My first post here and it would have to be a probable stupid one. Using Vegas 10 and all of a sudden I'm having an issue burning to DVD.

I previously burned two small projects (1280x720x30p) successfully to DVD but now Vegas is showing larger estimated file sizes as follows:

1. 43:58 mins, 3.38GB
2. 62:25 mins, 4.80GB, obviously I cannot proceed to burn this one

I must have changed a simple setting somewhere but I can't seem to find it.

Any help appreciated.

Are these Blu-Ray or SD projects?
What bit rate did you use (i.e. custom or a default template)?
If this is what DVDA is telling you, I'd ignore the warning as it has a very long history of incorrectly reporting file sizes.
Click the next button and odds are that it will proceed as normal with no further interruptions.

The other thing you can do if you're burning from DVDA then go into the Explorer and check to see the file size. DVDA is known for telling you the project is too big and from what I've seen it's about 1/2 gig too big.
Not true in most cases. I always check the size in Explorer.

SD
I am doing a direct burn in Vegas not DVDA.
I cannot get past the error window.

Don, I've had DVDA tell me my file is 50% bigger than it really was.
I've complained to Sony about this for a long time but it still hasn't been fixed :(

My project template is HD 720-60p actually.

I just dragged a 1:15 min clip and went to burn. File size is 100,47MB.

Something's wrong here.

Are you burning to Blu-ray or regular DVD?
What are the exact steps you're taking to do this?

1. I shot 720x60p
2. project property is basic template HD 720-60p
3. project length is 00:62:25
4. Tools>Burn Disc>DVD
5. MPEG-2 720x480x60i, 16:9 (NTSC)

So, which render template would be used here and could I have changed its settigns to have this issue? Again, I am not explicitly rendering, just burning direct to DVD.

You should render as shown, in the attached clip, unless i'm missing something.

Sorry, you're trying to burn from Vegas, missed that. I've never done it. I always have rendered for DVDA, then burned from here.

not had problems with 45min from tl, but 62min might be pushing it....

Leslie, thing is, any properly rendered file for DVD under 90 minutes should fit, as the file sizes are the same after processing, regardless of the original camera for files. I suspect he is using improper settings.

Heck, for DVD some will reduce bit rates to fit over two hours of footage on a DVD. I wouldn't care for the quality, myself, but that is irrelevant I guess.

hi jeff,

i can't remember where i read it (maybe over at scs), but it seems the default dvd from tl in at highest bit rate (8.5?).

i've never tried with anything over 45min so i don't know...

I'm new to this but I thought up to two hours can fit on a standard DVD - say with about 5Mbps average rate?

As for settings being wrong, again, where are the settings for burning directly to DVD in Vegas? Since we're using MPEG-2, if I change the render settings in that STANDARDcodec do they remain changed for future projects? I'm rendering right now to compare file sizes so can't check this.

Here's the bottom line - your bit-rate is too high. It just so happened that your first burn was short enough to use the higher bitrate but your second one it too long for that same bitrate. A lower bitrate needs to be used. I don't typically burn direct from the timeline so I don't know if the bitrate can be changed there. Typically I render out to an MPEG2 file using the appropriate bitrate and then use DVD Architect to create the DVD.

I do 2 hr. DVDs a lot and have no problems fitting them on a single layer DVD.
Use the following Max/Avg/Min numbers and I guarantee that it will fit.
8,000,000 / 4,600,000 / 2,800,000
This assumes AC-3 audio at the default setting.

Well, I downloaded DVDA to try out but the last thing I need right now is to learn another complex bit of software. Burning directly in Vegas was simple and quick for a basic DVD.

The issue remains: burning in Vegas is buggy now that it appears some setting has changed. I have a feeling I need to reset the default settings in whatever codec is used to do a direct burn and retry. But without knowing which one it is it will be trial and error unless someone can shed some light.

The problem is that Sony has never shared the information that you want with us.
Like others here, I've used the timeline option when I'm doing a quick and short (under 30 min.) project but that's rare.
DVDA is my preferred method of creating a DVD as you have a LOT more control over everything.
I recommend getting Vol. 1, Issue 7 of Edward's newsletters that deals with DVD creation as it will help to simplify things for you.
While it was written for an earlier version, the basic principles remain the same.
Vol #1, Issue #7 (http://www.jetdv.com/vegas/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15)

Arthur, DVD Architect can be as simple. Just go to File - New, select "Single Movie", select the file rendered from Vegas, and then click on Burn.

Thanks guys. Learning DVDA wasn't so difficult after all. I certainly don't need anything fancy to do.

What an adventure! To recap:

1. Vegas specs:

- source: 1280x720x60p
- project length: 01:02:25
- rendered through MainConcept MPEG-2, DVDA NTSC Widescreen Video Stream,16:9, CBR 9264
- I used CBR as Bit Rate Calc showed plenty of space (see next)

2. Bit Rate Calc settings:

- DVD -R 4.70GB disc
- audio: 128 kb/s stereo
- safety factor: 5%
- CBR 9624
- predicted usage (94.6%): 4,462,935,450 bytes
- at recommended rate size: 4,336,710,000 bytes

3. Actual file size on drive after render: 4,798,294 kB (4,913,453,056 bytes)

4. DVDA specs:

- project DVD size lower right corner: 5.1GB, in red
- prepared to burn, DVD, 16:9
- bit rate: 8,000,000

5. After prep phase, project size lower right corner is 4.5GB, in red.

6. Actual file size on drive for all files is 4.14GB (4239.4MB or 4,456,415,232 bytes). Playing one VOB file, format is NOT 16:9 but 4:3.

7. DVDA: go to burn, "Make DVD" window, under Review Message List, Estimated Project size is 4456.8MB.

8. Click on Optimize here and next window shows Estimated Size (below left pane) is 5067.5MB.

9. Still in Optimize window, top right pane Estimated size is 4913.5MB for video, 1.2MB for menus, 45MB for audio. So, 4959.7MB total.

10. Burned DVD and it worked, 16:9 inside 4:3.

Geez!