MPEG for DVD

JaysonHolovacs wrote on 7/26/2004, 3:04 PM
In MainConcept MPEG-2 rendering dialog, under the video tab, there is a "Video Type" setting. I have always left it at the default MPEG-2. But after investigation, I noticed it has a "DVD" setting. If I'm outputting to DVD-A2, should I choose that for my video type, or should I stick with the default "MPEG-2"? What's the difference?

-Jayson

Comments

johnmeyer wrote on 7/26/2004, 3:22 PM
Choose the DVD Architect setting. It DOESN'T include audio, because DVD Architect needs the audio as a separate AC3 file. If you encode the audio into the MPEG2 stream, it will not be AC3, and DVDA will waste time (and quality) re-encoding the audio into AC3. Of course, this also means that you must render your project twice: once for the video and once for the audio. The overall render time is not increased, but you must manually start the second step (the audio render).

There are scripts that will do both renders for you automatically.
laurihof wrote on 8/3/2004, 9:59 AM
OK, I'm sure it's just because i'm a doof, but if you render video and audio separately, how does DVDA automatically match it up for the final DVD or do you have to make magic in there somehow? BTW, I love you guys =-)
Jsnkc wrote on 8/3/2004, 10:03 AM
The easiest way is to give the MPEG and the AC3 file the same name (apart from the file extension of course) Then just bring the video file into DVD-A and it should automatically bring in the audio file as well as long as it's the same name and in the same directory. No magic wand needed :)
laurihof wrote on 8/3/2004, 2:16 PM
Can't wait it try...I've just done the MPEG2 thing. If I can make a better quality product that way I'm all for it...thanks!
B.Verlik wrote on 8/3/2004, 2:46 PM
Mine doesn't automatically bring in both files, but I'm still using DVD A 1.0 . I have to go to the properties in the DVD set up and add the audio in by choosing the file, even if I have the video and audio files together. I render video without audio and then I render AC3 and put in same file with mpg, but I still have to manually drag the file in. It's easy though.
johnmeyer wrote on 8/3/2004, 4:55 PM
The two file names must be identical, and they both must be in the same directory for the automatic matching to work.

The big advantage to rendering to separate files is that DVDA (version 1 OR version 2) will prepare the files MUCH quicker because it doesn't have to strip out and then re-multiplex the audio in order to make the VOB files (which contain the video, and various audio tracks -- if you use more than one audio track, and subtitles, and navigation pointers).

In DVDA, ALWAYS go to the "Optimize" option in the file menu before burning to make sure that none of the files you rendered from Vegas are being re-encoded. Also, as discussed many, many times on this forum, it is better to render to MPEG-2 and to AC-3 in Vegas, rather than in DVDA. Why? There are more render options in Vegas (including 2-pass encoding). Also, if you decide to change your DVD layout, you can do so without requiring any re-rendering. By contrast, if you put the AVI file directly into DVDA, it will re-render to MPEG-2 every time you decide to change your DVD layout. As you know MPEG-2 rendering takes hours, whereas DVD preparation (the act of creating VOB files) should happen in only 10-15 minutes.