ReelDVD bitrate error

[kita]

I'm using Sonic ReelDVD to author a DVD-VCD. I imported a VCD movie encoded with TMPGEnc at 1.856 Mbps (the max ReelDVD allows) and 48khz mp2 audio. ReelDVD accepts the files fine (even though it's very picky), then I hit "make disc" and it encodes, but when it starts multiplexing the movie together it says the bitrate is too high. I re-encoded the movie down to 1.800 Mbps, same problem. I don't want to go back down to 1.500, but I can. But, for anyone who knows, is this a software problem or a file problem? And, uh...what's the problem? Before I knew it was the standard, I got the 1.856 number from ReelDVD itself in one of the project settings. So I don't know why that's too high all of a sudden.

Any help?
Thanks
K

[disturbed1]

1.856mbs Video and audio.

The total combined bitrate needs to be less than 1856kbit. I usually use 1600 for video and 192 ac3 for my Mpeg1 DVDs.

[kita]

That makes sense.

Thanks

I did actually notice an increase in quality when I started using 1856 instead of 1500. What's your opinion on your 1600s?

edit:[Actually, didn't help. Anyone who knows, plz see lower posts]

[disturbed1]

It's low quality. I only use it for TV shows, since it nets me ~6hours per DVD.

Going from 1800-1600, you shouldn't notice too much of a difference, depending on your source and the content of your material. Since the only I use Mpeg1 for is basically talking heads, the quality is enough for me.

Reel DVD also supports Mpeg2 at 352x240, so you can bump the bitrate up as high as you want. I use that at 1800-2500 bitrate to get just under 4 hours per DVD.

If I have the space and use 2500-3500kbit/s, I'll use 1/2 D1 resolution.

After you output your Title Set Folders with Reel DVD, make sure you correct the VTS sectors with IFOEdit, else you can get some compatibility problems on some players.

Is there a reason you're using mpeg1?

[kita]

Thanks for all the info, especially about ifoedit. I'm using mpeg1 to put tv episodes onto one dvd, so it's a size thing.

But now I have a new problem, well same problem actually. Since you use ReelDVD maybe you can help.

I thought I had it figured to calculate for total bitrate. I did a few experiments though:

1632 kbps video, 128 kbps audio, total: 1760 kbps
under 1856 but get the BITRATE TOO HIGH error every time when it multiplexes.

1696 kbps video, 160 kbps audio, total: 1856
works every time

First one has a lower video bitrate, lower audio bitrate, and lower total bitrate, but it gets the error!!

So what am I supposed to set my encoder to to get this thing to work???

When I encode a movie and it takes 3 hours to encode it'd be hell to have to resort to trial and error.

[kita]

Kay, I thought I had something, but I looked again and I got nothing. Some more results:

Video rate -- Audio rate -- Total rate -- Result

1632 ..........224 ..............1856 ..........failed
1664 ..........192 ..............1856 ..........failed
1696 ..........160 ..............1856 ..........succeeded
1728 ..........128 ..............1856 ..........succeeded
1632 ..........128 ..............1760 ..........failed
1728 ..........160 ..............1888 ..........succeeded
1856 ..........160 ..............2016 ..........succeeded
2000 ................................................no t accepted

It's not the total bitrate because the 2016 one worked.

Help!

[disturbed1]

That's pretty strange.

"1856 ..........160 ..............2016 ..........succeeded "

I like that. I'll have to use it the next time I need to do an mpeg1 DVD. Thanks for the info.

[kita]

ok, but if the settings don't affect the outcome (notice the fail in the middle of all the succeeds) how do you know it'll work? maybe there was something about the video i tested with, because i don't see any pattern

[disturbed1]

Well, I tried your 3 settings that failed, and they all worked for me (ReelDVD 3.03)

I usually don't use TMPG for encoding mpeg1 all that often anymore, I usually use ProCoder or Panasonic for MPEG1.

I did find what was causing the error with TMPG files and ReelDVD. At first I didn't recieve any errors at all, which really puzzled me. Then I figured it had to do with the GOP settings. Even though ReelDVD reports this as a bitrate error.

GOP-
#I Frames = 1
#P Frames = 4
#B Frames = 2

Output of Sequence header = 1
Max number of frames in GOP = 15
Closed GOP = on
Other two options unchecked.


When I put the GOP to have 18 frames (I=1,P=5,B=2) sometimes I would recieve an error, sometimes not. Same with closed GOP, with it unchecked, some would fail, some would not.

Also check your files with a bitrate viewer to make sure at certain points the bitrate isn't out of whack. If your recording TV shows, and there happens to be a glitch or someting during a few frames, this can cause TMPG to go apeshit in the bitrate department.

In the ReelDVD manual, Closed GOPs for Mpeg1 is stated.

[kita]

Well, I tried the GOP settings you suggested and they were no help. The bitrate viewer also didn't reveal anything. I do have ReelDVD 3.00, not 3.03 but I doubt that would make that much of a difference. <sigh> I must be cursed.

I give up. ReelDVD's too picky with input files anyway. I think it's time to move on. I tried the TMPGEnc DVD Author tool and it accepted and outputted the files fine. ReelDVD still makes better menus so maybe I'll poke around with it from time to time, but right now I'm sick of dealing with it.

Thanks for all your help.

K