Where do I find guides on Project Options

[GeorgeC]

Hi,
Search as I might (Help & Forum) I can't find any guidance on the best options for a project e.g. "Two-pass encode", DVD-VR compliant" etc. Can someone direct me to where this is found please?

Thanks,

[mitchell65]

Hi George
Need more details here. What are the properties of your source files and what do you want to produce at the end, a DVD, a file to play on your PC, a file to upload to You Tube? or what?

[GeorgeC]

Hi George
Need more details here. What are the properties of your source files and what do you want to produce at the end, a DVD, a file to play on your PC, a file to upload to You Tube? or what?

Hi John,
Thanks for your reply. I generally produce ultimately for a DVD. I recall from the earlier forum Steve had a "What to do" sticky and it said to produce an mpeg first, then use this as the basis for your final project. DVD is what I am aiming for, 16:9 HD and stereo sound. (It would be nice if you could control what speakers audio is directed to e.g. voice > centre, music >LR surround.

Thanks for your help.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi George

I assume you are meaning a standard DVD and not HD Blueray.

The workflow I use is shown on my web from the link below,
Read the bits regarding Dv-Avi, if your original video is Mpeg then read the Mpeg Section.
These notes gives you a direction to go in.

Capture
Edit
Create a Video File
(if you are gonna make a DVD then this has to take place whether you do it, or it is done in the burner module)
Burn the DVD
Knowing the VS version is essential, if your using X3 then as far as I know you have to first Share Create Video File in order to burn a DVD

To explain the whole thing in detail will need an encyclopaedia.

Your reference to “Two-pass encode", for instance could generate a post lasting a lifetime.
Basically its to do with Variable Bit Rate, developed to allow us to have more footage on the disc and maintain quality.
If your video is under say 70 minutes then I would use Constant bit rate. That comment in itself would normally generate a debate.

Knowing what your original video file is, how you captured the files and what you intend to create is useful, allowing us to give correct answers.
So George, how do you do it?

[Accolades]

Hi,

Asuming you have downloaded and read the appropriate manual - Even one for X3 Now!!

Are you combining video (type/format/resolution/source) with still images (size/quality/resolution) ?

New user?

What version of Video Studio?

What have you tried?

What areas are you having problems with? Editing, Final Output?

The Audio IN (Source/type/quality) will determine the Audio out quality/type. You can specify 5.1 Surround sound on output, but if you single or stereo input then.....

It is good to get small samples of your project and then create an mpg2 FILE to test the quality, even burn the project as an image file and mount on a virtual DVD to test...

Test, trial and error is always a good learning process

[GeorgeC]

Hi George

I assume you are meaning a standard DVD and not HD Blueray.

The workflow I use is shown on my web from the link below,
Read the bits regarding Dv-Avi, if your original video is Mpeg then read the Mpeg Section.
These notes gives you a direction to go in.

Capture
Edit
Create a Video File
(if you are gonna make a DVD then this has to take place whether you do it, or it is done in the burner module)
Burn the DVD
Knowing the VS version is essential, if your using X3 then as far as I know you have to first Share Create Video File in order to burn a DVD

To explain the whole thing in detail will need an encyclopaedia.

Your reference to “Two-pass encode", for instance could generate a post lasting a lifetime.
Basically its to do with Variable Bit Rate, developed to allow us to have more footage on the disc and maintain quality.
If your video is under say 70 minutes then I would use Constant bit rate. That comment in itself would normally generate a debate.

Knowing what your original video file is, how you captured the files and what you intend to create is useful, allowing us to give correct answers.
So George, how do you do it?

Firstly, I really appreciate the time you guys take to respond.

I am making a DVD suitable for playback on a widescreen display HD is not necessary as it will be played on SD WS also. The source files are avi files I have captured from video tape (best I could do) and slideshow from digital images I have cropped for WS display. It is a memorial dvd that includes mp3 audio (music). The video length is about 78 minutes. (I don't have a dual layer burner so I will burn to an iso file and then burn to disc using DVDFab to compress (unless there is a better way).

Do you need more info?

George

[GeorgeC]

Hi Accolades,
Thanks for the reply also.

Asuming you have downloaded and read the appropriate manual - Even one for X3 Now!!

Yes I have.

Are you combining video (type/format/resolution/source) with still images (size/quality/resolution) ?

I am combining video "captured from vcr to avi with still images in a slideshow with pan and zoom. Images are mostly from digital camera cropped to HD 16:9

New user?

Used many versions of VS but not often enough to be "proficient" - memory fades between projects

What version of Video Studio?

X3

What have you tried? What areas are you having problems with? Editing, Final Output?

Final Output - determining best settings etc.

The Audio IN (Source/type/quality) will determine the Audio out quality/type. You can specify 5.1 Surround sound on output, but if you single or stereo input then.....

I suspect Stereo is the go given the input.

