Two Sony DVD Architect (3.0) Questions! (audio and resolution)

[tarrickb]

Hello all...

just have two quick questions:

1. Is there any option for normalizing the audio files of my MPEG-2 clips. I have clips from different sources and while the gains appear similar for all clips I need to ensure that all 20 clips have as close of volume as possible.

2. When I encode my clips (DV to MPEG2) I crop the files at 704x480. So, should i be directing Architect to encode at 704x480 or 720x480, or does this not make any difference.

If I could get these answered that would be great. Thanks!

[edDV]

I can help with #2

See this thread for 704 vs 720 project settings with Vegas. If your files are 704, you will see that that 704x480 project setting (last picture) gives best results.

https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=295466&highlight=

[BJ_M]

right click on audio track and in properties select normalize

DVDA will only do 720 x 480 , if you crop at 704, it will stretch it out , which im sure you dont want

[BJ_M]

if you want 704 , encode it IN vegas instead first (better results anyway)

[edDV]

For #1,

I would "open in Sound Forge" under Vegas tools since I have Sound Forge linked. I forget what is in normal Vegas.

[tarrickb]

Yes i am encoding at 704 in Vegas.
I just wanted to know which setting to use (704 vs. 720) in Architect.

[edDV]

Yes i am encoding at 704 in Vegas.
I just wanted to know which setting to use (704 vs. 720) in Architect.

DVD Architect Help says this about Project Properties: Project Video Format.

"The default frame size and aspect ratio for media that will be recompressed. You can use the Optimize DVD dialog to choose distinct recompression settings for each media file.

The frame size and aspect ratio of all menus. All menus must use the same aspect ratio and resolution."

So it would affect frame size if re-encoding is done and it sets the size for full frame menus.

It appears to me 704x480 should be used for your project.

[tarrickb]

Ok so if i'm importing 704x480 vids into DVDA, then I should keep the project properties to 704x480???

Or is this setting only for menus and other content created in DVDA. In either case, 720 and 704, my video is not re-encoded by DVDA.

Also, I'm going to try the suggestion of right-clicking the track in DVDA and selecting normalize tomorrow, to try to have consistant volume throughout.

[BJ_M]

right-clicking the track in vegas you mean - not sure if it works in dvda

[tarrickb]

right-clicking the track in vegas you mean - not sure if it works in dvda

Well i was hoping it would be in DVDA because i don't really want to have to re-render my vids, but i just tried with DVDA and it is NOT available.

Just for some clarification though about the second question, my videos have 720x480 resolution but are CROPPED at 704x480 (getting rid of broadcast padding pixels). Also, wondering is it best to keep the 720 resolution and crop, or is it best to encode at 704x480 resolution.

I'm leaning towards using the 720x480 project setting in DVDA just because that is afterall what my video files are right now.

[edDV]

Good to know about right click normalize in Vegas. I've been doing it in Sound Forge which integrates nicely with Vegas.

Normalization would require re-compressing audio. I don't see how this can be done in Architect. If it was there, I would think it would be under "Optimize DVD" where audio can be re-compressed to different codecs and bitrates.

I'd go back and normalize audio in Vegas being careful to only re-compress audio.

As for the 704 setting in Architect, this will only affect the size of your authored menus unless video is re-compressed.