Rendering as MPEG2 withwith the DVD Architect NTSC video stream setting and the audio to AC3

Cunhambebe wrote on 1/6/2004, 8:06 AM

Once an user (JohnnyRoy) wrote:
" I always render in Vegas using MPEG2 with the DVD Architect NTSC video stream setting and then render the audio to AC3. This saves time in DVDA since everything is in the correct format but the results are the same either way. I do the rendering with a script so its one step actually."

I can render as MPEG2 with the DVD Architect setting. But it's impossible to open the rendered file within DVDA. I can only do it with the Windows Media Player. Besides, render as AC-3 it's impossible because of this: no existing templates support this media ???????? Do I have to buy an Audigy sound card????
I'd really like someone to help me again.

Comments

Elizabeth Lowrey wrote on 1/6/2004, 12:49 PM

As for the video stream, after you select mpeg 2 mainconcept for the 'render as' type and the DVD architect NTSC template, click on the 'custom' button, and once inside that dialog, select the audio tab. MAKE SURE that the 'include audio stream" option is checked. On my system, the default option is UNchecked, which is really stupid considering that DVD Architect does not support elementary streams and assuming SoFo/Sony would want to make all the default options favor their own authoring app. Anyway, mpeg 2 video imported into DVD Architect MUST be multiplexed with audio or it's unusable. Just leave the default mpeg 2 audio settings once you check the option to include audio as you will be replacing the audio later on with either PCM or AC-3 anyway.

You should be able to render the audio out to AC-3 on a separate pass, provided you've registered the AC-3 encoder upon first use. I don't know any reason why you'd get the message you reported if you've registered and are simply rendering the timeline audio to Dolby AC-3.

Once inside DVD Architect, simply add the rendered mpeg 2 video/audio stream as a media object, then replace the mpeg 2 audio stream (via the browser option for the media object) with the separately rendered AC-3 audio file.

Make sure you render the EXACT same section of the Vegas timeline in both the MPEG 2 and AC-3 renders or you could end up with audio sync issues inside DVD Architect.

Hope this helps.

Elizabeth Lowrey
Amore Productions

Cunhambebe wrote on 1/6/2004, 1:32 PM

Thank you Elizabeth. What about JohnnyRoy's comment?....What do you think? Well, I rendered the file as MPEG2 with the DVD Architect NTSC Video Stream. Sorry to make ya hear that, but the file opens with Windows Media Player but definitely not with DVD Architect. 'What a mess! I thought this video thing would be as easy as mp3.....I was mistaken. I need some help pls.

Cunhambebe wrote on 1/6/2004, 1:38 PM

One more thing...I konw this is not the right forum for that, but what about the scripts used for rendering MPEG2 files (both at the same time)?

Elizabeth Lowrey wrote on 1/6/2004, 1:56 PM

I don't know what comment you are referring to . . . it's not in this thread.

As for the other, are you referring to the render you already made before you posted the question or a new one? Did you go back and follow my advice -- making sure the "include audio stream" button was checked on the audio tab within the "custom" dialog for the DVD Architect template and then rerendering from the Vegas timeline?

Cunhambebe wrote on 1/6/2004, 6:03 PM

Thanks for answering, EClaire.
Yes, I did followed your advice and this was the result: I can render the audio file as AC-3. It can be opened in DVD Architect. I also can render the project as MPEG2 leaving the "include audio stream" box checked, but the file cannot be opened with DVD Architect, only with Windows MEdia Player (I have the MPEG decoder installed to let Windows MEdia Player open this kind of file). Don't know what this problem can be.....Any hints?

PS: JohnnyRoy's comment about one of my rendering questions, was this one: "I always render in Vegas using MPEG2 with the DVD Architect NTSC video stream setting and then render the audio to AC3. This saves time in DVDA since everything is in the correct format but the results are the same either way. I do the rendering with a script so its one step actually".

THKS

Elizabeth Lowrey wrote on 1/6/2004, 6:49 PM

I honestly don't know what the problem is. Forgive me if any of the following sounds too pedestrian or beneath your level of expertise, but I'm just trying to make sure we're not overlooking something obvious. What procedure are you following to "open" the file in DVD Architect? "Open" is not the first verb that would come to my mind in describing the procedure for creating a DVD, although it's not inaccurate.

