Render MPEG2 Surround?

Timbre4Gear wrote on 11/5/2010, 11:43 AM
After searching the Knowledgebase and Forums I have to post this question. I have a Vegas project with a 5.1 mix that I built (project properties set to 5.1 surround).

In Render As (accoring to Knowledgebase entry), I would be presented with an Audio option for AC-3 stereo or 5.1. I NEVER SEE THIS. I have looked 9 ways to Sunday and only see a multichannel option if format AVI is selected. Do I render an AVI with 5.1 and then Render an MPEG2 from that? Seems illogical but I'll do it if that is the only way.

I did render as 6 individual WAVs and then used a DTS encoder to make a DTS WAV file (which frankly I'd rather use on the DVD-V).

I just can't understand why Vegas 8 (or 10) can't render the MPEG-2 with AC-3 at the same time as the KnowledgeBase article insinuates you can.

Thanks in advance.

PS - If I have to make an AVI first, I could dump the project audio and insert my DTS track and come out ahead. (unless DVD Architect objects to that and tries to clobber it with AC-3 or PCM.....)

Comments

Timbre4Gear wrote on 11/5/2010, 11:47 AM
Knowlegebase text:

If you are rendering from Vegas for use in DVD Architect, in the Render As window, select "MainConcept MPEG 2" in the Save As Type field. Then select the "DVD Architect NTSC video stream" template in the Template field below the Save As Type field. This template will only encode the video stream, so you will have to render a second time to encode the audio stream.

When you choose Render As for the audio stream, select one of the two formats that DVD Architect will use for encoding the audio stream in the save as type field:

- Dolby Digital AC-3 (*.ac3) and for Template, choose "Stereo or 5.1 Surround" (you will only see one of these options, which reflect what your project properties are set to).

- Wave (Microsoft) (*.wav) and for Template choose "48,000 Hz, 16 Bit, Stereo, PCM wave file".

Also, make sure you render both files to the same folder with the same name. If you do this, when you import the video stream into DVD Architect, the audio steam will import automatically.

In your DVD Architect project you can set your Project Properties to match your video and audio format properties. To do this, you can go to File > Properties and for the Video / Audio format, select a respective file type and template.

To add the clips that you have rendered from Vegas, in DVD Architect choose Insert > Media, and find the clips that Vegas rendered which will be stored where ever you directed Vegas to store the video and audio streams.
Timbre4Gear wrote on 11/5/2010, 11:49 AM
Looking at DVD Architect, I'm going to try importing the DTS 5.1 mix as an alternate media stream for user button selection.

I still think the knowledgebase text is mis-leading about my Audio options in rendering to MPEG2. Would love to be set straight about that...
Timbre4Gear wrote on 11/5/2010, 3:10 PM
Then I remember my DTS encoder is 16/44k not the required 48k so I cannot use my DTS track. I've copied that to a CD for now.
musicvid10 wrote on 11/5/2010, 3:28 PM
DVD Architect will take your separate MPEG-2 video file and AC-3 audio file and Prepare (mux) them into compliant VOB files with MPEG-2 video and AC-3 audio. The audio can be either stereo or 5.1 surround. MPEG-Audio (MP2) is only stereo.

This is not as confusing as it sounds and the knowledgebase states it correctly. DVD Architect wants separate files for a number of very good reasons, which have been detailed in other threads.