The last job I did was 80 minutes long.  Using CCE basic I encoded the video at 2 pass VBR with a min. of 4K & Max of 8 k and average of 6.  My other settings remain the same:  Mode - DVD; elementary stream; quality setting natural picture - "complex."  The resulting m2v file was 2.6 gig. 

Today I encoded the same type of show (interview with pictures) that was 88 minutes long and I used the same settings but the resulting video m2v size was 4.8 gig.

Show #1 was made up of an interview and stills.  Show 2 had, in addition to stills, a number of movie clips.  (These were QT ref files inside the timeline).  Before exporting both timelines to CCE I did a video mixdown - then exported as QT reference files.

Would the fact that I'm using video clips inside show #2 be the reason for the bigger size?  The audio - as is - is about a gig.

Thanks -

K

4.8 GB's is about what I would expect for an 88minute program IF the VBR AVERAGE was set to 8K and your program was all video. So there is something else going on.  Do you have a couple of hours to redo the encode?

Seperately encoding the audio to an AC3 (256kbs) file will bring the audio size down to 200MB's or so.

The first attempt had the average bitrate at 6 - not 8.  But I noticed 1 or 2 settings that may have been off.

I had exported as a QT Ref using the Avid codec.  In CCE I forgot to uncheck the de-interlace box.  Could this have made the size so big? 

I'm re-encodeing with the de-interlace option unchecked.  I set the max bitrate to 7 (instead of 8).  I also changed 'natural picture' to 'animation' because I think that had been the setting I was using in the past for good results (can't remember).

I like this program but it takes so long!

Thanks -

K

I used to love this program. When it came out 8 years ago it was faster than either Sorenson or ProCoder 3 are today.

I have found that with no updates for almost 3 years it does not play that nicely with the newer versions of QuickTime.

For your job I would have recommended 1 pass CBR at 6000kbs. CBR usually gives a better picture than VBR in CCE so I only really use VBR if I want to cram a lot of material onto the DVD (2 hours or so)

Natural picture setting Complex, no deinterlace.

In the File size box you should see CCE's estimate of the final file size.

Important to check that Elementary streams is the selected option.  It is possible that you did not do this and your GigaByte or so audio file was included in the 4.8 Gb result.

axel andy:

but it takes so long!

As with all encoders work with short movies and experiment with settings till you find the ideal ones for you. THEN save those settings as a template and name it approriately so it is easy to find and identify next time.  (eg "NTSC DV to DVD 16:9" for a source NTSC timeline at DV resolution encoding for 16:9 DVD)

I'll try the 1 pass CBR at 6000 when the current encoding is finished.   It is set for elementary stream. I agree with the "template" statement.  I have several but somehow, in one of my tests, I changed something.

Since I'm still using Xpress 3.5 I've stayed with QT 6.52.  Somewhere I have a note that there were some compatibility issues when using a higher version of QT with Xpress 3.5.  Is this true? 

Also - regarding CBR & VBR - if the final piece is going to the web and not a DVD, does it matter (VBR or CBR)?

Thanks -

K

axel andy:

Is this true? 

I have had some with different QuickTime 7's. Staying with 6.5.2 is a good idea IMO

axel andy:

does it matter (VBR or CBR)?

No. I only think VBR has advantages IF you use multi pass's (Usually more than 2 and this is only an option with CCE Basics big brother with a $2k price tag)

Single pass CBR has an obvious advantage in time saving compared to a 2 pass VBR. IMO 1 pass VBR is not a good option

Hello Andrew - yes I remember you recommending CCE basic some years ago on these forums - I bought it at that time - and still use it frequently now.

A great recommendation indeed!

Just curious - what is you encoder of choice now?

I don't know if this is new or if I just never noticed but there is a length discrepancy between my timeline and my input CCE file. 

After completing the encoding and making my DVD with DVDLab I noticed a very slight out of sync problem on the final dvd. 

The whole timeline is 1:28:13:08.  After exporting the wave file it (the exported file) shows a length of 1;28;13;07.  The exported QT ref "mov" file shows a length of 1:28;13;06.  In CCE Basic I "add" the .mov file and in that program it shows a duration of 1:28;07;28.  So I've lost almost 5 total seconds before encoding. Could it be that CCE is not counting the black at the start or end of the exported file?

Like I said - I never really compared the CCE "duration" field with the timeline exports so I don't know if this is normal.  Is this why the DVD is out of sync?  How do I correct the import to CCE?

....Should add - I'm trying to re-encode the QT Ref file at CBR - 6000 (1 pass), elementary stream, (all other settings as suggested) and the file size for this show (about 1 1/2 hrs) is 3.97 gig.  I don't know what is driving the size up.  And don't know why the length discrepancy.

K

connollypm:

Just curious - what is you encoder of choice now?

I no longer have a first choice. Now it is job and mood dependant.  Mainly Adobe Media encoder for Blu Ray encoding. ProCoder 3 for HD to SD DVD's and 24 to 25 frame rate  convert . CCE or short prrograms to DVD. Longer programs ProCoder, Sorenson or TMPGenc.  Sorenson for web delivery.

Are you encoding from a video mixdown?  Timeline filler can play havoc with QT references.

I've got so many issues going wrong that I need to start totally from scratch. 

I've made several mixdowns of my timeline and I want to delete them because they're taking up so much space.  In the past, if I highlighted the mixdown clip in the bin and, with the media tool open, told it to find the media relatives, the media tool would highlight 3 files (1 clip & 2 media files for that one mixdown clip).  Those I would delete.

Now, however, when I highlight the mixdown clip (of the entire timeline) and have the media tool display all "media relatives" it's pointing to 9 files instead of 3.  Since I've lost important files in the past I'm afraid to delete anything but I don't have any more room to keep creating "test" mixdowns.

Do you know what's going on with the 9 files associated with 1 video mixdown?

K

Assuming you are using OMF media with your system.  OMF is limited to writing 2GB files.  So to me I would guess 2 audio files and 7 x 2GB video files making up the single mixdown

Yes - using omfi.  I deleteed all 9 associated video mixdown files with no problem.  Then I redid the process again - still getting discrepancies in length...

Timeline is 1;28;13;08.  Mixdown video clip in bin shows a duration of 1;28;07;28.  That clip loaded in source monitor shows the same duration (1;28;07;28).  So I overwrite that clip onto the timeline and mark the in/out point and the duration is back to 1;28;13;08.  The qtref export file, in the qt player, shows a length of 1;28;13;06.  I bring it into CCE basic and now its back to 1;28;07;28.  I encode at 6000 cbr (video only; elementary stream) and the file size is 4 gig. 

Not an NTSC buff but could it be your timeline TC is NDF and CCE is reading DF timecode? (To early Monday morning for me to do the math and see if that would account for 5 and a half seconds over 88 minutes)

How do I tell if the timeline tc is NDF or DF?  My deck preference setting shows"When the deck contains no tape log as 'drop frame.'  Does this have any effect on editing?  Also - I've posted an audio question under another title...

Thanks -

K