Videos are sharper with DVDA 3.0a

Cunhambebe wrote on 6/26/2005, 11:20 PM

I have authored a project with DVDA2.0 and burn the same project to 2 DVD discs. One with version 2.0 and the other one with 3.0a (the project was previously saved to this version). The disc that was burned with v. 3.0a was defnitely superior, much sharper (maybe too much sharper in some portions) and more colorful. That's interesting. Does anyone have a tip why this is happening? Thanks in advance

Comments

cbrillow wrote on 6/27/2005, 3:27 AM

Are you leaving it up to DVDA to render, or are you creating projects with video rendered from Vegas? If it's the former, I'd guess that there are some preset or default differences between the two versions.

Cunhambebe wrote on 6/27/2005, 9:29 AM

Some portions were rendered with DVDA 2.0 such as the menus, as usuall, but I've noticed this with all videos, rendered or not with Vegas. Sony has definitely done something with DVDA 3.0a. And I am not seeing things. Anyone can notice the difference. Some portions of the videos - and this happens in all videos - are too sharp. DVDA 3.0a has an option to reduce interlace flicker on the menus and clips. Maybe it's got to be turned on for the whole project, I don't know, but one thing is certain, the image has much, much more quality on discs burned with DVDA 3.0. Hello Sony....have you got anything to say about that? ;)

ro_max wrote on 6/27/2005, 11:06 AM

AFAIK DVD3a also included an MPEG codec update (which would also apply to anything rendered in Vegas) which may be the reason for what your are seeing. Have you rerendered anything done with DVDA2 to check whether you see the same "changes"?

Cunhambebe wrote on 6/27/2005, 11:14 PM

Have you rerendered anything done with DVDA2 to check whether you see the same "changes"?
-No, not everything, but as I said there must be something new with DVDA 3.0a, maybe a new engine for burning. One thing is certain, videos are definitely sharper.

ro_max wrote on 6/28/2005, 6:27 AM

Like I said, it is not DVDA 3a per se but if you install the update, the Mainconcept MPEG encoder is also automatically updated in this particular DVDA update and that may be why the videos appear sharper. Since Vegas accesses the same encoder, any video rendered after the installation of DVDA 3a will probably appear sharper as well, no matter whether it was done in Vegas or DVDA 3a (or, perhaps, even Vegas 5 and/or DVD 2 for that matter, hence my earlier question).

Cunhambebe wrote on 6/28/2005, 11:07 AM

Some videos in the project were rendered with TMPGENc and some with Vegas 4.0. And they do look sharper..what a mistery!

John_Cline wrote on 6/28/2005, 11:08 AM

Changes in the burning engine would not affect the video quality in any way. Once the video is encoded to MPEG2, it's "etched in stone." If you were to create a project in DVDA2 and DVDA3 using the same MPEG2 files, the video would look absolutely identical regardless. As was already pointed out, DVDA v3.0a does have an improved MPEG2 encoder which would certainly affect video quality, but there is no way that DVDA3 would make existing MPEG2 files look any different. If you take the same set of files, the video will look identical whether you use DVDA, Encore, DVDlab or even Sonic Scenarist.

John

Cunhambebe wrote on 6/28/2005, 1:41 PM

So I guess I am seeing things. In fact some of the videos were re-encoded with TMPGEnc for high quality MPEG2s. I just prefer TMPGEnc over MC (that in fact is an excellent encoder also and much faster than TMPGEnc). I agree with what you've stated above John, but some of the videos were not re-encoded and they do look a lot better. These videos (4 of them) were downloaded at NASA's site. DVDA 3.0a asked to re-encode 2 of them but the other ones had not been re-encoded and they do look a lot sharper. Maybe when DVDA 3.0 is preparing the files......I don't know if I've mentioned this but I have re-prepared the project with DVDA 3.0a. DVDA 3.0a might have a new trick while preparing the project - I could be this. Anyway, DVDA 3.0a rocks. Jacket pictures, menus that keep the same highlighted buttons after looping; everything works fine. No need for DVD Mestro anymore. There's only one thing Sony should modify in the near future: let DVDA configure subtitles outlines. Subtitles outlines are too thin (I don't mind) but some people have noticed this and when the video is very bright, it can really be annoying trying to read something. I 'm sure this won't be so difficult to fix in the newer versions.