Rendering with closed GOPs

Adontech wrote on 12/14/2005, 9:15 PM

I have used DVDLab Standard for a while now without a problem. I am considering upgrading to DVDLab Pro for an upcoming project. I've got the demo version on my computer and when I open existing projects, it complains that 'Open GOPs were detected in the file. The file will play fine but chapter points may not start accurately. In your encoder always select close gop.'.

Where in the Vegas render settings do I tell it to close GOPs? (Vegas version 5.0d)

Comments

johnmeyer wrote on 12/14/2005, 9:49 PM

Render As -> Save As Type: MainConcept MPEG-2 -> Custom button -> Advamced Video Tab -> Use closed GOPs

Adontech wrote on 12/15/2005, 4:58 AM

Are you using Vegas 6? because I don't see that option under advanced video in version 5.

Adontech wrote on 12/15/2005, 6:12 AM

Bump...Can anyone else tell me if the 'close GOP' option is something that showed up in version 6?

Thanks

dcrandall wrote on 12/15/2005, 8:15 AM

The "Use closed GOPs" option is certainly in Vegas version 6c. I don't know when it was first introduced though.

-Dan

johnmeyer wrote on 12/15/2005, 8:21 AM

The advice I gave you in my earlier post was taken from Vegas 5.0d, the same version you say you are using.. I read it directly from the screen as I typed. I suggest you go back and look again.

Adontech wrote on 12/15/2005, 10:23 AM

John,
I appreciate your replies and I thought I followed your instructions to the letter. I also asked the same question on the DVD-Lab forum and one guy said that in v6 the option to close GOP is under 'Write sequence display extension' on the advanced tab. Here are the screenshots under my Mainconcept custom dialog box (I left out the audio tab):

http://www.adontech.com/images/mainconcept1.jpg
http://www.adontech.com/images/mainconcept2.jpg
http://www.adontech.com/images/mainconcept3.jpg

Can you tell me exactly where on your advanced tab that you are seeing it? Also, I'm looking at Vegas 5.0d build 194 here at work and it looks the same as my copy at home.

B.Verlik wrote on 12/15/2005, 10:54 AM

It's not in Vegas 4.0e. But I did find it in TMPGEnc (Pegasys), which I have and use as my main mpeg encoder

johnmeyer wrote on 12/15/2005, 1:37 PM

You said you had Vegas 5.0d. Those images are not from 5.0d.

Adontech wrote on 12/15/2005, 2:56 PM

John, I appreciate your input, but the images are from v5.0d. I'm looking at Help, About right now and it shows Vega 5.0d build 194. And here is the screenshot to prove it:

http://www.adontech.com/images/helpabout.jpg

Maybe the 5.0d update I applied didn't complete take or maybe you have made an update before or beyond build 194. Can anyone else out there confirm that the close GOP option is on their copy of 5.0d?

Thanks

johnmeyer wrote on 12/15/2005, 3:44 PM

John, I appreciate your input, but now you are calling me a liar

Gee, that's what I get for trying to help? You're welcome.

JohnnyRoy wrote on 12/15/2005, 3:49 PM

You probably want someone who only has Vegas 5.0d and NOT Vegas 6 because the MainConcept MPEG-2 encoder is a shared component. That means that installing Vegas 6 will probably change the screens in Vegas 5 which is why John Meyer might be seeing a different screen than you. (I am assuming John has Vegas 6 also)

~jr

johnmeyer wrote on 12/15/2005, 3:53 PM

Yes, Johnny, that's true, but I just went to my laptop, where I only have 5.0d installed. I get the same screen (with the closed GOP). However, you may be on to something. I do have DVDA installed. Perhaps the person who posted the original problem doesn't. None of this screens match anything on my 5.0d laptop (which DOES have 5.0d, and also has DVDA 3.0).

Actually DVDA 3.0 (as opposed to DVDA 2.0) may have installed something that 5.0d ends up finding.

