DVD advice

[Lew]

I’m just about to begin distributing some video on DVD. Anyone know of a good tutorial for someone just getting started?

Is it wise to keep the encoding and burning software in a separate computer, or is it OK to add it into my VT3 edit machine? Any help appreciated.
Lew

[GoceN]

Lew
I have my dvd encoding and burning softwer on same computer as VT and for now they work just fine.
For encoding I use TMPGEnc and for authoring and burning DVD I use Ulead DVD Workshop (its easy to use and its quite profesional).

[sadkkf]

I also use TMPGEnc and DVD WS and it's also on the same PC as my Toaster. In fact, I don't know of a way around that. :)

I edit my video with Toaster, render using an uncompressed UYVY or whatever codec (don't have it in front of me right now), then select that AVI with TMPGEnc. It generates a separate WAV and MPG file.

DVD WS uses those files to burn the DVD. Piece of cake!

Although, DVD WS is a bit clunky, it works. Someone pointed me to this:

DVD-Lab:
http://www.mediachance.com/dvdlab/

Haven't tried it yet, but there's a fully working demo and for 1/3 of the price of DVD WS, it's worth a look.

[Lew]

Thanks guys,
I also was pointed to DVDLab, and I think it's good, course I haven't tried anything else to compare it to. However I was able to burn my first CD after about 30 minutes. My burner is on a old video computer I use to do audio work now, and it's on a dedicated network with the VT. Put the TMPGEnc on the video machine, save the RTV with the AVI wrapper, point the output of TMPGEnc to the other machine and burn from there.

Only problem now, haven't quite got the audio and video to match up. Looks like a bad Kung-fu movie. Any ideas on a simple way to make them match?
Lew

[sadkkf]

This sync problem makes me think your machine isn't fast enough to render the streams correctly. Try rendering the audio and video separately from the VT, then only the video with TMPGEnc.

[Lew]

Good idea Sadkkf,
I tried the separate render, it's close but still seems perhaps a frame or two off.

I don't think it's a speed thing with my machine, when I do a render to an uncompressed avi first or simply save as an avi with the avi wrapper, it comes out the same.

My best success is to point TMPGEnc to the (wraped avi file) video and then just go to my toaster video directory and point it to the coresponding video file. This means however I can't edit or modify the file at all while it's being encoded.

All in all, it seems more art than science, but I've impressed my customer when he saw it playing on his laptob, so it can't be all bad.

Lew

[sadkkf]

Do you have the plugin (?) for TMPGEnc that works with the native RTV files? That could be an option, too, and the last one I have.

I've dealt with sync issues all the time using my ancient DPS Perception card and finally threw it away in favor of the Toaster. Since switching, I've had no issues, but I know others have. I'm still a newbie with the VT and learning all the time.

Congrats on impressing your customer! Hopefully it generates repeat business and referrals!

[robewil]

Lew, since you have VT[3], you don't need to worry about wrapping avi files or getting the rtv plug-in. When you installed VT[3], it should have found TMPGEnc when it performed the 3'rd party part of the installation at the end. If not, the 3'rd party installation can be run from the Start menu.

Once this is done, just import your VT3 Edit project into TMPGEnc. It should recognize the file and sync the audio to the video. I've done this numerous times now with DVD-Lab and I get great results.

[Lew]

Thanks for the suggestion Rovewil,
You're right, I installed TMPGEnc after the VT3 - so it didn't pick it up. However, the VT quit on me last night and I had to reinstall everything, so it saw TMPGEnc this time, haven't had time to try it out yet, just trying to get this project out tape.

Thanks, I'll give it a try, sound much less time consuming that the procedure I was following, although I did make it work.
Lew

[sadkkf]

Sorry, Lew--

Using the VT2, I'm not familiar with the intricacies of the [3]. I'm glad someone out there is able to keep me in check. :)

[robewil]

At the risk of turning this into a VT[3] promo, I must say if you use your system with TMPGEnc, that alone is worth the upgrade to VT[3]. The spline controls and positioning and rotations are great too, but not having to render out projects as a single rtv is my favorite feature of VT[3].

[sadkkf]

I'm at a disadvantage. Using a dual Athlon system, I'm told I may actually experience a _downgrade_ in peformance by upgrading.

Naturally. I build a system and less than a year later the upgrade "requires" a P4 system.

Well, for what I use the Toaster for, the [2] works fine. :)

[robewil]

If I understood properly, the only disadvantage of using Athlons is in the 3D positioning and rotation feature of VT[3]. They still work, but not as fast as on a P4 since Athlons lack the SSE2 instruction set that gives real-time performance on a P4.

[mgrusin]

Don't feel bad, the single P4 2.4 I built for T2 is also getting long in the tooth. ;)

Welcome to the hardware/software arms race! :D

-MG.

[sadkkf]

With my luck, LW[8] will also use the SSE2 set, putting my Athlons to further uselessness. :(

I just have a real problem with Intel, at the risk of offending anyone. Too expense for the power.