That is correct, assuming that you have a new AVCHD camcorder that records 1920x1080. The older ones only did 1440x1080.

I took a PRO Duo with me to the store, and asked if I could video to it. Camera is a Sony HDR-CX100, and does record in 1920x1080. Recorded about 5 minutes. This is my source, which created, of course, *.mts files.

I have VMS "Platinum" 9.0b (not PRO), and it came with DVD Architect Studio 4.5c. I upgraded it to 4.5d.

Rendering was ok, using the exact parameters.

However, DVD AS only has settings up to 720x480 ! "File/Properties..." opens up "Project Properties", with 2 tabs, "Properties" and "Summary". On the Properties tab, under the header "Disc Properties", is "Video format". The max listed for NTSC are "NTSC (720x480)" and "NTSC Widescreen (720x480)".

After looking around for 1/2 hour, I can't find anything that would give the higher resolution options.

What am I overlooking ?

************************************

Well, I went to the DVD Architect forum, and according to this thread :

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?ForumID=22&MessageID=657649

I don't like what I read. Apparently, EVEN THOUGH VMS non-Pro "can" edit/create hi-def files, the ACCOMPANYING "DVD AS" (also a non-Pro version) does "not" burn hi-def DVD's!!! Is this true ? Who thought this was a good idea ? In that thread a poster said "DVD Architect Studio does exactly what it claims -- it authors DVDs. The DVD format does not support HD content." Is a hi-def DVD disc not also called a DVD ? E.G., a hi-def DVD ? Apparently not. I think, as does the original poster of that thread, that it is a very reasonable assumption to think that if one product processes hi-def then so would the ACCOMPANYING software (DVDAS). Well, the term "Blu-ray" is mentioned in the VMS "Platinum" non-Pro literature, but nowhere in the DVDAS paragraphs. Would've been nice to add "oh, by the way, this does not work with hi-def files, nor can you burn a hi-def DVD with it." And guess what else... you can not buy just the Pro version of DVDA, as you can with the non-Pro version...you have to buy the Pro version of Vegas to get it !
Maybe Sony will make an upgrade so the non=Pro DVDAS will work with hi-def files.

P.S. I know what they say about assumptions, but that's why I said "very reasonable"...it was reasonable to me, and to the other poster, and I'm sure to a lot of other disappointed customers.

Dave H.

A DVD is standard definition. It's never hi-definition. You may be thinking of HDDVD, which i not a DVD. I realize that's a fine point, but that's the way it is. You shouldn't assume that something can handle HDDVD just because it says "DVD". You wouldn't expect a DVD player to handle hi-def discs unless it advertised the capability.

That said, i believe Vegas Movie Studio Platinum has the ability to burn Blu-Ray discs right from the timeline without using DVD Architect. It won't contain menus, but it should be a hi-def disc.

I just found the table "Vegas Family Comparison", and it clearly shows that the DVD Architect that comes with the VMS Platinum, and VMS Platinum Pro Pack (not to be confused with Vegas Pro), does NOT (unfortunately) do Blu-ray disc burning.

Chienworks, yes, VMS Platinum will indeed burn the hi-def disc -- I think. It's rendered my test video of 1m33s, and I told it that I was using a Blu-ray disc, 1920x1080,etc., using parameters Terry suggested...of course, he was referring to DVDA, and not VMSP, but the parameters look pretty much the same. I am really using a STD DVD+RW disc. It said there were no errors burning. Now to try it on the Blu-ray player...

Well, the Blu-ray player said the disc is incompatible.
After looking at the disc, VMSP created a lot of folders, and some misc small files, and the video file is 00001.m2ts, in the BDMV/STREAM folder. So, not sure what to do next.

But, perhaps the claim that you can burn hi-def content to a STD DVD disc and play it on a Blu-ray player is not correct ... unless, of course, I'm still missing something. I'll try to find that claim (I know I read it somewhere) and include it here in another post. It's starting to look like I won't need to buy an HD camera for awhile, if I can't burn any "HDDVD" discs of any flavor that will play. Besides, it looks like my 2.2GHz dual core doesn't have the horsepower -- it took way too long to render just a 1.5min video.


Re: "You shouldn't assume that something can handle HDDVD just because it says "DVD". You wouldn't expect a DVD player to handle hi-def discs unless it advertised the capability."

I agree, because I understand that lingo with "players". But it seems logical to me that the DVD-Menu-creating program that is BUNDLED WITH the hi-def-capable editing program would ALSO handle hi-def files. It doesn't "create" the files -- it just orders them the way you want...and creates MENU pages. Why should DVDAS not work with hi-def files? I realize it has the preview capability, and other "play" buttons (>) in various windows -- that's no doubt the reason. So, Sony, make it work with them ! How hard can that be?

