File size again

TimLong wrote on 11/28/2004, 6:23 AM

I've been reading through many other posts on this subject and I have several questions:

1. I rendered a Vegas project a month ago that was 1 hr 45 min (approx.). I used the default template. Windows said the file was about 3.3 gig. When I imported into DVDA, the file size was about same. Now I have a new project about the same length. Using the default, DVDA says that it's 6.7 gig, about twice the size. Can I still just go ahead and burn a DVD with no problems?

2. Why did DVDA change things? The only thing I've done differently since the last project was a Print to Tape which is only in Vegas.

3. After reading most of the posts, I re-rendered using the DVD Architect for NTSC template. Now the file size (Windows) is 4.785 gig and DVDA reports 5.2 gig which is closer, but now if I adjust the bitrate, it makes no difference to the file size. I'm probably showing my ignorance, but why is that?

Thanks in advance!

Tim

Comments

ScottW wrote on 11/28/2004, 7:11 AM

First off, never use the default template - if you do, DVDA will probably need to recompress your file and you'll lose quality.

DVDA calculates project size based not only on the file size of the movie you brought in, but also on things like menu backgrounds, animated thumbnails (if any), etc. Also keep in mind that windows is showing you file sizes calculated base 2, while DVDA is showing you project sizes calculated base 10. You said you had a new project about the same length, but you neglegted to mention how large windows said the movie file was - you only said what DVDA was caluclating the project size as. It could be that your new movie is larger and so DVDA might be showing an accurate project size, or it could be that DVDA has not correctly caluclated the project size (something it's very good at doing, especially if motion menus or re-compression is involved). My suggestion would be to check your movie file size, if it's 4.37GB or less and you don't have any fancy menus, you're probably ok - but I'd just prepare the project (rather than prepare/burn) then take the sum of all the file sizes for stuff in the VIDEO_TS directory, and as long as you 4.37GB or less, you can then go back and do a burn.

4.785 vs. 5.2 is the difference in the method used to express the 2 numbers (base 2 vs. base 10) along with the overhead DVDA is adding based on the project. Remember, your movie file should be no larger than 4.37GB as shown by windows (assuming no fancy menus) and this will show as approx 4.7GB in DVDA.

Regardless of which number you look at, this file is too large to fit on a DVD. Lowering the bit rate when you re-render in Vegas WILL result in a smaller file.

--Scott

TimLong wrote on 11/28/2004, 4:48 PM

Scott,

Thanks for your response. I understand what you're saying about base 2 and base 10. That makes sense for the 5.2 vs. 4.785. I tried something else. I checked with the Sony Support link (above) and noticed I could upgrade to DVDA 2.0b (build 130). I was working with 2.0a (build 125). After the install, I re-rendered my project using the default template (more on that later). It came out the same as before: Windows says 3.324 gb file size. Now when I bring it into DVDA, DVDA says 3.7 gb which makes sense with the base 2/base 10. It also is similar to what I've been used to with prior projects. I'm not sure what is different other than the upgrade.

Now with the default template. Being a beginner and an amateur, I figured the default was good enough for me as I do mostly home video. But by looking through all of these messages by you experienced pros, I think I will from now on use the DVD Architect NTSC video stream template for rendering. It will be fun to figure that out, and everybody says the quality is much better. I'll probably have to upgrade my video camera now...Christmas is coming!

Thanks again!

Tim