Render to MPEG - Audio/Video Separately?

Stuart Robinson wrote on 7/4/2006, 12:03 AM

I'm a new user so might have one or two questions... ;-)

First up; when rendering to MPEG-2 I'd like two separate files (video and audio) with the latter being PCM, or worst case scenario, one multiplexed file with PCM. I can then encode the audio to AC-3 if needed in an external application before authoring.

This was a part of Vegas I couldn't try during the trial, but it doesn't seem to allow me to do this in one pass in the full version, it'll only save lossy MPEG-Audio as part of a single job.

Do I really have to render the video, then go back and render the audio (as WAV) separately? That seems a bit clunky.

Comments

busterkeaton wrote on 7/4/2006, 12:40 AM

Yes, render to AC-3 is one step. Then there is a second render for MPEG-2.

If you get Vegas+DVD, you can render to AC-3 straight from Vegas.

Also Vegas allows scripting and some clever folks created a free Script called DVD Prep which is a one step way of rendering audio then video.

Even without this rendering audio is not that big a step. It's much faster than video.

TheHappyFriar wrote on 7/4/2006, 6:42 AM

vegas 6 includes a batch render plugin that lets you render whatever you want. It's under "Tools -> Scripting -> Batch Render".

If you have DVDA (or bought the AC3 plugin) you can render to AC3 right from the timeline/batch render script.

JohnnyRoy wrote on 7/4/2006, 8:56 AM

> ...some clever folks created a free Script called DVD Prep

I resemble that remark! ;-)

The AC3 encoder is shipped with DVD Architect. If you bought Vegas+DVD you have it. If you only bought Vegas then you need to use whatever DVD authoring application you have to convert to AC3. In this case you would render as a WAV file separately in Vegas.

DVD Prep will only help you if you purchased Vegas+DVD as it looks for the AC3 encoder and won’t run without it. (maybe I could change this in a future version but so far no one has asked for wave file support)

~jr

plasmavideo wrote on 7/4/2006, 9:12 AM

Yes you do have to render the video and audio streams seperately if you want seperate files. It's not that big a deal, and the WAV file will render really fast - unlike your mpg video.

Now, I agree with you that there should be a project template that allows you to produce a program stream that includes LPCM. In reality for using Vegas with DVDA it's very flexible to have the seperate audio stream renders, but it would be nice to be able to do multiplexed audio for other authoring apps.

Chienworks wrote on 7/4/2006, 9:31 AM

I suppose i could use a batch rendering script. I don't bother though. For me, the first render of the audio is a chance to get up, use the facilities, and get ready to go out. By the time i'm done with that the audio render is done and i start the video render. Then it's off to dinner with my lovely wife. Starting a second render only takes a few tiny moments of my time.

busterkeaton wrote on 7/4/2006, 10:19 AM

...some clever folks created a free Script called DVD Prep

Ok, it wasn't some clever folks, it was one lone weirdo. I just didn't want to scare off the new guy.

:) Happy Fourth, Johnny.

Stuart Robinson wrote on 7/4/2006, 10:32 AM

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions.

Batch scripting seems to be the obvious answer, one job for audio then another for the video. It's really counter-intuitive though when one can render a single MPEG file or separate files with MPEG-Audio, especially when that has a higher processing overhead.

I don't have DVDA (I keep thinking that people are talking about DVD-Audio when I see that mentioned!) but do have a basic stand-alone two-channel Dolby Digital encoder and so far have only needed to work with stereo projects.

TheHappyFriar wrote on 7/4/2006, 10:33 AM

i used to use Vegas 4 for TMPGenc DVD author & for the free one that came with my HPDVD burner. You normally just have to render as eigther wav/mpeg audio. I made templates for it & it wasn't a problem after that.