Question about File Size When Importing DVD Video

Azur · Post by **Azur** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 2:07 am

I've been trying to add menus to dvds that I recordered on a set top recorder.

I've imported the dvd video into MF3 Disc Creator to add the menus and scene selections, however a 2.77 GIG dvd from my set top recorder imported into MF3 shows up as 5.93. Is there something I'm doing wrong here?

Azur · Post by **Azur** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 2:12 am

I forgot to mention, after I join the seperated clips it's still 4.59gigs

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 3:21 am

In what mode did you record the clips in?

Sometimes when you import a video(s) from a dvd or dvd recorder
after they are imported you have to delete them from the timeline
and re-import them back into the project.

If you recorded them on a dvd recorder they should be dvd compliant.
If after importing them there is a "X" in the top right corner of the Icon
then MF is going to re-encode the video.

If you JOIN the clips together that will force MF to re-encode the videos
together.

When you import from a dvd recorder under the GEAR icon (lower left),
there is a menu option "Do Not Convert Compliant Files".
You want that checked "ON".

Hope this helps,

MD

Azur · Post by **Azur** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 4:07 am

What do you mean by import them into the time line, then delete them then reimport them. Just as it sounds? What does this do?

I'm not totally sure how my friend recorded it. It was just a standard stand alone dvd recorder recorded on dvd video format. Playable on dvd plays. Hope this more info.

Azur · Post by **Azur** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 4:10 am

Also, I just checked, I don't have an X on the top right, just a pair of scissors, and the lower left, no gear, just a film strip.

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 4:23 am

What version of MF are you using.
The "X" in in the "ICON/THUMBNAIL" of the video clip on the timeline.
It will be in the top right hand corner of the ICON. Not the menu
screen.

When you import the videos they are stored in a directory below
the working directory. Sometimes you have to remove them from
the timeline on the screen and re-import them back into the timeline.
That means adding they from the harddisk where they were
extracted to.

MD

Azur · Post by **Azur** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 4:26 am

Movie Factory 3 Disc Creator. I received the gear like icon after I joined the clips.

Here's the original DVD information before the import.

Video :
MPEG-2 Video
4:3 Ratio
704 x 480 Size
150967 Frames
9586 Kbits/sec

Audio :
Dolby Digital Audio
stereo Mode
48.00 kHz
2 Channel(s)

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 6:41 am

> I received the gear like icon after I joined the clips.

The GEAR Icon should always showup when you are in MF main
timeline screen. Before you even start doing anything. I don't mean the
main opening "Splash Screen" where you select what type of project
you want to create. Either way, after the gear is there, click on it to see if
"Do not convert section" is there.

Those look like the specs for a "Panasonic" recorder or a dvd-ram
reccorder.
You do have to delete them from the timeline and re-import them
back again if they were recorded on a ram disk.
Not always but usually.

Have you installed the latest patch for MF3? That's an important patch.
NOT the cd/dvd burning patch or the engine patch. Only install those IF
you encounter any problems with the actual burning process of creating
a CD/DVD.

Hope this helps,

MD

htchien · Post by **htchien** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 6:51 am

I think you should describe your problem with step by step descriptions, which will make others to know your problem well so they can help.

And, which part of DVD MovieFactory 3 do you use? The Create Video Disc part, or the Direct-to-disc part?

SciFiFan · Post by **SciFiFan** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 10:20 am

In my experience, DMF3DC does not display the correct project size in the size bar at the bottom of the Add/Edit menu screen. I import DVD-rw disks recorded on my Sony DVD recorder and once I JOIN scenes, the project size is displayed as 3 times bigger but the final DVD is of the correct size. It is related the the bit rate that is stored in the clip.

In my case, the dvd was recorded in the Sony's LP mode which records about 3 hours on a DVD. This translates to a max Variable Bit Rate (VBR) of about 3200 kbps. But the mpgs are marked as recorded at Max VBR of 9800 kbps. When the clips are not JOINed, DMF can figure the size correctly, but once they're JOINed, it uses the max bit rate and running length, ie 3 hours, and calulates the size from that.

You can see the data rate by

[Properties] on the scene.

