Vegas Movie Studio/Architect - Using MPEG2 ?

[ApolloCreed21]

I'm using the trial version of Vegas Movie Studio 4.0 and DVD Architect Studio 2.0 (sold together for $99 I believe). The problem is neither app will allow importing of MPEG2 in the trial version. I've been using a couple of small WMV files in the demo, however I would mainly use it with captured MPEG2.

I've tried TMPG DVD Author and like it a lot, although TDA is a simple authoring app, no editor included and the authoring is limited. I'm looking at the Vegas (lite) suite, because it has the editor included and it also looks like Architect Studio can do mostly everything TDA can, with the exception of AC3 encoding.

My questions:

1) Is anyone using Architect Studio to do simple authoring of MPEG2 files ? How fast is it ? How does it compare to TDA ?

2) If I import a WMV file of similar size, could I expect that it would handle an MPEG2 file with the same speed ? Is this a good test if I'll mainly be using it for MPEG2 stuff ?

3) What can TMPG DVD Author do that the Vegas Movie Studio/Architect can NOT ? Is the only difference that TDA includes AC3 encoding and Architect Studio does NOT ?

4) If I can accept the loss of AC3 encoding, am I better off with Vegas Movie Studio ?

[tdan]

I found that Architect Studio had some show-stopper limitations for me (I really bought it for the NLE and am planning on puechasing DVD-Lab for authoring).

The really big problem (other than the lack of AC3 support, which you mentioned) is that it only supports 720x480 mpeg2!! I couldn't use any of my half-D1 files without it wanting to re-encode them to 720x480. It's a shame, because I really liked the UI.

Dan

[ApolloCreed21]

Thanks tdan... If it wants to reencode to 720x480, I"m assuming it takes much longer to create the DVD files, correct (how much longer) ? That is of concern to me...

I also like the interface quite a bit in both Vegas Movie Studio and Architect Studio, and both ran very well without a hitch - the best of all the demos I've tried. However, that's 2 significant issues now...

[canadateck]

I was just reading on the sony site that it wont Re-encode compliant files. But it will if they are Half D1? Is it the same for Vegas Movie Studio 4.0 and DVD Architect Studio..Very Strange.

[tdan]

Canadatek - all my comments refer to Architect Studio. I have no experience with the more "pro" level packages from Sony.

I just looked on the Sony media site and it does say: "No re-encoding of compliant files". I guess they use a narrow definition of "compliant". It does not try to re-encode mpeg2's that are 720x480, only my Half D1's.

If you are doing DVD's in 720x480 *and* you don't care about AC3, then this is a sweet little program.