From Standalone DVD recorder to MovieFactory
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danick
From Standalone DVD recorder to MovieFactory
I used my Panasonic standalone DVD recorder to capture 2 hours of home video from my camcorder. It has Dolby Digital audio. I then burned it to a DVD-RW disk. Then I imported it into DVD MovieFactory 4 to create the menus. First it took about 3 and half hours to convert it and burn to the hard disk in Video folders. Then looking at the video folder, I noticed that the output VOB files were almost 8 GBs. How did it go from 4.3 GB to almost 8 GBs??? All I did was create some menus and added 2 pieces of generic music to the menus. I can't even shrink it with DVD Shrink to fit it onto a DVD as Shrink only goes to 68% (or something like that). What's going on?!?!? Or does anyone have any suggestions as to how to go from a standalone DVD recorder to MovieFactory?
Under Project Settings, check the box that says Do Not Convert Compliant MPEG files. If all goes well, you should get an exact digital copy. In my experience, the audio and video seem to be handled separately and the video won't be touched even if you change the audio. It could take 10 - 20 minutes to convert the audio if needed, and to re-multiplex.
If for some reason Movie Factory "thinks" your MPEGs are not compliant, it will re-code them, but if you use the same bitrate they should still fit on a DVD.
A bitrate calculator is always useful.
If for some reason Movie Factory "thinks" your MPEGs are not compliant, it will re-code them, but if you use the same bitrate they should still fit on a DVD.
A bitrate calculator is always useful.
[size=92][i]Head over heels,
No time to think.
It's like the whole world's
Out of... sync.[/i]
- Head Over Heels, The Go-Gos.[/size]
No time to think.
It's like the whole world's
Out of... sync.[/i]
- Head Over Heels, The Go-Gos.[/size]
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danick
That is how I had it set up. But after I added some fancy menus and the music, MovieFactory found that it would not fit onto a DVD. So I pressed the "Make it fit" button where it adjusts the bit rate. That's probably where it went into its re-encoding mode. I tried another test where I first ripped the same DVD-RW with VOBtoMPG and then imported the MPG video. I didn't do any fancy menus or music as with the first one and this time, MovieFactory burned the Video Folder very quickly. And the video was about the same size as the original. So I guess the best way is to first rip it with VOBtoMPG and then do the menus with Factory. Either that, or make sure that the finished DVD fits onto a DVD without hitting that Shrink button.Under Project Settings, check the box that says Do Not Convert Compliant MPEG files.
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maddrummer3301
- Posts: 2507
- Joined: Fri Dec 10, 2004 10:24 pm
- Location: US
Hi,
It sounds like you created a dvd in the recorder using a DVD-RW disk?
You didn't do anything to the video between the recorder and MF4 did you?
When you import the dvd and you have the thumbnails on the timeline
make sure they don't have an "X" in the thumbnail. IF there is then
delete the thumbnails and re-import them manually from the
"Capture" directory located below the assigned "Working Folder".
The "X" in the thumbnail means the video must be re-encoded.
Usually it's best to import the videos from the dvd then delete the thumbnails and
import them manually again from the harddisk. Depends on the videos, chapters and
what you selected to import.
If you change the video cut/edit/split/enhance then the video must
be re-rendered again. That takes time because of working with Mpeg2 compressed files.
If you cut or multi-trim the video then use the 3rd icon down on the left
and select "Fast-Export". This will re-encode the video very fast using
the original videos settings. Then bring that new/exported video into
the timeline.
MF doesn't come with a default setting(s) that "Panasonic" uses.
Panasonic recorders use a 704x480 framesize. It is DVD compliant but
the most standard is 720x480. (Adjust the 2nd size for PAL).
Somehow your video is being re-encoded and most likely also
changing the framesize to 720x480 if you used a preset setting in MF4.
You should make a custom template with the video properties "Equal" to your source files and then apply that template as your "Project Properties" and also for any exporting of video.
Especially working with a framesize of 704x480.
It's always best to go into the burning module of MF4 or ANY Dvd authoring program with "DVD Compliant Video". This way the files do not
need to be worked on/re-rendered.
To create edited video from the timelline and make the video(s) DVD Compliant use the 3rd icon down on
the left and make you choice.
Hope this helps,
MD
It sounds like you created a dvd in the recorder using a DVD-RW disk?
You didn't do anything to the video between the recorder and MF4 did you?