If yours is a menu-based project, did you "open" the media by clicking Insert>Media (Ctrl + F) and then navigating to and selecting the mpeg 2 file from the resulting dialog? That is the standard way to "add" (i.e., open) media files for use in a DVD Architect project. Once you do that, a thumbnail representation of the file should immediately appear on the active menu page.

Were you able to get this far? And if you were, did you then click on the "modify" button of the "object" tab for this media object? This should take you to another screen where the media object itself is displayed in a preview window along with a timeline representation of the entire file. You should also see in the right hand area of this new screen two separate file paths with a browse button on each, one for the video stream, and one for the audio stream. At this point, of course, both streams are from the same file, so you should see your original mpeg2 file listed in both boxes.

Where in this process is your effort failing?

Cunhambebe wrote on 1/6/2004, 7:10 PM

Dear EClaire: I can't even click over the file for previewing (I use drag and dropp so as move the files to the main menu). I can do all of this procedure for AVI files, but definitely not with MPEG2 ones. I know it sound weird, but it's happening........;( Maybe we'll find an answer)
Thank you for your help.

Elizabeth Lowrey wrote on 1/6/2004, 8:25 PM

Just for the heck of it, can you try, in a brand new DVD Architect project, adding the mpeg2 file via the Insert>Media command and let me know whether that actually produces a thumbnail and media object icon on the main menu page?

Cunhambebe wrote on 1/7/2004, 3:50 AM

Thanks for taking time to respond. No, it's impossible, there's the same error message.

farss wrote on 1/7/2004, 4:03 AM

What i don't understand is this, cause I've read every post on this thread and I still don't know where the process is failing! You keep referring to not being able to open the mpg file in DVDA but DVDA doesn't really 'open' media files, it only opens project files.

You say you can drag and drop the file from the explorer window at the bottom of the screen, right. This isn't opening the file BTW!

So can you get that far?
If not, specifically what happens?

I mean at this stage as far s I know your mpg file could be pretty screwed up and DVDA will not complain, all it's doing is putting a link to the file there.
Do you end up with a button on the main menu?

Cunhambebe wrote on 1/7/2004, 4:34 AM

Thanks for taking time to respond. You say: DVDA only opens project files. How come? I can't even preview the MPEG2 file with the DVDA. Everything works out with AVI files, but not with the MPEG2 ones. I can open these MPEG2 files with my Windows MEdia Player (because, I have the MPEG decoder installed) or with ROXIO EZ CD n' DVD Creator. ???????????? Don't know what to do. By the way, I don't end up with a button on the main menu. THKS!

MarkFoley wrote on 1/7/2004, 5:00 AM

Thanks Liz for pointing your process out...works like a champ...I'm dumbfounded why I didn't realize this process earlier.....:-)

Elizabeth Lowrey wrote on 1/7/2004, 11:27 AM

I think farss is having the same problems I was having, trying to understand exactly WHERE the process breaks down. Your last line was the most helpful in that you indicated you don't end up with a button on the menu.

For the life of me, if you are dragging a file with an mpg or similar extension to your menu page (or are using the Insert>Media command in lieu), I can't understand why you don't end up with an icon. That represents the completion and success of the operation. If you AREN'T seeing that icon, then no wonder you can't preview the file, because the file has evidently NOT been added to the project.

If you start from scratch, render your Vegas timeline to mpeg2 like we talked about WITH an audio stream, and then drag or add the resultant file to a brand new DVD project and STILL don't see an icon added representing that file, then you apparently have some serious problems that are likely going to require in-depth phone help with tech support to identify and sort out.

I wish you best of luck and am now getting out of these waters which are clearly over my head.:-)

Cunhambebe wrote on 1/7/2004, 8:02 PM

Thank u very much Elizabeth. I've just found out that the problem IS with my platform. Chienworks (an advanced user) opened an MPEG2 file rendered within my system with his DVD Architect. He said everything worked out pretty well. So thanks a lot for the valuable information and help. If I can help u too or can do anything for ya, please let me know ;)

Cunhambebe wrote on 1/7/2004, 8:07 PM

Thank u for your valuable help too, foleym...that's great!