VV to DVD Newbie Stuff?

jthor wrote on 12/7/2002, 9:29 PM

I have been using VV for about 5 months. Ton's of reading and trial and error, mostly error. Enjoy it, but spend much time making costly mistakes and problem solving. But still, making headway and learning the buzzwords.

Purchased a new Sony DRU500A after reading lots of comparisons etc. I would like to be able to get some heads up on the basics of getting my VV rendered files to DVD. So I have a MPEG2, which I guess is the start.
What software do you folks use to create the DVD with the various menu's chapters whatever? The stuff that came with the burner doesn't even like to deal with my files?
Seem's like some place I read that you can only do the chapters or whatever with the original download, not from a pre-rendered file like from VV3?
Does some software do the (buzzwords I will research further on VCDHelp)Master, Author, Burn, etc?
Sorry I sound so dense, but when I started with VV and this forum, I was considerably worse. I can see myself backing up again and re-doing things. Trying to guess file sizes before render was a real pain. Now with the DVD at least I can move the raw files there, but yet to create a video DVD.
Appreciate any comments to point the way to some recommended software that will work with that burner.
jthor

Comments

BillyBoy wrote on 12/7/2002, 9:58 PM

"What software do you folks use to create the DVD with the various menu's chapters whatever?"

Take a look at Ulead's DVD Movie Factory. They have a fully functional 30 day trial. It is wizard based, accepts the MPEG-2 files Vegas renders, so no re rendering. The only fault is limited templates, but you can make your own. I'll even share some I made. I offered before, nobody took me up on the offer.

BTW, it included its own burning software.

jthor wrote on 12/7/2002, 10:10 PM

Thanks, my first starting search clue to dig into a bit.

williamconifer wrote on 12/7/2002, 10:16 PM

I just started with VV3 (been a soundforge and acid user for a while now). I burn with a DRU500a and I use Ulead DVD Workshop. It's real nice and stable. no rerendering on VV3 Mpeg2 files. Try their demo. It's $300 but it's better than Mydvd 4 and DVDit. IMHO.

jack

jthor wrote on 12/7/2002, 10:34 PM

Ah, the same burner I just bought. All I know so far is it goes round and round. Actully, did upgrade my Easy CD creator to be sure it worked with the drive for working with music background. Looks like Workshop may be a larger package than MovieMaker as suggested.
Both ways, thanks and I shall be reading up on them.
I also face the daunting taks of getting a larger drive for my main files (C:) then going to XP! Scarry stuff for an old dude, but you guys all help a lot.

JohnnyRoy wrote on 12/8/2002, 8:16 AM

BillyBoy,

Consider yourself "taken up on the offer". How did you make your own templates? I would love to get some new templates for DVD MovieFactory. How can I get them from you? (...and how can I make my own?)

Jthor,

I just answered you on another. I would recommend looking into DVD MovieFactory as well. It’s simple and gets the job done, (and only $24.95 boxed direct from the Ulead website).

~jr

p_l wrote on 12/8/2002, 11:53 AM

Here is how to make menus and chapters with Ulead DVD MovieFactory. You can pick your own thumbnails, as well as your own background pictures and music for your menus.

vonhosen wrote on 12/8/2002, 11:59 AM

Depending on what you are looking at doing.

Best of the budget programs
Ulead's Movie Factory @ approx $40
Dazzle's DVD Complete @ approx $99

If you want extra's like multiple video/audio streams , subtitles, AC-3 audio support
Pinnacle's Impression DVD Pro (suuports ac-3 no encoder though) @ approx $350-400
Sonic Soultion's ReelDVD (supports ac-3 but only stereo encoder) @ approx $1000

If you need to know what bitrate to use to fill your disc & get best quality use this quick formula

600/ (minutes of video) = bitrate for video & audio combined.

i.e.
600/90mins = 6.66Mbs average bitrate for video & audio

If you are using PCM audio in your project at about 1600kbs that will leave you near 5.0mbs average rate for your video encode.
If you are using Dolby or MPEG audio at say 192kbs it will leave you an average bitrate for video around the 6.46Mbs mark.

Be aware though that if you are doing NTSC video not all NTSC players support MPEG audio though the numbers that do are rising.

Rain Mooder wrote on 12/8/2002, 4:10 PM

I looked around at DVD Workshop and DVDit and even Pinnacle
Impression. I think that for the $ they all leave something
to be desired. Workshop isn't bad but I felt that it was just
too expensive for too little.

I eventually settled on the Dazzle DVD Complete program. It
is all template based and the menu regeneration is a pain in
the rear but I feel like that price for feature wise it's a
good choice for me. Also, Dazzle released the script language
and there is a script editor that lets one have some control
over menu generation. It's a kludge but for the money I feel like
I'd rather study the scripting languauge than shuck out $200 more.

prairiedogpics wrote on 12/8/2002, 4:18 PM

I have had the Sony DRU500A for about a month now. I use it with Ulead DVD Movie Factory (which was recently on sale at Ulead's site for $25 - may still be). It works perfectly with the Sony drive and I'm very pleased. The only thing left for you to ponder is what brand blank media to use (the cheapest one which will burn in the drive AND work on a myriad of players - takes a little investigation). I use the Pro silver DVD-R disks from Americal.com.

good lucK!

