Dual/double layer DVD-R

[Edward Troxel]

You can easily put 2 hours on a single-layer DVD. I wouldn’t worry about trying to use a dual-layer.

Edward Troxel

[Charles Avanti]

Thanks Ed. How good is the 2 hour SD picture when the 16:9 SD is shown on a 26″ to 50″ HDTV?

Charlie

[Mike Kujbida]

Charles, it depends on how good the master was.
For example, a 2-hr. play that I shot last year (in 16:9 mode) on a Sony DSR-500 (broadcast-grade DVCAM unit) looked great on a 46″ LCD.

[Charles Avanti]

Thats good news. Could you please post the render setings you used for that project length?

Charlie

[Edward Troxel]

You can download a bitrate calculator. I have a chart in Vol 1 #7 of my newsletters.

Edward Troxel

[Charles Avanti]

I have a BR calc, but I was curious as to his settings used. I have tended to stay with a high (7,500,000) CBR, but that won’t fit on a 2 hour show. Would VBR be best for a 2 hr. show, if so then there are more variables.

Charlie

[Edward Troxel]

Without looking, I believe the average bitrate (using VBR) would need to be about 4,825,000.

Edward Troxel

[Mike Kujbida]

Charlie, Edward has been at this a lot longer than I have so I’d listen to him 🙂

Since you asked though, for a 2 hr. DVD, my bitrate calculator says:
CBR: 4,576,000
VBR: 8,008/4,576,000/2,744,000

BTW, I’ve got it set to a 5% safety margin instead of the default 1% which is why my numbers are a bit lower than Edward’s.

[Charles Avanti]

Thanks guys,

If I want to do a DVD-9, is this a pre-set choice in DVDA using a mpg2 from Vegas?

I have Vegas 6 and DVDA 3.

Charlie

[Edward Troxel]

Look at Vol 1 #7 and Vol 4 #1 of my newsletters. They explain the entire process.

The basics:
Render from Vegas as MPEG2 picking one of the DVD Architect presets using the “Custom” button to change the bitrate.

Render from Vegas as AC3 for the audio

Use those two files in DVD Architect to create the final DVD.

Edward Troxel