best way to take MC mpg2 into DVDA

Steve B wrote on 2/23/2006, 6:29 PM
A week ago I crossed that invisible line with Movie Studio (a product I really like)-- my project is 2+ hrs and doesn't fit. DVDA recompressed at 3 mbps and the result was awful. I decided to get MainConcept and now have a beautifully rendered 4.5G mpg that I'd like to bring into DVDA, add a background graphic and scene selectors. Nothing fancy. But DVDA thinks it's 6 Gb. I don't want to recompress. Can this be done? If so, how? If not possible, what tools should I consider? (I'm finding it hard to sort through the various info on this "fit" question.)

Comments

jrazz wrote on 2/23/2006, 8:55 PM
The 6gig warning is just that, a warning. If you know the file is not 6 gigs, try to burn it and ignore the warning. If it burns, great; if not, try some different bit rates or try re-encoding using a variable bit rate 2 pass encode. Just a thought.

j razz
TheHappyFriar wrote on 2/23/2006, 9:05 PM
you can also use size estimators for the mpeg file (I like "bitratecalc"). Remember though that you need space for all the non-video info: menu's & such.
Steve B wrote on 2/24/2006, 3:53 AM
Nope. Doesn't work. The resulting VOB is about 5.6G, so DVDA was about 10% pessimistic on its size estimate. The mpg I'm preparing was encoded by MainConcept in 2 passes. I really want to preserve the mpg as is.

A closer look at DVDA Optimize shows that the audio is in PCM format and needs to be recompressed. MC can create separate audio/video streams, either "elemental" or mpg and the audio is only around .25G in elemental form, which seems plenty small. Maybe I need to get the audio in AC3 format and use that to override the PCM conversion? From what I've read I can insert an AC3 and it will override whatever audio is present.
Andy C wrote on 4/19/2006, 4:40 AM
Steve B,
Slightly OT, but you've got me interested, so:
1. Was the MainConcept result really that much better than Sony's?
2. Doesn't Sony already use MainConcept as its MPEG encoder in VMS? (perhaps a cut down version?)
Thanks,
Andy.
bStro wrote on 4/19/2006, 9:26 AM
If DVDA wants to recompress your MPG, then my guess would be that something was not quite right with the settings used during the render. That or the properties of your DVDA project do not match those of your media, so DVDA is trying to change one to match the other.

In DVDA's explorer window, right-click the MPG in question, choose Properties, and copy / paste what you see there on this forum.

Maybe I need to get the audio in AC3 format and use that to override the PCM conversion?

You said you're using the Studio version, correct? I could be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure that the Studio version of DVD Architect will not produce a disc with AC3 audio.

Rob