VBV buffer size for MPEG-1 files for DVD

[numlock]

I need to encode AVI files to MPEG-1 (constant bitrate) and then author them for DVD playback.

My question is, what should the appropriate setting for VBV buffer size be ?

TMPGenc defaults to 0 (automatic). Should I just leave it as it is ?

ALso, I noticed that VBV for VCD is set to 40, but I don't want to make VCDs, but MPEG-1 DVDs.

Thanks

[oddyseus]

what u will turn a mpeg-1 video its up to u. VCDs use mpeg-1. So why don't u use their VBV setting?

Just repsect the resolution for mpeg1 and DVD that is 352x288 or 240 if NTSC and the bitrate that mustn't exceed 1858kbs.

Scenarist will complain and won't accept the stream, whereas Maestro won't have any problem and author it, but u might bump in to playability problems on some standalones later on.

[numlock]

The problem is that the bigger VBV buffer size increase the size of the file and I need to fit 8.5 hours of video on 1 DVD, so if I could keep VBV buffer size at 0 it would help a lot.

Here is what I found in a NG by Avery Lee (creator of VirtualDub)

According to him VBV buffer size doesn't matter if MPEG-1 material
is to be playeed on DVD players

This is his original post:

http://groups.google.com/groups?q=vbv+buffer&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&selm=of8e0u4nbfvelcughi41c5nb6lsiqj4f7t%404ax.com&rnum=1
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The VBV is less important for software
players, which aren't generally that rigid in terms of what they can and
cannot play, or for DVD players playing MPEG-1 material, since a DVD's MPEG
decoding capability is overkill in that case.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
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So it seems like I can set it to 0 and I should be OK, but I'm trying to get more input to be 100% sure. This DVD will be distributed to thousands of people, so I really need to make it right.

[oddyseus]

That was an interesting post. I beleive too that a 0 value won't hurt a dvd standalone player.Their configuration overexceeds mpeg-1 requirements.

[takeru]

i'm inerested as well. hasn't anyone thought up a guide for mpeg-1 dvd's? its kind of pointless maybe but it seems like a nice side project.

i would like to try and combine a few vcd series i have into dvd-r's to save space for one thing.

[disturbed1]

MPEG1 for DVD has to follow the contraint parameter set.

352x240, 1858kbit/s max, VBV buffer of 40.

[mordant]

Does that max bitrate include the audio?

[disturbed1]

I believe it does.

I usually do my mpeg1 projects at 1800 video and 192 2/0 ac3. If your encoder likes to inflate the bitrate at times, reduce it to 1750 to leave a little head room, or reduce the audio.