When you import the dvd and you have the thumbnails on the timeline
make sure they don't have an "X" in the thumbnail. IF there is then
delete the thumbnails and re-import them manually from the
"Capture" directory located below the assigned "Working Folder".
The "X" in the thumbnail means the video must be re-encoded.
Usually it's best to import the videos from the dvd then delete the thumbnails and
import them manually again from the harddisk. Depends on the videos, chapters and
what you selected to import.
If you change the video cut/edit/split/enhance then the video must
be re-rendered again. That takes time because of working with Mpeg2 compressed files.
If you cut or multi-trim the video then use the 3rd icon down on the left
and select "Fast-Export". This will re-encode the video very fast using
the original videos settings. Then bring that new/exported video into
the timeline.
MF doesn't come with a default setting(s) that "Panasonic" uses.
Panasonic recorders use a 704x480 framesize. It is DVD compliant but
the most standard is 720x480. (Adjust the 2nd size for PAL).
Somehow your video is being re-encoded and most likely also
changing the framesize to 720x480 if you used a preset setting in MF4.
You should make a custom template with the video properties "Equal" to your source files and then apply that template as your "Project Properties" and also for any exporting of video.
Especially working with a framesize of 704x480.
It's always best to go into the burning module of MF4 or ANY Dvd authoring program with "DVD Compliant Video". This way the files do not
need to be worked on/re-rendered.
To create edited video from the timelline and make the video(s) DVD Compliant use the 3rd icon down on
the left and make you choice.
Hope this helps,
MD
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keithm
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maddrummer3301
- Posts: 2507
- Joined: Fri Dec 10, 2004 10:24 pm
- Location: US
Keith,
On my panasonic dvd recorder I record in the 4 hour or 6 hour mode
for music tracks. I don't care about the video quality. The audio is still
256kbs Dolby 2/0 (Stereo).
When I import the videos none of them are re-rendered unless I choose to do so or edit them.
For NTSC:
The 1 hour mode is called HQ mode, resolution is Full D1 704x480.
The 2 hour mode is called SD mode, resolution is Full D1 704x480.
The 4 hour mode is called LP mode, resolution is 1/2 D1 352x480.
The 6 hour mode is called EP mode, resolution is 352x240 or 320x240.
There is also an 8 hour mode selectable from the setup menu.
The setup menu gives you a choice of 6hr or 8hr recording in the EP mode.
When recording in the HQ mode you have a choice of Lpcm audio or Dolby Audio.
Panasonic also uses a "Fit To Disc" feature. Works nice but the video shouldn't be edited.
The tricky part is panasonic's 704 screen size. You must remember that if you plan to edit the mpeg2 files.
I've been doing this for over 2 years so the postee must not be familiar with using MovieFactory along with a dvd recorder. It does take time to learn how the process works.
Hope this helps,
MD
On my panasonic dvd recorder I record in the 4 hour or 6 hour mode
for music tracks. I don't care about the video quality. The audio is still
256kbs Dolby 2/0 (Stereo).
When I import the videos none of them are re-rendered unless I choose to do so or edit them.
For NTSC:
The 1 hour mode is called HQ mode, resolution is Full D1 704x480.
The 2 hour mode is called SD mode, resolution is Full D1 704x480.
The 4 hour mode is called LP mode, resolution is 1/2 D1 352x480.
The 6 hour mode is called EP mode, resolution is 352x240 or 320x240.
There is also an 8 hour mode selectable from the setup menu.
The setup menu gives you a choice of 6hr or 8hr recording in the EP mode.
When recording in the HQ mode you have a choice of Lpcm audio or Dolby Audio.
Panasonic also uses a "Fit To Disc" feature. Works nice but the video shouldn't be edited.
The tricky part is panasonic's 704 screen size. You must remember that if you plan to edit the mpeg2 files.
I've been doing this for over 2 years so the postee must not be familiar with using MovieFactory along with a dvd recorder. It does take time to learn how the process works.
Hope this helps,
MD
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danick
Thanks for info - Seems like I got a lot of homework to do. In the meantime, here are some answers to the quesitons.
I first captured the video to the DVR's hard disk inSP mode. Then trim it as necessary and then high speed dub to a DVD-RW. I don't do anything to the video between the recorder and MF4.It sounds like you created a dvd in the recorder using a DVD-RW disk? You didn't do anything to the video between the recorder and MF4 did you?
