Vegas MPEG2 Encoding vs. TMPGEnc Encoding

[esabet]

I am using Vegas 4.0 to Edit my DV captures. I was wondering what you think is the better(higher quality results) way to encode for DVD: Use Vegas 4.0 built-in MPEG2 encoder and render the output directly to that or should I render the video as an AVI and then use TMPEnc to encode it to MPEG2? (BTW for those of you that are not familiar with Vegas, Vegas uses MainConcept MPEG-2 encoder.)

[EricB]

I haven't done extensive head-to-head comparison, but I think the Vegas 4 encoder is very good. Especially when you are doing DVD, the higher bandwidth is more forgiving. It is sure a lot more convenient to just use Vegas

[esabet]

Ofcourse it is more convenient but some tiimes some inconvinince is worth it. That is where i was not certain and was wondering if anyone has compared them. But you have a very good point as far as the bandwidth is concerned and in general Vegas is one of the best i have ever seen so it also makes sense that the encoder is also very good but i just wanted to make sure!

[esabet]

BUMP!!

[jfebus]

I think Vegas uses MainCOncept, which its really fast and gives excellent quality...

Regards,

[BJ_M]

i use it all the time -- works excellent (vegas 4 encoder) ..

get the update ..

only for High Def or straight from film (origanal source files - not from dvd) do i use other encoders (for the most part).

even then , MC does a great job on High Def

[esabet]

..............

get the update ..

...................

What update are you reffering to? I know that MainConcept has a 1.3.1 updtae out for Adobe. Do they also offer an update for Vegas. If so I have not been able to find it, could you post the link? THANKS

[BJ_M]

http://www.sonicfoundry.com/download/step2.asp?DID=445

the mpeg encoding and other updates are in the DVDA update

there is a known issue with ac3 encoding still -- will be fixed VERY soon ..

[kabanero]

Vegas 4 with MainConcept MPEG encoder plug-in makes great DVD MPEGs for me. I even abandoned CCE, and I don't use TMPGEnc for more than a year.

[tommyoz]

Allow me to join the bandwagon on Vegas Video. I was having trouble with SpruceUp on WinXP and have always used Tmpgenc. I started playing around with Vegas Video and I am very pleased so far.
Sonic Foundry has a great reputation for Music Apps and I should have started with them when I started doing video.
This does sound to me like an all in one (along with DVD Architect) with excellent quality not just some shabby little app. And it handles AC3.

The only problem I am having so far is importing AVI files. Either it doesn't load or it loads and it's all fuzzy. I am using AVI files captured with VDUB (huffy codec) and AVI files (divx and xvid).

THE MORE I PLAY, THE MORE I SAY

[liquid217]

you no longer need to create an intermittant avi to encode with tmpgenc. A frameserver plugin is now available.
http://www.debugmode.com/pluginpac/frameserver.php

[kingbuzzi]

hi,
this is my first post on this forum (i write from italy, please ignore mistakes), this is the best site if you want to learn something on DV.
i've compared tmpgenc and vegas 4 with vcd on my standalone dvd player (onkyo), i have to say that vegas wins.
i still haven't tested on dvd because i'm waiting for the new LG dvd burner (4040b), i've read it will support dvd+/-R, dvd+/- RW, dvd RAM and will be available on june, i look forward.

[arcorob]

wow..I get to be the opposite opinion again..SIGH.

I have Vegas 4.0 and use it literally every single day. It was a step up from Video factory but as far as MPEG 2 encoding, side by side comparison, TMPGenc wins, hands down. There is no question.

Believe me when I say I would LOVE to be able to save steps, go right to MPEG 2 when I encode an not AVI TO AVI TO MPEG 2. I am always seeking the perfect ONE STOP tool. VEgas is close.

I would select no other editor than Vegas ( I have most of them) .

But when rendered, Mainconcept does not handle motions as perfectly a TMPG and tends to blur colors. TMPG is clear, crisp and does interlace as it should.

Do your own test. Take a DV video 5 minute clip.
Make sure it is colorful, has people motion and vehicle motion.
By people motion I dont mean talking I mean ACTIVITY.

Encode the AVI with VEGAS. Encode the same with TMPGenc.
CBR is fine, thats all I use with TMPG.

You will see the difference.

Just my opinion..as I say, I use it every single day and wish it could work as all-in-one.

[BJ_M]

wow..I get to be the opposite opinion again..SIGH.

I have Vegas 4.0 and use it literally every single day. It was a step up from Video factory but as far as MPEG 2 encoding, side by side comparison, TMPGenc wins, hands down. There is no question.

Believe me when I say I would LOVE to be able to save steps, go right to MPEG 2 when I encode an not AVI TO AVI TO MPEG 2. I am always seeking the perfect ONE STOP tool. VEgas is close.

I would select no other editor than Vegas ( I have most of them) .

But when rendered, Mainconcept does not handle motions as perfectly a TMPG and tends to blur colors. TMPG is clear, crisp and does interlace as it should.

Do your own test. Take a DV video 5 minute clip.
Make sure it is colorful, has people motion and vehicle motion.
By people motion I dont mean talking I mean ACTIVITY.

Encode the AVI with VEGAS. Encode the same with TMPGenc.
CBR is fine, thats all I use with TMPG.

You will see the difference.

Just my opinion..as I say, I use it every single day and wish it could work as all-in-one.

the encoder was updated in 4.0b (now 4.0c is out) , though i use an off board mpeg2 encoder also -- but the quality of the on board encoder is very good -- you just have to "tweak it" and is dependent on your project settings .

