Multi-Source Projects

sean@oregonsound.com wrote on 7/23/2007, 1:45 PM
It is my understanding that, when a DVD will be authored that combines files from different sources or studios, it is probably best to use uncompressed files to avoid possible recompression. But what is everyone's experience with Vegas 7-rendered MPEG-2's and their recognizability in other systems---particularly with the oft-used DVD Studio Pro? I only ask because it can be a bit unwieldy to have to exchange the mega-sized files uncompressed video requires. Any reason not to use the DVD Architect templates even when the MPEG file will be sent elsewhere?

Comments

rs170a wrote on 7/23/2007, 5:28 PM
I'm a bit confused by your question.
I would never give DVDA anything other than a pre-rendered MPEG-2/AC-3 (or WAV audio) or an AVI file as that's all it'll recognize.
If I was getting files from other sources or studios, I'd ask for DV-AVI or MOV files for video and WAV, MP3 or AIFF files for audio as I know Vegas will handle those.
Once I dropped them on the timeline, only then would I do a final render for DVDA to handle.

Since DVD Studio Pro is a Mac app, I have no idea what it wants as far as file formats goes. I'm guessing either MOV or MPEG=2 files but, once again, I don't have any experience with it.

Mike
farss wrote on 7/23/2007, 9:46 PM
Giving a DVD author mpeg-2 files is asking for trouble if they need to change anything or use parts of it in menus etc. On top of that I don't even know if Mac apps can read mpeg-2 natively, they certainly cannot read HDV without conversion.

You could render to Sony YUV and not get HUGE files but still keep high quality. Last I heard Mac could read this format without error. The other codec that's common and freely available is the Black Magic Design 4:2:2 QT codec.

As always, render out a very short segement first. Give it to the intended recipient to make certain they can open it without issue.

Bob.
sean@oregonsound.com wrote on 7/23/2007, 11:04 PM
"If I was getting files from other sources or studios, I'd ask for DV-AVI or MOV files for video and WAV, MP3 or AIFF files for audio as I know Vegas will handle those."

Agreed, this is the safe method, as Vegas can then do the compression into a known DVDA-compatible format. But when the video size gets so large that data DVD's and uploading are impractical and delivering a hard drive is logistically impossible, I wondered if receiving an MPEG created in other software might plug right into DVDA without further compression.
sean@oregonsound.com wrote on 7/23/2007, 11:08 PM
Giving a DVD author mpeg-2 files is asking for trouble if they need to change anything or use parts of it in menus etc. On top of that I don't even know if Mac apps can read mpeg-2 natively, they certainly cannot read HDV without conversion.

Well, I'll soon find out since today I gave MPEG-2 and AC-3 files to an editor who had balked at my giving her a 70 gig movie file. She's using DVD Studio Pro to author. I'm assuming it would be too much to hope for that the chapter markers would survive.

You could render to Sony YUV and not get HUGE files but still keep high quality. Last I heard Mac could read this format without error. The other codec that's common and freely available is the Black Magic Design 4:2:2 QT codec.

Good to know as I'm not familiar with either of these. Can you quantify the quality degradation and file size advantages compared to DV AVI?