Video Length On DVD

StubbornSwiss wrote on 12/19/2006, 4:39 PM
I've used Movie Studio for a while (from the screenblast days), and currently use ver.4.0a.

I've pretty much done shorter movies, probably 60 minutes or less, but I'm in the process of working with material that works out to about 100 minutes. As can be expected, I'm having problems getting it unto a single layer DVD (rendering in MPEG-2).

From reading up online the better part of today, I "think" I understand that a newer version - Platinum Edition - due to its being able to encode in AC-3, will probably be a solution to this problem.

Is this correct? With this new setup, what kind of movie time am I looking to get on a DVD (ball park figure). I'm one click away from downloading the upgrade, but would like to be sure it will be worth it.

Any input greatly appreciated.

Comments

Tim L wrote on 12/19/2006, 6:57 PM
You *might* be able to get by with Version 4.0 by rendering to DV AVI file from Vegas Movie Studio, sending that to DVD Arch Studio, and using the "fit to disc" option (which I think ver 4 had, but I'm not sure).

Anyway, this would probably fit 90-100 minutes on, but at reduced bitrate (reduced MPEG2 quality).

HOWEVER... if you are only one click away from purchasing the upgrade to VMS 7, go ahead and click it now. Tonight.

The improvements from ver 4 to ver 6 were great -- keyframable effects, keyframable pan-crop, etc., lots of other little improvements.

I don't have VMS 7 (moved up to the full Vegas 7), but you are right that the AC3 encoding should reduce the DVD disc space needed for audio, thereby freeing up space for video.

Maybe somebody else can chime in here (Like Kelly Chien or Kevin Dibb?), but from memory, I think that AC3 audio is roughy 1/10th the space of PCM? And PCM audio might amount to using about 20%-25% of your disc space? (ie a full disc would be 75-80% video, and 25-20% PCM audio?)

A search might turn up more accurate estimates than what I'm estimating -- don't hold it against me if I'm wrong -- but I'd say upgrade to ver 7 just for all the other improvements you'll be getting.

Anybody else want to recommend yes or no?

Tim L
StubbornSwiss wrote on 12/19/2006, 8:20 PM
Tim L

Thanks for the quick reply.

Yeah......I went ahead and downloaded the upgrades. Boy, it almost looks like I'm having to learn again from the begining!!!

The interface of DVDA looks especially different. I guess it'll just take some getting used to.

Now that I've found this forum (just found it today!!), you guys will difinately be seeing - hearing, reading, ??? - more of me :)

Albert
my2sons8791 wrote on 12/19/2006, 8:38 PM
I am having difficulty getting my audio file small enough to fit with the video on a DVD. Sorry for jumping in on your thread, but what about rendering in mp3 format?
IanG wrote on 12/20/2006, 12:20 AM
The DVD standards don't allow MP3 in either NTSC or PAL. If you're in PAL land you can use MP2, but AC3 is now available, so that's probably the better option.

Ian G.
HaroldC wrote on 12/20/2006, 4:58 AM
If you aren't much over the size for a single layer dvd you can use dvd shrink to reduce the file down to where you can burn it to a dvd.
StubbornSwiss wrote on 12/20/2006, 6:39 AM
Don't you just love it when you find a great forum!!

Okay, I have read somewhere about using dvd shrink. My next question is how do I get the file from VMS to dvd shrink? What format is it saved in?

Again thanks for all the help!

Albert
Tim L wrote on 12/20/2006, 1:55 PM
I hear of a lot of people using DVDShrink, but my gut feel is that you'd get better results doing this all in VMS, rather than rendering to MPEG2 from VMS, then having DVDShrink re-render MPEG2 to a more compressed MPEG2.

In Vegas Movie Studio, render your movie as a "DV AVI file" (or widescreen, if necessary). This will preserve the best quality for your video -- basically the same quality as your original tape. (And render audio to AC3.)

Now, give your AVI file and AC3 file to DVD Arch Studio, and locate the "fit to disc" option. This option automatically calculates a bitrate that will let your video (and audio and menues, etc.) fit onto a DVD. DVD Arch Studio will then render (or rather, "transcode") your video to MPEG2 at a bitrate that will fit onto the DVD.

I haven't used DVDShrink, but my gut feel is you'll get better quality results this way -- ie AVI from VMS, then "fit to disc" in DVDA/S -- and will avoid an MPEG2 to MPEG2 conversion. Plus, you already have everything you need.

(And you're right -- this is a great forum!)

Tim L
StubbornSwiss wrote on 12/20/2006, 3:29 PM
Okay.... I'm going to need your help here.

How/where do I select to render the audio as ac3
StubbornSwiss wrote on 12/20/2006, 6:14 PM
Okay, great!!!!!

I figured it out. You render the video and the the audio - SEPARATELY!

I've learned so much in the last 2 days.

............. back to learning........

Albert
HaroldC wrote on 12/20/2006, 6:18 PM
Honestly I can't really tell the difference between using dvda to render an avi file from vms into a dvd. My normal procedure is to use vms to render a movie into an mpeg2. Then prepare (but not burn) a movie in dvda. Afterwards depending whether I want to burn to a single layer or double layer I'll run the file through dvd shrink. Occasionally I'll have to run a movie through dvd shrink even if it is to be burned to a double layer disk. The reason I do it this way is that I will keep a movie as a mpeg2 file on the computer and not as a dvd file so as to not waste disk space. I also I have the option of taking the mpeg2 file and turning it into either a single layer or double layer disc. Also if the dvd file you have just rendered in dvda is to large to fit a disc you could save the time of re-rendering by using dvd shrink.

To use dvd shrink you set your preferences; namely where to store the dvd files and what size the file should be shrink to fit a 4.7 gig disc or 8.5 gig disc. You shrink a dvd file by opening that file. Then after it has opened, click backup. The shrunk file can then be burned to a disc.
StubbornSwiss wrote on 12/20/2006, 6:52 PM
Hey HaroldC

Thanks for your input. I've been able to sort out the issues I was having (so far)!

I also discovered that when you "prepare" to burn, you create audio_TS and video_TS files, so I now also know how to use dvd shrink with VMS - great!!

I'm also getting more comfortable with the new interfaces - having just moved from ver 4 to platinum.

Thanks again

Albert
StubbornSwiss wrote on 12/22/2006, 9:00 AM
Great...... I was able to burn the DVD that I was having problems with and that started me on this forum. You guys are truly awesome.

I rendered the video in AVI, and the audio in ac3. After creating the DVD, this gave me a file size of 6.2gb (I think it was). I went ahead and used the "fit to disc" option to burn, happily with no problems. DVD plays great, picture and audio are totally okay for my needs - just doing home video (for now)!!

I do have one question - or should I say one more question :)

Where would I have gotten better results - the way I did it, or if I had taken the Video_TS file and used DVDShrink to fit in on the DVD? Or would it have been pretty much the same?

Again, thanks much for all the help.

Albert
HaroldC wrote on 12/22/2006, 1:10 PM
Probably not. I can't really tell a difference in using dvda to render the video to the disc size or in using dvd shrink. But then my opinion is not particularly informed. The difference if any would most likely be marginal. I use dvd shrink because of storing a video as an mpeg2 to conserve disk space and keeping the option of burning to either a single layer or double layer disc. Glad to have been of any help.