DVDA Complaing about Blu-ray birate

[SameSelf]

I downloaded the trial of DVD Architect, and I am testing it with x264 to see if it accepts x264 encodes without re-encoding. Sure enough it kicked off the following error in the Make Blu-ray Disc dialog:

"The overall bit rate for 'video' is greater than 28 Mbps."

I encoded the video with the following:

x264 --bitrate 30000 --preset veryslow --tune film --bluray-compat --vbv-maxrate 40000 --vbv-bufsize 30000 --level 4.1 --keyint 30 --open-gop --slices 4 --fake-interlaced --colorprim "bt709" --transfer "bt709" --colormatrix "bt709" --sar 1:1 --pass 1 -o video.264 sgnpost.avs
x264 --bitrate 30000 --preset veryslow --tune film --bluray-compat --vbv-maxrate 40000 --vbv-bufsize 30000 --level 4.1 --keyint 30 --open-gop --slices 4 --fake-interlaced --colorprim "bt709" --transfer "bt709" --colormatrix "bt709" --sar 1:1 --pass 2 -o video.264 signpost.avs

However, I can't see where this 28 Mbps limit is coming from? Perhaps, this is due to a trial cripple? I just want to be sure before plonking down $200 for something that can't handle encodes above 28 Mbps. Thanks.

[poisondeathray]

It works with higher bitrates for sure. But it doesn't work with MBAFF or fake interlaced

[SameSelf]

Thanks pdr. Which one of these would you recommend for DVDA? so many choices....

http://www.x264bluray.com/home/720p-encoding

Doh! I posted the wrong x264 encode. I actually used this one, so no fake interlace:

x264 --bitrate 30000 --preset veryslow --tune film --bluray-compat --vbv-maxrate 40000 --vbv-bufsize 30000 --level 4.1 --keyint 60 --open-gop --slices 4 --colorprim "bt709" --transfer "bt709" --colormatrix "bt709" --sar 1:1 --pass 1 -o video.264 signpost.avs
x264 --bitrate 30000 --preset veryslow --tune film --bluray-compat --vbv-maxrate 40000 --vbv-bufsize 30000 --level 4.1 --keyint 60 --open-gop --slices 4 --colorprim "bt709" --transfer "bt709" --colormatrix "bt709" --sar 1:1 --pass 2 -o video.264 signpost.avs

[poisondeathray]

What was it then? 720p59.94 ? That would be the most compatible at 720p, because it can't handle double pulldown

[SameSelf]

Sorry for not being more explicit. Yes, it is 1280x720p59.94, but I used ChangeFPS(60000, 1001) in the signpost.avs versus double pulldown.

Here is the full avs script:

AVISource("E:\signpost.avi", audio=false).AssumeFPS(30000,1001)
ConvertToYV12(interlaced=false, matrix="rec709")
ChangeFPS(60000,1001)
Spline36Resize( 1280, 720 )

[racer-x]

I find that DVDA likes GOPs of 1/2 second. For 60p use --keyint 30, for 24p use --keyint 12.

[SameSelf]

I find that DVDA likes GOPs of 1/2 second. For 60p use --keyint 30, for 24p use --keyint 12.

Good to know thanks.

[SameSelf]

After extensive testing, the problem is not GOP length related. Rather, it seems that DVDA applies the 40 Mbps BD limit to MPEG2 encodes only. If you use AVC encodes, then DVDA applies a 28 Mbps limit. For example, when using the following x264 encode:

x264 --bitrate XX000 --preset veryslow --tune film --bluray-compat --vbv-maxrate YY000 --vbv-bufsize XX000 --level 4.1 --keyint 30 --open-gop --slices 4 --colorprim "bt709" --transfer "bt709" --colormatrix "bt709" --sar 1:1 --pass 1 -o output input
x264 --bitrate XX000 --preset veryslow --tune film --bluray-compat --vbv-maxrate YY000 --vbv-bufsize XX000 --level 4.1 --keyint 30 --open-gop --slices 4 --colorprim "bt709" --transfer "bt709" --colormatrix "bt709" --sar 1:1 --pass 2 -o output input

If x264 reports the bitrate above 28000 kb/s, e.g. 28250 kb/s, then DVDA will complain. If however, x264 reports below 28000 kb/s, e.g. 27500, then it does not complain.

However, for mpeg2 encodes, I tested a nearly 40 Mbps encode and DVDA did not complain. Unfortunately, ignoring the complaint is not an option because DVDA WILL re-encode.

May have something to do with standalone player support for AVC encodes on BD-R. Who knows. Sigh.