Comments

SonyEPM wrote on 1/11/2002, 2:57 PM
The VV3 update will be released around the end of January. You can pick up the MPEG elementary stream and progressive fixes today by downloading and installing the VideoFactory 2.0b update:

http://www.sonicfoundry.com/download/step2.asp?DID=337

Jamz wrote on 1/16/2002, 2:24 AM
Is that the complete update on the Main Concept encoder? I have some projects ready to render so if there's more updates coming to the encoder I'll wait another week or so.
RichR wrote on 1/16/2002, 7:46 AM
What are elementary streams?
bearded wrote on 1/17/2002, 10:15 AM
Hi,

Does this mean that you need to buy VideoFactory as well or will your Vegas registration details work ?
I assume that Video Factory and Vegas use the same common plugin's directory.

Will you also need to register MPEG2 plugins for both Vegas and Videofactory
SonyEPM wrote on 1/17/2002, 10:37 AM
We are working feverishly on an update. When it is posted, I will notify this forum.
dsanders wrote on 1/17/2002, 3:23 PM
When creating a DVD that plays in a set top DVD player, you must have a DVD compliant MPEG2 Video stream and either a PCM or Dolby Digital stream. A DVD authoring program then takes these files (along with menus and chapters that you add) and creates an image that can be burned onto a DVD. (DVD players do not directly play MPEG2 files.)

The MainConcept MPEG2 encoder in VV creates an MPEG2 file that contains a DVD compliant video stream and an embedded MPEG audio stream. In order for a DVD authoring program to use this file, it must first transcode this file to remove the audio stream and convert it to a PCM file. This can be a time consuming step (a re-render) and (depending upon the quality of the authoring program) can lead to problems. A better solution is to have the MainConcept MPEG2 encoder create two files - the first is an Elemetry MPEG2 Video Stream file, and the second is a PCM (.wav) sound file. These two files can then be dropped into a DVD authoring program and used as is - i.e. no transcoding step.

Thus a regular MPEG2 file contains Video + Audio. An elemetry stream contains only Video. Note that if you simply mute the audio and render as is, you get a Video + Audio MPEG2 file where the audio has a level of 0 (so the transcoding step still must take place).

I know that I have left out a lot of details, but I think that captures most if the main ideas.

bearded wrote on 1/18/2002, 2:16 AM
Hi,

Dsanders is not 100% correct.
The DVD Standard does allow MPEG audio. So the elementry audio stream that VV produces can be used. Give it a go in an authorithing program like SpruceUp etc etc.

Have a look here for further details

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/officialfaq.html#3.6

Now, whether all US DVD players support it is another matter entirely.
dsanders wrote on 1/18/2002, 8:38 AM
I know this. I said that I was leaving out some of the details. I think that MPEG audio is ok for PAL, but is not in the NTCS standard (and I live in the US so therefore no-MPEG audio for me).

By the way, I don't think SpruceUp is available any more. Apple bought up the technology and will be (from what I understand) releasing only MAC versions. The other alternative that alot of people are using (because of its prices) is MyDVD. It does not support any MPEG audio (at least the version that I have). It transcodes everything except for elementry streams.