Project properties AVCHD format X7

[Ken Veal]

In the edit profile options box, compression tab, I have the option of selecting a media type of MVDHDMV ,which gives a video format of H264 video and a choice of selecting AVCHD in a box below.
Or , a media type of PAL HDMV which gives a video format of mpeg 2.Audio settings and video data rate (variable 18000)are the same for both.
When my project is complete I want to burn to a standard DVD.
What do I use , MVDHDMV (if I use this do I tick the AVCHD box) or PAL HDMV ?

[lata]

Hi Kenneth

Although your original video files are Avchd types you are intending to create a Mpeg2 DVD video file.
Use MPEG-2 option not AVC/H.264

The MPEG-2 option gives you properties to create a compliant DVD video file suitable to burn to disc.

Maybe the wording should include DVD.

Using earlier versions of Video Studio you would have used Share -- Create Video File DVD

For VS X 7 use the MPEG_2 tab

[Ken Berry]

The MPEG-2 option gives you properties to create a compliant DVD video file suitable to burn to disc.

While I agree that the HDMV mpeg-2 option is the preferable one, we need to remember that it is Blu-Ray compliant mpeg-2 and not DVD-compliant mpeg-2 since the bitrate is obviously too high. But of course if you change the bitrate down to 8000 kbps and leave everything else alone, you should get the best possible DVD-compliant mpeg-2...

[Ken Veal]

So, the consensus is to select PAL HDMV.
My project settings are
Properties format AVCHD setting AVCHD 1920 X 108O 5OI 18Mbps
MPEG Tarnsport stream files 24 bits 1920 x 1080 25fps Lwr field first HDMV PAL Variable date rate max 18000 kbps audio data rate 384 kbps dolby dig audio LCR SL SR
Edit profile options Corel VS tab AVCHD 1920 x 1080 18Mbps
General tab frame rate 25 fps lower field first frame size 1920 x 1080 16:9 display aspect ratio video data rate variable 18000 kbp
Compression tab media type PAL HDMV VIDEO FORMAT mpeg-2
Variable date rate max 18000 kbps audio type 3/2 L C R SL SR 48000Hz 384 kbps

Re the bitrate, to explore the options available (before the project has been completed) I went to share and selected the MPEG-2 tab .In the profile field it showed MPEG-2(720x576, 16:9 8Mbps)
Under Properties, it listed MPEG files 24 bits 720x576 25 fps Upper field first DVD-PAL 16:9 Video data rate Variable (max8000kbps) Audio Data rate 384 kbps Dolby Digital Audio 48KHz 2/0 L R
That seems to answer the bit rate issue
Questions
1 Are the above project property settings correct for my situation
2 Is the fact that Upper field first is listed in the share mpeg 2 tab appropriate for a DVD
3 Does “2/0 LR in the share mpeg 2 tab mean surround sound as in “dolby dig audio LCR SL
SR”if not can this be changed
4 Does having a constant video bit rate result in a higher quality picture, if so can this be changed

[lata]

I am getting a little confused here.

Answer 1 /
Your project properties should match your original video files properties, they are Avchd.
The properties you show look ok except the field order should be Upper Field.
Only your older camcorder (Mini DV used Lower Field)

My properties would be:-
MPEG Transport-Stream Files
24 bits, 1920 x 1080, 25 fps
Upper Field First
(HDMV-PAL), 16:9
H.264 Video
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 16800 kbps)
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)

2 / the field order used should be the same as the original video files, using Avchd this is Upper field. Yes you can use Upper Field to burn a standard DVD.

3 / audio—the “2/0 LR” option refers to Stereo (2 speakers left - right)
3/2 (L,C,R SL,SR) Refers to Surround Sound (5 speakers)

4 / Referring to DVD Mpeg2---The Data Rate aka Bit Rate affects the amount of data being used to create the video,
A larger rate 8000kbps will allow for 60 minutes of video to a disc, actually you may get 75 minutes --full Quality DVD
At 6000kbps you can fit 90 minutes to a disc -- Good Quality DVD
At 4000kbps around 120 minutes per disc, that’s approx VHS quality.

The longer the video the lower the quality.

Variable Bit Rate re Constant

Variable bit rate was developed to allow more video to be fitted to a disc by controlling the data rate and retain quality.
It achieves this by using a lower rate in the still sections and a higher rate in the active sections, effectively creating a smaller video file. (A DVD holds 4.3 Gb of data)

If your movie is over 75 minutes then you may have to reduce the data rate below 8000, variable bit rates will also reduce the size. I use Variable for any video over 80 minutes.

If your movie is 60 minutes or less then it will fit to disc using the highest data rate and constant should be used.

Clear as mud.

Ken Berry

I had some quality issues converting Avchd 1920 to Mpeg2 DVD.
I wonder if the HDMV Mpeg2 at 8000kbps options would produce better quality than using the MPEG2 options and be DVD compliant? Hmmm

[Ken Veal]

Trevor,
Your properties
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 16800 kbps)
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
My properties
Variable 18000 max
384 kbps
My projects are always below 6o minutes (,so I can use an mpeg data rate of 8000).Is your max of 16800 to allow for longer?
Is your 256 because you are not using 5 channel sound?
Sorry for the confusion, I changed it to lower field cos I thought it was appropriate for my
needs thinking that it was required for the DVD burn stage .I was wrong. (this has
happened once or twice before would you believe)
I don’t have H.264 Video listed in my properties, is that an issue

[lata]

Hi Kenneth

Sorry for the confusion

The properties I showed was for my High Definition video files from my camcorder, should be similar to your Video Files MTS and your project properties

The 8000kbps is referring to Standard definition to burn a DVD disc.