 video and 128kbps MP2 CBR audio. When I add the MPEG movie in DVDA it shows me that the DVD I want to create has around 12 GB (in red in the bottom right of the window).
What I want is to put the file in, create the menu and burn it without re-encode.

THX a lot.

Comments

johnmeyer wrote on 6/21/2004, 8:27 PM
if I have an already compliant file (mpeg-2/mp3) created with a third party software (TMPEG encoder) is it possible to use it as-is without re-encoding it in DVDA?

Yes, but the audio must be PCM or AC3.

Since a DVD can only hold 4.4 Gbytes, your 12 Gbyte file will not fit. If you want to chop the MPEG into three pieces, DVDA (unfortunately) cannot do this, although in my opinion this is a feature that MUST be added in the next release. To cut the MPEG file without recompression, use TMPGEnc's cut/join tool, or go to Womble's site and use one of their products.
mbryant wrote on 6/22/2004, 12:30 AM
Papa Ioan,

How large is the actual mpeg file you are importing? Given the bitrates and lengths you quoted, it can't be 12 GB; this could be a problem with DVD-A estimating the size? Using the bitrate calculator, for a 3.5 hour video with 128 kbit audio comes up with 2773 for the video bit rate... so 3000 might be a bit big but will be right around the DVD limit of ~4.4.

If the video is compliant (and the file not too big) then DVD-A should be able to use it as is; but as johnmeyer says you must have DVD-A re-encode the audio to PCM or AC3.

Mark
bStro wrote on 6/22/2004, 11:00 AM
Since a DVD can only hold 4.4 Gbytes, your 12 Gbyte file will not fit.

This is clearly another case of DVDA overestimating. I regularly make three-hour discs with video encoded at about 4 Mb/s. The original poster is doing 3.5 hours at 3 Mb/s.

Rob
techguy99 wrote on 6/25/2004, 7:03 PM
Okay.
I used Vegas to trim some mpeg2 files and let it encode them back out as mpeg2. When I loaded them in DVDA to make a DVD of them it showed them as large file sizes and when I went to prepare the DVD it is recompressing everything and taking hours. Why would it need to recompress when it is already in mpeg2 format and am I loosing quality?

phil
SonySDB wrote on 6/28/2004, 4:42 AM
To avoid recompression, the requirements for source media files are described in the online help (File | Help...). See "Before You Get Started: Preparing Your Files" under the "Using DVD Architect Software" section.

In Vegas, render the video to MPEG-2 with the "DVD Architect NTSC video stream" or the "DVD Architect PAL video stream" template and render the audio separately as PCM or AC-3.