Encoding/Burning- How The Heck To Do It?

[nycineaste]

Sorry for the broaaaadd question, But anybody have any tips or resources for learning about encoding/formats for the day when I have something DVD worthy? MPEG 2 is the DVD format, right? Everything I export from Vegas as MPEG 2 looks like garbage. Windows Media comes out better, but clearly that's not helpful.

Thanks in advance

[AtticusLake]

Normally if you're making a DVD or Blu-Ray you would use an app like Adobe Encore. This will not only help you with the menus, but will create the disks direct from your Premiere project -- so it will take care of exporting in the right formats for you. That way you can master in 1080p and get the best out of both formats. You just have to worry about getting the aspect ratio right.

[gonzo_entertainment]

Also, typically your DVDs will NOT look as good as commercial DVDs because when they encode a commercial DVD a technician sits there and uses software to vary the bitrate sometimes literally frame by frame to to use bits where it needs them and save them when it doesn't.

[Bruce Watson]

...anybody have any tips or resources for learning about encoding/formats for the day when I have something DVD worthy? MPEG 2 is the DVD format, right? Everything I export from Vegas as MPEG 2 looks like garbage.

First, the 'net is your friend: DVD spec, Blu-ray spec. Read these guides to the specs and you'll at least learn what's supported and what's not. Some surprising information there, like Blu-ray not having any 30p support.

As to burning a DVD, there's considerably more to it than you might think. That's why there are programs out there like Adobe Encore and the like to make burning a DVD easier and standards compliant. Helps with building menus, setting chapter markers (so you can pick scenes without having to fast forward through the entire video), keeping all the linkages happy, all that.

Search around. You'll find a number of DVD make/burn software packages out there.

[daveswan]

If you're looking for a DVD-only authering program that isn't horrendously expensive then DVDLab Pro from Mediachance would be my go-to.

As for encoding the footage I use Sorrensen Squeeze 6, but only because it came with my MC production pack

[marvinhello]

Also, typically your DVDs will NOT look as good as commercial DVDs because when they encode a commercial DVD a technician sits there and uses software to vary the bitrate sometimes literally frame by frame to to use bits where it needs them and save them when it doesn't.

This is called VBR, most of the encoders have this option... some commercial DVDs look better because their source material is from high-end cameras like RED or Alexa.

[TheDingo]

Normally if you're making a DVD or Blu-Ray you would use an app like Adobe Encore

...Unless you own Sony Vegas Pro, where "normally" you would use an app like Sony DVD Architect Pro, which is designed to build sophisticated DVD and Blu-Ray discs.

Sony Vegas Pro has many default export formats specifically designed to work with DVD Architect Pro.

[kwkeirstead]

I am struggling with generating Blu-Ray disks in Sony Vegas Pro 12..

First of all I am unclear whether I should in Vegas go to Tools\Burn Disc\Blu-Ray or do File\Render As and then try to load the file into DVD Architect Pro 6 and burn from there?

Right now, the problem seems to be that Vegas crashes consistently on any large mts (i tried a 2.5 hour mts, I then tried 1 hour mts, the software crashed on both)

I did manage to make a 15 min Blu-Ray disk and play it on a TV\Blu-Ray player.

I will try to find an export format that specifically mentions DVD Architect Pro.

[TheDingo]

the problem seems to be that Vegas crashes consistently on any large mts (i tried a 2.5 hour mts, I then tried 1 hour mts, the software crashed on both)

Do you own Vegas Pro 11 or 10 ?

You might want to try rendering your MTS files in an earlier version. ( I find that Vegas 12 is very picky about the hardware it runs on )

Another thing to try is disabling the Video Card render in Vegas 12. ( another thing that can be flaky in V12 )

[kwkeirstead]

Thank you, I have Vegas Pro 12.

Sony just put out an update a day or so ago, so I am trying to run that one. I will see if I can find where to disable the "Video Card" render.