DVD Architect Recompress Issue

[duraysteeus]

Hey All,

I am an intermediate video hobbyist. I use Vegas 6.0d and DVD Architect 3.0c exclusivley.

I've noticed sometimes that when creating a DVD project with MPEG-2 and AC3 files that when I go to "Prepare" I get a message that the project is too large and the video will be recompressed - even though my movie is under 2 hours (like and hour and 50 minutes I to be more specific).

I should also mention that I am importing MPEG-2 and AC3 files as rendered in Vegas. I have had success with drastically reducing the Prepare process by doing this with other, shorter movies.

I assume that the reason DVD architect has to recompress the project (even though they are MPEG-2 and AC3 files and under 2 hours) is because the menus I create take up a certain amount of space as well. Especially moving menus.

So here's my queston: Should I just let Vegas recompress the movie and "Fit To Disc?" And if so, then should I be importing the movie and audio in some sort of uncompressed format?What do I do so that I can optimize my movies and not worry about too much compression?

Thanks,
Dustin

[jimmalenko]

"Two hours" is marketing crap. You can fit any running time you wish (within reason) onto a DVDR - it's the quality that will suffer (or benefit).

file-size = bitrate x running time

Thus it stands that 120 mins to a SL DVDR equates to a combined bitrate of around 5000kbps average give or take. However you can quite easily stretch this to 180 minutes by using a combined bitrate of around 3200kbps or thereabouts and compensate the drop in bitrate with a drop in frame size - say 352 x 480 (NTSC Half D1).

Anyhoo, you have some choices to make. It is easiest to use your encoder to hit the desired size first time, and not re-encode or transcode after the fact. Of course this means you need a bitrate calculator ( http://www.videohelp.com/calc.htm ), an encoder that lets you specify any bitrates you like and an idea in advance of how big your menus will be so that you can allow for them in the bitrate calculator.

Then you have to decide if the figures returned from the bitrate calculator will provide sufficient quality - this is very much a judgement call that comes with experience, although you can always just export a sample of about 1 min at those settings and see if it cuts the mustard. Should you decide that your bitrate will be too low, then you can either shorten the material (edit), lower the frame size (352 x 480 and 352 x 240 are both DVD-compliant also), or bite the bullet and author to DL.