[arcorob]

Oh yes, you are correct. It is EXCELLENT as an encoder. I guess I should have said that. What I meant though was that side by side, if I rated VEGAS encoding a 9 on a scale of 1 to 10, I have to give the 10 to TMPGenc. Plus, I like the TMPG interface for settings better when encoding. I have reveiwed the ADVANCE setting on Mainconcept and they are not as extensive..Thanks !

[tommyoz]

The only problem I am having with Vegas Video so far is importing AVI files. Either it doesn't load or it loads and it's all fuzzy. I am using AVI files captured with VDUB (huffy codec) and AVI files (divx and xvid). I haven't really tried to find the problem, this happened last night as i'm new to Vegas. I'm at work now and I thought someone could give me some info on this. Anyone?

[BJ_M]

what setting is your preview window -- maybe you are looking it at it in preview mode instead of best or good full ..

maybe your source files are fuzzy ..?




fuzzy wuzzy was a bear, fuzzy wuzzy had no hair ......

just had to write that ...

[BJ_M]

Oh yes, you are correct. It is EXCELLENT as an encoder. I guess I should have said that. What I meant though was that side by side, if I rated VEGAS encoding a 9 on a scale of 1 to 10, I have to give the 10 to TMPGenc. Plus, I like the TMPG interface for settings better when encoding. I have reveiwed the ADVANCE setting on Mainconcept and they are not as extensive..Thanks !

yea tmpgenc is amaizing on all its settings .. only real thing i complaint about it is that you can not set NDF or DF time code , and it time stamps files weird and you can not set offsets .. its filters are really good though and that it has built in features that blow away most everything else..

the main concept STAND ALONE 1.3.1 encoder has a LOT more features than the built in main concept vegas encoder , but by judging from the features they have added to vegas and also looking at the main concept encoder beta for adobe , i suspect you will see another upgrade on the main concept encoder for vegas shortly ..

[tommyoz]

what setting is your preview window -- maybe you are looking it at it in preview mode instead of best or good full ..
maybe your source files are fuzzy ..?

fuzzy wuzzy was a bear, fuzzy wuzzy had no hair ......
just had to write that ...

I just had to leave that in there.

Thanks for answering, but all i did yesterday when i got home was go right to sleep. I was sick as a dog. I have a bad cold so I couldn't get to play with Vegas last night. No, my source files are not fuzzy. Just to clarify something, the files that are fuzzy (and i mean fuzzy to the point where you can't even see the picture) are the ones i capture with VDub (huffy codec). They have no problem in Tmpgenc.

The Files that don't even load are the .AVI (divx or xvid). Again these are fine with Tmpgenc. I do have the upgrade to 4.0c but i've yet to install it.
I normally don't upgrade unless i need to. This sounds like i may need to.

[BJ_M]

if the files are fine in vdub, avsynth or tmpgnc ---> just frame serve them from one of those programs to vegas ..

you may want to try (when frame serving from v-dub or avsynth) changing the color space to YUV , TMPGenc input is rgb already and may cause a color shift frame serving from it .. i dont know what your source files are so hard to say ..

[tommyoz]

[quote="BJ_M"]if the files are fine in vdub, avsynth or tmpgnc ---> just frame serve them from one of those programs to vegas ..

I didn't think of that. I'll try it tonight when i get home. Yes, even after how i feel, i still went to work.

[mtremel]

Question...
How long does it take you to encode/render a 2hr movie in TMPGenc and Vegas 4. I have a video I am trying to render in Vegas 4 that is going to take 20hrs to render. I can encode the same video in TMPGenc in 7hrs. The source is a single avi file, I did not add any effects in Vegas. I simple droped the avi onto the time line and rendered as, using the mpeg2 dvd architect widescreen template. In TMPGenc my settings are set to the best quality motion search at dvd spec. The bit rate for both outputs is vbr 4,000 kbps max, 3,500 kbps avg, and 3,000 kbps min.

[BJ_M]

vegas rendering should be about 1/2 or less of the time for tmpgenc -- you must of selected best , when in fact that is incorrect and good should have been selected .. or some other adjustment out of whack ..

[DJRumpy]

Does Vegas support CCE for the encoding engine?

[ziggy34]

BJ_M can you tell me how long a 1 hour avi file should take to encode to DVD mpeg??

My system,

Soyo KT-400 Ultra with AMD XP 2500+
512 Meg ram

I encoded my frist one the other day (Just getting started in Video Editing, just got a new DV Cam and having a blast so far)

It took 2.5 hour to encode a 1 hour video. and then .5 hour to burn.
4x dvd Pioneer a105

thanks

Using Vegas Video 4 with DVD Arch 1.0

[frizb]

If you render to AVI first & then use TMPGenc to encode you will be losing some quality as opposed to just rendering directly to MPEG ifrst from Vegas. The Vegas encoder is VERY good & much faster than TMPGenc.

[BJ_M]

Does Vegas support CCE for the encoding engine?

if you frame serve to cce - yes ..

there is a frame server for vegas ..

[mtremel]

hmm...
I did have the render quality set to good...
would anyone be as so kind to give me some settings that work ok for them, so that i can figure out what is slowing it down?

[rtherr3184]

I use Vegas Video everyday and love it. But I the renders aren't as good as tmpgen.

[meocat9]

So Vegas has MainConcept engine? If so why don't we use Mainconcept MPG Encoder instead of Vegas? Just wondering...