Rendering a 90-minute movie for DVD

albullman wrote on 11/1/2007, 11:08 PM
The last few times I've rendered this (it's taken days out of my life), the file size has been too large to fit on a standard DVD. After VMS, I'm using DVD Architect. Neither the "fit to disc" function nor using a dual-layer disc has worked (either the DVD doesn't play at all, or it'll stop at random places in the video).

So here's the deal. I want the file size to end up at around 4GB or less to be sure it fits. What settings do I use? On MPEG-2, none of the presets give me a small enough file, and the "custom" button is greyed out. On MPEG-1, I've had some results around 1GB, but not so great quality. Is it possible to get a 90-minute movie to look good and fit on one disc? I would think so, but I'm at wits' end trying to get this to work. What settings in MPEG-1 should I tweak (very specifically)?

People here were so helpful to me before; thanks in advance!!

Comments

Eugenia wrote on 11/1/2007, 11:20 PM
At the maximum bitrate at 11mbps DVDs can hold 60 minutes of video. You need to configure your mpeg2 encoder to average 7 mbps of bitrate (with peak at around 10 mbps) in order to fit a 90 minute home movie. If the Vegas templates don't fit your footage, then that means that they are configured with too high bitrate. If they don't let you configure that, then you are using the wrong software. ;-)

However, there is a chance to export to a lossless codec (e.g. Cineform) and then tell DVDA to actually do the mpeg2 encoding at 7mbps (there should be a slider about quality/size ratio somewhere). The problem with this method is that you will have to encode twice: once for cineform under Vegas and once in DVDA for mpeg2. But at least this might let you go around the too-high-bitrate Vegas templates. Do a test first though, and see if Cineform can be read by DVDA.
Ivan Lietaert wrote on 11/1/2007, 11:37 PM
I find it bizar that 'fit to disc' doesn't do the job...
If you have a dvd player that can play divx files, that is what I would do. Just render to divx, burn the file to cd or dvd (like you would burn a data cd), and play it.
Ivan Lietaert wrote on 11/1/2007, 11:45 PM
On 'fit to disc' the manual says: "Only video that requires recompression will be adjusted. When your project cannot be made to fit on a disc, you can change the video settings so all titles and menus will be recompressed, or you can remove video from your project."

If you rendered your movie to mpg2, DVDA will not touch it and will only recompress the menu when you tell it to 'fit to disc'. So I think you must render your movie to avi (or wmv, if you want smaller size), and then in DVDA choose for 'fit to disc'. DVDA will then recompress the movie to mpg2 and make sure it fits to disk.
Eugenia wrote on 11/2/2007, 1:41 AM
This is what I suggested too, but it's a bad idea to render to WMV (and slower too, Cineform is faster). Cineform .avi is the way to go, as it's of higher quality and it's meant for this kind of job: it's an intermediate format. The only problem is that you need to encode twice and that will take a LONG time for 90mins of footage.

If that's not what you want to do, then you need to export with Vegas Pro instead, which gives you access to the mpeg2 bitrate settings and can be made to fit on a disk. Problem is, Vegas Pro costs $700.

I guess you get what you pay for... More customization and options cost more money.
Chienworks wrote on 11/2/2007, 5:20 AM
Try $599.99 for the full version if bought outright. Or, if upgrading from Vegas Studio it's only $425.95.
Retired wrote on 11/2/2007, 8:08 AM
Here is a suggestion. Render the progam just like you would a 20 min video. If you are using DVDA do not select fit to disk. Again apply the same as you would for a 20 min movie. Do not select burn to disk but prepare it to a folder.

Download shrink 3.2. It is a excellent program that will compress your video to fit correctly to a standard DVD. From the shrink program select open file and point to the folder you prepaired you video in. You should have a VIDEO_TS and a AUDIO_TS folder. I have Nero 6 in my system and shrink uses it to burn a perfect DVD. This is the method I use when my video is to large, This is just a suggestion for you to try. If it works for you than great. Nothing lost. Hope this may solve your problem for burning large video files. Good luck.

Retired
Eugenia wrote on 11/2/2007, 1:29 PM
The Shrink program will re-encode mpeg2, and this means quality loss. If you are going to do TWO encodings, do it right. Use an intermediate codec like Cineform and let only the final render to be mpeg2.
4eyes wrote on 11/3/2007, 11:13 AM
My preference would be taking the simple route:
Load your source videos or Project File into DVDA Studio.
In DVDA Studio you manually set all the encoding parameters.
6000kbs Video Bit Rate or Less, Dolby 2/0 Audio, fielding set to match the source video field settings.
On the Average for a single layer dvd:
4000kbs = 2hrs
6000kbs = 1.5 hrs
8000kbs = 1 hr

The "Fit To Disk" should work unless your source video isn't that compatible with the program and VMS or DVDA is having a hard time reading the codec, but standard dv.avi or mpeg2 files shouldn't be a problem.
Chienworks wrote on 11/3/2007, 12:51 PM
4eyes, how do you open the project file in DVDA Studio? The full version of DVDA won't open .veg or .vf files. Is this some feature that the studio version has and the full version doesn't?
4eyes wrote on 11/4/2007, 9:45 AM
No, sorry, my mistake.
lparnold wrote on 11/4/2007, 11:43 AM
I have an hour and 1/2 movie-photo project and "fit to disk" says not necessary.
I'm the Grammie Pat who asked how to burn the darned thing. I'm really lost with all the technical stuff. I can't even find the "rendered" file!!!
Thanks.
Grammie Pat
lparnold@verizon.net
RWatts wrote on 11/19/2007, 7:07 AM
Eugenia;
I need help here. I rendered my movie as a Cineform .avi, but being unfamiliar with DVDA, I can't see how to open it. How do I move to the nexrt step?
Thanks,
Reg
Eugenia wrote on 11/19/2007, 11:26 AM
If DVDA can't open it, then that's tragic.
Chienworks wrote on 11/19/2007, 3:10 PM
In DVD Architect, find the .avi file in the explorer window and drag it into the frame in the middle of the screen. That will add it to the DVD and place a button on the title page.

If DVDA won't open a cineform file then you can try rendering in Vegas to DV .avi. SONY's DV codec is almost as good as cineform.
RWatts wrote on 11/20/2007, 10:12 AM
Thanks Chienworks, that was helpful,
Reg