DVD-RB Settings

[cyspur]

Hi every1, just got DVD-RB Pro this week, never used the free version before.

I just did my first DVD-5 iso with DVD-RB & used the following:
1. Enable bitrate redistribution.
2. HC settings> one pass CQ VBR (w/analysis)
3. HC settings> Quality/Speed selection> BEST/slowest.
4. steal space from extras 25%
5. Half-D1 for extras.
6. Half-D1 and half space for extras.

Are these settings ok? I've also seen a few people mention rebuilders matrix editor (rocka's) can it still be used? I am including a log file & would appreciate it if someone could please tell me if it looks ok. Can i improve on this? Thank you:)

[17:10:20] One Click encoding activated...
-----------------
[17:10:20] Phase I, PREPARATION started.
- DVD-RB v1.26.5
- AVISYNTH 2.5.8.0
- HC v0.22.0.0 encoder selected
- "Half-D1/Half Space for Extras" mode is enabled.
- "Steal Space from Extras" mode (25%) is enabled.
- "One Pass VBR (w/analysis)" mode is enabled.
- Source: SS 3 HR V1
- VTS_01: 3,416,986 sectors.
-- Scanning and writing .D2V & .AVS files
-- Processed 323,209 frames.
-- Building .AVS and .ECL files
- Reduction Level for DVD-5: 47.6%
- Overall Bitrate : 1,710/1,368Kbs
- Space for Video : 2,250,782KB
- Analyzing VTS_01 for optimal CQ factor.
-- TargetSize (sectors):1,142,272
-- Sampling 6465 of 323209 frames.
-- Predicted size (sectors) at CQ=7.2: 2,258,515
-- Predicted size (sectors) at CQ=14.2: 1,024,112
-- Predicted size (sectors) at CQ=12.7: 1,135,732
-- Predicted size (sectors) at CQ=12.6: 1,147,046
- CQ Value selected: 12.6
- HIGH/LOW/TYPICAL Bitrates: 1,695/1,250/1,368 Kbs
[17:20:32] Phase I, PREPARATION completed in 10 minutes.
[17:20:32] Phase II ENCODING started
- Creating M2V for VTS_01 segment 0
- Creating M2V for VTS_01 segment 1
- Creating M2V for VTS_01 segment 2
- Creating M2V for VTS_01 segment 3
- Creating M2V for VTS_01 segment 4
- Creating M2V for VTS_01 segment 5
- Creating M2V for VTS_01 segment 6
- Creating M2V for VTS_01 segment 7
- Creating M2V for VTS_01 segment 8
- Creating M2V for VTS_01 segment 9
- Creating M2V for VTS_01 segment 10
- Creating M2V for VTS_01 segment 11
- Creating M2V for VTS_01 segment 12
[18:30:32] Phase II ENCODING completed in 70 minutes.
[18:30:33] Phase III, REBUILD started.
- Copying IFO, BUP, and unaltered files...
- Processing VTS_01
- Reading/processing TMAP table...
- Rebuilding seg 0 VOBID 1 CELLID 1
- Rebuilding seg 1 VOBID 1 CELLID 2
- Rebuilding seg 2 VOBID 1 CELLID 3
- Rebuilding seg 3 VOBID 1 CELLID 4
- Rebuilding seg 4 VOBID 1 CELLID 5
- Rebuilding seg 5 VOBID 1 CELLID 6
- Rebuilding seg 6 VOBID 1 CELLID 7
- Rebuilding seg 7 VOBID 1 CELLID 8
- Rebuilding seg 8 VOBID 1 CELLID 9
- Rebuilding seg 9 VOBID 1 CELLID 10
- Rebuilding seg 10 VOBID 1 CELLID 11
- Rebuilding seg 11 VOBID 1 CELLID 12
- Rebuilding seg 12 VOBID 1 CELLID 13
- Updating NAVPACKS for VOBID_01
- Updated VTS_C_ADT.
- Updated VTS_VOBU_ADMAP.
- Updated IFO: VTS_01_0.IFO
- Updating TMAP table...
- Correcting VTS Sectors...
- Building ISO Image...
- ISO Image successfully created.
[18:52:11] Phase III, REBUILD completed in 22 minutes.

Done.
[18:52:11] PREPARE/ENCODE/REBUILD completed in 102 min.

[jdobbs]

Hi cyspur -- and welcome to the forum.

The settings are ok and will work. But my recommendations are:

1. Using the combination of "Steal Space 25%", "Half D1 and Half Space for Extras" is overkill. When you use both together they build upon each other -- so you'll end up with 37.5% space for extras... which typically will look poor. Use just the "Half/Half" option alone or "25%" alone.

2. Using "Half D1" and "Half/Half" options are redundant. The only time you should use "Half D1" is when you want to reduce the size (Half D1) and leave the bitrate alone, or select your reduction (like "Half D1" and "25% reduction").

3. One Pass CQ is faster and works fine, but you will get slightly better quality and sizing with two pass encoding.

4. Enabling Bitrate Redistribution is usually a good idea -- but it has no effect when you are using One-Pass CQ (because the CQ value determines the bitrate redistribution). Bitrate Redistribution is meant for multiple pass encoding.

