Possible to set up DVD mpg so it doesn't have to be recompressed?

[brassplyer]

Using Sony Vegas Pro 9 to create mpg 2 for DVD, Sony DVD Architect Pro to author the DVD. DVD Architect always tells me it's going to recompress the file. Is it possible to do this so DVD Architect doesn't recompress the audio or video?

Thanks

[DB83]

Don't use DVDA but any authoring program worth its salt should have a setting 'Do not re-encode compliant files' or words to that effect.

Post a mediainfo report of one of your source mpgs (from Vegas) just to be sure they are fully compliant. Sometime people forget the audio and leave it at 44.1 instead of 48

[vkmast]

The post-VPro 10 webinar notes article is not on the SCS site any more, but it included the following note.
Recompression only takes place when you’ve imported media that doesn’t properly match the requirements of burning the disc. If you import MPEG-2 video for DVDs and MPEG-2 or AVC (H.264) video for Blu-ray discs as well as AC3 audio (or PCM) for both types, the only compression DVD Architect will have to do is for the menus or any multiple video angles.
Avoiding recompression

I'd suspect you don't give DVD Architect separate video and audio files.

[brassplyer]

Don't use DVDA but any authoring program worth its salt should have a setting 'Do not re-encode compliant files' or words to that effect.

Post a mediainfo report of one of your source mpgs (from Vegas) just to be sure they are fully compliant. Sometime people forget the audio and leave it at 44.1 instead of 48

Format : MPEG-PS
File size : 1.35 GiB
Duration : 24mn 36s
Overall bit rate : 7 858 Kbps

Video
ID : 224 (0xE0)
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings, BVOP : Yes
Format settings, Matrix : Default
Format settings, GOP : M=3, N=15
Duration : 24mn 36s
Bit rate : 7 300 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
Standard : NTSC
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Interlaced
Scan order : Bottom Field First
Compression mode : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.705
Stream size : 1.26 GiB (93%)

Audio
ID : 192 (0xC0)
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 24mn 36s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 384 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 67.6 MiB (5%)

[vkmast]

In plain English (johnmeyer, 2014, SCS forum)

... in Vegas, render your project to both a video and an audio file. For the video, you must use MPEG-2 (since that is what a DVD uses). So, in the Vegas Render As dialog, select MPEG-2, and then select one of the DVD Architect templates. You choose either NTSC (if you are in North America) or PAL (if you live elsewhere) and then you choose either the standard (4:3) or the widescreen template, depending on the aspect ratio of your project. You then render the audio using the AC-3 or WAV option. AC-3 is a better option for most users because it takes up less space. Use either the stereo or 5.1 template, depending on the nature of the audio in your Vegas project. Ideally, you should use the exact same name for both the video and the audio; only the extension (MPG and AC3) will be different.
And from SCS KB:
The recommended settings for a DVD are rendered in two parts, the video stream and the audio stream. Make sure to render both files to the same folder with the same name. When importing the video stream into DVD Architect, the audio stream will import automatically.

DVD Architect should give you "reasons for required recompression" in the Optimize Disc dialog.

[manono]

Technically, MP2 audio isn't allowed for NTSC DVDs. But I don't know if that's the reason or not. You could convert it to AC3 easily enough, and try again.

[vkmast]

MediaInfo:
Audio format: MPEG Audio, Version 1, Layer 2

DVD Architect:
"Optimize Disc dialog
Audio
Recompress: Required
Reasons for required recompression
Media is not compliant with the disc format
Recompress settings
Audio format: From project"

As suggested, render separate compliant video and audio (AC3) files in Vegas, if you don't want (re)compression in DVD Architect.

[DB83]

Read lots of discussion on here about mp2 audio and NTSC dvds. Yes, strictly, not compliant even though, as I read, many players now accept it without issue.

No such problem for a PAL dvd since mp2 is part of the spec.

[vkmast]

Note that the OP's problem is the recompression in Sony (SCS) DVD Architect (Pro).

MPEG 1 Layer 2 Audio (MP2) is not supported in DVD Architect Pro (or Studio).
DVD A requires linear PCM or AC3 (stereo or 5.1), which is clearly stated in Vegas Pro and DVD A help files.
DVD A Project properties give only those audio format options as well, NTSC or PAL.
This has been discussed countless times on the SCS forum, where the OP also posted this question.

The OP could also search for "dialog(ue) normalization AC3" to get e.g. this one.

[DB83]

Accept. But the OP has also used Vegas to create the source files. Now if he chose a dvd template one would expect that the files were fully compliant to start with.

Maybe a case of Vegas pro and DVDA not talking to one another.

Or DVDA is just being too pedantic in this day and age.

Personally, even tho it took more disk space, I always choose PCM for my audio then I need not worry about the variances between NTSC and PAL (for the audio)

[vkmast]

Yes, DVD Architect (or Sony Creative Software) is pedantic in this.
Someone suggested though that the answer lies in the complexity of licensing agreements between MC, Dolby, and Sony.
Of course, if the OP chose a compliant template and used custom setting modifications (like including audio stream in a "DVD Architect friendly" video template), that's a different matter.

And as said, PCM is an option. In fact the only option, if you want to burn a DVD without menus from the Vegas timeline.

[_Al_]

If using Vegas and rendering a stream for DVD Architect, there is a special template for it, called DVD Architect NTSC video stream OR DVD Architect NTSC video stream template. It is pretty clear in those settings, it has a dedicated name for it.

Audio is to be rendered to AC3, NTSC does not allow mpeg1layerII audio.

If Mpg already exists and it is up to DVD specs. Try to demux it in tsMuxer, to get that video stream, then get AC3 audio and try to load them into DVD Architect.

[vkmast]

To reiterate, not to (re)compress the audio DVD Architect requires linear PCM or AC3 (stereo or 5.1), which is clearly stated in Vegas Pro and DVD A help files and DVD A Project properties settings.

The "DVD Architect friendly" templates in Vegas Pro are templates starting with "DVD Architect" in name under MainConcept MPEG-2. They include the Widescreen video stream options.

More ponderings, if you like, here.