To re-import the files as suggested above:

1. Import using the 4th icon in the Add media section (the DVD symbol). The scenes will appear in the story board (timeline). Note the file names displayed.
2. Select all the scenes, (click the first one, then shift click the last one.) All scenes borders should be blue.
3. click the 'X' at the left.
4. In the Add Media, click the film strip icon. Use the browser that appears to go to the working directory where the mpg files were saved. Select the desired files that you previously noted.
5. The 'Change clip Sequence' popup will appear. Put the clips in the order you desire (you can change the sequence later in the storyboard.).
6. Click 'ok'

Azur · Post by **Azur** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 3:15 pm

I have Movie Factory 3 Disc Creator (i bought it the other day)
I haven't downloaded the patch yet because there's a couple complaints on these boards and I was nervous of downloading it just yet.

These are the exact steps I'm doing:

I go into 'Create Video Disc'
New Project DVD
I click the 'DVD+ Icon' to import the file
(the file is already on my hard drive from a copying program)
Here's all the info on the file itself, and it's size is 2.77 GIG before I bring it into MF3 Disc Creator:

Video :
MPEG-2 Video
4:3 Ratio
704 x 480 Size
150967 Frames
9586 Kbits/sec

Audio :
Dolby Digital Audio
stereo Mode
48.00 kHz
2 Channel(s)

This DVD was created on a set top recorder and I'm trying to keep the quality exactly the same as the DVD, it's only 2.77 Gigs but when I bring it into MF3DC it's now 5.93 Gigs. When I join the clips together it's 4.59.

Mine actually shrinks. Now I want to keep the quality of the original, but to do so I have to shrink the kbits/sec. Is there another way?

Azur · Post by **Azur** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 3:34 pm

Okay, I understand what you mean by bring them in again. The files were in my import dvd folder and when I brought all the files in it retained the size and 9586 Kbits/sec and Dolby Sound.

However, When I joined them together, the file size increased like you said but it also changed the 9586 Kbits/sec to 7000 kbits/sec and changed the audio LPCM instead of Dolby.

What do I do now? I don't want to lose quality and the file size is too big.

plasma_video · Post by **plasma_video** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 4:52 pm

I'm guessing your problem is related to AC3 audio. MF 3 does not support AC3 encoding, so it must be converting the AC3 to PCM, thus increasing your filesize.

What I don't understand is how it can be importing AC3 at all, if there is no support for it. Maybe it's found a playback CODEC on your computer and is using that to decode the AC3 to PCM - just a guess. I'm still learning.

Tom

Azur · Post by **Azur** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 6:13 pm

It's the Movie Factory 3 Disc Creator.

SciFiFan · Post by **SciFiFan** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 6:14 pm

Azur wrote:I've imported the dvd video into MF3 Disc Creator to add the menus and scene selections, however a 2.77 GIG dvd from my set top recorder imported into MF3 shows up as 5.93. Is there something I'm doing wrong here?

DMF is displaying the WRONG size for the project. Don't trust the size bar.
At what mode you are recording on your DVD recorder? I find that LP mode on my Sony translates to about 3200 Kbps and I can fit 3 hours on a DVD. Other settings vary accordingly. If I go to a 'Disk Info' screen on the Sony, it tells me how much recording time I can get at each mode.

Azur wrote:Video :
MPEG-2 Video
4:3 Ratio
704 x 480 Size
150967 Frames
9586 Kbits/sec <=====

This is the MAXIMUM bit rate flagged in the MPG file but if you are recording at a setting less than the best quality, than the actual bit rate is much less.

Azur wrote:However, When I joined them together, the file size increased like you said but it also changed the 9586 Kbits/sec to 7000 kbits/sec and changed the audio LPCM instead of Dolby.

In DMF click the gear at the bottom to get to the Project Settings. You will see the current settings. Note that you should see that 7000 kbps in the top. Then [Change MPEG Settings] [Customize], click the [Compression] tab. Here you can change the data rate and note the [Audio format] Click the pull down and set it to Dolby Digital audio. Now the project will leave the AC-3 audio intact.

DMF3 DISK CREATOR supports AC-3 audio.

For a 3 hour DVD I drop the bit rate to 3200 kbps. If you have the Roxio player, it has a setting to display the actual bit rate as the video is playing.