I needed to re-render a long HDV project to SD MPEG-2. Original render took 12 hours. I had only half that. So, I sent the first half over the network to be rendered by another computer. I then manually "stitched" the two segments, and their associated AC-3 files, using Womble. Worked like a charm EXCEPT that the portion rendered by the network computer was at a completely random average bitrate that was MUCH higher than what I specified. I did a few tests, and I think I have the answer, but thought I'd confirm with others.
The answer is that I think you have to save the settings that you use, prior to network rendering, as a render template. Usually, when rendering locally, I just start with the DVD Architect template, and then click on Custom to change the average bitrate. I don't save the resulting template, because in the next project, I'll be using a different bitrate. However, it appears as though this confuses the remote renderer, and it chooses some other bitrate, from goodness knows where. I specified 6,450, but the file was WAY too big, and when I ran it through a bitrate analyzer, it told me that it was around 7,500. I am completely certain I did not enter the wrong number.
I'll let you know if I come up with anything further. For now the moral of the story is to first save any settings you make using the Custom template, prior to actually starting the network render, when rendering to MPEG-2.
The answer is that I think you have to save the settings that you use, prior to network rendering, as a render template. Usually, when rendering locally, I just start with the DVD Architect template, and then click on Custom to change the average bitrate. I don't save the resulting template, because in the next project, I'll be using a different bitrate. However, it appears as though this confuses the remote renderer, and it chooses some other bitrate, from goodness knows where. I specified 6,450, but the file was WAY too big, and when I ran it through a bitrate analyzer, it told me that it was around 7,500. I am completely certain I did not enter the wrong number.
I'll let you know if I come up with anything further. For now the moral of the story is to first save any settings you make using the Custom template, prior to actually starting the network render, when rendering to MPEG-2.