encoding.. MSP8 or DVDWS 2 ?

devo_111111 · Post by **devo_111111** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:51 pm

I have a rather long project, 2 hrs. Should I put all the pieces together in MSP 8 then encode it into one mpeg file and import that into DVD workshop or do it in pieces and import the individual files.

Is MSP 8 better encoder than DVD workshop. Just use DVDWS alone? There is little editing.

I'm also wondering about making a large menu but I suppose that is for the other forum.

Ian

DVDDoug · Post by **DVDDoug** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 9:28 pm

I assume both programs use the same MPEG encoder. But, MSP is newer, and it has a Dolby 5.1 channel encoder (WS only has 2-channel AC3). So, it's possible that the MPEG encoder may be improved too.

Assuming that this is one video-program, you should join the files (with splices or transitions) in MSP before encoding to MPEG. (Workshop can't splice or do transitions.) Once you have an MPEG file (or multiple MPEGs for a multi-title DVD), its better not to mess with it.

MSP is the editor. It us used to "make the movie". When you're ready to put the movie on DVD, WS can do menus, chapters, multiple soundtracks, subtitles... all of the DVD-related stuff.

THoff · Post by **THoff** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 9:42 pm

I can't tell a difference in quality between video encoded using MSP 8 and VS 9, but in my benchmarking using an identical 6:00 DV AVI source file and identical output settings, MSP 8 was noticeably faster than VS 9 (316 seconds vs. 232 seconds).

I don't know how the DWS encoder compares, but it would be worth checking out. It could save you lots of time down the line.

Devil · Post by **Devil** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 7:05 am

This is a grey area that Ulead have never explained to my satisfaction. Therefore I am speculating to some extent here, so please don't take what I say as gospel.

Some of the MPEG encoder is common to all Ulead apps, but the interface to it is not, nor are the INI files that determine the behaviour.

I therefore assume that the quality may be similar and is governed by the latest installed software but the way it is driven from the application and the availbale options may not be.

My CYP 0.02

devo_111111 · Post by **devo_111111** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 7:49 pm

The folks at DigitalFAQ.com (I think that's there name) say to never use an authoring program to encode. So I guess that means you should encode in MSP 8 or whatever version you have.

As long as you make a compliant Mpeg file then everything should work smothly in WS or MF or whatever you use. Although it does seem making sure everything is compliant is harder than it looks.

I wanted to use 2 pass encoding on my last project but under the template I was working the box was greyed out.

Ian

skier-hughes · Post by **skier-hughes** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 8:30 pm

devo_111111 wrote:The folks at DigitalFAQ.com (I think that's there name) say to never use an authoring program to encode. Ian

Why?

Devil · Post by **Devil** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 6:21 am

If the encoder is the same, what difference does it make?

htchien · Post by **htchien** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 5:04 pm

DVDDoug wrote:I assume both programs use the same MPEG encoder. But, MSP is newer, and it has a Dolby 5.1 channel encoder (WS only has 2-channel AC3). So, it's possible that the MPEG encoder may be improved too.

Devil wrote:Some of the MPEG encoder is common to all Ulead apps, but the interface to it is not, nor are the INI files that determine the behaviour.

I therefore assume that the quality may be similar and is governed by the latest installed software but the way it is driven from the application and the availbale options may not be.

When Ulead product installer is running, it will check the common Ulead MPEG.Now encoder in the system and update it to the latest. If the installer found the MPEG.Now encoder in the system is newer than the version it's going to install, then it will not update the encoder.

However, the encoder update will not make a product that only supports Stereo AC-3 to support 5.1 AC-3, or a product that only supports 1-pass encoding to support 2-pass encoding.

The MPEG interface and the settings in Ulead products will not be updated unless Ulead found they should be patched to keep the product working properly.

Hope this helps.

H.T.

htchien · Post by **htchien** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 5:10 pm

THoff wrote:I can't tell a difference in quality between video encoded using MSP 8 and VS 9, but in my benchmarking using an identical 6:00 DV AVI source file and identical output settings, MSP 8 was noticeably faster than VS 9 (316 seconds vs. 232 seconds).

I don't know how the DWS encoder compares, but it would be worth checking out. It could save you lots of time down the line.

I think maybe it's because MSP 8 is been fine-tuned for dual core CPU?

H.T.