Thanks for being there.

Dave H.

Most Blu Ray player can't read DVD+R/RW discs - only -R/RW is supported. My insignia would not but *DOES* work with DVD-R...have not tried -RW yet. I did burn an AVCHD file to a disc and it played in high def in the player and used Movie Studio Platnium to do it.

Don't go over 15 mBit/sec though as it may not play properly unless you burn an actual Bly Ray disc because thier data rates are higher at the same RPM due to the smaller pit sizes on Blu Ray. Standard DVD can't spin fast enough to support higher than about 15 Mbit rates. I tried the RAW 25 Mbit HDV file and it played but studdered after 4 seconds.

Try with a DVD-R or -RW disc...it should work.

coasternut67 : I wondered about that +RW compatibility myself, so I put in a +RW I made with VMSP9 and DVD Arch Studio 4.5, and it played just fine. The Panasonic DMP-BD60K Blu-ray specs says it should play :

BD-ROM, BD-R, BD-R DL, BD-RE, BD-RE DL, DVD, DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, CD, CD-R/RW, AVCHD, MP3, JPEG

...and it will play my homemade +RW.

I will try the 15 -vs-16.

Here is the Sony website that explains the concept of placing Hi-Def video on a STD DVD, and being able to play only on a Blu-ray player :

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentDisplayView?cmsId=content/TVandHomeEntertainment/HDexperience/hdexp_home&hideHeaderFooter=false&storeId=10151&catalogId=10551&langId=-1&XID=F:hdtv:sony

Here is the gist of it (the top of the page is titled "The Sony® HD Experience.", and presumably applies to all Hi-Def camcorders, although the specific paragraph describing this concept for some reason singles out a HDR-SR11 :

***************************************************************************************
16-This camcorder [referring to a HDR-SR11] captures high-definition footage in the AVCHD format. DVD media containing AVCHD footage should not be used with DVD based players or recorders, as the DVD player/recorder may fail to eject the media and may erase its contents without warning. DVD media containing AVCHD footage may be played on compatible Blu-ray Disc™ player/recorder, PC with supplied software or PLAYSTATION®3 devices.
***************************************************************************************

So, my next question for the group is, what is AVCHD format, that is, is *.m2ts AVCHD ? I think the answer is yes, since the camcorder records in AVCHD format. That is file extension of the file that was burned to the STD DVD disc, which the Blu-ray said was incompatible. I can look at the original footage files on the PRO Duo to see what the file extension is (I've forgotten), but I'm at work now and the mem stick is at home. I think they were m2ts. If what was burned was "AVCHD" format, then I don't know why the player can't read it.

And, one more question, what other Menu-creation software (other than Sony) can be used that does process hi-def files, like the Pro version of DVDA does ?

Update: a friend of mine at work gave me this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_video_editing_software

It'll take me forever to check these out , but I'll start looking. Meanwhile the question stands:

what other Menu-creation software ... etc. Anyone have a favorite ?


Thanks,

Dave H.

If your intent is to be able to view your movies at home in hi-def, then you might consider a $100 Western Digital WDTV box. It will likely save you well over $100 of time and hassle messing around with file formats and DVD disks.

Dave22:
Sounds like you solved the very issue I'm dealing with. You said you made a +RW on VMSP9 and DVD Arch 4.5 and it plays on your BD60K. You lost me when an earlier post stated DVDA has a max of 720x480 then later "+RW I made with VMSP9 and DVD Arch Studio 4.5, and it played just fine." How did you get around the 720x480 or was that in SD?

If you could outline the steps to get AVCHD onto a STD DVD to play on my BD60K ...I would be greatfull.

Thanks!

Todd

I too have been frustrated by the inability of VMS/DVDA4.5 to create true HD disks. In my case I have a blu-Ray reader (it's in my PS3) and although I have no trouble creating real HD quality output the only way I can play these on my HDTV is via a file transfer from my PC to my PS3. Putting the HD files on either a CD or a DVD disk will not work - the PS3 says they are unreadable.

From what I can tell the reason for this is that DVDA 4.5 does not have the codecs required to create HD disks. This is odd considering these very codecs are in the version of DVDA that is included with Sony Vegas Pro.

Currently people who use VMS/DVDA 4.5 seem to have only these 2 choices:

1. Create HD output (only) but no lead-in menus

2. Create DVD quality output with menus

If there is some way to get around this ludicrous limitation I"d surely love to hear it.