Procoder and Encore

[Sean]

Hi everybody

I have a problem with my project and I hope people here could help me.
I edited some video files( VOB files) in Edius 4.2 and I exported them as MPEG-2 DVD compliant (with M2P extension), then I imported it in Adobe Encore and I created chapters and menus for it but when I run build command, Encore crashed, computer didn’t crashed but became very slow, I tried again but result was the same. Maybe you say it is Encore problem and here is Edius forum and why I explain it here.
I went to some Encore forum and told my problem, some body told me probably it is because of ProCoder Codec and I should better to export my project from Edius Timeline as AVI DV. I still didn’t do it because I am not sure about this suggestion and I don’t want to use quality during new conversion.
When I exporting my project I changed some parameters in Advance settings,

1- I changed interlacing from Lower Field to Upper Field.
2- Enable USE CLOSE GOP parameter.
3- Put video bit rate on 7000.

I left the rest settings on default, 720x480 NTSC, 29, 97 and 4x3 Aspect ratio.

Now please tell me your idea? Should I export my project as AVI DV instead of MPEG-2 regardless my source video is MPEG-2?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

[Rusty]

Have you tried "Lower Field First"? (NTSC standard)
I believe Closed GOP is for advanced DVDs and I've never used them.

Rusty

[Sean]

No, I haven't tried yet, because my source video is Upper field, but I will try it tomorrow.

[mattmatt]

I think it has to do with changing the field order. The quality of a "vob to mpeg2" (or mpeg2 to mpeg2) isn't going to be great anyway and loss of quality is inevitable. I would also suggest using a dv avi and letting encore encode it, if nothing else works. The end result won't be much different anyway (in this case).

Other things:

* What version of Encore are you using?

* What format are the vobs? (NTSC / 4:3???) because like Rusty said, lower field first is the NTSC standard. Make sure when you're exporting from the timeline, that the format is the same as origianl (unless you are converting it), and make sure your Encore project matches that standard.

*Have you tried an Elementary stream mpeg?

*And again, I agree with Rusty, I have never used Closed Gops and never had any problems.

*When you run "Build" what are you selecting? Build to folder? Or to DVD? And when does it crash?

[Martin_Gleeson]

I would also suggest using a dv avi and letting encore encode it, if nothing else works. The end result won't be much different anyway (in this case).

With all due respect, the encoder in Encore is very poor. I don't know why: It's based on mainConcept and that is a good encoder. ProCoder will do a much better job: Even at higher, constant bit rates (I have done some comparisons).

1. What version of Encore are you using is a very important question..

2. Are you using motion thumbnail menus for you Chapter menus? Were these created by Encore? If yes, try unchecking the "Animate button" on each of the Chapter menus and rebuild. Do you still get the crash?

[3chip]

"With all due respect, the encoder in Encore is very poor. I don't know why: It's based on mainConcept and that is a good encoder. ProCoder will do a much better job: Even at higher, constant bit rates (I have done some comparisons"

I always export my timelines as an avi file and then import that file into Encore and allow it to convert the avi. It has always worked just fine, nothing poor about the quality and in fact I have had problems attempting to create an acceptable DVD file for Encore from Edius. I find it very confusing trying to remember all the things such as field order, vob, Mpeg 2, Mpeg 4 and on and on. I always thought GOP stood for the Governor of Pennsylvania anyway. The avi route works fine for me and I always want an avi file for other purposes anyway.

[Sean]

Thanks all for your comment, I have Encore 1.5 and 2 but I work with encore 1.5 more because Encore 2 change my language character to unknown words while I installed those fonts, I don’t know why, is there any hint?
My source video is MPEG-2 (VOB) NTSC 720x480, 29, 97 and Upper Field, I haven’t tried elementary stream and I haven’t used motion thumbnail menu, but I have used 30 seconds loop video clip in menu background.
Yesterday I checked my project in both version of Encore and result was the same but today when I tried it in Encore 2 again, it built my project on hard disk as image file but I am not sure what will happen tomorrow while I still have 8 other projects.
My operation systems is Win XP and I installed it recently and I am sure it is ok, RAM of my system is low, it is just 512mb, if somebody tell me it is my main problem, I will add another 512, ( however I know RAM is always important).
If my computer crash again I will convert MPEG-2 to AVI DV, it seems that there is no way else.

[mattmatt]

My comment about letting encore encode it was only relevant to this scenario. i.e. Encoding from DVD mpeg 2, to DVD mpeg 2.It is gonna look crap no matter how awesome your encoding software is. I ALWAYS use procoder to encode my video, but to try and solve this guys problem, I said what I said.

[mattmatt]

I suggested trying an elementary stream becasue I used to have problems with authoring software accepting program streams. I reckon that will solve your problem. Encore 2 is more buggy than encore 1.....

Ram always helps :) Good luck.