Making a DVD - Did I Do It right?

[astrovideo]

Hi,
I followed the work flow in previous posts for creating a DVD. Start with an empty project, drag the MPEG-2 file to the timeline so the project properties will match, delete the file from the timeline. Click the Share tab, add the MPEG-2 file, click the icon to set the properties for the DVD burn. This step is where my questions lies. The only things that were different were:

Project:
Audio data rate: 224 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo

MPEG File:
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)

I changed the properties on the file to match the project. Is this correct? I'm wondering why they were different to begin with even though I clicked 'Yes' when prompted to change the project properties to match the file when I originally added the file to the project.

Thanks in advance

[Ken Berry]

Sorry -- that does not sound quite right.

You capture your video. If you want the project properties to match those of the captured video, then make sure you have 'Show message when insert first video clip' ticked in File > Preferences.

After editing, you first convert the project (as we recommend) to DVD compatible mpeg-2: Share > Create Video File > DVD and you choose 'Same as Project Settings' or 'Save as First Clip'.

Once you have your mpeg-2, save your project, then open a new one. Don't worry about a name for it -- the objective is just to clear the timeline.

Then you go to Share > Create Disc, insert your new mpeg-2 into the burning timeline, make your menu and burn. Also, make sure 'do not convert compliant mpeg files' is ticked in the middle of the three icons in the bottom left of the burning screen. You should not have to adjust any of the properties in the burn module.

[astrovideo]

[quote="Ken Berry"]
After editing, you first convert the project (as we recommend) to DVD compatible mpeg-2: Share > Create Video File > DVD and you choose 'Same as Project Settings' or 'Save as First Clip'.

I'm a bit confused at this. When I go to Share > Create Video File, the fist two choices are:
Same as Project Settings
Same as first video clip

Then there is a seperation line, then the rest of the choices. One of which is NTSC DVD (4:3) .

Which of these three do I choose?

Thank you again.

[Ken Berry]

You haven't told us where in the world you live, though I am assuming in an NTSC country. Nor are the properties you give in your first post, complete.

But if you have captured material in DVD-compliant mpeg-2 format, and your project properties match those of the captured video (i.e. also DVD compliant mpeg, then when you go to Share > Create Video file, you choose 'Same as Project Properties' or Same as First Video. There's no difference.

If however you, say, captured in another format, like DV/AVI from a mini DV digital video camera, then you should edit in the same format as that (i.e. again match your project properties to those of your captured video). But at the end of it, if your intention is to burn a DVD, then you choose Share > Create Video File > and choose NTSC DVD since you obviously don't want it in this case to be the same as the first video or the project settings.

[astrovideo]

Okay, it's beginning to sink in now. A few facts first. I live in an NTSC country, I am using version 10+ and I captured from old VHS tapes which resulted in AVI files. I competed all my editing. At this point, you say:

[you should edit in the same format as that (i.e. again match your project properties to those of your captured video).]

Where do I do this? Properties under the File menu don't provide much.

But then you say:

[choose Share > Create Video File > and choose NTSC DVD]

Here is where I was going wrong. I Created a generic MPEG-2 (720x480) file. NOT NTSC DVD (4:3).

Then I would start a new porject, drag on the newly created file (now I know it was the wrong type). Answer Yes to "CHANGE THE PROJECT SETTINGS TO MATCH THE VIDEO". Then clear the timeline and go to Share > Create Disk. At thsi point I would use the Gear Icon to verify the settings did match, and change them if they didn't. I would click 'Change MPEG Settins' then Customize. I'd go to the Compression tab and move the slider all the way to Quality. It was on this tab that I noticed some of te audio settings didn't match the project.

Will I still have to do all this if I initialy select the proper file this time (NTSC DVD)?

Thanks once again. You and this forum are a truly valuable resource.

[Ken Berry]

Getting the project properties to match the captured video's properties, as I already said

If you want the project properties to match those of the captured video, then make sure you have 'Show message when insert first video clip' ticked in File > Preferences.

As I have already said, your workflow after this (and repeated in your last post) is also not right. Follow my earlier suggestions, and you should not have to make any adjustments in the properties section of the burning module at all.

However, as it seems you have been playing around there, then make absolutely sure that 'do not convert compliant mpeg files' is ticked. That way, the DVD burns with exactly the properties of your DVD-compliant mpeg-2, so you should not have to even look at the properties box above that.

As a footnote, it would also be useful to know exactly what sort of .avi you first captured. Within VS, right click on one of those captured files in the library pane, and copy down all its properties here please.

[astrovideo]

Okay, here are the properties of my captured file:


It must have been another's suggestion to click the gear icon in the burn module to make sure the properties match, and move the slider to 100% Quality.