Yes there was a little blue x in the thumbnail top right hand corner. So I deleted the thumbnail and re-imported from the hard disk. This got rid of the little x. But it came back as soon as I tried to do any editing.When you import the dvd and you have the thumbnails on the timeline make sure they don't have an "X" in the thumbnail.
This is true. I just got this Panasonic DVR EH-50 standalone recorder and always record in SP mode. I used to just capture the video from my camcorder straight to my computer. But I wanted to see if this would be easier. At least the editing is a lot easier on the standalone to be able to just trim video from the sofa. Then just high speed dub to a DVD-RW and I'm ready to do the menus on MovieFactory. At least that's the idea. But I've never done this and it looks like I got to do a little training before it gets to that point. For one thing, I'm not familier with creating a custom template.I've been doing this for over 2 years so the postee must not be familiar with using MovieFactory along with a dvd recorder. It does take time to learn how the process works.
This is like speaking in a foreign language to me. But I'm sure once I get the hang of it, I'll be able to produce much nicer videos than I could ever do with just the standalone.You should make a custom template with the video properties "Equal" to your source files and then apply that template as your "Project Properties" and also for any exporting of video. Especially working with a framesize of 704x480.
This is one of the reasons I do my editing on the standalone. This way, I could just import the video as is and just do the menus without any re-rendering. Are you saying that if I create this template to fit the Panasonic's file that I would be able to edit in MovieFactory and still get away without doing any re-rendering?The tricky part is panasonic's 704 screen size. You must remember that if you plan to edit the mpeg2 files.
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maddrummer3301
- Posts: 2507
- Joined: Fri Dec 10, 2004 10:24 pm
- Location: US
Hi,
I also believe the recorder is faster. It's just a matter of time to learn what works and what doesn't.
The "X" means the video must be re-rendered. Now you know that.
Not sure why the program does that but something to do with time-stamping and multiple files.
I think you have the newer version of that model recorder. I can't record to dvd-rw. Only dvd-ram and dvd-r disks.
I record in HQ mode and choose a dubbing mode for writing a dvd. I can only high-speed dub to dvd-ram (i think).
After you re-import the videos. If you don't edit them they will not need to be re-rendered. You can create chapters no problem. If you go directly to creating a menu then burning the process goes very fast. Try it without editing the video. No enhancing, only chapters. I would even un-check motion menus to get the hang of it.
Usually in the dvd creation I first create dvd folders on the harddisk only. Then test the dvd written to the harddisk using PowerDvd or Windvd or ulead dvd player. If everything is correct then you can use Nero or MF to burn that dvd folder on the har5ddisk to a dvd-video disk.
The reason you want to change the project settings or create a template is to Match the source files video properties. Right-Click on the Thumbnail and select properties. The video(s) properties will be displayed.
If you export/edit and re-sample the video if the "Project Properties" or export settings Match the source video settings then a process known as "Smart Rendering" will be used. Only the edited or transisions will be re-rendered. The un-touched material is passed over for rendering (but time-stamped etc).
If your using MovieFactory 4 or 5 then you can use the preview screen markers to mark a section out of the video. Then click on the 3rd icon down on the left and select "Fast Export". That is an example of smart-rendering, it's very fast.
Hope this helps,
MD
I also believe the recorder is faster. It's just a matter of time to learn what works and what doesn't.
The "X" means the video must be re-rendered. Now you know that.
Not sure why the program does that but something to do with time-stamping and multiple files.
I think you have the newer version of that model recorder. I can't record to dvd-rw. Only dvd-ram and dvd-r disks.
I record in HQ mode and choose a dubbing mode for writing a dvd. I can only high-speed dub to dvd-ram (i think).
After you re-import the videos. If you don't edit them they will not need to be re-rendered. You can create chapters no problem. If you go directly to creating a menu then burning the process goes very fast. Try it without editing the video. No enhancing, only chapters. I would even un-check motion menus to get the hang of it.
Usually in the dvd creation I first create dvd folders on the harddisk only. Then test the dvd written to the harddisk using PowerDvd or Windvd or ulead dvd player. If everything is correct then you can use Nero or MF to burn that dvd folder on the har5ddisk to a dvd-video disk.
The reason you want to change the project settings or create a template is to Match the source files video properties. Right-Click on the Thumbnail and select properties. The video(s) properties will be displayed.
