[Marc Istook]

The bit rates are variable in the custom templates. So I know that both projects were rendered in the 6,000,000-8,000,000 ballpark, the custom settings. And I understand that it’s ALL ABOUT THE BITRATES!!

My confusion is a result of the line in Sony’s help files, the line I mentioned in my post: 24p video uses less space on a DVD, allowing you to add more video or use higher-quality video than you could with 60i video.

That line implies that using the same settings (including the same bitrates) and the same custom templates (which I did!), a 24p file should be smaller than a 60i file. I have not found this to be the case. And I’m simply trying to understand why.

[Marc Istook]

I’m not trying to figure out how to *set* the bitrate, rather how to determine what the bitrate is of an already rendered file.

This is from the Vegas help files:
24p video uses less space on a DVD, allowing you to add more video or use higher-quality video than you could with 60i video.

So I’m still confused. According to Sony, a 24p mpeg2 file be smaller (significantly or otherwise) than a 30i mpeg2 file. But how much smaller? Let’s assume one file was rendered as a 24p DVD Architect video stream (in the 6,000,000 – 8,000,000 bitrate range), and the other as a 29.97 DVD Architect video stream (again, in the 6,000,000 – 8,000,000 range). What kind of size differences should I be looking for? I rendered the same 20 minute piece of footage — once as a 24p mpeg2 and once as a 29.97 mpeg2. The 24p file (rendered at a similar bitrate) was actually *larger* than the 29.97 file. What gives?!

[Marc Istook]

You’re right — I should have started a new thread — that was my mistake. In actuality, this was an issue I’ve posted already on this forum and have yet to get a clear answer to. Yours helps, though I’d like to see whether or not the bitrates for both files are similar. Is there a way to find out? They were both rendered with the standard DVD Architect settings (though one was the 24p setting, the other just regular NTSC).

[Marc Istook]

I’ll admit that I am not that familiar with scripts. Maybe someone could enlighten me on how to use one in this instance. But still — why would Sony choose to use an interface that’s fundamentally different than what most (if not all) other NLE’s use? I could understand if it was a markedly *better* interface. But I don’t think it is.

That said, Vegas is still my favorite NLE — but some of those interfaces drive me nuts. Perhaps it’s just a stylistic preference.

Also, I still haven’t been able to figure out why my DVD Architect 24p (23.976 progressive frame) mpeg 2 file is nearly identical in size to my DVD Architect 30i (29.97 interlaced fields) mpeg 2 file. Any thoughts?!

[Marc Istook]

Ugh. I have to say that panning and zooming is the one feature of Vegas I specifically DON’T like! I think FCP, Premiere, After Effects, etc., are much more user-friendly and intuitive in this regard. While Vegas 6 is much improved, I wish there were a way to enter a percent scale rather than a pixel size when zooming/re-sizing footage. I feel like Sony is married to its pan/zoom/scale interface, so instead of choosing a better interface, they just stick with what they have.

And I also don’t understand why so many of the filter controls are on a 0-1.00 scale instead of using more widely-available systems. For instance — the levels filter uses a 0-1.0 scale. Why not 0-255 like EVERY OTHER PROGRAM I’VE EVER SEEN!? Or with the text plug-in — the shadow distance is measured in hundredths… hundredths of what?! Why not use pixels like EVERY OTHER PROGRAM!! Perhaps I’m missing something here — if so, please share, because these idiosyncracies drive me crazy.

Despite the fact that it sounds like I’m fed up with Vegas, I really do love the program. Just those little quirks cause a real hangup in my workflow.

Thanks for letting me vent!

Marc

[Marc Istook]

Timothy — you’re right. I know the DV files should be identical in size. But the DVD Architect streams are mpeg 2, no? I shot 24pA, removed pulldown, used a Vegas 24p project and rendered with DVD Architects 24p stream and it’s nearly identical in size to the same project rendered with interlacing added back. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Marc

[Marc Istook]

Thanks for the response…

That totally makes sense. But it really seemed like Sony’s literature insinuated that you could fit more video (not just 4% more) on a DVD if it was 24p. Maybe I just read it wrong.

Thanks again!

Marc

[Marc Istook]

Did you ever have any success? And if so, how’d you achieve it?

[Marc Istook]

Beautiful. I read on the Vegas website some of the fixes this update addresses but didn’t see my specific problem. Have you heard of this before?

[Marc Istook]

Beautiful. I read on the Vegas website some of the fixes this update addresses but didn’t see my specific problem. Have you heard of this before?