Required file specs to avoid re-encoding during authoring?

[mltwitz]

I want to minimize quality loss and processing time, so I'm trying to find out, what are the required file specs (format, resolution, video bitrate, audio bitrate, frame rate, etc.) for a video asset in Ulead DVD Workshop in order for it to be used without re-encoding during the authoring process?

[harley2ride]

There is no set answer to your question. If you want to capture direct to mpeg2, and not do much editing, then there is no need to reencode. If you want to do lots of editing, then you should capture to avi or dv-avi, then encode and burn afterwards.

[Krispy Kritter]

The file will need to meet dvd spec (see what is dvd to the left) and your dvd template in workshop will need to match the video file.

[Wile_E]

Some programs also recode files for no apparent reason, even though they are in spec. You should avoid these programs. I'm not sure if Ulead does this or not. Maybe someone else knows.

[jman98]

Wile_E is dead on. Worse, some programs don't allow some things that the specs say are OK. I had an old laserdisc that I recorded to make a DVD. It was a foreign film and at the time it was not available on DVD with English subtitles, but the laserdisc had them. Anyway, one part of my recording had a scene where for some bizarre reason my input card recorded a GOP of 16 frames instead of 15. NTSC DVD allows for GOPs of up to 18 frames. I tried re-recording the same side of the laserdisc and everything I did still gave me one 16 frame GOP. I was using DVDMaestro and it just would not accept the 16 frame GOP at all. I finally just gave up and taught myself how to use Scenarist because it would accept the 16 frame GOP with no problem. I'm not a big fan of Ulead as I had one of their products some years ago as a giveaway and I thought it was garbage. I wouldn't be surprised if they are overly picky about what they accept.

Generally, use standard DVD resolutions, 15 frame GOPs are good, keep the video below 9000 (use 8100 if you are using LPCM audio) for AC3 audio. Generally, the higher your audio bitrate, the better the quality. Warning - many authoring programs will not accept MPEG-1 video input, even though it is allowed by the specs as long as the bit rate is 1700 Kbps or less.