If you export/edit and re-sample the video if the "Project Properties" or export settings Match the source video settings then a process known as "Smart Rendering" will be used. Only the edited or transisions will be re-rendered. The un-touched material is passed over for rendering (but time-stamped etc).
If your using MovieFactory 4 or 5 then you can use the preview screen markers to mark a section out of the video. Then click on the 3rd icon down on the left and select "Fast Export". That is an example of smart-rendering, it's very fast.
Hope this helps,
MD
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danick
Well I just tried another video with all the suggestions learned on this thread. And I'm happy to say that the video turned out great and burned to video folders in just 20 minutes. Actually, the motion menus took up most of that (about 13 minutes) and the rest for multiplexing, audio and finalizing.
Thanks again for all the help.
I created a template with the Panasonic settings. Do I need to import the video with these settings before I can get it to work? Cause it seems that MF4 will always want to recode if I do any editing at all on the video I imported before the custom template. How are you able to get around that.If you export/edit and re-sample the video if the "Project Properties" or export settings Match the source video settings then a process known as "Smart Rendering" will be used. Only the edited or transisions will be re-rendered. The un-touched material is passed over for rendering (but time-stamped etc).
Thanks again for all the help.
-
maddrummer3301
- Posts: 2507
- Joined: Fri Dec 10, 2004 10:24 pm
- Location: US
Danick,
You are getting the hang of it. You can see why I'll even uncheck the
motion menus to make a dvd in very little time.
>>Cause it seems that MF4 will always want to recode if I do any editing >>at all on the video I imported before the custom template. How are >>you able to get around that
That's actually a video editing question and pertains to any video editor, not MF alone.
That happens to be the nature of Mpeg files. If you change anything in
an Mpeg file the complete file/stream must be re-analyzed.
But, using smart-render only the parts you have edited need to be re-sampled. That's why I trim the beginning and ends or whatever on the dvd recorder before importing the dvd.
As you work more with MF4 you will see how things work with regards to mpeg video creation. From the timeline while previewing the video you can hit the marker icons or F3(Start) && F4(End). To mark a section you want to keep. But, now the stream must re-rendered. That is where the "Fast Export" comes in. Using "Fast Export" none of the Project Properites are relevant to Fast Export. Fast Export reads the original videos attributes and uses them to create the new video file. The process is very fast because the program is using "Smart Rendering" to re-calculate and write the new file.
Also, if this helps somewhat. Clicking on the Gear Icon menu gives you an additional setting related to audio. So if the original audio is Mpeg audio then by clicking on the "Treat Mpeg audio as non-dvd_compliant will force MF to use the audio settings set in your "Project Settings". Those settings go into effect when you are in the "Burning Module", NOT the "Timeline Module" and exporting anything.
On the panasonic dvd recorder there is an option in the setup menu to record the audio as "Lpcm" ((un-compressed audio, same as a cd except it's dvd compliant so the sampling frequency is 16 bit 48khz (not 44.1khz) stereo). That's nice when transferring a recorded band or recording a concert (music). I believe recording Lpcm audio is only available when recording in the HQ(High Quality) mode.
If you wanted to change the lpcm audio to dolby or mpeg audio in MF then after importing you would make the "Project Properties" video settings same as the source video and set the audio to Dolby or Mpeg.
Then the exporting method you would use is the "Fast Export Dvd Compliant". Actually that is rule of thumb but IF the video is already DVD compliant "Fast Export Dvd Compliant" will only change the audio and ignores the "Project Properties" Video settings.
So if you ever import a video that's dvd compliant and want to change the audio then change the "Project Properties" audio settings to your selection and use the "Fast Export Dvd Compliant".
If you want to Force a render of the complete video then that's what the other export templates are for etc.
It's gets confusing because there are a few "IF's" in the equation.
Hope this helps, your recorder is a nice machine.
I upgraded to MF5 and have no regrets. The launcher screen comes up much faster. The whole program is more responsive and menu creation is better. Also more features and smoother multi-tasking.
It's not expensive.
MD
You are getting the hang of it. You can see why I'll even uncheck the
motion menus to make a dvd in very little time.
>>Cause it seems that MF4 will always want to recode if I do any editing >>at all on the video I imported before the custom template. How are >>you able to get around that
That's actually a video editing question and pertains to any video editor, not MF alone.
