Disc Space not enough?

eggs44 · Post by **eggs44** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 12:40 am

MPEG files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 30 fps
Field Order A
(MPEG-2)
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 224 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo

Thats for a 2 hour DVD, what should it be at for a 3 hour dvd, I said 4 hour befor cuz i was default, but If I can make it a 3 hour dvd, it would bring up the quality a bit.

A big thanks to all that can help me and all that have helped me so far.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 12:43 am

I don't know where in the world you live, but here in Australia, I buy 50 blank Ritek 8x full-face printable DVD blanks for A$19 (that's a bit under US$15 or 30 cents each), which to my mind is very cheap! So I certainly would not be sacrificing quality for the sake of 30 cents, much less having to get up to change a disc! But as I say, it's your choice.

As for the settings, I have never used a bitrate calculator, but imagine you would simply, in the Make Movie Manager compression page, set the VBR to 3500 kbps and the rest should happen automatically. I would also be selecting either mpeg layer 2 audio or Dolby AC-3 audio, as they give much smaller files than stanard LPCM audio. This means in turn that you can fit more video on to the disc.

I might also add a comment that a VBR of 3500 kbps to my mind would allow you to fit 2.5 to 3 hours on a single layer DVD, but not 4 hours... However, I am assuming you have calculated using your actual video length, rather than padding it out to 4 hours just to be sure, as you have been doing to date.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 12:48 am

Sorry, I only found your latest posting after I had posted my previous one.

Those settings you say will give you 2 hours on a DVD. Well, I am not sure where that came from. But in effect, those settings, including mpeg audio, would not give you 2 hours on a single layer DVD. That bitrate of 8000 kbps is for the highest quality setting, and even with mpeg audio, would probably only allow about 75 minutes on a single layer DVD.

eggs44 · Post by **eggs44** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 12:58 am

I see, Should I keep 720 x 480 at that size or change that also.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 1:34 am

No. Keep that frame size. That is the standard, full size NTSC format.

eggs44 · Post by **eggs44** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 1:58 am

Ok, Thank you for your help, Ill start the video rendering and see if it lets me burn it on to my disc.

GeorgeW · Post by **GeorgeW** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 2:00 am

Considering the source is VHS, and the low-bitrate that will be used, I would consider changing to Half D1 resolution (352X480 for NTSC).

Eggs44 -- how are you making your original captures from VHS

And what are the attributes of your original VHS captures

Regards,
George

Post by **Ken Berry** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 2:07 am

Edit: Deleted as I found the reference to the VHS source of his video...

eggs44 · Post by **eggs44** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 2:43 am

GeorgeW wrote:Considering the source is VHS, and the low-bitrate that will be used, I would consider changing to Half D1 resolution (352X480 for NTSC).

Eggs44 -- how are you making your original captures from VHS And what are the attributes of your original VHS captures

Regards,
George

Umm, Im just putting the tape in to my VCR and inporting it, LOL, what ever settings the Capture Xpress program is set at is what I use.

Post by **Ron P.** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 2:55 am

Eggs,

You mention the Capture Xpress, which I'm not sure but is it the ADS DVD XPress ? http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... pNo=580965

If so then the capture properties will be MPEG-1, or MPEG-2, correct?

If it is not the one mentioned could you please clarify this?

Ron P.

eggs44 · Post by **eggs44** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 2:58 am

Yes, that is what I have.

GeorgeW · Post by **GeorgeW** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 3:28 am

You can capture to the proper mpeg settings using CapWiz (exclusive capture software for your device).

If you do not edit your captures, you would be able to author them for DVD pretty quickly.

I no longer have VideoStudio 7 installed, so not sure of the proper authoring process. But if you use the recent VideoStudio (or MovieFactory), you have an option to "Do not convert compliant mpeg files" (so it will use your captures "asis" without needing to re-encode -- as long as you are not applying any filters and titles etc..).

So the idea is to make your captures using CapWiz with the proper mpeg settings, and author the captured dvd compliant mpeg files without having to sit through a lengthy re-encoding process.

Regards,
George

Post by **Ron P.** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 3:29 am

Eggs,

The Maximum, Average and Minimum bitrates, provided by the BR Calculator, are based upon VBR (Varible Bit Rate). This is useful when doing a 2-Pass encoding, which takes longer. The first pass basically analyzes the video for the fastest and slowest motion bits. The second pass is where it applies what it has found, and actually encodes the video. However I don't know if VS7 has the abiltiy to do 2-pass encoding. In fact I just pulled up VS8 and it does not have 2-pass encode.

Now also I don't think since you are using VS7, that you are able to encode Dolby Digital. So you would need to use MPEG audio Layer or LPCM. With that, there is no way using VS7 to burn a DVD that will hold 4 hrs of Video. Your bitrate would need to be less then 1000kbps, which is not allowed.

You could try using DVD Shrink, to see if it is able to shrink your file(s) enough.

Ron P.

eggs44 · Post by **eggs44** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 3:38 am

GeorgeW wrote:You can capture to the proper mpeg settings using CapWiz (exclusive capture software for your device).

If you do not edit your captures, you would be able to author them for DVD pretty quickly.

I no longer have VideoStudio 7 installed, so not sure of the proper authoring process. But if you use the recent VideoStudio (or MovieFactory), you have an option to "Do not convert compliant mpeg files" (so it will use your captures "asis" without needing to re-encode -- as long as you are not applying any filters and titles etc..).

So the idea is to make your captures using CapWiz with the proper mpeg settings, and author the captured dvd compliant mpeg files without having to sit through a lengthy re-encoding process.

Regards,
George

I wish it were that easy, but when ever it gets to a point in a tape were it cuts to a new seen or you see a blue screen (like if youre recording with an old video camra and you turn the camera off and you get 2 sec. of blue) The program freezes, so It takes me about 5-8 files to get a full 2 hour video, and for it to look good, it needs to be edited, so it still makes me render it all.

GeorgeW · Post by **GeorgeW** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 4:07 am

Yes, those "gaps" in the source video can cause problems during the capture. What some folks do is put a Time Base Corrector (TBC) between the video source and the capture device.

Some camcorders have analog input and a builtin TBC. So you can record your source to camcorder tape, then go from the camcorder tape to your computer. But that increases your capture time.

Depending on how many VHS tapes you need to back up, you can also consider using a standalone dvd recorder with a builtin TBC. You can then import the mpeg videos from the standalone dvd recordings, and add your own custom menus. (I am not sure VideoStudio 7 has Ulead's Import from DVD function)

Oh, don't forget to check ADS Tech's support pages for software/driver updates for your device. Make sure you select the proper model -- they have a few units with similar names.

Regards,
George