Why are my MPEG-2 renders so huge?

[Graham Bernard]

[Linsey Roberts] ” I use Mark’s DVD Bitrate Calculator to choose my vbr settings, with a safety margin of 5% and setting the total time to about ten minutes more than the actual video”

I also use Dave’s BitRate Calculator, and very good it is indeed! Now, what actual numerical settings ARE you using?

Grazie

Video Content Creator and Potter
PC 7 64-bit 16gb * Intel® Core™i7-2600k Quad Core 3.40GHz * 2GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 560 Ti
Cameras: Canon XF300 and two elderly XM2s

[Graham Bernard]

Linsey you have the Trial (Demo?)version/s? What are you rendering to? MPEG2? What template are you using? And where are you setting those numbers?

Cheers

Grazie

Video Content Creator and Potter
PC 7 64-bit 16gb * Intel® Core™i7-2600k Quad Core 3.40GHz * 2GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 560 Ti
Cameras: Canon XF300 and two elderly XM2s

[Linsey Roberts]

Ok, for instance – the largest video I’m trying to render is 2 hours 50 minutes, so on the calculator I selected Disk Type DVD-5, Audio Encoding 224 Kb/s, entered a total video time of 3 hours 1 minute, and got a bitrate suggestion of 2200/2936/5872. I also have the Safety Margin set to 5% and the Kilobit Size is set to 1024. In Vegas my Output Format is MainConcept MPEG-2, DVD Architect NTSC video stream. I changed the bps settings to 2,200,000/2,936,000/5,872,000 and ticked the Include audio stream box (also tried it without the audio stream without any real difference in the result), hen I saved it as a new Template and hit Render. Everything else was default settings. I don’t know the exact file output size because I deleted the file, but it was at least 6 gigs.

Did I cover everything? 🙂

[Graham Bernard]

[Linsey Roberts] “Did I cover everything? :)”

I wish everybody was as thorough with their responses as you! Good stuff.

OK, for a DVD-5 disk type I got for a 3 hour coming out at 4.648gbs, running VBR:-

Min=2544
Max=6792
Avg=3392

What and where is the kilobit sizing entered?

Anyway, I’ve got an initial outcome, no safety and straight 3hours, of 4.6gb.

Grazie

Video Content Creator and Potter
PC 7 64-bit 16gb * Intel® Core™i7-2600k Quad Core 3.40GHz * 2GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 560 Ti
Cameras: Canon XF300 and two elderly XM2s

[Linsey Roberts]

Thanks for the quick response! The kilobit sizing is entered in the Settings screen (navigation button is in the lower left corner of the main screen). I switched the kilobit sizing back to 1000 and I get the same numbers as you, so I’m going to give them a try. I’m going to feel like a real numpty if that’s all that was wrong!

[Graham Bernard]

[Linsey Roberts] “I’m going to feel like a real numpty if that’s all that was wrong!”

As I said before, you’re very thorough in your responses!

And NO, a numpty, in my book, is somebody who wouldn’t ask in the first place – but you DID. Listen, I didn’t know about that setting, I asked and YOU knew the answer! So, thanks for your help too.

And yes, let’s see if that was all that it was.

Toodles

Grazie

Video Content Creator and Potter
PC 7 64-bit 16gb * Intel® Core™i7-2600k Quad Core 3.40GHz * 2GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 560 Ti
Cameras: Canon XF300 and two elderly XM2s

[Dieter Moreno]

[Linsey Roberts] “The files are all between 1 1/2 and 3 hours long, and the file size keeps coming out between 5 and 6 gigs – changing the bitrate doesn’t seem to be having an effect. I’m wondering if there is something different between Studio 11 and 12? My coworker uses 12 and also had this issue (never resolved), but I just assumed he was doing something wrong… Hope somebody has the answer. You’ll be my hero forever!
“

I’ve been having the same problem.

When you select a template, I have found that the default template for a file container has the bit rates fixed and even when you change them the changes will not take place in the render. That might be your problem. So select a different template and that will probably solve the problem.

If you selected an HD template, also I found that HD templates will only except HD bit rate values and when you change them the changes will not take place in the render. That might be your problem. So select a different template that is not HD and that will probably solve the problem.

I don’t know if Vegas Pro 11 or 12 resolved these issues. I have Vegas Pro 10.

If you are looking to make 6Gb 90 min long video into a size that can fit on a DVD (less than 4.5 Gb), use DVD quality settings.

DVD quality settings:
Average bit rate: 4500kbps
Resolution: 720×480 progressive (for NTSC nations) or 720×576 progressive (for PAL nations)

I don’t think its possible to have a DVD 3 hours long, because even if your computer can play it as a program stream file, the hardware DVD player might only be able to understand MPEG-2 encoded at average bit rate of 4500kbps and reject lower average bit rates like 2400kbps.