When DVD files in Vegas are too Big for the DVD

jkb242 wrote on 12/18/2003, 8:58 PM
Even after editing, sometimes the file size of a project for burning the DVD in DVD-A is too large.

I found a program called DVD Shrink which will only applies the compression needed to make the file correctly sized to fit the DVD. Has anyone tried this with Vegas before burning in DVD A?

I did once and it did not work too well. Maybe something in the original file but just wanted some input as to getting around hours of rendering only to find that the project is too big for the single DVD output desired.

Any comments?

Thanks,

Jerry

Comments

johnmeyer wrote on 12/18/2003, 9:12 PM
The beta 5 version of DVD Shrink is incompatible with the files produced by DVDA 1.0c. The solution is to use the earlier version of DVD Shrink (2.3).

If you have extra time, and want to use the better features in DVD Shrink Beta 5, you can use DVD Shrink 2.3 to merely copy the DVDA files (no recompression). In the process of copying, the DVDA IFO files are "fixed" so that DVD Shrink beta 5 can read them. You can then use Beta 5 to actually do the shrinking (using the deep analysis feature).

Of course the corrrect solution is for Sony to fix the lousy estimation algorithms built into DVDA so you never have to use DVD Shrink. The DVDA estimates often bear absolutely no resemblance to reality.

For example, I just did a project, rendered in Vegas. I used a bitrate calculator to estimate the proper bitrate to just fit the video and AC3 audio into DVDA. I put the files into DVDA, and it properly reported that no recompression or other alteration of the source files was required. However, the Optimize DVD dialog reported that the project was 105% of a full disk.

I ignored this information and then prepared and burned the DVD (as I have done dozens of times before), and the DVD works just fine.

Just out of curiosity, I took the entire VIDEO_TS directory created by this DVDA preparation and created a test burn in Nero. Nero reported only about 95% of the disk was used. Thus DVDA's estimates are off by at least 10%, sometimes more.

Of course, there is absolutely no excuse for DVDA's estimates being anything other than exact, to-the-byte, correct. Everything is knowable ahead of time. It's just a matter of knowing how to do the math.

Hopefully this will be fixed some day.
rebel44 wrote on 12/19/2003, 4:49 AM
DVD shrinker worked fine with me. In option DVDA you shouls set the size to 4.7. By defoult come 3.9G.
craftech wrote on 12/19/2003, 5:31 AM
Also,
If you are using W89SE you will be stuck with 3.99GB. It won't create multiple Mpeg 2 files as it does with Avi.

Please note, DVDA Video_TS and Audio T_S files are incompatible with some burning software. Record Now Max is one of them. Use DVDA to burn it.

John
jkb242 wrote on 12/20/2003, 7:48 AM
JOHNNYER,
I tried what you suggested using DVD 2.3 with no compressing (only ot lock the file) and then apply version 3 beta 5 release and attempt deep analysis, but each time the deep analysis check box could not be enabled on this file. Deep analysis works on other files but not his one. Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks for the wealth of info in your post. DVD-A really can't figure the size correctly as you stated as the above file when it is shurnk still cannot be used with DVD A as it thinks it is too large for the disk. This is so lame. What burning program do you use??

johnmeyer wrote on 12/20/2003, 11:51 AM
Deep analysis is not available if file does not need to be compressed.
jkb242 wrote on 12/20/2003, 2:47 PM
The file is over 5Gb. It needs to be compressed for sure and a compression size is slected but deep analysis is not available.