It is good to get small samples of your project and then create an mpg2 FILE to test the quality, even burn the project as an image file and mount on a virtual DVD to test...

I've been doing this using Daemon Tools

Test, trial and error is always a good learning process

Absolutely - time constraints have forced me to ask the experts for some guidance.

Thanks for any response.

George

[Accolades]

Asuming you have downloaded and read the appropriate manual - Even one for X3 Now!!

Yes I have.
Most good..

Are you combining video (type/format/resolution/source) with still images (size/quality/resolution) ?

I am combining video "captured from vcr to avi with still images in a slideshow with pan and zoom. Images are mostly from digital camera cropped to HD 16:9
What device are you using to capture?
What quality are you capturing the video in?
Do you have file properties of final capture prior to importing to VSX3?
AVI could be any of 1000+ different types!!

New user?

Used many versions of VS but not often enough to be "proficient" - memory fades between projects
Same here!!

What version of Video Studio?

X3
All updates done?
Direct X Updates?
Assuming DVD Movie Factory installed and working?

What have you tried? What areas are you having problems with? Editing, Final Output?

Final Output - determining best settings etc.
This does not tell me what you HAVE tried ?

The Audio IN (Source/type/quality) will determine the Audio out quality/type. You can specify 5.1 Surround sound on output, but if you single or stereo input then.....

I suspect Stereo is the go given the input.
I suspect that Stereo Output is the best ya gonna get

It is good to get small samples of your project and then create an mpg2 FILE to test the quality, even burn the project as an image file and mount on a virtual DVD to test...

I've been doing this using Daemon Tools
Excellent tool - saves making coasters!

Test, trial and error is always a good learning process

Absolutely - time constraints have forced me to ask the experts for some guidance.
Apologies for all the questions but to get the best possible replies this has to be done

Thanks for any response.
Tis a pleasure

[GeorgeC]

What device are you using to capture?
What quality are you capturing the video in?
Do you have file properties of final capture prior to importing to VSX3?
AVI could be any of 1000+ different types!!

Device = Canon MVX330i
Quality = avi but I'm currently rendering so I can't check yet.

All updates done?
Direct X Updates?
Assuming DVD Movie Factory installed and working?

Yes
DirectX 9.0c
DVDMF installed

This does not tell me what you HAVE tried ?

I have tried a number of options but I'm looking for advice on what is the most appropriate place to start.

Apologies for all the questions but to get the best possible replies this has to be done

Absolutely no need to apologise - as I said before I am always appreciative of the time people take to help.

Thanks again,
George

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi George

Sounds like your on the right track, you’ve captured and edited including images.
The audio is mp3, some have had problems with this type, but if it works then ok.

Some comments
I do not own DVDfab, so would complete the project using Share Create Video File
Then Share Create disc. (I don’t own X3)
Knowing the properties of your video file would determine the field order, it should be Upper Field given the source as VCR Tape.

Make sure the render settings are correct, again I refer to Field Order.
Given that the video is some 75 minutes your bit rate should be about 7000kbps.
I assume you will use Digital Dolby as the audio type.

If you used the default settings of 8000 then the file would be oversize for a DVD and the DVDFab program would re-code again to fit to disc.

Maybe best to use Make Movie Template Manager to create your own template.

Do you use X3 to create an iso?

[GeorgeC]

Hi George

Sounds like your on the right track, you’ve captured and edited including images.
The audio is mp3, some have had problems with this type, but if it works then ok.

Some comments
I do not own DVDfab, so would complete the project using Share Create Video File
Then Share Create disc. (I don’t own X3)
Knowing the properties of your video file would determine the field order, it should be Upper Field given the source as VCR Tape.

Make sure the render settings are correct, again I refer to Field Order.
Given that the video is some 75 minutes your bit rate should be about 7000kbps.
I assume you will use Digital Dolby as the audio type.

If you used the default settings of 8000 then the file would be oversize for a DVD and the DVDFab program would re-code again to fit to disc.

Maybe best to use Make Movie Template Manager to create your own template.

Do you use X3 to create an iso?

Hi Trevor,

I can change the bit rate (it is 8000)
I was using LPCM and it played through the centre speaker and sounded fine given the amount of speech in the project. Is that okay?

Yes I used X3 to create the iso.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi George

LPCM audio is a little heavy on memory using a bit rate of 1300kbps, not sure of the exact rate, but Digital Dolby at 256 kbps uses less memory allowing you to increate the video bit rate to maintain video quality.
After all your original audio is low quality MP3

Try a Bit Rate Calculator, input a few options, may give you an idea of whats going on
http://dvd-hq.info/bitrate_calculator.php

It’s the frame order that needs to be as original,
VS uses Lower as default, but your capture from VHS would use Upper.

My concern on bit rate is if you create an iso greater than 4.3Gb it would need further unnecessary rendering to reduce this size to fit to disc, which is 4.3 Gb.