That happens to be the nature of Mpeg files. If you change anything in
an Mpeg file the complete file/stream must be re-analyzed.
But, using smart-render only the parts you have edited need to be re-sampled. That's why I trim the beginning and ends or whatever on the dvd recorder before importing the dvd.
As you work more with MF4 you will see how things work with regards to mpeg video creation. From the timeline while previewing the video you can hit the marker icons or F3(Start) && F4(End). To mark a section you want to keep. But, now the stream must re-rendered. That is where the "Fast Export" comes in. Using "Fast Export" none of the Project Properites are relevant to Fast Export. Fast Export reads the original videos attributes and uses them to create the new video file. The process is very fast because the program is using "Smart Rendering" to re-calculate and write the new file.
Also, if this helps somewhat. Clicking on the Gear Icon menu gives you an additional setting related to audio. So if the original audio is Mpeg audio then by clicking on the "Treat Mpeg audio as non-dvd_compliant will force MF to use the audio settings set in your "Project Settings". Those settings go into effect when you are in the "Burning Module", NOT the "Timeline Module" and exporting anything.
On the panasonic dvd recorder there is an option in the setup menu to record the audio as "Lpcm" ((un-compressed audio, same as a cd except it's dvd compliant so the sampling frequency is 16 bit 48khz (not 44.1khz) stereo). That's nice when transferring a recorded band or recording a concert (music). I believe recording Lpcm audio is only available when recording in the HQ(High Quality) mode.
If you wanted to change the lpcm audio to dolby or mpeg audio in MF then after importing you would make the "Project Properties" video settings same as the source video and set the audio to Dolby or Mpeg.
Then the exporting method you would use is the "Fast Export Dvd Compliant". Actually that is rule of thumb but IF the video is already DVD compliant "Fast Export Dvd Compliant" will only change the audio and ignores the "Project Properties" Video settings.
So if you ever import a video that's dvd compliant and want to change the audio then change the "Project Properties" audio settings to your selection and use the "Fast Export Dvd Compliant".
If you want to Force a render of the complete video then that's what the other export templates are for etc.
It's gets confusing because there are a few "IF's" in the equation.
Hope this helps, your recorder is a nice machine.
I upgraded to MF5 and have no regrets. The launcher screen comes up much faster. The whole program is more responsive and menu creation is better. Also more features and smoother multi-tasking.
It's not expensive.
MD
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danick
Well looks like I celebrated a bit too early. I just tried importing a new video from my Panasonic and kept everything the same as before with all the knowledge learned in this thread and this time got a different result. This time, the video was 2 hours long but still recorder in SP mode. After importing the video and creating the menus and adding some background music, MF4 showed the video to be too big to fit onto a 4.7 DVD. Even after pressing the "Make it fit" button, MF4 gives a message that the video would still not fit onto a DVD.
There are two things that are a little different from the successful burn. First, the imorted DVD shows a bit rate of 12900. My template is set to 7000. I'm not sure how to set this since MF4 won't allow any bitrate greater that 9000 something. But if I reduce it to a size that will fit to a DVD (about 4500) I'm afraid the quality will be totally lost. My DVR doesn't have a setting to allow me to change the bit rate. At least I can't find it.
The other difference in this video is that I got brave and chose a couple of background MP3 songs for the menus. Maybe it's the music that MF4 is having a hard time with.
Whatever it is, MF4 is going through another one of those long re-coding processes. I set the bitrate to 4500 to allow it fit to onto a DVD. Can't wait to see what the end result will look like.
I think your suggestion about exporting the file is the right way to go. But I got to do a little more homework before I figure out how to make that work.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks...
There are two things that are a little different from the successful burn. First, the imorted DVD shows a bit rate of 12900. My template is set to 7000. I'm not sure how to set this since MF4 won't allow any bitrate greater that 9000 something. But if I reduce it to a size that will fit to a DVD (about 4500) I'm afraid the quality will be totally lost. My DVR doesn't have a setting to allow me to change the bit rate. At least I can't find it.
The other difference in this video is that I got brave and chose a couple of background MP3 songs for the menus. Maybe it's the music that MF4 is having a hard time with.
Whatever it is, MF4 is going through another one of those long re-coding processes. I set the bitrate to 4500 to allow it fit to onto a DVD. Can't wait to see what the end result will look like.
I think your suggestion about exporting the file is the right way to go. But I got to do a little more homework before I figure out how to make that work.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks...