[cyspur]

Hi jdobbs thanks for your answer:)

How would i do a two pass encoding please? Thanks again.

[TBL]

- Space for Video : 2,250,782KB
- HIGH/LOW/TYPICAL Bitrates: 1,695/1,250/1,368 Kbs


Hello and welcome from me too.

You might also want to check if you have stuff which you don't need/want in the DVD. Maybe it has PCM audio too? Your space for video is pretty low, and thus are your average bitrates.

Regarding your other question, you can enable two pass encoding by removing the checkmark from Settings -> HC settings -> One Pass CQ VBR (w/ analysis).

[jdobbs]

Good point. I hadn't noticed the bitrates... they are very low. This must be a very tightly packed disc. It'll be difficult (but not impossible) to get good quality at those bitrates. You're right, the source must be using PCM audio to only leave that much space (either that or a high bitrate DTS)...

[blutach]

It's a pretty long flick - 3 hours - so that doesn't help.

@cyspur - check your audio languages in the input settings (double click on them to bring up a cross for ones you don't want - DVDRB will strip them out).

-- TargetSize (sectors):1,142,272 This looks wrong - the default will get you about double this. Have you messed around with your INI file at all?

Regards

[cyspur]

Good morning :)

Thank you TBL, jdobbs & blutach:)

I checked the audio in shrink automatic settings & it shows as LPCM 2 channel stream 2.015GB in size & the video (in shrink again) 2.554GB. It doesnt say anything about dts though. The audio sounds like a massive file size lol. PowerDVD shows the audio bitrate as 1536 kbits/s

@blutach i looked in DVD-RB there is only the English language as 1 audio stream & no subtitles either. (video title set shows 6.787 GB).
Concerning the INI file i havent touched that:

-- TargetSize (sectors):1,142,272
This looks wrong - the default will get you about double this. Have you messed around with your INI file at all?

Is there anything i can do to change that to the default value?

Is there an option that i can tick to enable two pass encoding or is it done automatically by removing One Pass CQ VBR (w/ analysis)?

Thanks.

[Boulder]

I would replace the LPCM track with a 2.0 AC3 track at 192kbps and then do the DVD-RB magic..however, this procedure might be a bit hard one for a newbie :)

[cyspur]

Hi Boulder, i thought that i'de have to tamper with the audio... does that involve demuxing each vob file individually & then remuxing after making the necessary audio changes? Thx:)

Edit: I have figured out the 2 pass enconding, re running the encoding process takes twice the time.... thanks a million guys:)

[blutach]

Demux the domain with PGCDemux.
Transcode the audio with BeSweet/BeLight (I think 192kb AC3 is a bit iffy, but I'm an audiophile).
Remux with muxman.
Process with DVD Rebuilder (http://dvd-rb.dvd2go.org/).
Regards

[Boulder]

Demux the domain with PGCDemux.
Transcode the audio with BeSweet/BeLight (I think 192kb AC3 is a bit iffy, but I'm an audiophile).
Remux with muxman.
Process with DVD Rebuilder (http://dvd-rb.dvd2go.org/).
Regards192kbps for 2 channels should be enough - after all that is what most commercial DVDs have for 2.0 audio. Aften is a very good quality (and free) AC3 encoder, it's highly recommended to use it :)

Is it possible to replace the audio track by simply remuxing with MuxMan and copying the appropriate files, no need to use VobBlanker to replace VTSs? I've always remuxed with MM and then replaced the items with VobBlanker.

[blutach]

Agree re Aften - audio encoder of choice here, too.

It really depends on the structure of the DVD. If it is really simple, with just one title in the VTS, you might just use PgcEdit's replace VTST titles function. Can't just copy the files - the pointers in the IFOs will be messed up (eg C_ADT, TMAP, VOBU_ADMAP).

The important thing is to get the source "right" in the first place - and that's where muxman comes in mighty handy :).

Regards

[cyspur]

Thanks blutach m8, I followed your 4 steps above & reduced the audio file. Those are really cute programs & not to have the sound be iffish i bumped it up a notch to 224kb ac, dunno if i shouldnt have, but the vob files playback ok:)
At least the bitrate has gone up:

[20:21:52] Phase I, PREPARATION started.
- DVD-RB v1.26.5
- AVISYNTH 2.5.8.0
- HC v0.22.0.0 encoder selected
- "Steal Space from Extras" mode (33%) is enabled.
- Source: NEW FOLDER (3)
- VTS_01: 2,535,591 sectors.
-- Scanning and writing .D2V & .AVS files
-- Processed 323,209 frames.
-- Building .AVS and .ECL files
- Reduction Level for DVD-5: 87.3%
- Overall Bitrate : 3,137/2,510Kbs
- Space for Video : 4,129,932KB
- Redistributing using Base_Q: 40
- HIGH/LOW/TYPICAL Bitrates: 2,674/2,124/2,510 Kbs
[20:31:58] Phase I, PREPARATION completed in 10 minutes.

You've taught me a lot the past few weeks & i've enjoyed the experience, much appreciated:cool:

[blutach]

http://www.digital-digest.com/~blutach/yer.gif

You got a lot of vid there to encode (>3 1/2 hours), so have fun :)

Regards