Adobe Encore and forced transcoding

[juantohu]

Hello mates,

I'm encoding with AviSynth + CCE-SP2, using original fps (23.976 or 25) as output's frame rate, and then flagging up to 29.97 fps with DGPulldown, but then when importing to Adobe Encore CS4 a transcode is forced, there's no Don't Transcode option... is someone familiar with this problem?
I'm pretty sure my files are 100% DVD compliant: I can author with DVD-lab and everything is fine, the DVD is playable and all.

Take into account this:

1. Frame rate IS the problem. I encoded again, this time using 29.97 as output (source was 23.976), and Encore finally accepted it as DVD compliant! (no forced transcoding) So, apparently Encore doesn't like pulldown flags...

2. I've encoded using original frame rate (23.976) and then applied pulldown flags with DGPulldown, pulldown.exe, CCE's pulldown, DVD-lab's pulldown... and Encore ALWAYS wants to transcode my video.

3. ONLY if I choose 29.97 as output's frame rate in CCE then Encore decides not to transcode. It's like Encore saying "no, pulldown flags aren't allowed, only true 29.97 fps".

4. When applying pulldown the output is reported as 29.97 fps (pulldown.exe) or 23.976 fps with 2:3 Pulldown (DGPulldown) and Encore STILL wants to transcode it!

5. I've even used DVDPatcher to change the MPEG's header (both first header only and entire file) and results are the same.

Seriously, what am I doing wrong? I think I'm going mad...
Right now my only workaround would be to encode directly to 29.97, however, as input and output frame rates would differ, frame insertion or frame skip would occur.. and that's not what I want.

Thanks.

[juantohu]

Just to let you all know, here's the solution:

GOP length... it was 15 frames, which with pulldown applied it would result in at least 19 frames (NTSC DVDs should be 18 frames max)
So, frame rate was related to the problem, it just wasn't THE problem.

Anyway, in CCE-SP2's MPEG Video Settings (Advanced settings) I just changed the N/M value from 5 to 4. Now output's GOP length is 12 frames

Honestly, if Adobe Encore is supposedly targeted at professional video producers it should at least throw a warning message saying "GOP length is too high" or similar instead of just removing the "Don't Transcode" option...

[lordsmurf]

Encore is a piece of shit. It ignores probably 90% of the DVD spec. It's a tool for DV users only. For Adobe to call it "professional" is honestly a bit humorous.

[juantohu]

It ignores probably 90% of the DVD spec

Actually I think that's the other way around... if you read my post you'll notice that Encore wanted to transcode my file because it wasn't 100% DVD compliant, when DVD-lab simply ignored if GOP length was compliant or not.

I have always used DVD-lab PRO for authoring. I recently tried Encore for it's great Photoshop integration and the export as DVD/Blu-ray/Flash feature; you know, trying it myself to see if it really is as good as some people say, or as bad as others claim.

Besides, I don't know if it's a DVD-lab issue, but my subtitles ALWAYS show earlier, no matter which timecode option I choose (and yes, I'm sure that they are correctly in sync with the video before authoring) Also, when I import subs they don't preserve italics, very annoying. I'm doing the same project in Encore to see if subs are properly synced this time.

Now that I think about it... maybe subs have always showed earlier because till now my files never had the correct GOP length and timecode was all messed up. I will do some testing later.

[lordsmurf]

DVD-Lab has some issues, too -- namely the ability to make non-compliant DVDs, often without you knowing it. But that still doesn't make Encore better when it ignores anything not strict to a DV workflow (720x480 only, etc).