DVD Architect - multiple items using same media?

Don Bloom · September 26th, 2013, 09:22 AM

One last thing to keep in mind is that any warnings that DVDA may give about file size is generally about 1/2 a gig larger than the actual size of the file so the best way to figure it out is to look at the file size in the Explorer. That is the actual file size of the video and then add the size of the audio and add some for the menus especially if they're motion menus.
Also keep in mind that a DVD of 4.37 gig size is NOT 4.37 gigs. It is smaller due to formatting of the disc. It's actually about 4.3 gigs which may not seem like a big loss of space but it can make a difference when rendering.

Seth Bloombaum · September 26th, 2013, 10:25 AM

Regarding the still image against 24/96 audio, the DVD-Video standard includes several types of media that can be authored for use on a DVD.

For sure, DVDA will by default turn your still into video. However, there are also slide shows and music compilations, which have different behaviors, and won't turn your still into video.

Although I'm up on the spec, I've never actually done this in DVDA, and don't know how chapters might work in a slide show or music compilation. Maybe just as you want them too.

Check out the help file, and here's a thread over on Sony's web site:
Sony Creative Software - Forums - Vegas Pro - Video Messages

In that thread, note that people are also discussing rendering still images to very low bitrate video. This is another approach, but, a real DVD-Video slideshow keeps your stills as stills.

Yousef Sheikh · September 26th, 2013, 11:53 AM

Thanks for the further replies.

It seems that even if it is possible within the DVD spec to call up a particular picture/video to accompany a particular audio track, it isn't something that DVD Architect lets you do.

Having said that, some further Googling has pointed me towards presenting the files as a series of menus as a possible workaround (is this what Ron was suggesting above? Apologies if I misunderstood that).

At the moment I'm re-rendering my main feature as VBR with a slightly lower maximum which should allow the accompanying audio to be brought in at AC3 of a decent bitrate without the combined rate going too high.

This may all well come in at an overall size small enough for a dual layer disc - if not, I'll look in to the menu option.

Yousef Sheikh · September 26th, 2013, 12:18 PM

I've just realized that when I right-click and check the properties of the previous main feature render it shows the bitrate as 9.5 - which should be low enough to allow for my AC3 audio at the chosen bitrate.

But when I try to prepare the DVD files in DVDA, it states that the media needs re-compressing as it is in 24p. I thought that having rendered out the footage in Vegas as the "NTSC widescreen 24p DVD Architect" template that this would not be necessary as the pulldown flags would be inserted by Vegas.

My worry is that if I've gone to the trouble of doing a 2-pass VBR encode in Vegas, what is DVDA going to do to my media?

September 26th, 2013, 09:22 AM	#16
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	Re: DVD Architect - multiple items using same media? One last thing to keep in mind is that any warnings that DVDA may give about file size is generally about 1/2 a gig larger than the actual size of the file so the best way to figure it out is to look at the file size in the Explorer. That is the actual file size of the video and then add the size of the audio and add some for the menus especially if they're motion menus. Also keep in mind that a DVD of 4.37 gig size is NOT 4.37 gigs. It is smaller due to formatting of the disc. It's actually about 4.3 gigs which may not seem like a big loss of space but it can make a difference when rendering. __________________ What do I know? I'm just a video-O-grafer. Don

September 26th, 2013, 10:25 AM	#17
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	Re: DVD Architect - multiple items using same media? Regarding the still image against 24/96 audio, the DVD-Video standard includes several types of media that can be authored for use on a DVD. For sure, DVDA will by default turn your still into video. However, there are also slide shows and music compilations, which have different behaviors, and won't turn your still into video. Although I'm up on the spec, I've never actually done this in DVDA, and don't know how chapters might work in a slide show or music compilation. Maybe just as you want them too. Check out the help file, and here's a thread over on Sony's web site: Sony Creative Software - Forums - Vegas Pro - Video Messages In that thread, note that people are also discussing rendering still images to very low bitrate video. This is another approach, but, a real DVD-Video slideshow keeps your stills as stills. __________________ 30 years of pro media production. Vegas user since 1.0. Webcaster since 1997. Freelancer since 2000. College instructor since 2001.

September 26th, 2013, 11:53 AM	#18
Yousef Sheikh New Boot Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 19	Re: DVD Architect - multiple items using same media? Thanks for the further replies. It seems that even if it is possible within the DVD spec to call up a particular picture/video to accompany a particular audio track, it isn't something that DVD Architect lets you do. Having said that, some further Googling has pointed me towards presenting the files as a series of menus as a possible workaround (is this what Ron was suggesting above? Apologies if I misunderstood that). At the moment I'm re-rendering my main feature as VBR with a slightly lower maximum which should allow the accompanying audio to be brought in at AC3 of a decent bitrate without the combined rate going too high. This may all well come in at an overall size small enough for a dual layer disc - if not, I'll look in to the menu option.

September 26th, 2013, 12:18 PM	#19
Yousef Sheikh New Boot Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 19	Re: DVD Architect - multiple items using same media? I've just realized that when I right-click and check the properties of the previous main feature render it shows the bitrate as 9.5 - which should be low enough to allow for my AC3 audio at the chosen bitrate. But when I try to prepare the DVD files in DVDA, it states that the media needs re-compressing as it is in 24p. I thought that having rendered out the footage in Vegas as the "NTSC widescreen 24p DVD Architect" template that this would not be necessary as the pulldown flags would be inserted by Vegas. My worry is that if I've gone to the trouble of doing a 2-pass VBR encode in Vegas, what is DVDA going to do to my media?