system optimization for faster rendering

lemke wrote on 12/21/2003, 6:25 PM
hello, i'm a rookie here, then maybe the subject of my topic has been already discussed.
My workstation is a AthlonXP 2400+ 1Gb DDR Ram 120 Gb eide HD WinXP.
I found that rendering with DVD architect is very, very slow: i mean that a full 4.7 DVD takes me about 6-10 hours for the complete rendering.
i'm guessing if is there a sort of "optimal setting" to increase the rendering speed or if there any tip to configure the SW and/or my OS to obtain the same result.
thanks

Comments

Sab wrote on 12/21/2003, 7:38 PM
You might try rendering your project to mpeg from within Vegas. Use the DVD Architect Video Stream preset. When that's done, re-render the timeline again for Dolby AC-3. Be sure to name the file exactly as you did for the video stream. In DVDA, the audio will attach itself to the video stream automatically. Believe it or not, this 2 step process is substantially faster than rendering from within DVDA.

You might also try rendering your timeline first as an avi file which is relatively quick unless your project is complex. Rerender the avi as an mpeg 2 as described above. Mpeg 2 renders from avi files seem to be much faster than directly from a project timeline.

Unfortunately there is no magic bullet to increase rendering speed, although a search of this forum under rendering will give you more information and insight.

Mike
Liam_Vegas wrote on 12/21/2003, 10:48 PM
What is the video file format that you are getting DVDA to render to MPEG2?

The times you are experiencing do seem excessive if you are just talking about rendering a standard DV AVI file to MPEG-2.
lemke wrote on 12/22/2003, 1:46 AM
first: thanks you for the replies.
i use miscellaneous source files: divx; xdiv etc. that's the reason because i said that rendering time it's between 6-10 hours: changing the source file the rendering time changes.
the thing that sadly surprised me is that when i usa as source file mpeg2 movies (that, for example should only require a resizing to fit the dvd standards), the renderign time is still inconceivably long: hours and hours!
I tried to render the files to mpeg with vegas before importing them to DVDA, but the rendering time in vegas is still...very long!
actually i never didn't tried to convert files to DV-avi before rendering them to mpg2... it seems me strange to accept that a double conversion can be faster that a simple one, anyway i'll try ti if you say that it really works.
is there any tip about OS tips to increase rendering spped?
stabz wrote on 12/22/2003, 4:00 PM
try here!
http://www.videoguys.com/TweaksWINXPVE.html
wobblyboy wrote on 12/23/2003, 12:36 AM
I just rendered and burned a one hour MPEG 2 with one menu. DVD preparation and burn was about 2 hours. Additional burns took about 25 minutes. I can live with that. I would suggest that you render your clips in Vegas and prep and burn in DVDA. I am running a 2 gig Dell with 160 gig hard drive and TDK 4X burner, burning at 2X..
lemke wrote on 12/28/2003, 5:35 PM
first, thatnks everybody for your suggestions, i'll try'em all.
second: i'm considering buying an hardware mpeg encoder device then, i'd like to know if such a device is supported by sony media family products.
i mean: i'd be intrested in this buying only being sure that vegas and dvdA are compatibile with such kind of devices, then all the encoding process can be made via HW with a consistent cut in the rendering time.
in case it is true, considering i cannot spend more than 4-500 bucks, which card can be the best choiice? i've seen the canopus mpegpro, that seems very professional, but is there any more affordable choice?
Is there any video card that includes an integrated hw mpeg encoding chipset?
hope to get an answer.
lemke wrote on 1/2/2004, 2:43 PM
is there anybody knowing something more about hardware mpeg conversion cards?
pb wrote on 1/4/2004, 6:43 AM
Not for 400 - 500 bucks, that's for sure. VIdeoguys are selling the Matrox RT X100 Pro with Premiere/Encore and a sound editor for 999 USD, that's about as cheap as you will find. That board does real time MPEG2 capture very well (I just bought one). Also check out the US price for Canopus Storm2 c/w Media Cruise. Good real time capture for MPEG1 and MPEG2. May options for formats and splits. Does work fine in DVD-A. More expensive than Matrox though.

Another option, if you can live with 4:3, is look for a Dazzle PCI DVC II on E-Bay. I have one, it was in your price range and works okay. Software rendering will usualyy give you a better end product versus what affordable hardware capture can do but if time is a factor, go hardware.

peter