bitrate too high on really small project (less than 1 gig)

tvjerry · Post by **tvjerry** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 2:04 pm

I've been getting that familiar error message (total bitrate too high) and even changed the disk template to lower quality. However, my total project is only about 10 minutes (less than 1 gig).
I've created dozens of disks using the same procedure (Sorensen Squeeze) and never seen this before. Also, I did a batch compression and MOST of the files do NOT give this error message.
When I ignored the error, Workshop created one DVD (converting all files), but the 2nd time it hung up in the First PLay video. Suggestions?

DVDDoug · Post by **DVDDoug** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 7:44 pm

What is your bitrate? The DVD spec has a limit for the video (about 9,800kbps) as well as an overall bitrate limit (about 10,000kbps) for the combined audio/video/subtitles

tvjerry · Post by **tvjerry** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 9:29 pm

Thanks for your interest: The DVD shows project variable 8000kbps. The Compression program shows total bitrate at 8018. so both of these should be OK. The confusing thing is that I'm using 20 clips (all of which were compressed at the same time) and most are fine...all are under 1 minute.

DVDDoug · Post by **DVDDoug** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 6:25 pm

The DVD shows project variable 8000kbps...

That might mean 8000 is the average bitrate... I'm not sure... With variable bitrate, some programs report the average, and some report the peak.

The average bitrate is usually more important to know than the peak, because from that you can determine file size. But when bandwidth is important, you need to know the peak.

Or, maybe there's a bug in Workshop....

skier-hughes · Post by **skier-hughes** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:02 pm

I've made hundreds of short dvds and never come across this problem.
As most of the files are fine and a few aren't, I'd be inclined to think it may be a problem with those files.
Go back to the original and encode them again and see what happens.

tvjerry · Post by **tvjerry** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:13 pm

i have done that several times...all clips were from the same timeline in Avid and i compressed them 3 different times (3 different days) and had the same problem...meanwhile, some of the clips from that timeline were fine...

skier-hughes · Post by **skier-hughes** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:25 am

Maybe the source file has a problem?

Yesterday I was doing some vhs to dvd conversions, one of which was a 3 hour

wedding video.

One piece just wouldn't work.

On closer insepction there was a solitary fuzzy frame, no doubt caused either by a jitter in the vhs tape, or a problem when the tape was recorded, I couldn't be bothered to go back to look at the vhs tape, but cutting this one frame resulted in harmony.

Are the fine clips exactly the same length?

tvjerry · Post by **tvjerry** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:13 pm

the clips are NOT the same length, but all came from the same source, which is professional quality Betacam video...it's not an issue of the clip quality...i'm thinking it's a Workshop problem but can't figure it out...BTW, some of the clips that were fine on the first iteration gave the error message when i created a 2nd iteration????

skier-hughes · Post by **skier-hughes** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:32 pm

Well personally I wouldn't rule out clip quality, and as one clip works then when encoded again doesn't, my opinion would be not a WS bug but a clip problem.

If you think it is a clip length problem, take one of the working clips, cut it to the size of a non working clip and test. A WS bug should throw up an error message.

As I said, I've made hundreds of tiny dvds, I make thousands of dvds every year, and I've never come across this problem.

skier-hughes · Post by **skier-hughes** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:36 pm

Perhaps you could give us exact details of the dvd being made, as I'm just a little unclear on some facts.

tvjerry · Post by **tvjerry** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 4:34 pm

i'd be happy to give u more details but i'm not sure what u need that's not in the original post...i compressed about 20 clips in Sorensen...loaded into DVD Workshop (menus, etc) and hit "Burn"
that's when i got the error message for only about 4 of the 20 clips...all were created at the same time by the same program

skier-hughes · Post by **skier-hughes** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 9:04 pm

tvjerry wrote:I've been getting that familiar error message (total bitrate too high) and even changed the disk template to lower quality. However, my total project is only about 10 minutes (less than 1 gig).
I've created dozens of disks using the same procedure (Sorensen Squeeze) and never seen this before. Also, I did a batch compression and MOST of the files do NOT give this error message.
When I ignored the error, Workshop created one DVD (converting all files), but the 2nd time it hung up in the First PLay video. Suggestions?

i'd be happy to give u more details but i'm not sure what u need that's not in the original post...i compressed about How many? 20 clips in Sorensen Using what settings?...loaded into DVD Workshop (menus, etc) Just as play all? As individual Chapters? and hit "Burn"
that's when i got the error message for only about 4 how many exactly?of the 20 clips If you remove these (about) 4 clips does it make the dvd ok? ...all were created at the same time by the same program

What happens if you take the files that give the error message and use the original file and get WS to encode them?

tvjerry · Post by **tvjerry** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 12:31 pm

Thanks for your diligence. Here are answers to your questions:
Total clips: 20
How many didn't play: 6*
Did it burn without these clips: yes
Sorensen settings for compression: MPEG-2 DVD_NTSC preset
Audio: Data 224 kpbs, Sample Size: 16, Sample Rate: 4800, Channels: Stereo
Video: Data Rage: 7800, 720X480, Frame rate: 29.97
Total Data: 8018

* The first time I attempted a burn, there were 4 clips that wouldn't play. When i tried to re-compress those clips (plus 2 others)...all of the new ones had the Bitrate error message.

skier-hughes · Post by **skier-hughes** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 1:36 pm

I'm still thinking it is your files.

How long is each of the files that doesn't work?
How long are the files that do work?
Are they all in one menu and play after each other?
Are they seperate playlists that can be chosen from the menu?

If you put the original files into WS and get it to encode them for a test, does it work or not?

tvjerry · Post by **tvjerry** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 2:07 pm

I'm not sure what you mean. Do you mean to have WS encode them directly? I don't input from a video source, but an Avid edit system, so there's no way for WS to encode.
The perplexing part is that some of the clips (compressed at the same time from the same source) are fine....

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bitrate too high on really small project (less than 1 gig)

bitrate too high on really small project (less than 1 gig)

Re: bitrate too high on really small project (less than 1 gi