-
maddrummer3301
- Posts: 2507
- Joined: Fri Dec 10, 2004 10:24 pm
- Location: US
Hi,
>>>First, the imorted DVD shows a bit rate of 12900.
Something is wrong, your statement is outside of the dvd spec parameters and this is why MF is trying to re-encode your videos.
Good chance that in your setup menu having the Fast Dubbing active may be causing this. Not sure. Most of my work is with dvd-ram and written in the -VR mode. For your information all the video on the harddisk of that recorder is in the -VR mode. Which is why I'm confused how your fast-dubbing it to a dvd-rw in video mode. My unit writes that out in real-time. I don't usually have Fast-Dubbing active in the setup menu because then some advanced features are disabled. The Fast-Dubbing in the setup menu is for transferring from the harddisk to outside media. Not for transferring media to the harddisk. I record on other panasonic recorders and fast-dub that all the time to the harddisk with fast-dub disabled in the setup menu. Fast dub is for transferring OUT to media from the harddisk.
Anyway, the files you are importing are defective or MF isn't reading them correctly. It gets hard because you have to learn about mpeg2 files and how they work. Even though the properties may say 9100kbs the true average bit-rate at SD (Standard Definition) is about 4200 variable. I have a bit-rate display on the DMR-E65 unit that displays the bit-rate. Also a panasonic dvd player that displays the true bit-rate. The 9100 is what's called the "Max Bit Rate". It's also the reason the project is coming out over the dvd size limit of 4.370 gig.
The settings you make the Project at have nothing to do will the video(s) settings that your importing. The settings of the imported video are set in the mpeg2 file your importing. I work with that recorder either fast-dubbing to dvd-ram or rendering down to SD mode. On mine everything on the recorders Harddisk is recorded in HQ mode. I can fast-dub to a dvd-ram or real-time the video to a dvd-r. Even if I select SD the video looks very good. So, many times I go from HQ to SD. The hardware chipsets must cleanup the video because if done on a computer it takes 4 times as long as the video and doesn't look as good.
You define the bit-rates in the recorder by choosing the recording mode(s).
HQ mode = High Quality = approx 9100-9800 with Dolby Audio at 256kbs.
SD mode = Standard Quality = approx 4200-4800 with Dolby Audio at 256kbs.
LP and EP range from 500kbs to 2800kbs with Dolby Audio at 256kbs.
Forget the "Fit To Disc". It's a one time transfer. You can try to edit the video but good luck because the bit-rates change drastically. Computers have a problem with that unless you do everything in real-time.
Just as a test don't fast dub a 1/2 hour video to a dvd-rw disk. Realtime it, import it and then read what MF reports the properties as. You shouldn't have a problem using the real-time method.
Are you having fun yet?
Hope this helps,
MD
>>>First, the imorted DVD shows a bit rate of 12900.
Something is wrong, your statement is outside of the dvd spec parameters and this is why MF is trying to re-encode your videos.
Good chance that in your setup menu having the Fast Dubbing active may be causing this. Not sure. Most of my work is with dvd-ram and written in the -VR mode. For your information all the video on the harddisk of that recorder is in the -VR mode. Which is why I'm confused how your fast-dubbing it to a dvd-rw in video mode. My unit writes that out in real-time. I don't usually have Fast-Dubbing active in the setup menu because then some advanced features are disabled. The Fast-Dubbing in the setup menu is for transferring from the harddisk to outside media. Not for transferring media to the harddisk. I record on other panasonic recorders and fast-dub that all the time to the harddisk with fast-dub disabled in the setup menu. Fast dub is for transferring OUT to media from the harddisk.
Anyway, the files you are importing are defective or MF isn't reading them correctly. It gets hard because you have to learn about mpeg2 files and how they work. Even though the properties may say 9100kbs the true average bit-rate at SD (Standard Definition) is about 4200 variable. I have a bit-rate display on the DMR-E65 unit that displays the bit-rate. Also a panasonic dvd player that displays the true bit-rate. The 9100 is what's called the "Max Bit Rate". It's also the reason the project is coming out over the dvd size limit of 4.370 gig.
