Wolfgang S.,

Thanks for responding.
Going to bootup Vista now & give it a go.

4 iiiiii's

Wolfgang S.,
Works perfect, thanks again

4eyes

I can use straight de-muxed HDV files for Blu-ray projects in Adobe Encore with no re-encoding involved. I wonder what it is about the video stream in HDV MPEG2 files that DVDA v5 doesn't consider BD compliant?

I even modified the default template which is VBR & used CBR 25MBS.
Architect 5 still used them as compliant.
Seems like the container format (next tab to the right) sets different parameters versus a HDV encoding.
My original HDV videos were re-encoded switching to the mpeg2 format.
I didn't notice much loss.

Not sure if I'm finding a problem with the opening menu playing a background music file and then when the song finishes playing automatically activates my assigned link (the 1st video).
Might just be a problem with PowerDvd 8 Ultra.
When the opening song is playing when I try to activate one of the menu items my mouse clicks appear to be ignored, again, this could be my software players.
I'm using Nero 8 with the Blu-Ray Plug-in & PowerDvd 8 Ultra.
Eventually the video will play but there's something not just right when playing back via my software players.
Running Vista32 Home

Edit: Hmmm, Nero 8 Ultra plays the disk fine. Maybe I have to update PDVD8_Ultra.
So far Architect 5 is pretty nice.

John,

Sony says, that HDV is not really Blu Ray compliant. Beside the fact that I am not an expert here, but other authoring tools like Uleads Moviefactory 6+ with hd pack accecepts also HDV footage. However, for the DVDA you cannot use HDV footage, you have to use the blu ray templates.

I assume that there will be some loss - given the other gop structure used by the blu ray templates. But the loss in quality should be minor, given the good quality and integration of the mainconcept mpeg 2 encoder in Vegas.

Wolfgang S.,

Well, I took your advice on a few videos setting the compression to maximum for re-encoding.
My source videos originate from a Sony HC3 and I really can't see much loss.

As for the other playback problems I was having I modified only the menu's properties to encode the menu's using AVC @ 10MBS. My project settings are for mpeg2@25MBS.
So the Blu-Ray Disc is using AVC menu's at a low bitrate & hd-mpeg2 videos.

Now, using the menu's encoded in AVC@10MBS after the opening song plays and then finishes the link activation works nicely. So the main menu opens, plays back the background audio file and after the audio file is finished the first link is activated which starts playing back my first video file. I could also cut the playback short by selecting one of the links to play.

The menu's are only static so 10MBS they still look very good. When the background music is playing back on the main menu now when I hover the mouse over the other links they are highlighted & can become active.

I think that the menus being encoded at 25MBS were giving PDVD 8 & Nero 8 a hard time.
So if someone else has this problem that was my workaround.

Yes, HDV isn't Blu-ray compliant due to its use of an MPEG audio stream, however, if I demux the MPEG2 video stream out of an HDV file, the video should be 100% Blu-ray compliant. Adobe Encore cheerfully accepts these video streams. Even Sonic Scenarist will accept the files without re-encoding and I would think that Scenarist would be ultra-picky about the files it accepts given that it was developed in association with the High Definition Authoring Alliance.

I just find it hard to accept "some loss" when I can author discs with no loss at all using other tools.

I'm with John on this one, particularly since Vegas Pro 8 will smart-render HDV. Although I'm familiar with DVDA and comfortable working in it, I may end up abandoning it for a different authoring program.

John,

I haven't taken the plunge to BluRay yet, but will do so soon. Are you saying that DVDA will ALWAYS re-encode, even if I demux, and the other apps you mention won't? If that is true, then I clearly can no longer use DVDA once I make this transition. That is totally unacceptable.

@johnmeyer:
Are you saying that DVDA will ALWAYS re-encode, even if I demux, and the other apps you mention won't? If that is true, then I clearly can no longer use DVDA once I make this transition. That is totally unacceptable.
============================
Yes, that is totally unacceptable.

I take .m2t HDV file, demux it with with VideoReDo into .m2v video stream and .mpa MPEG audio stream, convert .mpa audio stream to .ac3 DD with Vegas, them mux .m2v and .ac3 into .m2ts with tsMuxeR, then author Blu-ray video disk with Ulead DVD MovieFactory 6+ with HD pack and burn compiled project to BD-RE with Nero or ImgBurn. Plays great on PS3.

And Ulead DOES NOT RECOMPRES that .m2ts file.

