Trying to author my first BRD's...?'s

[Philip]

So I have a bluray burner now and am starting the learning process for the workflow to BRD. I have encoded a project out of Edius 4.54 to HD MPEG2 with a bit rate of 18,000. It created a m2p file. I then tried to use the entry level Cyberlink software included with the drive to author a disc. It wouldn't open an m2p file. I changed the extension to .mpg and it opened fine and appeared to author fine. Is there a reason why I shouldn't use this "trickery" or is there a better way to encode to mpeg for HD. I don't have full blown ProCoder .... only Procoder express. I do have a copy of Sorenson version 4.3 though.

I have Encore and CS3 as well but am hoping to write a magazine article on the Edius to BRD workflow and want to try the basic software included with the drive and also Encore and compare the final products compatibility.

Thanks for any recommendations or help.

[shueardm]

My suggestion would be to use Encore CS3 not Cyberlink to author, unless you meant "write" the BDR. You really should get yourself the ProCoder 3 upgrade it's half price if you own an EDIUS license. There is a way to use ProCoder Express to make legal Mpeg2HD files for BD but it's not documented here anywhere, the default Mpeg2HD settings will not work. The new build ProCoder3.05 has Blu-ray presets for Mpeg2 use them and then import to Encore.

[Philip]

There is a way to use ProCoder Express to make legal Mpeg2HD files for BD but it's not documented here anywhere, the default Mpeg2HD settings will not work. The new build ProCoder3.05 has Blu-ray presets for Mpeg2 use them and then import to Encore.

I will see about getting the full blown Procoder in a few months when business really starts picking up.

I know the Cyberlink will not be the best alternative. In the article I am writing I am attempting to lay out a path for easy BR authoring using tools most Edius users will have. Not all Edius users will have Encore but if they have a BR burner they will probably end up with Cyberlink. I want to compare the 2 against each other for compatibility and ease of use for basic authoring duties...nothing fancy.

So how does one use PCE to make Legal Mpeg2HD files? Now I'm curious. :-)

[shueardm]

I think the main thing is use Main Profile at High Level and IntraDC Precision (9)

Really, I think you should forget the Cyberlink program for authoring, it only makes BDAV discs which is not the same as BDMV, you can't make menus for example.

[Jerry]

I will see about getting the full blown Procoder in a few months when business really starts picking up.

I know the Cyberlink will not be the best alternative. In the article I am writing I am attempting to lay out a path for easy BR authoring using tools most Edius users will have. Not all Edius users will have Encore but if they have a BR burner they will probably end up with Cyberlink. I want to compare the 2 against each other for compatibility and ease of use for basic authoring duties...nothing fancy.

So how does one use PCE to make Legal Mpeg2HD files? Now I'm curious. :-)

When you say basic authoring duties, do you mean w/menus? If so, you will not be getting that from Cyberlink. These will be BDAV disks. If you want menus, Encore CS3 will deliver a BDMV disc. DVDITPROHD will also deliver a BDMV disc. If you are doing the article, you might as well include them.

Do a search for PCE and how to make legal MPEG2HD files. It is there on the web.

What you need to know, and also express in your article, is that it is not as simple as getting a bluray burner and software and making a blu-ray disc.
Yes, it is much easier these days than it was 2 years ago when I started. However, just making one mistake can create a non-compliant blu-ray file.
Get used to that term, non-compliant.

I'm sure Mark will agree with me on this: Over the last couple of years of burning Blu-rays it has been more of an art than a science. Trial and error of various programs as well as blu-ray firmware enabling playback of BDMV discs have all been obstacles in the path of a succesful blu-ray burn.

Any one piece of information that you would get posted here would just be a piece to a very complicated puzzle.

My advice is to get the software installed, be prepared to sit at your computer for a couple of days, make sure you have a blu-ray player or ps3 (not a computer) to test playback, have a BD-RE disc available and try, try, try.

I wish you luck in your endeavour.

[Philip]

What you need to know, and also express in your article, is that it is not as simple as getting a bluray burner and software and making a blu-ray disc.
Yes, it is much easier these days than it was 2 years ago when I started. However, just making one mistake can create a non-compliant blu-ray file.
Get used to that term, non-compliant.

.
.
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My advice is to get the software installed, be prepared to sit at your computer for a couple of days, make sure you have a blu-ray player or ps3 (not a computer) to test playback, have a BD-RE disc available and try, try, try.

I wish you luck in your endeavour.

I know my endeavor is also a learning adventure. I do have 4 BD-RE discs that I have been playing with so far. I have some BD-Rs as well but am waiting till I can try the BD-RE disc on a player. We don't have a player yet but plan on making a run to the local electronics superstore to try them out. As part of my article I want to list all the players at the store and which played each disc.

I will be stressing that point you mentioned about BluRay authoring is not as simple as DVD authoring is. I am well aware of that and will make sure to pound that point home to the readers.

BTW...the version of Cyberlink I got has PowerProducer and I was able to make a BDMV disc and a BDAV disc. Of course the Cyberlink Player will only play BDAV discs so I have no idea if the BDMV actually works yet. The BDMV in Cyberlink was not too terribly complicated and if it works may be easier to learn than full blown Encore....it just won't make discs as pretty as Encore will...Encore has better templates for menus.


Thamks for the help.

[shueardm]

BTW...the version of Cyberlink I got has PowerProducer and I was able to make a BDMV disc and a BDAV disc. .

Ok, that's new to me.
RE: harder than DVD, not really, it's the encoding that is harder due to a lack of real guidelines and encoding tools, not the authoring.

[Philip]

Ok, that's new to me.
RE: harder than DVD, not really, it's the encoding that is harder due to a lack of real guidelines and encoding tools, not the authoring.

