When to set bit rate?

Crypto · Post by **Crypto** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 3:58 pm

Newby here using VS9.

Following the excellent "Recommended Procedures" I have produced my first DVD from a DVTape. The result was not quite as good as I was hoping (bit jerky in action shots and sometimes a bit blurry)
Checking the project file properties I have the following:

File format : Microsft AVI files--OpenDML
Frame Rate : 25.000 frames/sec
Data Rate: 1344.26 kbps

Video compression ; DV Video Encoder--type 1
Attributes : 24 Bits, 720x576, 4:3

Audio Compression ; 32,000kHz, 12 Bit, Stereo.

Am I right in saying that this is a very low data rate and where should I have set it?

I could not follow the procedures precisely as they are illustrated for NTSC, I am PAL.

I captured the file from my DV camcorder via firewire and therefore set the capture properties to AVI rather than MPEG. When selecting AVI capture there appears to be no option to adjust the data rate, I gather that AVI file capture is almost a straight copy?
I captured in AVI because I want to carry out quite a bit of editing and the general advice seems to be to edit in AVI rather than MPEG.

When I loaded the captured file in to VS9 as a new project, I was asked if I wanted to set project properties to match. I selected yes and that seems to have set the properties for me for the rest of the project.

Am I going wrong somewhere?

Thanks in advance.

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 5:59 pm

Your video bitrate is way too low for good DVD quality.

If you selected DV type 1 compression when you captured, every thing should be OK. However, when you Create Video file, you have to set the properties as specified in the Recommended Procedure - manually, selecting Mpeg Files and then PAL DVD template in the Compression tab. This should default you into Variable bitrate = 8000 kbps, frame size 720x576, 25fps... Then burn the DVD with exactly the same settings.

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 6:10 pm

Hi
and welcome to the forum

In the capture stage did you select Dv as the capture format, and did Dv remain as that option.
If you selected Avi this should have reverted to DV.
The capture file should have been about 13 Gb per hour.

After editing Share Create a Video File, Select Pal-DVD (4:3) from the options.

For further reading check out the link below

Trevor

Crypto · Post by **Crypto** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 1:08 pm

Hi John and Trevor,
thanks for the replies.

In answer to you both, I did select DV type 1 compression for capture and ended up with a 13GB .AVI file from a 1hour DV tape.

I think my confusion comes in the editing stage. When starting a new project I select file/project properties and am confronted with a drop down box for "edit file format" of either MPEG or Microsoft AVI.
If I choose MPEG, I get the chance to change compression etc as the recommended procedures. If I choose Microsoft AVI, the options are quite different and do not include a choice on compression. Also if I click OK on editing the AVI settings, I am presented with a comment that the project settings have been modified and clicking OK will clear the cache etc.

My confusion is that I thought I should be editing in AVI not MPEG, which is why I select the AVI option above.
During my very first attempt at DVD production, I did select the MPEG option and had subsequently had audio sync problems. On reading up on this problem I got the impression that I should edit in AVI.

Sorry to labour the point, please bear with me.

Thanks

Crypto

ps. Nice concise guide Trevor

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 1:21 pm

You captured AVI(DV) video. So, stick with it through the EDIT stage. When you set project properties in the EDIT stage, set them to match your video properties: AVI(DV) Type 1, etc.

When you are finished editing, create a video file. This file is going to be used to create a DVD. Sot it has to be converted to Mpeg2. Set the properties exactly as specified in the Recommended Procedure. This is where you set the video bitrate to 8000kbps. Just follow the procedure.

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 1:34 pm

Hi Crypto

After you have captured to Dv-Avi your project properties should be as Dv-Avi.
You then edit your project in the timeline, adding transitions, music etc.

Then you have to make a new video file compatible for burning a dvd.
Share --- Create Video File gives you several options. ( the render time is quite long, As a guide-- about 2.5 times the run time)

If your video project is up to 60 minutes long, then selecting Pal-DVD will give you a suitable template.
DO NOT select Mpeg.

Example of default template:-

MPEG files
24 Bits, 720 x 576, 25 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-PAL), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
LPCM Audio, 48000 Hz, Stereo

If you wish to use Digital Dolby Audio, then you have to use the ‘Custom ‘option.

Select save type as (’Mpeg files *mpg)
Then hit the ‘options’ button, Edit the windows to the settings above.
Again in the compression tab select PAL-DVD not mpeg.
Change the audio to Digital Dolby.

As an alternative you could use the ‘Make Movie manager’ (from Tools) to create your own templates, again use the settings above as a guide changing the audio if you wish. The template will be available from the Share Create Video File drop down box below the ‘Custom’ option.

Hope this Helps

Trevor

Crypto · Post by **Crypto** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 11:18 pm

OK.....

tried another movie, AVI all through until creating the video file where I set the bit rate,

3 x 1 hour tapes editted down to just over two hours.

Took the resultant file through DVDShrink to reduce the file size to 4.3 Gb.

Result........ perfect.

Thank you very much chaps.

My original question, where do you set the bit rate has been answered comprehensively, after editing, before rendering.

Cheers

Crypto.

THoff · Post by **THoff** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 12:35 am

jchunter wrote:Your video bitrate is way too low for good DVD quality.

That is the datarate that UVS shows for all DV AVI files, and it is (consistently) incorrect. I'm sure the MPEG2 datarate that the original poster used is more appropriate for producing a DVD.

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 12:52 am

Crypto,
Congratulations!

Now, you may not realize it but DVD shrink also shrunk the quality when you put 3 hours of video on a DVD. I never put much more than one hour of video @8000kbps on a DVD and maintain very high quality level.

You may wish to burn one with 60 minutes per DVD and compare.

After we take a long trip, I usually make a complete video, removing only the really bad shots. This first one usually has too much detail for most casual audiences, so I then make a second project, about 1/3 of the size of the original, which is the "Best of ...", where I pick out only the most impressive scenes, shortening many clips, adding music, etc. These are the ones that we show to friends.

Now, to qualify as a wizard, try capturing direct to Mpeg2, where you set the bitrate before capturing and see if you find the process simpler and faster.