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What is the best quality render properties settings in Sony Vegas and Sony DVD Architect?
I am making an independent documentary and want the best video and audio quality results in the rendering process in Sony Vegas and Sony DVDA. What property settings in Vegas and DVDA would be the best to render and make the burned DVD be the same quality as it looks when watching the project in Vegas before it is rendered?
The equipment I am using to make my film is as follows:
Video Cameras: Sony Handycam HDR-FX7(used 95%), Sony Handycam DCR-DVD405(Used 3%), The other 2% used was a mix of an old Canon Mini DV camcorder and a cell phone video camera.
Computer PC: DELL Inspiron 530, Windows Vista 64-bit Service Pack 1, Intel Core 2 Quad 2.50 ghz processor, 6.00 GM RAM Memory.
Editing Software: Sony Vegas Pro 8.0c and Sony DVD Architect Pro 5.0b.
These are the current Vegas and DVDA property settings I am using:
Sony Vegas Project Properties:
VIDEO:
Template: HDV 720-30p (1280×720, 29.970 fps)
Width: 1,280
Height: 720
Field order: None (progressive scan)
Pixel aspect ratio: 1.0000 (Square)
Output Rotation: 0 (original)
Frame rate: 29.970 (NTSC)
Pixel format: 8-bit
Compositing gamma: 2.222 (Video)
Full resolution rendering quality: Best
Motion blur type: Gaussian
Deinterlace method: Blend fields
AUDIO:
Master bus mode: Stereo
Sample rate: 48,000
Bit depth: 16
Resample and stretch quality: BestSony Vegas Render Properties:(To AVI)
Template: HDV 720-30p intermediate
Project: Video rendering quality: Best
Video: Frame size: HDV 720 (1,280×720), Width: 1280, Height: 720, Frame rate: 29.970 (NTSC), Field order: None(progressive scan), Pixel Aspect ratio: 1.0000, Video Format: CineForm HD Codec V2.8
Audio: Audio format: PCM Uncompressed, Sample rate: 48,000, Bit depth: 16, Channels: StereoSony Vegas Render Properties: (To MainConcept MPEG-2)
Template: HDV 720-30p
Project: Video Rendering quality: Best
Video: Output Type: HDV, Width: 1280, Height: 720, Frame Rate: 29.970, Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Display, I-frames: 6, B-frames: 2, Profile: Main, Level: High 1440, Field order: None (progressive scan), Video quality: 15 High
Audio: Audio mode: Stereo mode, Psychoacoustic Model 2, Audio Layer 2, bit rate: 384, No emphasis default, Sample rate: 48,000Since my project is 3 hrs 16 mins long I made numerous Vegas projects. I will render each project into AVI format. I will put together each AVI file into one Vegas project and render that one project into Mainconcept MPEG-2 format so I can create a DVD in DVDA.
DVD Architect Properties:
Video:
Disc format: DVD
Target media size: 8.50 GB
Video format: MPEG-2
Bit rate: 8.000
Aspect ratio: 16:9
Resolution: 720×480(NTSC)
Frame rate: 29.97
Audio:
Audio format: AC-3 Stereo
Bit rate: 384Thanks for any help suggested!!!
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9 Replies
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I wouldn’t render things to AVI first because you’ll loose quality. Try rendering to Sony MXF (HD EX or HD422) if you need an intermediary, keeping it HD at this point in the game is fine. Once you have everything in one timeline and add chapter markers (avoiding non-letters when labeling them), export the audio to Dolby Digital AC-3, then use the “DVD Architect NTSC Widescreen Video Stream” preset to export your video.
See how big the files are when you add them up, and you can tinker with the video bitrate if you need to export another version (with a slightly higher or lower bitrate) to keep DVD-A from having to re-encode (loss of quality would be inevitable). You want DVD-A to already have the mpeg in the right size and to just combine that with the files it makes for menus and parse them for DVD playback.
Note that DVD-A will automatically put the audio with the video on your disc when the video is dragged into the project if both files are in the same directory and have the same name. If you end up making different video versions, just drag the good one in then double-click to open it in the timeline and drag the audio on there. Check to see that it plays as it should and you’re good to go!
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Your settings look fine. Unfortunately, at 3 hours 16 minutes long as a single project, it is going to look terrible no matter what you do. Using Mark’s bit rate calculator, I get a constant bit rate of 2.888 Mbit/s. DVD’s are 8 MBit/s so you are taking a HUGE quality hit. It will probably look worse than VHS.