DVDA5 will, unless Sony loosen restrictions.

The same situation with .TS files captured from cable box HD DVR.

For now DVDA5 is no good for Blu-ray authoring.

I wouldn't say "No Good". Still may need some tweaking. I think it's a cool program with many menuing/chaptering features. Handles AVC without a problem and I love the navigation features..
My discs are working nice.

"Are you saying that DVDA will ALWAYS re-encode, even if I demux, and the other apps you mention won't? "

Yes. It appears that you must re-encode using the Blu-ray template in Vegas, otherwise DVDA will force a re-encode anyway. This defeats the whole purpose of smart-rendering.

I basically do the same thing a Mozartman using VideoReDo to de-mux the files (although I have tried other demuxers.) I also don't remux the M2V and the converted .AC3 files before I bring them into Adobe Encore.

I do a LOT of DVD and Blu-ray projects and Encore still wins the feature race, particularly the visual flowchart feature. If DVDA had it, then I might consider the switch, but I can't imagine authoring a disc without being able to see the flowchart, it would be like Vegas not showing the timeline. (Which is how I used to edit using the CMX 3400 linear editor and a rack of tape machines.)

Thanks, John.

MozartMan,

Why don't you just render the HDV in Vegas with the "render elementary streams" option checked to get your m2v? Seems it would be easiest to do this and render the AC3 right off the time line and then mux the two outside of vegas, skipping the demux step....

@nolonemo
Why don't you just render the HDV in Vegas with the "render elementary streams" option checked to get your m2v? Seems it would be easiest to do this and render the AC3 right off the time line and then mux the two outside of vegas, skipping the demux step....
===================

I don't remember exact numbers but:

Having 1 hour .mt2 HDV file without need for editing:

1.
a) ~30-40 minutes to "SMART" render .m2v elementary video stream with Vegas
b) ~6-10 minutes to render MPEG audio track into .ac3 file with Vegas
3) ~ 10-12 minutes to remux .m2v and .ac3 into .m2ts file using tsMuxeR for authoring with Ulead DMF6+

Total time approximately about 1 hour.

2.
a) ~ 10 minutes to de-mux .m2t file into .m2v and .mpa with VideoReDo
b) ~6-10 minutes to render MPEG audio track into .ac3 file with Vegas
3) ~ 10-12 minutes to remux .m2v and .ac3 into .m2ts file using tsMuxeR for authoring with Ulead DMF6+

Total time approximately 30 minutes.

If I need to edit HDV file then I don't use VideReDo and do like you suggest.

: nolonemo ,
That is what the discussion is about (my original post).
Architect 5 will re-encode the HDV whether it's elementary m2v or mpg. If it's HDV 25MBS CBR Architect 5 will re-encode it.

For mpeg2 video you need to use the BDMV template which is different than the HDV templates.

AVC works fine.

See Wolfgang S. reply to my original post.

MozartMan: Thanks, didn't realize that smart rendering to elementary streams would take so much longer

4eyes: I was referring to MorartMan's workflow for authroing with MS6, not DVDA.

Still thinking of looking at other authorings solutions. My problem is that I have developed a comfortable DVDA workflow and I'm lazy.

Still thinking of looking at other authorings solutions.

The DVD 5 release which took an absurdly long time to release, is still pretty badly broken in my humble opinion, and looking at other authoring solutions is a good idea. I have been looking at Adobe for a while and as soon as I get time, which is mid August, I will spend some time testing Premiere. I tried FCP and wanted to chew my arm off. Perhaps Premiere is better.

My worry with SCS is still the same as it was pre DVDA5 release, namely that there still seem to be extremely few resources dedicated to SCS software right now. There are too many areas where there is stuff promised but never delivered (64 bit anyone), bugs that stay in the product for way too long (a solution to the black frames seems to be in progress, but not quite there yet) and a general lack of progression around SCS software. This worries me greatly, not because I dislike Vegas, quite the opposite, because I like it.

nolonemo,
Sorry bout that,
Guess it's hard picking out other authoring solutions.

The one very noticeable thing on my Vista32 computer is when running SCS software it multi-tasks and simply seems to be compiled better than some other products. I use the ATI Hydravision and run 4 virtual screens. Vegas Pro 8 or Architect 5 does not interfere with any of the other virtual screens while the competitors software does.
I can also terminate the SCS software much easier without forcing a reboot.

I know Architect 5 may need improvement.