stand-alone playback problem

[nicco]

I built a DVD in Adobe Encore which consist in a Menu as first play and a video track transcoded in encore (PAL 4:3 8Mb CBR). I burned it in a standard DVD-R directly from encore.
It plays perfectly on PC but it does not play in my stand-alone DVD player becouse it not recognize the disk (error while disk loading)
What's the problem?

[Arky]

Before investigating other possibilities, I would immediately suggest that you re-encode using a lower bitrate - say 6.5mbps. You did not state what audio compression (if any) you are using.

I just answered a similar question on CreativeCow. DVDR simply cannot support maximum bitrates - it is not reflective enough to allow the same efficiency of data retrieval that is possible with replicated disks (Tx TF). Your PC's DVD ROM drive has a vastly superior data transfer rate, AND you have virtually unlimited buffer memory available to the software DVD player.

Standalone DVD players, on the other hand, must make do with extremely limited buffer memory, and certainly do not have the huge data transfer rates possible with PCs.

If you lower the bitrate and still have problems, then by all means repost here and I will offer some alternative suggestions, but please test with a lower bitrate first. Also, if you are using PCM (.wav) audio, then I would strongly suggest that you compress your audio to 192 or 224 kbps .AC3,, since this will reduce the data retrieval load on your standalone player's electronics (also bear in mind that MPEG 1-Layer 2 audio compression is not spec-compliant for NTSC projects, but since you are in Italy, I doubt this will be relevant to you anyway)


Arky ;o)

[nicco]

In fact I encoded my original AVI movie with tmpg at 6.5 b CBR, I imported it in encore and I told encore not to transcode it anymore, but when I built the DVD I get this error "DVDerror-1".
I tried a lot of suggestion to avoid it, but the only solution I found was to let encore transcode the movie.
So I imported the original AVI in encore and I let encore to transcode it. Encore has some preset for transcoding like 8Mb CBR, 4Mb CBR and so on, or "Auto", but I did not found how to manual set transcoding, so I let 8Mb CBR.

My questions:

Why I can not use tmpg encoded files?
Is there a way to manual set transcoding option in encore?
Do I have to set it in Auto mode?
Is there another DVD authoring program with the same features of encore but less crazy?

[Arky]

Download ReStream (http://www.doom9.org/software2.htm) and see what it says about your TMPGEnc encoded streams.


Arky ;o)

[nicco]

What setting should tmpg stream should have to be compatible with encore?

[nicco]

Thanks! I solve the encore-tmpg problem!
When I encoded in tmpg I set this GOP: I=1 P=14 becouse I red that 15 frames were the highest value for PAL, but analyzing the encore-transcoded m2v video stream with restream I noticed that it had a GOP of 10 frames.
I encoded the video again in tmpg with this GOP: I=1 P=9 and I don't get anymore the "DVDerror-1" in encore !

So I can encode my file at 6500kbps CBR and import it in encore.
I don't know if it's better than let encore transcode the video, but in tmpg I have full access to a lot of settings of mp2 encoding (like GOP, bitrate, and so on) and I know what I'm going to do. Instead in encore I have only a few preset or the Auto mode which don't let me know anything about the encoded movie.

[Arky]

I'm glad you've solved your problem, but you should be aware that GOPs for DVD authoring should also include B-frames!

A typical GOP for PAL DVD authoring would be something like:

IBBPBBPBBPBB (12)

or

IBBPBBPBBPBBPBB (15)


Too many P-frames will make your encoding extremely inefficient and your picture quality will be reduced because of this. TMPGEnc is a great encoder but you really must be sure that you know how to set it up correctly or you will cause yourself problems. The encoder included in Encore is by MainConcept and is actually a very good encoder in its own right. By all means learn and use TMPGEnc, but don't be afraid to use the integrated encoder in Encore, too, because it's actually very good.


Arky ;o)

[nicco]

but you should be aware that GOPs for DVD authoring should also include B-frames!


I red in an MP2-guide that for a high average bitrate (above 6000kb or so) I could use I and P-pictures only, so I used I and P only (this is for example truth for divx)
The encore auto-transcoded(8000kb CBR) GOP is IPBBPBBPBB(fields coded) and IBBPBBPBBP (bottom fields) (I red them in restream bur I don't know what's the difference), but this movie does not seem to me to be better than my tmpg-6000kb CBR with IPPPPPPPPP GOP. What should I do? Re-encode in tmpg with IPBBPBBPBB GOP? Let encore auto-transcode? Leave my movie as it is? What's your suggestion?
Sorry but I'm a very newbie in DVD authoring :confused:

TMPGEnc is a great encoder but you really must be sure that you know how to set it up correctly or you will cause yourself problems
Can you tell me where to find a good guide?

[nicco]

but don't be afraid to use the integrated encoder in Encore, too, because it's actually very good
Thanks!It's the truth! I let encore encode my movie with "Auto" mode and I get a very good mp2 movie.
Encore made a 7000 Kbps - IBBPBBPBBPBB GOP movie, which looks really good!
You was right about only I and P frames becouse this new movie is much better than the one made in tmpg with only IandP frames.:D