Change the "DC Coefficient" to 10 bit.
Why do you do this?

Thanks,
W

DougDVD

If you want to know what to set the average to do this

600/(total minutes of video) = average bitrate for audio & video combined

i.e.
600/90mins = 6.6Mbs

If you are going to be outputting audio as Dolby stereo in your authoring program then audio would take up 192Kbs (say 0.2Mbs) leaving 6.4Mbs avg for video encode.

If you are going to be outputting audio as PCM from your authoring program then audio would take up 1600Kbs (say 1.6Mbs) leaving 5.0Mbs avg for video encode.

Apparently

This controls the precision of the discrete cosine values used in the image compression (this translates the image into a series of interfering frequencies and lets the program eliminate frequencies that aren't visually relevant - this is similar to the compression used in JPEG images). A higher value results in better quality.

You mention leaving the max at 8,000,000 but the VBR default max on my system was preset to 6,000,000. So I assume I should change this to 8,000,000 or did you mean leave it at 6,000,000?

Thanks for your assistance.
Doug

Thanks for the average VBR formula. All my MPEG2 files are music videos, meaning they will always average around 2 to 4 minutes in length. Since all of my files will be small, would you suggest I always use the same value? Also, note that I used .WAV files from compact discs as my sound source for these videos, so rendering the best possible sound quality to these videos is crucial. My DVD player is hooked to a stereo receiver and I blast the sound while watching these videos, so sound is actually as important as picture quality.
Thanks,
Doug

Almost forgot to let everyone know that before I read your responses I rendered a file using the fixed bit rate of 6,000,000. I played it back using Windows Media Player and found at least one spot where the picture pauses for a half second. First I thought it was just a glitch in the Windows Media Player, but I played it again and it does it at the exact same spot. This would be a nightmare problem to deal with. Things like this have made me so apprehensive about switching encoders. I'll keep testing with your suggested settings to see if it continues.

Also, when I used to render MPEG2 files from MyDVD a couple years ago, I would get a studder effect on the screen when I played them on some DVD players. At that time it was suggested I always use the Upper Field (Top Field) first in the Field Order parameter. What is everyone's thoughts on this?
Thanks,
Doug

Just add up all your videos for total length & then use the formula.
If you are going to use PCM audio (& it should be slightly better quality then Dolby as it's uncompressed) then I wouldn't put more than 100 minutes on each disc to keep video quality up.

I personally would set the max to 7.5Mbs if I was going to use PCM audio (just to ensure I don't get any spikes in the encode that would take total stream over the 9.8Mbs max for DVD spec.)

& if it's DV footage your project properties should be lower field first , for analog it will depend on capture device so look at it's documentation.

I'm not sure, but I think you missed one of my earlier posts:
<<Thanks for the average VBR formula. All my MPEG2 files are music videos, meaning they will always average around 2 to 4 minutes in length. Since all of my files will be small, would you suggest I always use the same value? Also, note that I used .WAV files from compact discs as my sound source for these videos, so rendering the best possible sound quality to these videos is crucial. My DVD player is hooked to a stereo receiver and I blast the sound while watching these videos, so sound is actually as important as picture quality.>>

I am using analog video from a VCR converted to an external digital video recorder and then captured onto the computer using firewire into the StudioDV software which creates the AVI file. Not sure what you mean about documentation on a capture device because I have never seen documentation that mentions a field order anywhere. But based on what I described above, I hope this gives you enough information to determine if I should use upper, lower, or no field order parameter.

At the moment, I am having a terrible time rendering an MPEG2 file that does not have frame pauses when it plays back in Windows Media Player and the DVDit player. Because the pauses are in the same spot in both players, it must be coming from the encoding software. I don't know what I am going to do to resolve it. I'll keep trying to change the parameters.

Thanks,
Doug

I haven't seen anyone mention that the VV 3.0c settings for rendering MPEG-2 are different depending on whether you select "Default", or "NTSC-DVD". I have always used "NTSC-DVD" and have never had any trouble with the resulting mpg files. I have done analog video from a VCR converted to an external digital video camera and then captured by VV 3.0c using firewire and also original material from the digital video camera. The DVD's play perfectly in a stand alone player and in the computer.

I don't blame the people who had been helping me earlier and then decided to give up on me. I felt like giving up on myself it was so frustrating. But I did want to let you know that I discovered the issue with the periodic freezing picture in case someone in the future needs help. As it turns out, the last post (the one from RCW) clued me on what I was doing wrong. He mentioned the settings are different depending on if you select Custom or NTSC-DVD. It took awhile, but the lightbulb finally went off. In Vegas 2.0, there isn't a distinction. But in 3.0, there is. As soon as I selected NTSC-DVD, no more freezing picture problems!!! There is some setting in custom that is different than NTSC-DVD and it was what was causing the problem. Thanks to all who offered to help. I really appreciate it. And to RCW, you probably never imagined how important your post would be to me. Thank you!!! It just goes to show that everyone should share their thoughts and experiences, even if it goes against someone else's posting.
Doug

"It just goes to show that everyone should share their thoughts and experiences, even if it goes against someone else's posting."

Agreed! Remember, there are a lot more "visitors"(lurkers)than participants, and they can (possibly) benefit from any and all comments/links/arguments......It's ALL good stuff, unless ya....er..make a mistrake :-7

Yes, I really meant 8,000,000 for the max. I don't remember what the default was set to - I created a user-defined setup. However, as the other poster said, you may need to use 7,500,000. I use Dolby audio which is compressed. If you use PCM (uncompressed) audio, you HAVE to use a lower bitrate.

DougDVD

I don't think anyone "gives up on you" they just may not be available to check the forum at as regular intervals as you would like. Unfortunately when we are working on something and looking for answers we naturally would like the answers yesterday !

As you have found the DVD templates will have most things set the way you need & from there you can adjust a few parameters to tweek (if you know what they do) but mostly it will be the bitrate you adjust to keep quality up & fill the disc.

Good Luck

Doug, let me second what vanhosen said, as I too am only coming to this thread late (we have our own lives to lead, remember) and was quite happy to see a resolution to your query. However, I couldn't help but notice the sheer number of replies to your original 9/23 12:19 post and when the answer from rcw (which you say lit the bulb for you) came in for you at 9:50 PM . . . . of the same day! Think about it folks, where can you get better response than this?

Finally, you mentioned ". . . so sound is actually as important as picture quality."

My friend, I would suggest it's more important.

John Beech

john my friend..not when naked women are in the picture!!
then i'll take video quality over audio quality every single time!!
sorry, i'm really bored
that was silly
it won't happen again
sb

I use PCM, so I lowered the bitrate to 7,500,000. I hope that will give me that perfect balance of best audio and best possible picture accompanying a best audio setting.
Thanks,
Doug

Sorry, I certainly didn't mean to offend anyone. I guess I meant to say that I would understand if everyone gave up on me since I was ready to give up myself. I had only one day off from work to basically completely educate myself on 3.0. So if I sounded a bit impatient, it was due to anxiety more than feeling that I wasn't getting fast enough responses. I was pleasantly overwhelmed with the feedback I received from this site. Everyone here is great! What a wonderful knowledge base to tap into. I hope Vegas is paying all of you for this! :-)

Well, I have 28 files I need to render to MPEG2 all over again since my Vegas 2.0 mysteriously suddenly stopped adding GOP sequence headers. Vegas tech support tells me to contact Ligos. Ligos tech support tells me to contact Vegas. So I guess it's their way of telling me to say goodbye to 2.0. So ready or not, I'm an official 3.0 user now.
Thanks again,
Doug