Regarding MPEG2 Encoding (DVD authoring)

[Wuhtzu]

Hey

I have used Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0 to capture some video of my "mini DV cam" via firewire using the following project settings:

http://wuhtzu.dk/random/app2_project_settings.txt

Now what I want is to author a DVD with this video using TMPGEnc DVD Author 3 with DivX Authoring but at some point the video has to be encoded to MPEG2 and this is where I need help.

Should I export my video from Premiere as MPEG2 using the build in Adobe Media Encoder or should i just export the video as "Microsoft DV AVI" and then use another program to do the MPEG2 encoding?

If you recommend exporting as MPEG2 via Adobe Media Encoder I would very much appreciate some hints on what settings to use or be specially aware of.

Best regards
Wuhtzu

[guns1inger]

The Adobe Media Encoder uses the Mainconcept encoding engine, which is pretty good. There is no real reason not to use it.

If the total running time is less than around 70 minutes then encode it with a Constant BitRate (CBR) of around 8500 kbps, with AC3 audio at 256 kbps.

If the running time is longer, use a bitrate calculator to work out what bitrate you need. Once you get below around 7800, consider 2-pass VBR encoding.

[Wuhtzu]

Thanks for the input guns1inger - based on your suggestions I think I'll use Premiere to export as MPEG2.

How will MPEG-1, Layer II Audio at 256kbps do instead of AC3 which costs around 300$ to get a license to?

[guns1inger]

Or you can output as uncompressed PCM, and encode with aften and EncWavtoAC3 for free.

AC3 has guaranteed support in all players carrying the DVD logo. Mpeg1-layer2 does not.

[Wuhtzu]

Thanks, I'll try the PMC and Aften method.

Since last reply I have tried to export / encode my video as MPEG2 according to your suggestions guns1inger but the video looks striped, especially edges looks very striped as these to frames show:

http://wuhtzu.dk/random/frame_1.bmp
http://wuhtzu.dk/random/frame_2.bmp

I know this has nothing to do with your suggestions, since those only regarded the bitrate and audio format. It has to do with some setting I've messed up, not choosen or choosen wrong.

This is the settings I used in Adobe Media Encoder:

http://wuhtzu.dk/random/ame_video_settings.jpg

I think it's called interlaced or something, but how do I fix it?

[Wuhtzu]

Maybe with the Deinterlace option :P

http://wuhtzu.dk/random/ame_without_deinterlace.jpg
http://wuhtzu.dk/random/ame_with_deinterlace.jpg

Guess all my problems are solved for now

[Alex_ander]

Deinterlacing is only recommended when you have a good reason for this (e.g. at formats conversion, some serious edit operations or when you want to get many full-res still pictures from that video). It usually produces some artifacts and reduces the number of motion phases represented by fields in original TV footage. Any TV device (unlike film camera) gives interlaced picture and it's OK to leave it as is. It is important to set MPEG encoder to interlaced mode (if there's a manual setting) and set the correct field order (the same as in original footage, usually BFF - bottom field first for DV source).

[45tripp]

You also want to set level to main level rather than high

[Wuhtzu]

So I should leave the video as interlaced because TV devices show it correctly?

The option Field Order can be set to:

None (progressive)
Upper
Lower

[stars]

Yes..the best is to leave the video interlaced. In that way you will get the best pic quality...
On the computer you can see the gagged edges but on a TV its crystal clear...

The field order is usally if you use DV, BFF (bottom field), Lower

I personally use Vritualdub for editing and frameserving a DV file.
And for the mpeg2 encoding I use HC encoder.
The audio which is 2ch 48kHz, I convert to .ac3 (DD2.0) 192kbps using Quenc .

You know Im a freeware freak...

regards stars...