Best way to encode for a video DVD.

[Amadou]

Okay, so let me go back to the basic question, what software package for PC can I buy that will give me STUDIO LEVEL DVD encoding results? Do they have a website where I can buy it?NB: Follow up question: (1) When I do a 2 pass VBR export, it says the DVD DL is not large enough to contain the movie. I have therefore stuck to 1 pass VBR export. How much more DVD space does a 2 pass VBR file take over a 1 pass VBR? I have Maximum Bitrate set to 8000 and average bitrate to 6000. (2) I use Dolby Digital 224 kb/sec at 48hz 16bits. However since source audio wav is at 48hz 24bits, sould I use linear PCM 48hz 24bits? In the past I noticed that PCM did not sound as good as Dolby Digital but perhaps I'm wrong. Also: in TMPGE Authoring works I can click ()Enable Noise reduction with a Detection level percentage and ()Enable Time tone reduction with a Frequency range. Volume Wise I have the () Enable Volume Adjustment and Vorlume Normalization as well as Volume Uniformization with a volume percentage. What on earth setting should I use?

 

[Andrius Simutis]

Okay, so let me go back to the basic question, what software package for PC can I buy that will give me STUDIO LEVEL DVD encoding results?

http://www.siriuspixels.com/Sirius-Pixels-SDe-MPEG-2-Encoder.php
or CCESP3 from these guys: http://www.cinemacraft.com/en/index.html No idea how much it costs, but the one that they made before it was about $2,000 IIRC

(1) When I do a 2 pass VBR export, it says the DVD DL is not large enough to contain the movie. I have therefore stuck to 1 pass VBR export. How much more DVD space does a 2 pass VBR file take over a 1 pass VBR? I have Maximum Bitrate set to 8000 and average bitrate to 6000.

Something isn't quite right here since a VBR and CBR encode shouldn't vary that much in size and a 1pass and 2pass at the same target settings shouldn't vary at all. The differences are in the quality as a VBR (Variable Bit Rate) has the flexibility to adjust the bit rate (aka data rate, aka size) where the CBR remains constant whether that part of the video needs the space or not. In general, the VBR is used when you need to squeeze more image quality out of a smaller file. CBR is generally faster to encode.

(2) I use Dolby Digital 224 kb/sec at 48hz 16bits. However since source audio wav is at 48hz 24bits, sould I use linear PCM 48hz 24bits? In the past I noticed that PCM did not sound as good as Dolby Digital but perhaps I'm wrong. Also: in TMPGE Authoring works I can click ()Enable Noise reduction with a Detection level percentage and ()Enable Time tone reduction with a Frequency range. Volume Wise I have the () Enable Volume Adjustment and Vorlume Normalization as well as Volume Uniformization with a volume percentage. What on earth setting should I use?

PCM is uncompressed audio. This should sound better, but takes up considerably more space, leaving you with less bandwidth to use for the video which generally needs as much bandwidth as you can allocate. DVDs shouldn't go over about 8Mbps total. Dolby .ac3 stereo at 192 will take up .192Mbps while PCM will take up 1.6Mbps so almost 10 times the bandwidth!
Use Dolby. Set it to 192 instead of 224 as 192 is more compatible with players.
All those volume settings are to even out the audio levels. Which settings you use there will really depend on your content. If you mixed your audio correctly you shouldn't need to use them.

 

[Amadou]

Thank you Andrius. That was quite a comprehensive answer. I have one follow up: My Audio has too much low end bass. Is there a software program that automatically adjusts the audio for DVD encoding? Follow up question: Short ofpaying 2000 dollars for an encoder, which encoder would you suggest? How would you rate ENCORE and TMPGE Authoring Works? Finally, if 2 Pass is better than 1 pass, then why does anybody encode in 1 pass at all? Thank you.

 

[Andrius Simutis]

Thank you Andrius. That was quite a comprehensive answer. I have one follow up: My Audio has too much low end bass. Is there a software program that automatically adjusts the audio for DVD encoding? Follow up question: Short ofpaying 2000 dollars for an encoder, which encoder would you suggest? How would you rate ENCORE and TMPGE Authoring Works? Finally, if 2 Pass is better than 1 pass, then why does anybody encode in 1 pass at all? Thank you.

Not to be a snob, but now that you're asking about consumer end products I'm not really sure since I don't use 'em.
I could see someone going for one pass VBR or CBR if the content wasn't too complex and they were pressed for time. For the DVD work that I do, I usually do a 5 pass encode with each pass taking a 6 pass "virtual" look at the content. You just can't get that on any of the consumer encoders.

 

[Mike Lorushe]

Here's my 2 cents....

Burned DVD DL aren't as universally compatible as regular DVDs; something to consider. I personally wouldn't bother with VBR; in my experience, software encoders don't really correctly anticipate which part of a video requires the higher bit rate so results can be less than desirable.

I'd say stick with regular DVDs and encode CBR 7mbs directly from Premiere (some older DVD players may choke if you encode any higher). Then take it into Encore and burn away. I think you'll be able to fit about 90 minutes of footage on a single regular DVD. That's always yielded the best results from me.

 

[Amadou]

Andrius, I am looking for a Professional DVD encoder. I just can't find a single website which sells it.

 

[BrianBD]

Andrius, I am looking for a Professional DVD encoder. I just can't find a single website which sells it.

If you are looking for a Professional DVD encoder that will give you Studio Level DVD encoding and the best Picture Quality, then I highly recommend the Sirius Pixels SDe MPEG-2 encoder for DVD Video.
Here is their website: http://www.siriuspixels.com/Sirius-Pixels-SDe-MPEG-2-Encoder.php
And for detailed information about the Advanced Features of the encoder: http://www.siriuspixels.com/Sirius-Pixels-SDe-MPEG-2-Encoder-Features.php
I have been using the Sirius Pixels SDe MPEG-2 encoder and am very happy with the Superior Picture Quality. It now supports Native Ingest of “ALL” the Apple ProRes Family of Codecs. Just recently, they implemented a newly developed DOWN CONVERT feature which will DOWN CONVERT your HD sources when creating your SD Video Elementary Stream. Their DOWN CONVERT Filter Settings help improve Picture Quality in addition to offering different DOWN CONVERT Aspect Ratios such as Squeeze, Side Cropped and Letter Box. And, the most impressive feature that I really like is that I can get up to 20 times faster than real time encoding speed. In fact, I can process a 5 pass VBR which is in reality a total of 6 passes (Analysis + 5 passes) on a 90 minute feature in just 35 minutes. Its “Blazing” fast. It’s the encoder the Pro’s use.