VS11+ Auto Compression

[erock1]

It's been a very long time since I've been on the board. I hope everyone is well.
I've noticed that when outputting a project to a video folder or ISO (image) in the Share application of VS11+, if my project is larger than what would fit on a standard 4.7GB disc, VS will ask me if I want to continue and then will automatically compress the project to fit. This was always an option is VS10. Does anyone know if or how I can not have VS apply this compression?
I periodically capture and edit footage that is at least 4.7Gb or larger. I do not wish to reduce the bitrate when rendering to an MPEG2 file. Instead, I would rather use other, external applications to compress the video they do a better job and allow me precise control.
TIA,
Erock

[2Dogs]

When you go into the "Create Disc" step, you can select "DVD 8.5G" in the box just above the three icons at the bottom left. There should then be no compression unless your project exceeeds 8.5GB.

And welcome back!

[erock1]

When you go into the "Create Disc" step, you can select "DVD 8.5G" in the box just above the three icons at the bottom left. There should then be no compression unless your project exceeeds 8.5GB.

And welcome back!

Hi 2Dogs and thanks! It's real nice to see so many of the original forum members still providing the same great help. It's nice to see many are now mods too!
With regard to your advice, I've never worked with the 8.5GB disc setting before. I see that when using it, what appears to be a "layer break" is created on the size bar. Is this an actual "layer break" and how will this affect my using it with a regular 4.7GB disc?
TIA,
Erock

[Ken Berry]

FWIW, I use the method suggested by 2Dogs on a regular basis to achieve the end you are after. I have simply ignored the break in the burning timeline, and have never noticed any actual break in either the final folder (I use the DVD Folder option at the end) or in the final shrunk single layer DVD... I think that the break there is only indicative, and that an actual break is only inserted if you use a real dual layer disc.

[erock1]

FWIW, I use the method suggested by 2Dogs on a regular basis to achieve the end you are after. I have simply ignored the break in the burning timeline, and have never noticed any actual break in either the final folder (I use the DVD Folder option at the end) or in the final shrunk single layer DVD... I think that the break there is only indicative, and that an actual break is only inserted if you use a real dual layer disc.

Thanks Ken. Coming from you, it's worth a lot! Gald to see you're still here to help new and old VS users.
Regards,
Erock

[2Dogs]

Hi Erock,

I've always been more of a Rocker than a Mod.... and I can't see myself averaging nine posts a day like sjj1805!

I have to admit that I'm intrigued by your original statement to the effect that you get better results (in terms of final picture quality) by creating DVD folders using a high bitrate, and then compressing the whole thing with something like DVD Shrink. I may have to carry out some tests on a suitable (small) project to see if that can be confirmed. Intuitively, one might assume that the best results would come from a single recode of DV avi to mpeg-2 in VS, rather than using the two step process you refer to.

As a matter of interest, what external program are you using for the compression?

[erock1]

First, 2Dogs & Ken, thank you. Your advice to use the 8.5Gb setting worked like a charm The layer break was indeed just a reference but had no effect using 4.7GB media.

2Dogs, I do use Shrink, v 2.5. The project that I just finshed ran a total of 1 hr & 35 min. For me to fit a project of that size on a standard 4.7 disc I would have to lower the bit rate to about 6100kbit/s and this would be using a fairly low audio rate, say 224-256. I do convert my audio to AC3 but I've never figured out a way to calculate for the AC3 conversion. I know when I convert the audio tracks to AC3, I'll have more overhead for video but I do not know the formula. Anyway, a 6000 video bit rate IMHO is VHS quality.
I use a mid-level Panny 3CCD cam, GS300 that really shoots gorgeous footage. I have found that rendering my .avi to Mpeg2 at a bit rate of 8 - 8500 and then controlling the compression carefully in Shrink, my end result remains very high quality. Whatever algorithm Shrink uses, I find it to excellent, at least in the ver. I'm using.

Give it a try and let us know what you think.

THanks again for the help!
Erock

[Ken Berry]

I can only agree. I've used Shrink 3.2 for years and love its final quality, no matter how high the shrink rate applied. IMHO, it definitely gives better final quality if I start out, like erock, with a very high quality, oversized DVD Folder and reduce it with Shrink, than to lower the bitrate in VS to an appropriate setting from the start. The guy who invented Shrink, by the way, now works for Nero -- Recode is based on his original programming for Shrink.

erock -- I am not sure that I agree with you that a bitrate of 6000 kbps is only VHS quality. It always depends on the original quality, of course, but to me 4000 - 4500 kbps is more like average quality VHS. I regularly record long TV shows on my Fusion or Winfast TV cards using mpeg-2 and a bitrate of 5700 and use VS to edit out its ads and I also use VS to burn to DVD, and the quality is excellent. And my eyes may be old, but they are not *that* old ...

[erock1]

erock -- I am not sure that I agree with you that a bitrate of 6000 kbps is only VHS quality. It always depends on the original quality, of course, but to me 4000 - 4500 kbps is more like average quality VHS. I regularly record long TV shows on my Fusion or Winfast TV cards using mpeg-2 and a bitrate of 5700 and use VS to edit out its ads and I also use VS to burn to DVD, and the quality is excellent. And my eyes may be old, but they are not *that* old ...

Ken, it's not your age or eyes. Your forgetting that your in the "land down under" so a 5700 bit rate gets almost doubled

[Ken Berry]

... and videos play the opposite way as they go down the drainpipe ... or is that water... Who are you again???