Using a variation of Vegas to HandBrake, one can get much higher quality DVD results.
This assumes you setup Vegas to HandBrake.
(1) Create project in the normal way. I save the chapter markers to a file with Ultimate S Pro (4.1.8). If you have another way to save the chapter markers, use it instead.
(2) Click on the checkmark for Send2HandBrake.
(3) In HandBrake (I am using version 0.9.9.5530) set the size to 720 for width and 480 for height. It is important not to keep the aspect ratio. I will explain more later.
(4) A check next to 'Large File Size'. No check next to 'Web Optimized'.
(5) In audio I have the bit rate set for 384 for the best quality sound it will give me.
(6) I am using 'Constant Quality' with a setting of 5. This gives a reasonably large file but not way too large and helps prevent degradation of the video especially in the darker areas.
(7) I have the destination folder set in the options so I know where the file is going to be.
(8) I then start HandBrake and find something to do while waiting. LOL!
(9) When HandBrake is done, I start a new Vegas project using the *.mp4 file.
(10) I use Ultimate S Pro to load the chapter markers.
(11) I then render for DVDA with widescreen settings. Vegas will convert the square pixels to rectangular pixels to give the proper aspect ratio. Vegas does not resize the video at all! It simply converts the pixels. This way Vegas cannot make a mess of things with its terrible resizing. The video preview will still show the video as it is but the render is changing it correctly.
(12) Finish up in DVDA.
There are other ways to get the best results, but why settle for the garbage that MC renders?
Note: Before I could get the Vegas to HandBrake to work for me, I was rendering to an *.avi intermediate before using HandBrake. I no longer need to do that.
This assumes you setup Vegas to HandBrake.
(1) Create project in the normal way. I save the chapter markers to a file with Ultimate S Pro (4.1.8). If you have another way to save the chapter markers, use it instead.
(2) Click on the checkmark for Send2HandBrake.
(3) In HandBrake (I am using version 0.9.9.5530) set the size to 720 for width and 480 for height. It is important not to keep the aspect ratio. I will explain more later.
(4) A check next to 'Large File Size'. No check next to 'Web Optimized'.
(5) In audio I have the bit rate set for 384 for the best quality sound it will give me.
(6) I am using 'Constant Quality' with a setting of 5. This gives a reasonably large file but not way too large and helps prevent degradation of the video especially in the darker areas.
(7) I have the destination folder set in the options so I know where the file is going to be.
(8) I then start HandBrake and find something to do while waiting. LOL!
(9) When HandBrake is done, I start a new Vegas project using the *.mp4 file.
(10) I use Ultimate S Pro to load the chapter markers.
(11) I then render for DVDA with widescreen settings. Vegas will convert the square pixels to rectangular pixels to give the proper aspect ratio. Vegas does not resize the video at all! It simply converts the pixels. This way Vegas cannot make a mess of things with its terrible resizing. The video preview will still show the video as it is but the render is changing it correctly.
(12) Finish up in DVDA.
There are other ways to get the best results, but why settle for the garbage that MC renders?
Note: Before I could get the Vegas to HandBrake to work for me, I was rendering to an *.avi intermediate before using HandBrake. I no longer need to do that.