I did see on the internet that Sorenson was a good encoder and really fast but when I feed a Canopus HQ file to Squeeze 4.3 it errors out. Do I need to upgrade to 4.5 or just do full blown Procoder.

BTW....I checked PCE under the HD MPEG settings and the quality was set to high with IntraDC on 9 by default.

[shueardm]

Sorenson is twice as fast as ProCoder for Mpeg2 HD, but with the latest EDIUS 4.6 installed Sorenson can't be used, it filps the image.

It's been a while since I used PCE for Blu-ray, last time i looked it didn't work by default, I'll give it an other go.

[Jerry]

Ok, that's new to me.
RE: harder than DVD, not really, it's the encoding that is harder due to a lack of real guidelines and encoding tools, not the authoring.

It appears that the disc is still a BDAV with a header page. Then you can input your chapter points for access to points along the timeline.

PC MAG review:

The BDAV (Blu-ray Disc Audio Visual) format doesn't support menus, but although you can't have chapter menus, with discs you make using PowerProducer 4, chapter points let viewers advance from section to section using buttons on their Blu-ray remotes—a convenient feature.

[Philip]

It appears that the disc is still a BDAV with a header page. Then you can input your chapter points for access to points along the timeline.

PC MAG review:

The BDAV (Blu-ray Disc Audio Visual) format doesn't support menus, but although you can't have chapter menus, with discs you make using PowerProducer 4, chapter points let viewers advance from section to section using buttons on their Blu-ray remotes—a convenient feature.

Not trying to be a pain since it is just a Cyberlink product by my Make Disc page in the app gives me the option of BDAV and BDMV. Last night I used the BDMV to create a Menued Disc with a window that showed a different thumbnail as you moved to the different chapter descriptions. It worked in the preview window of the authoring tool. I burned a copy of it to BDRE but PowerDVD won't play back BDMV discs so I have no idea if it worked or not. I swear the options are there. I will know in a few days if it actually created a BDMV disc.

After this article is done I will be using Encore CS3 exclusively for authoring...at least till DVD Lab Pro adds BluRay support. :-)

[planetweckesser]

I did see on the internet that Sorenson was a good encoder and really fast but when I feed a Canopus HQ file to Squeeze 4.3 it errors out. Do I need to upgrade to 4.5 or just do full blown Procoder.

BTW....I checked PCE under the HD MPEG settings and the quality was set to high with IntraDC on 9 by default.

Phillip - another alternative is to encode Canopus HQ to an .m2t with PCE or, better yet, with Canopus Speed Encoder (don't know if it is still available) and then put the resulting .m2t file into Sorenson 4.3 or 4.5 and produce a blu-ray compliant file (.m2v - elementary stream) - the settings for this and other encoding programs are found in the Roxio Community website for DVDit Pro HD : http://forums.support.roxio.com/inde...howtopic=21049

This should give you a starting point - also in the "Important Topics" section of the same website will be DVDit Pro HD disc playback compatibility - this probably also holds true for Encore.

I have made over 20 blu-ray BDMV projects with this program - all with several titles per disc, motion menu backgrounds and motion chapter buttons - I'm sure you will be able to do the same with Encore - main thing as stated by others here is to get a blu-ray COMPLIANT file made and then the rest is easy.

[shueardm]

BTW....I checked PCE under the HD MPEG settings and the quality was set to high with IntraDC on 9 by default.

Indeed, some things have changed since i last used PCE. I am using EDIUS 4.6 which is many point releases after I last looked.

This is quite east really,

Start wizard, choose "Use the ProCoder Express for EDIUS Wizard to select a target" > HD (High Definition) > Mpeg-2 > select appropriate frame size and frame mode > output file details > select advanced output settings box > change from Mpeg-2 Program stream to Mpeg-2 Elementary stream and the file will be ok for authoring.

Grass Valley should add a Blu-ray Mpeg 2 quick selection now to the wizard.

[Philip]

Indeed, some things have changed since i last used PCE. I am using EDIUS 4.6 which is many point releases after I last looked.

This is quite east really,

Start wizard, choose "Use the ProCoder Express for EDIUS Wizard to select a target" > HD (High Definition) > Mpeg-2 > select appropriate frame size and frame mode > output file details > select advanced output settings box > change from Mpeg-2 Program stream to Mpeg-2 Elementary stream and the file will be ok for authoring.

Grass Valley should add a Blu-ray Mpeg 2 quick selection now to the wizard.

The only thing I did different was use a program stream instead of an elementary stream. In theory my files should be ok. A test in a few days will tell me for sure. Looks like I am on the right track.

[Philip]

Phillip - another alternative is to encode Canopus HQ to an .m2t with PCE or, better yet, with Canopus Speed Encoder (don't know if it is still available) and then put the resulting .m2t file into Sorenson 4.3 or 4.5 and produce a blu-ray compliant file (.m2v - elementary stream) - the settings for this and other encoding programs are found in the Roxio Community website for DVDit Pro HD : http://forums.support.roxio.com/inde...howtopic=21049

This should give you a starting point - also in the "Important Topics" section of the same website will be DVDit Pro HD disc playback compatibility - this probably also holds true for Encore.

I have made over 20 blu-ray BDMV projects with this program - all with several titles per disc, motion menu backgrounds and motion chapter buttons - I'm sure you will be able to do the same with Encore - main thing as stated by others here is to get a blu-ray COMPLIANT file made and then the rest is easy.

Thanks for that information. I will check that out. Lots of my old projects that need to be authored to BluRay have been archived in m2t format. That should streamline the task alot when I get to really making the discs....and yes speed encoder is still in my version 4.54 and I use it all the time for m2t creation.