The settings you make the Project at have nothing to do will the video(s) settings that your importing. The settings of the imported video are set in the mpeg2 file your importing. I work with that recorder either fast-dubbing to dvd-ram or rendering down to SD mode. On mine everything on the recorders Harddisk is recorded in HQ mode. I can fast-dub to a dvd-ram or real-time the video to a dvd-r. Even if I select SD the video looks very good. So, many times I go from HQ to SD. The hardware chipsets must cleanup the video because if done on a computer it takes 4 times as long as the video and doesn't look as good.
You define the bit-rates in the recorder by choosing the recording mode(s).
HQ mode = High Quality = approx 9100-9800 with Dolby Audio at 256kbs.
SD mode = Standard Quality = approx 4200-4800 with Dolby Audio at 256kbs.
LP and EP range from 500kbs to 2800kbs with Dolby Audio at 256kbs.
Forget the "Fit To Disc". It's a one time transfer. You can try to edit the video but good luck because the bit-rates change drastically. Computers have a problem with that unless you do everything in real-time.
Just as a test don't fast dub a 1/2 hour video to a dvd-rw disk. Realtime it, import it and then read what MF reports the properties as. You shouldn't have a problem using the real-time method.
Are you having fun yet?
Hope this helps,
MD
-
danick
Since I already had the video in MF4, I let it do it's thing to see what the end result would look like. It took 4 hours and 45 minutes to convert the video. In all, it took a little over 5 hours to do the whole thing. Then I burned it to a DVD and was surprised that it actually looked pretty good on the screen.
First, I burned to video folders with no motion, no MP3 files and no chapters. The burn started without any conversion. So I stopped it since I knew that it wouldn't take more than 15 minutes anyway.
Next, I added all the chapters, motion menus and MP3 files. Almost exactly the same as the first time. This time it went into a "Converting video file", but only took 10 minutes to complete. Not sure what it did - maybe it was the MP3 files... Anyway, the whole video took a total of 33 minutes to burn to video folders. And it too looks fine. Not sure which is of better quality since I never burned the second one to DVD to view it on a TV screen.
So I think the next time I dub, I'll do it in real time. Seems it takes a lot less time in the end to get the video onto DVD.
PS:
About MF5...
MF4 finally got to a stable point with the latest patches. I'm hearing a lot of mixed opinions on MF5. So I think I'll stick to MF4 till the "bugs" are ironed out in this version before I upgrade. At least for a little while anyway...
You're right!! I dubbed the 2 hour video again from the hard disk to a DVD-RW in real time. For some reason, the recorder gave a message that the video was too big to fit onto the disk. This is strange since it fit fine when I used high speed dubbing. So I cut a few minutes from the video and dubbed in SP mode in real time. Then imported the video in MF4. When I right clicked the thumbnail, the VBR showed 5700 kbps. I tried a couple of tests with this new video.Just as a test don't fast dub a 1/2 hour video to a dvd-rw disk. Realtime it, import it and then read what MF reports the properties as. You shouldn't have a problem using the real-time method.
First, I burned to video folders with no motion, no MP3 files and no chapters. The burn started without any conversion. So I stopped it since I knew that it wouldn't take more than 15 minutes anyway.
Next, I added all the chapters, motion menus and MP3 files. Almost exactly the same as the first time. This time it went into a "Converting video file", but only took 10 minutes to complete. Not sure what it did - maybe it was the MP3 files... Anyway, the whole video took a total of 33 minutes to burn to video folders. And it too looks fine. Not sure which is of better quality since I never burned the second one to DVD to view it on a TV screen.
So I think the next time I dub, I'll do it in real time. Seems it takes a lot less time in the end to get the video onto DVD.
PS:
Just wanted to clear up this point. I don't have a DVD writer on my computer that reads Ram disks. I'm thinking of getting one, but for now I'm using some DVD-RW disks to transfer video from my Panasonic to my computer. My Panasonic DMR EH-50 has the ability to high speed dub to DVD +/- R disks. This is one of the reasons I got this model since I have a stack of +R disks and wanted to use them with a standalone. But the menu system on the unit is pretty lame and very basic. So I'm back to burning video on my computer again...For your information all the video on the harddisk of that recorder is in the -VR mode. Which is why I'm confused how your fast-dubbing it to a dvd-rw in video mode. My unit writes that out in real-time.
About MF5...
MF4 finally got to a stable point with the latest patches. I'm hearing a lot of mixed opinions on MF5. So I think I'll stick to MF4 till the "bugs" are ironed out in this version before I upgrade. At least for a little while anyway...