You can tinker with a variable bit rate to ‘steal’ bits from static scenes, but it will make a marginal improvement.
If it has to be one 1 DVD, use a DVD-DL (dual layer DVD) and that gives you a bit CBR of 5.6 Mbit/s, but be aware that there will be a slight pause during the layer change. Be aware that not all DL discs are the same, and some will not play on DVD players.
Personally, I would split your project across 2 DVD’s.
My system specs: Intel i7 970, 12GB RAM, ASUS P6T, Vegas Pro 10e (x32/x64), Windows 7 x64 Ultimate, Vegas Production Assistant 1.0, VASST Ultimate S Pro 4.1, Neat Video Pro 2.6
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Hi Nigel,
I will split the project into two parts and use 2 dvd’s Verbatim DVD+R DL 2.4x 8.5GB. I would like to know if my Sony Vegas project properties and Sony Vegas Render properties and DVD Architect properties are correct for getting the best quality onto DVD. Should I render to AVI then MainConcept MPEG-2(mt2) or skip AVI and render directly to MainConcept MPEG-2(mt2). I was told that I shouldn’t render things to AVI first because you’ll loose quality and I should try rendering to Sony MXF(HD EX or HD422).
I want to create a master that I can use for Blue Ray and DVD.
Your expertise is much appreciated. Thank you.
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I would use the DVDA m2t templates with Vegas. Your settings look fine, given that you are mixing it with DV and phone footage, although they may suffer strobing effects due to upscaling. Make sure match media to project … is ticked in your project properties.
Note that the Vegas render template defaults to DVD-5 (4.7GB), so if you are using DL discs, you will need to adjust your bit rate.
Google ‘Mark’s bit rate calculator’, install it and play with the disc type (DVD5/DVD9) and observe how they affect the recommended bit rate after you set the audio and video durations.
My system specs: Intel i7 970, 12GB RAM, ASUS P6T, Vegas Pro 10e (x32/x64), Windows 7 x64 Ultimate, Vegas Production Assistant 1.0, VASST Ultimate S Pro 4.1, Neat Video Pro 2.6
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Thanks I downloaded Mark’s bit rate calculator. For one of my split projects that is 1:59 long I used these settings to calculate a bit rate: Disk Type: DVD-9; Audio Encoding: 192 kbs; Safety Margin: 5%; VBR. Are these settings correct? For Audio should I render dvd as 192 kbs or 384 kbs? Should I have a safety margin and if so what percentage?(I noticed the higher safety percentage reduces the quality percentage of the dvd; 89% quality with 5% safety).
Marks Bit Rate Calculator recommended bitrates are:
Min: 4376; Avg: 8760; Max: 9608What bitrate number should I set and save in DVDA(4376, 8760, or 9608)? DVDA default bit rate is 8.000.
When I render with Sony Vegas you mentioned I should use the DVDA m2t templates with Vegas. So in Sony Vegas I should not render as AVI or Sony MXF(HD EX). I should render as Mainconcept MPEG-2(mt2). Then import drag the mt2 file into DVDA to make the DVD?
“Make sure match media to project … is ticked in your project properties.” I couldn’t find where to check this setting in my properties in Vegas.
Thanks very much for your help. Your time and help is very much appreciated!
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Andy thanks for your response. I tested the Sony MXF(HD EX) template HD EX 1280×720-60p template. So you recommend Sony MXF to render as to get better quality over AVI or MainConcept MPEG-2(mt2)?
“export the audio to Dolby Digital AC-3, then use the “DVD Architect NTSC Widescreen Video Stream” preset to export your video.” You suggest these render as templates in Sony Vegas after I rendered all my segments as one final segment with Sony MXF. So I should render the audio and video seperateley?
Audio:
“export the audio to Dolby Digital AC-3”
Sony Vegas won’t allow me to render the audio as AC-3 PRO but will allow me to render the audio as AC-3 Studio. So is AC-3 Studio the correct audio template?Video:(MainConcept MPEG-2)
“then use the “DVD Architect NTSC Widescreen Video Stream” preset to export your video.”
This template setting is for SD DVD? Couldn’t I use HDV 720x30p template instead of DVD Architect NTSC Widescreen Video Stream”? HDV 720x30p looks better when I watch it after it’s rendered. But 720x30p recompresses in DVDA and DVDA NTSC Widescreen Video Stream doesn’t recompress in DVDA. Is that why you don’t choose 720x30p because it loses quality when recompressed in DVDA?What template should I use for HD DVD(Blue Ray)? Is HDV 720x30p the correct template since my settings are 16:9 1280×720?
