DVD Workshop - how to create w/o re-encoding?

[border]

When I get to the final step in making a disc, I am prompted to select a quality setting. But I've already encoded everything in the quality I desire. So how can I tell this program just to output a disc image WITHOUT taking hours and hours to code the MPEG2 files all over again?

Is there something I am doing that requires a re-encode? I set chapters in each video, and cut about 1 second off the beginning of several of them. Does that mean that they need to be completely re-done?

[troyvcd1]

You need to set the bitrate in dvdworkshop higher or lower (I dont remember which) than the encoded video.

[border]

I am completely new to this software so you will have to excuse me. Where do I "set the bitrate"?

[AcuraTL]

As long as you click on the bitrate that is higher that your encoded MPEG2, then it will not re-encode.

[border]

My videos are all around 4000 bitrate.

So when I click on "Burn Disc", I just tell it "High Quality".....and it won't re-encode? Sorry to have to ask more questions, but I'm on a different computer now and can't try this stuff for myself.

[igalan]

You need version 1.2 or 1.3. Then check "Do not convert compliant files" (by default this is already checked) on the Make Disk dialog.

I have never adjusted the bitrate setting when I use compliant files, so I don't think this is important. Unless the files you input are bigger than 4,36 GB (DVD+-R size), it won't reencode. However if your audio is Mpeg1 Layer2 and you author in LPCM, then it may reencode to compensate the extra size of LPCM audio.

[Specialist]

Igalan is correct.

No re-encoding will occur in Ulead DVD Workshop if one checks the DO NOT CONVERT COMPLIANT FILES check box with the latest program patch applied.

To download and apply the patch, visit the following link:

http://www.ulead.com/tech/dws/dws_ftp.htm

To adjust bitrate settings, just click the MAKE DISC icon and then click the CUSTOMIZE option.

Then you will be able to enter any parameter you wish.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[border]

I'm running V1.3 as it stands, so I don't think that will be an issue.

The program seems to be concerned that I am using an non-compliant audio stream (MP2, as created by TMPGEnc). If the "Do Not Convert" box is checked, will this work? I checked the same box when I tried to use Ulead's other program (DVD Movie Factory) and it still screwed around trying to convert everything. And I should definitely chose the highest quality when selecting the DVD quality (if I don't want to re-encode)?

If it's not going to be converting the files, do I still need the recommended disc space? I'm running a bit low, but I will free up some stuff if necessary.

[border]

Okay -- I got home and tried to burn with "Do not convert compliant files" box checked. It still tries to convert the files - just like DVD Movie Factory did! Arrrgh. They were all encoded using DVD settings in TMPGEnc. I don't get what the problem is.

Any suggestions? Do I really have to convert all of these files to PCM audio? Is there a way that I can check which files are considered to be "non-compliant"? Maybe there's just a couple ones that are causing the problem.

For such costly software, this all seems pretty problematic :\ Why can I just burn without converting? *sigh*

[disturbed1]

In the preferences change the default DVD template to use mp2 audio.

Or create a new DVD template using 8000 kbit/s for video, and mp2 audio at the bitrate your using.

8000 kbit/s for video is because if you set it for 5000, but your video is encoded at 6000, it will convert.

[border]

It still seems to want to convert. Thanks very much for the advice, though. Looks like I'm one step closer. I made a custom template with 8000 Kbps and 384 MP2.

I'm not sure if all the videos are at the same audio bitrate. Is that why it is still trying to convert now?

[igalan]

I'm not sure if all the videos are at the same audio bitrate. Is that why it is still trying to convert now?

This could be one reason. Since I don't use TMPGENC, I can't help you here, what I can say is that if the source files are mpeg2 compliant (both audio and video), and they fit in a DVD, DVD-WS won't reencode.
If you give some more information we could help better:

-NTSC or PAL?
-Source files with LPCM audio or MPEG1-Layer2?
-Authoring to with LPCM or MPEG1-Layer2?
-Size of source files?
-Resolution, framerate and bitrate of the source files?
-Did you edit the source files inside DVD-WS (like trimming)?

[Specialist]

Also... your source files can't be of varying bitrates.

If you mix the maximum bitrates of your source files, then re-encoding will occur.

The maximum bitrates of the source files must be identical.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[dvcd]

[border wrote:
I ...cut about 1 second off the beginning of several of them.]

Did you cut the 1 second in dvd-workshop?
If you cut in dvd-workshop, re-encoding will occur.

[Vizcaya]

I am using DWS 1.0, and I am having the problem where I choose a bitrate higher (on Make disk) than my mpeg2 DVD compliant video, and it doesn't seem to encode. But it blows up the file size. Meaning, It will almost double it.
I have the same files about 4 gigs total that I put in DVD Movie factory, and it works like a champ. Creates the menus, and builds the DVD folders.
Well the same files in Workshop ends recreating the files to a bigger file size.

I have been pulling my hair out on this. I am so close to getting this to work.

Any suggestions?
Vizcaya

[pijetro]

Although I don't use MF2 anymore, I had the same problem. The way I got around it was to also create a custom template, as stated before. Within the template, mpeg audio had to be set to the lowest possible bitrate, which allowed the video to be set to the highest possible setting (9500 or 9800 kbit/s). And again, check the compliancy box.

You'll notice that it'll take about thirty seconds or so for the program to respond before creating your DVD folder. After that, multiplexing and menu creating shouldn't take more than 20 minutes..

Give that a try.
Good luck................

[pijetro]

Oops, I thought we were on Ulead MF2. My apologies........

[Specialist]

Sometimes the ballooning file size issue can occur when one has failed to clean out the contents of the DVD Workshop/DVD MovieFactory 2 project folders.

What will sometimes occur is the programs will estimate new file sizes based on past burns - because the project folders are chock full of old files.

As another user wrote earlier:

"Check your project folder for "temporary" mpeg files."

"Every time I make a change in a project and re-encode the file size is incremental."

"This all gets reported inside DVDWS as required disc space."

"Just go in and delete the mpeg files Workshop creates and magically your required hard drive space will shrink to its proper level."

Have you tried cleaning out these folders?

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Vizcaya]

Thanks for the reply. I have looked at the temp folders. The file size is based on the Video_TS folder. There are no temp files in there. I may just fool around with DVDLab. I read that its good for the money. I really only need motion menus, and DVD Workshop was easy, until I had to create my DVD.

Viz

[Specialist]

I meant the project folders.

If they are jammed full of files from past burns, they need to be cleaned out.

Have you tried that?

Also, have you read the FAQ here:

http://www.ulead.com/tech/dws/dws10faq.htm#4

"Q: When creating titles using the Make Disc command, why does Ulead DVD Workshop always re-encode my MPEG files?"

"A: DVD Workshop will re-encode the MPEG file when the specified encoding bit rate in Make Disc is lower than the encoding bit rate used by the original file. If you want to retain the original encoding scheme of your file, you must specify a higher encoding bit rate than your original encoding bit rate in Make Disc."

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net