Adontech wrote on 12/15/2005, 4:09 PM

In both replies, I said that I appreciated your help and I do. But when you tell me to 'go back and look again' and ' Those images are not from 5.0d', it makes me feel like you don't believe that I'm telling you the truth.

So to clear up any misunderstanding.....I've edited my last comment and thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.

Adontech wrote on 12/15/2005, 4:12 PM

I only have Vegas installed, not DVDA so this may be what I'm missing. I sent a request to Sony today asking in what version did the 'close GOP' option come about. When I hear from them, I will update the thread.

Adontech wrote on 12/15/2005, 4:59 PM

Does anyone here have only Vegas 5 installed (No Vegas 6 and no DVDA) that can confirm what I'm seeing on my end?

ECB wrote on 12/15/2005, 6:04 PM

I posted a concern about Vegas 5 MC encoder not supporting closed GOPS. Here is the link http://www.dmnforums.com/cgi-bin/displaywwugpost.fcgi?forum=sonic-foundry_vegas&post=040530024437.htm
to the thread and the post where Spot says there is no closed GOP switch in V5. You can read the whole thread. HTH

Ed

rmack350 wrote on 12/15/2005, 7:27 PM

It sounds to me as though you need a newer version of the mainconcept encoder, like the one that ships with Vegas 6.0 and/or DVDA3.

You could buy a new encoder from Mainconcept, or upgrade Vegas.

By the way, how do you like DVD Lab? Have you had an opportunity to compare it to DVDA? I fiddled with it a while back and it seemed promising.

Rob Mack

Adontech wrote on 12/15/2005, 9:06 PM

>> By the way, how do you like DVD Lab?

I purchased DVD Lab standard before I had Vegas, so when I decided to move to Vegas, I didn't even try DVDA. Because of this, I can't compare the 2. DVD-Lab standard has always worked for me, but it's based upon an old engine that is not going to be upgraded. I have installed the demo version of DVD-Lab Pro with the new engine and the first thing it complained about was the open GOPs in my files. When I purchased DVD-Lab, it was the only reasonably priced DVD authoring app that allowed me to create the DVD that I wanted to create without having to adhere to a template that someone else had designed.

rmack350 wrote on 12/16/2005, 5:58 PM

Well, you'll have to get that fixed. The TMPGenc encoder is free so that might be a great option for you. I have no experience with it but lots of people here seem to use it. Search the forum to get some idea of what you're in for. You could probably frame serve out to it to do your encoding.

Do you think that DVD-Lab Pro is something you could hand off to a smart but harried person and expect them to burn a DVD without tearing out their hair or otherwise revolting? It could get much harder after that as long as it is deceptively simple to start with.

Rob Mack

PeterWright wrote on 12/16/2005, 6:19 PM

I still have 5.0b on my internet computer and no V6 but DVDA2 is also installed.

Definitely no Closed GOP option.
But the same version, 5.0b, on a PC with V6 DOES have the option, so it must have flowed through from V6.

Adontech wrote on 12/16/2005, 7:26 PM

>> Do you think that DVD-Lab Pro is something you could hand off to a smart but harried person and expect them to burn a DVD without tearing out their hair or otherwise revolting? It could get much harder after that as long as it is deceptively simple to start with.

Well, my workflow is to render elementary streams from Vegas, import that into DVDLab, author the DVD, output DVD to hard drive, then burn with Record Now. DVD-Lab allows you to be creative by not holding your hand all the way through the process, but sometimes that can lead to trouble. It assumes you know what you are doing.

Adontech wrote on 12/16/2005, 7:27 PM

> But the same version, 5.0b, on a PC with V6 DOES have the option, so it must have flowed through from V6

I wonder if I'll get the option in V5 if I install the trial version of V6 with no DVDA? I think I'll try it.

Adontech wrote on 12/17/2005, 3:43 PM

I installed the V6 demo and now my V5 render options include 'Use closed GOPs'. Then I rendered a bit of video with the option checked and DVD-Lab Pro brought it in with no complaints.

Thanks for the help everyone!