Thanks for your help it’s much appreciated. Learning this tech stuff is like learning Chinese for me.
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Thanks I downloaded Mark’s bit rate calculator. For one of my split projects that is 1:59 long I used these settings to calculate a bit rate: Disk Type: DVD-9; Audio Encoding: 192 kbs;
Audio encoding = 224 kbs, which is what Vegas NTSC DVD template defaults to.
Safety Margin: 5%; VBR. Are these settings correct? For Audio should I render dvd as 192 kbs or 384 kbs? Should I have a safety margin and if so what percentage?(I noticed the higher safety percentage reduces the quality percentage of the dvd; 89% quality with 5% safety).
I usually apply 3% safety.
Marks Bit Rate Calculator recommended bitrates are:
Min: 4376; Avg: 8760; Max: 9608What bitrate number should I set and save in DVDA(4376, 8760, or 9608)? DVDA default bit rate is 8.000.
You can’t. The bit rate settings are entered in Vegas, When you Render as and select Custom you can select CBR or VBR (where you then enter the values Mark’s calculator recommends. The only drawback is that Mark’s bit rate calculator recommends high bit rates that some older DVD players cannot playback without difficulty. In your case, 9608. You can try experimenting with a CBR render (in Vegas) of 8000 and see how you go. It should fit and leave room for menus once you bring the m2t file rendered by Vegas into DVD Architect.
If this is not a personal DVD, I would warn your customer of the layer change which will occur approx halfway thru and cause a pause of about 3-5 seconds.
When I render with Sony Vegas you mentioned I should use the DVDA m2t templates with Vegas. So in Sony Vegas I should not render as AVI or Sony MXF(HD EX). I should render as Mainconcept MPEG-2(mt2). Then import drag the mt2 file into DVDA to make the DVD?
If your target is DVD, you should use the Mainconcept DVD template, otherwise your footage will get compressed twice: once to AVI and then again in DVDA to NTSC (I presume you are using NTSC). By using the DVDA templates in Vegas, you avoid that happening and prevent possible quality loss.
In the custom area of the Render as… DVDA template, don’t forget to include the audio under the Audio tab.
“Make sure match media to project … is ticked in your project properties.” I couldn’t find where to check this setting in my properties in Vegas.
Oops! File, Properties, Adjust source media to better match project or render settings needs to be ticked
Thanks very much for your help. Your time and help is very much appreciated!
You’re welcome
My system specs: Intel i7 970, 12GB RAM, ASUS P6T, Vegas Pro 10e (x32/x64), Windows 7 x64 Ultimate, Vegas Production Assistant 1.0, VASST Ultimate S Pro 4.1, Neat Video Pro 2.6
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aha..this is always my problem too… i used to use two cam. when shooting… 1 canon dslr and the other one is Sony Hdcam. Mostly i shot Weddings, function.. and the time taken is not below 3hrs… and i used to split them into 2 dvds (4.7gb). and i used to render and split into half at 1.40hrs or so.. and my render settins are “max 8.000.000,avg 7.500.000,min 192,000” is that correct?or too high or too low? if my video is more than 1 hrs or below how much Max, Avg, and MIN no. should i keep? for 15/20mins longs and with lots of effects and less effect the wa y i render should be the same process?
Secondly , canon dslr is 50p, and my sony cam dnt have 50p… but i used to change in my sony vegas 11 timeline..rightclick-properties-media-NON progressive… sony cam Media are Upper filed first… and canon are NON progressive…. so i change my sony media into Non progressive too.. is that the way to be?or should i just live it as it is.. and only change in my render settings?
sorry my English is not that good.. hope you can understand … -
Hello there,
I am a newbie to DVD editing and authoring. I have Sony Vegas Pro 11 and DVD Architect Pro 5.2.
I have been attempting to create a 1 hour PAL Widescreen DVD.
My source video is HDV 1440×1080. I have used the corresponding project setting in Vegas Pro, and rendered as Main Concept mpeg2 DVD PAL Widescreen. Audio rendered separately as AC3.
I then use DVDA to import the pre-rendered video and AC3 audio to the provided PAL Widescreen DVD 720×576 project template.
Everything fits neatly onto one 4.7GB DVD+R, but the video looks a bit pixelled and grainy. Am I doing anything wrong? What settings in Vegas Pro 11 & DVDA Pro 5.2 should I use to get a nice crisp video? I keep thinking there must be a better way.
If you need any further info, i will provide.
Thanks in advance!!
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