Quickest way to DVD?

DaveCT wrote on 6/11/2003, 3:00 PM
Hi all,
Currently, I render my projects to AVI file and then have MyDVD encode the file to MPEG during the authoring process. If I use the Main Concept MPEG encoder in VF, will it encode to MPEG directly from the project files, or will VF still have to render an intermediate AVI file anyway? I would imagine that not having to render to AVI first would save a lot of time.

Thanks,
-Dave

Comments

JohnnyRoy wrote on 6/11/2003, 3:03 PM
> I would imagine that not having to render to AVI first would save a lot of time.
This is what I do all the time. I can't remember the last time I output a project to AVI. I just render the final to MPEG2 and then make a DVD. It's much quicker if you don't need the AVI to print-to-tape.

~jr
Klavisha wrote on 6/11/2003, 3:51 PM
VF will render directly to MPEG from the timeline. However, I don't know if MyDVD, which I have too, re-encodes VF's MPEG file or if it just adds the necessary authoring files. Is that information hidden somewhere in MyDVD's documentation (which I've been too lazy to read so far)? Can someone help here?
ChristerTX wrote on 6/11/2003, 3:56 PM
My bet is that it simply split the video and sound and creates the needed directories for the DVD image. It would take too long time otherwise.
I'm using Ulead Movie Factory and it does just that.

DaveCT wrote on 6/11/2003, 3:58 PM
Klavisha,
MyDVD has a help topic describing what it considers to be a "legal" MPEG2 file. It lists all the various parameters etc. If the file is "legal" MyDVD will not transcode the file, it will use it as-is and will only add the other files needed for proper DVD authorizing.

-Dave
Klavisha wrote on 6/11/2003, 4:22 PM
Thanks for clarifying that, Dave. In the past I've rendered everything to AVI to print to tape so I just use those files in MyDVD. I'll have to do a test burn in MyDVD from a VF AVI vs from a VF MPEG2, and see if one comes out noticeably better than the other. (I don't have the professional VF plugin, so can't customize.)
DaveCT wrote on 6/12/2003, 12:16 AM
Klavisha,
I'll save you some time. MyDVD does a better job of creating MPEG2 files than the Main Concept plugin does. I found that out after wasting the $29.95 on the plugin today. It's not horrible, but the plugin appears to create slightly more noticeable artifacts. Looks like MyDVD still transcodes the MPEG files anyway. Oh well. I suppose I'll continue to render to AVI first and let MyDVD do the rest. Let me know if you see similar results.

-Dave