Rendering Problems

GaryV wrote on 3/31/2008, 5:29 AM

Hello,
I'm working on a project for my son's hockey team (chapter per child of the good plays they made throughout the season, plus a slideshow). It's currently approx 2 hours in length.

This is my first project using Vegas (Pro 8). I've used Pinnacle in the past - wow is Vegas ever a ton better and way way more stable!!!

When I rendered it last night, using the Batch Render script from Sony selecting MainConcept MPEG-2 - DVD Architect NTSC video stream and Dolby Digital AC-3 Pro Stereo DVD, I ended up with files that DVD Architect said were too big to fit on the DVD (5.8GB). I'm using single layer discs so my limit is ~4.7 GB I assume and hence I believe I need to reduce the encoding bit rates.

My questions are:

1) Is there a way to modify this script so I can control the bitrate that gets used when encoding the video? Ideally I want a "Fit to Disc" type setting in the script.

2) I'm going to try to rerender using "File, Render As" MPEG-2 DVD Architect NTSC Video template using Variable Bit Rate with default settings (Max 9.5 Avg 6.0, Min .192 bps) to see if this setting will fit on my disc. If this doesn't work then I guess I'll reduce the bit rates to get it to a point where it fits. Rather than trial and error (since each render takes 2 hours), is there some sort of calculator available that can better estimate the settings I should use?

3) Is there a better work flow I should be using? ie. currently my project is in Vegas Pro 8 and I'm rendering within that and then importing the mpeg and ac3 files into DVD Architect. DVDA then simply has to render the menus. Should I instead have DVDA do all the rendering (there seems to be a Fit to Disc option within DVDA? If so, is there a way to import the Vegas project into DVDA?

Many thanks in advance!!
Gary

Comments

rs170a wrote on 3/31/2008, 6:00 AM

Gary, the reason it won't fit is that you're using far too high of a bitrate.
A lbitrate calculator (see the link below) is mandatory if you go over (approx>) 70 min. in length.

Grab Vol. 1 #7 of Edward Troxel's excellent (and free) newsletters as it discusses all the ins & outs of DVD authoring.

For a 2hr. DVD, my bitrate calculator gives the following numbers:
CBR: 4,500,000
VBR: 8,000,000 / 4,500,000 / 2,700,000
You'll need to go into the Custom options to be able to change the default settings.
This is outlined in the newletter.
Once done, this can be saved as a template (give it a name so that you know what it's for) and it will show up in the Batch Render options.

You never want to exceed a Max bitrate of 8,000,000 as anything over that will probably result in the DVD not playing back properly.

The way you're doing it is the best method.
If you give DVD architect an AVI or tell it to "fit to disc", it has to render everything and that increases your project time.
Alos, images will look better (due to the lack of re-encoding doe to them) when you do it this way.

Here's the link to the bitrate calculator I use. Note that this links to a zipped file.
In settings, I changed the Safety Margin to 5% and clicked the "1 kilobit = 1024 bits" option.

Mike

GaryV wrote on 3/31/2008, 6:15 AM

Thank you very much for your help Mike. I'll give these excellent suggestions a try tonight.

Cheers,
Gary

Clark153 wrote on 3/31/2008, 6:50 AM

I am trying to do the same thing. I am using Vegas 8, not the Pro version. When I go to "Render As" and select MPEG 2, the custom button is grayed out. Is this a limitation because I am not using Vegas Pro?

Thanks

rs170a wrote on 3/31/2008, 7:05 AM

That's correct.
You need the full version of Vegas to be able to customize things.
Sorry :-(

Mike

Chienworks wrote on 3/31/2008, 2:18 PM

Right. In the Studio version it's more recommended to render to DV .avi in Vegas, then let DVDA's fit-to-disc function make the MPEG2 file for you.