Dan

watson wrote on 12/8/2002, 4:51 PM

Anyone using DVDit PE?
W

Paul_Holmes wrote on 12/8/2002, 5:10 PM

danieljoelle, I assume you're using the Americal 2X Silver grade. The reason I ask is I've been waiting for someone to take the plunge and try that very brand and post what the results were. I've been using Sony and other approved brands that are 2X certified and have been afraid to actually try the Americal, even though I've bought from Americal before and know they're a reliable internet company. If you say they work fine, I'll be putting in an order. At $2 a disc it's a bargain you can't pass up!

Hunter wrote on 12/8/2002, 5:20 PM

While on the blank media, I have been using some very cheap (1.25) DVD-R's from www.cdrdvdrmedia.com. 1X but hey I have not had a bad one yet, on my second pack 50. They also have cases and hardware at really good prices.

vonhosen wrote on 12/8/2002, 6:54 PM

I have in the past

jthor wrote on 12/8/2002, 9:51 PM

Just jump in again to thank you all for adding all this info to my startup topic. As a novice, I shall probably go with Movie Factory to lay out only a few bucks to get my feet wet and figure out what all the rest means. Most software has way more than I need, especially when I am just starting. I read on another of these topics buried in the forums where one of the guys bought the more expensive Unlead product and their free upgrade has caused him tons of troubles. Hope he resolves them as he sounds very knowledgeable, so this starter software sounds good for now. Thanks again and I will deep studying the forum and your information.

jetdv wrote on 12/9/2002, 11:01 AM

Yes, I use DVDit PE.

watson wrote on 12/9/2002, 2:02 PM

Edward,
Any tips for VV and DVDit PE users?
This is the first time I have played with this program.

Thanks in advance!
W

prairiedogpics wrote on 12/9/2002, 2:51 PM

Paul,

I've used Americal Silver 1x AND 2x Pro-grade DVD-R discs and had great results with both on my Sony DRU500A. I've tested both in several (newer) laptops and set-top DVD players, with excellent results. The price is certainly right.

BTW, there's a firmware update available for the DRU500A (I haven't installed myself yet since everything is just peachy so far):

http://sony.storagesupport.com/dvdrw/dru500adwn.htm

Dan

jetdv wrote on 12/9/2002, 2:52 PM

My MAIN tip would be with chapter points. DO NOT try to set chapter points only from DVDit. Instead, locate all of your chapter points in Vegas and write down the timecode of each. Then, in DVDit, click on the "T" beside the timecode to change it to a "C". Now, double-click on on the timeline to insert a chapter point (it doesn't matter where) and then manually enter the timecode from Vegas and press Enter. The chapter point will then move to the manually entered location.

As for encoding, I have been using VBR with a Max of 8,000,000 and a Min of 2,000,000 with the average varying depending on the length. MAKE SURE THE QUALITY SLIDER IS SET TO 31!!! I also changed the DC Coefficient to 10 bit.

In DVDit, make sure you choose AC-3 (Dolby) for your audio to save space (allows a higher bitrate for the video).

I always make a DVD Folder which creates a subdirectory on the hard drive containing the Video_TS and Audio_TS subdirectories. I then use Prassi (came with the drive) to burn these two subdirectories to the DVD. My understanding is that this is much safer than letting DVDit burn directly to the drive - besides DVDit doesn't support ALL drives.

If you have any specific questions, just ask.

Edward

watson wrote on 12/9/2002, 4:20 PM

Edward,
Thank you for responding.
Is it possible I could ask you some questions via E-mail?
Thank you. I don't want to clog this board up with DVDit questions.
Cheers,
W

jetdv wrote on 12/9/2002, 4:29 PM

No problem.

doboyd wrote on 12/11/2002, 3:48 AM

Billyboy,
I will take up your offer of the Ulead DVD MF templates. How did you create or modify them?? I beleive one of Uleads image editing apps can do it , it opens the Ulead format that the templates are in, but what are the details?? Email me at plutou236@yahoo.com.

Thanks

lynj wrote on 12/11/2002, 10:41 PM

How's the audio on Movie Factory? Do you need to take audio & video in separate file? What is the best audio possible on DVD and how do I get it? We do music videos, so it's really important.

JohnnyRoy, you say the chapters are really scenes in Movie Factory? If so, will the entire project play from start to finish without going to the menu? What is the process to jump to scenes?

I haven't successfully made a DVD yet because I only have MYDVD 3, which is like having nothing at all!!! I am shopping now and the feedback on this forum on DVD authoring software is so varied, I don't know what to do. Help!

Jason_Abbott wrote on 12/12/2002, 12:24 AM

Regarding DVDit, a bit easier than writing down timecodes is to lay down CD track markers in Vegas to represent your chapter breaks then go to View/Edit Details and show only the "Audio CD Track List." What I did from there is just click the upper-left-most cell to highlight the whole grid then copy and paste into a notepad window that I could keep open next to DVDit. My last project had about 25 chapters and I didn't feel like writing down all those numbers.

- Jason

jetdv wrote on 12/12/2002, 9:07 AM

Standard markers (ILO CD Markers) will also work for this. However, you have still "written" them down for transferring to DVDit. You just didn't physically use a pen and paper. Bottom line - no matter how you get the numbers, DON'T TRUST the DVDit preview screen.