I really thought I was following the corret workflow, but I will examine your post again. My big question now is - what is the difference between selecting the "generic" MPEG-2 (720x480) file as opposed to the NTSC DVD (4:3) for use in the DVD creation? I'm hoping that is the reason my DVDs have not looked so great.

Thank you

[DB83]

If I may interject.

One reason why your dvds are not looking 'great' is that you are having to enlarge your capture frame from 320*240 to 720*480. You are going to lose a great amount of quality in the picture.

So rule 1. Capture the video at 720*480.

Generic Mpeg-2 ? Could this relate to the sound sampling ? For DVD mode it has to be 48 mhz - again your capture is at 44.1 mhz (usually CD quality).

DVDs also have pre-set video bit-rates 8000 kbps,6000 kbps, 4000 kbps. A generic Mpeg-2 will probaly allow you to enter what you want.

[astrovideo]

One reason why your dvds are not looking 'great' is that you are having to enlarge your capture frame from 320*240 to 720*480. You are going to lose a great amount of quality in the picture.

So rule 1. Capture the video at 720*480.

Is there anything I can do after the fact to fix this? I already captured at 320x240 and did a lot of editing.

[DB83]

You could try a lower mode DVD format and see if it is better.

Two suggestions :-

352*480 with a data rate of 2500 kbps

352*240 with a data rate of 4000 kbps

so rather than convert, let the dvd player handle the enlargement. The video is going to be a little 'soft'. That is un-avoidable due to the small frame. And the larger the tv, the worse it will look.

[astrovideo]

Thanks DB83.
Your first suggestion: 352*480 with a data rate of 2500 kbps
I can't do because the maximim data rate value is 9800.

Also, I just checked my capture options. Even if I was smart enough to check them at the time, I couldn't have chosen 720x480 because it's not in the list. The closest choice is 640x480. That still would have been a heck of a lot better than my 320x240, right? I really wish the program would have prompted me to select a resolution when capturing instead of just using the 320x240 default.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi
As the saying goes:-
You can¡¦t make a silk purse from a sow¡¦s ear

If you want good quality then you should capture to the standard dvd frame size 720 X ***

Its just a learning curve, next time will be better.

Besides think of the editing practice.

You could of course capture again then re-link your project to the new captured file.
This is not hard to do just a little complicated.

If you have more than one file then it may not be practical.

I notice that your video is called uvs070612-004AVI

As the suffix is 004 how many video files are you using?

[astrovideo]

I captured a few hours of VHS tapes into about 8 large AVI files totalling about 30 GB. My clips that I use in the project come from various segments of the big clips. There is no way I can tell now which clips were harvested from where. Plus, I changed many attributes of many of the clips. I dont't think it would be realistic to start over.

I just thought the lower quality of the rendered file was simply due to the fact that the source was old VHS tapes. Oh well, hopefully the finished product isn't *that* much worse that it would've been had I known to capture bigger.

As I mentioned before, 720 x *** isn't even an option in the list (closest is 640x480). Could that be because I was capturing analouge video through an RCA -> USB gadget?

[DB83]

Am I missing something now ?

If your MAXIMUM data-rate is 9800, why can't you use 2500.

These setting are to encode the capture into MPEG-2 and not for the capture itself.

You should be able to enter any value for the encoding.

But as you say, your main problem is the capture device. 640*480 is not DVD compliant but will be better for capture. Expect much bigger files though.

[Ken Berry]

Another note of caution: do NOT use the 640 x 480 for capture. This is NOT a frame size which is part of the DVD standard, which in turn indicates that it will have to be re-rendered to get it to one of the DVD frame size standards. (NTSC: 720x480, 704x480, 352x480, 352x240; PAL: 720x576, 704x576, 352x576, 352x288. MPEG-1 is allowed but only in 352x240 or 352x288 resolution.)

As for choosing between mpeg-2 vs DVD format, earlier versions of VS had the default mpeg-2 format set for production of an SVCD (which uses a different frame size from a DVD). This has changed in VS10 and 11, and in any case, you can change the properties of the template to whatever you want. It's just that it is safer to pick one of the formats which are already set to the DVD standard i.e. choose one labelled 'DVD'.

To correct a slight misconception perhaps generated by one of DB83's earlier posts, while the 'preset' templates in VS tend to use fixed bitrates (4000, 6000, 8000), you can in fact set a bitrate with any figure you like within the DVD standard limits (which, with combined audio and video bitrates should not exceed 9800 kbps. There may be a minimum, but if there is, I don't recall what it is, though it is well below 4000 kbps). The lower the bitrate, the lower the displayed quality of your DVD.

As a footnote, LPCM and Dolby are part of the NTSC standard, but not mpeg layer 2 audio. In practice, though, most recent NTSC DVD players will play it. All three audio formats are part of the PAL DVD standard.