1 pass VBR, possible?

[Backwoods]

I am mainly looking to re-encode DVDs with multiple menus and keep those menus intact. I really don't need to worry about DVD9-DVD5 size limits. Is it possible to use a 1 pass VBR without a creation of VAQ or need for extra passes?

I've played around with the free version before but it seems there isn't an option to do so. Does the full version allow this option?

[wmansir]

Check Settings->(encoder)->One Pass VBR (w/analysis).

The free version supports it with CCE. Pro version supports it with everything but Procoder.

Procoder may work in either version if you setup DVD-RB to use CCE 2.5 and point the 2.5 path to EclPro in setup. No promises though.

The w/analysis part will try to help the output hit the target size. If you really don't care about output size target DVD-9 (pro only), or edit your .ini file to increase TargetSectors= value.

[Backwoods]

I should have said without analysis too, forgot about that. The analysis just takes more time which I don't need to waste.

Hmm, ok so choose DVD-9. Now to see if I can edit any file so that CCE will encode with 1 pass VBR Q=20 min=2000 max=9000.

Thanks for the idea. I'm going to poke around in the INI file now.

[jdobbs]

If you're not worried about the size, you can just do a global find/replace in the ECL file after PREPARE to make it OPV. Lets say, for example I wanted to do the encode with the Q factor set to 10. Here's a quick example using CCE SP 2.70:

1. Set DVD-RB for 3 click mode.
2. Run PREPARE with 2 pass VBR selected for CCE SP 2.70.
3. Open REBUILDER.ECL using Notepad or Wordpad.
4. Do a "Replace All" action changing all locations:

From "video_type=16" to "video_type=4"

5. Do a "Replace All" action changing all locations*:

From "opv_q_factor=20" to "opv_q_factor=10"

6. Press the "REBUILD" button. It will do the ENCODE and REBUILD phases.

Just remember, the output size will be whatever the Q makes -- and will probably not fit on a DVD-R.
That should take care of it for you.

*Note: In DVD-RB, when the q factor is not in use the value is always 20.

[Backwoods]

Thank you, this should do it.

Now if I wanted to change the VBR I replace all:

opv_brate_min=0 with opv_brate_min=2000

opv_brate_max=72000 with opv_brate_max=9000

Correct? I'm going to try that now. Thanks again.

[jdobbs]

IMPORTANT: DO NOT CHANGE THE MAXIMUM BITRATE!!!! It is calculated very carefully and if you increase it you WILL GET STUTTER during playback. DVD-RB encodes all sources at a constant framerate in order to handle hybrid sources correctly, and when it does the REBUILD it resets the flags to match the original. This can cause the max to get up to 25% higher than the specified encoder settings. The maximum also considers the bitrate needed for audio and subpictures. I would also recommend you not change the minimum bitrate -- it gains nothing to raise it except to waste space. When you run OPV the encoder will use whatever bitrate is needed to get a constant quality -- so why cripple it?

[Added Note] What I'm saying here holds true even if you don't plan to play it back on a standalone player. The timing parameters related to VTS file structure are based on DVD standards -- and failing to meet them will cause a plethora of problems.

[Backwoods]

Too late now, I'll let you know tomorrow about any problems with the edits.

Also it seems that there is still interlacing on the clips but they are at 23.976. I guess we'll see what happens on the standalone once the disc is made.

[Trahald]

Also it seems that there is still interlacing on the clips but they are at 23.976. I guess we'll see what happens on the standalone once the disc is made.that is just how dvdrb works... no need to worry. since dvdrb does the muxing itself it can send any framerate it wants to the encoder, but the final muxed vobs will be the correct framerate.

[jdobbs]

That's also the reason you are going to have problems. When those 23.976fps clips are converted back to 29.97 in REBUILD the maximum bitrate you set (9000) will become 11250. Add a 5.1 audio at 448Kbs and you're pushing a bitrate of 12000 -- 2000Kbs above what the VTS design can handle.

I tried to tell you. :(

[Backwoods]

It's alright, thanks for the warning though.

The encode finished late last night and there was no audio. So I didn't change the min and max but changed the video_type and tried again. Now checking the final output, there is no audio during the episodes but audio during the menus.

Could this be a side effect from changing the video type?

[jdobbs]

No. Are you a registered user?

There is at least a couple cracked versions of DVD-RB floating around that lose audio because of the patch used in the crack. It's the only explanation I know for what you're experiencing.

That's about the extent of the help I can give you. :mad:

[Backwoods]

Freeware Version 0.97

I wouldn't even know how to crack it, especially since you don't provide a download link to the PRO.

I guess upgrading to version 0.98 could be an option.

Does DVD-RB just use the DLL of DGDecode to make the D2Vs? I don't get how it could without DGIndex, unless it finds DGIndex on your machine.

[jdobbs]

DVD-RB doesn't use DGIndex. It creates the D2V itself when it does the PREPARE phase -- that's also where it gets stream information and gathers information for bitrate allocation. It does, however, use DGDECODE in order to frame serve MPEG2 in AVISYNTH.

If you're using the freeware version and you aren't getting sound, take a look at your setup dialog (OPTIONS menu/SETUP). It's possible you may have selected all languages for removal. Make sure at least one language is unclicked... Also the main screen should indicate which languages are kept -- they will have a "checkmark" next to the Audio Stream.