Skip to main content
L
Letty2019
Legend
May 26, 2021
Answered

Exporting with or without black bars for widescreen bluray disc.

  • May 26, 2021
  • 1 reply
  • 600 views

Hello, 

My project is 16x9  1920x1080, widescreen letterboxed. (I crop 12% from top and bottom during editing, I know it's 'fake' but gotta fake it till you make it)

 

The final export is for bluray disc, which is 1920x1080

 

Question:

At the time of exporting in AME, should I crop the black bars off and export as 1920 x 820 to help save encoding and bitrate processing and then when I use the bluray software (AuthWorks6) it ads the black bars back on?   H265 will allow the aspect ratio change to 1920x820 and make one video/audio file mp4 combo.  Only one pass VBR. 

 

OR

 

Just export the whole enchilada with the black bars using H264, then I can get dual pass.   

 

The original footage is SD, about 26 mbps.  H265 only alows target max of 20mbps, where H264 allows a higher range to cover my footage.

 

Whatcha think of all this?

 

Thanks!

Letty

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Letty2019

Hi Neil,

I did a basic test, but the results were close.

I was hoping there was a rule of thumb about exporting with or without bars.

Read over 2 hours and there are just too many conflicting opinions.

 

3.5 minute sequence:

Exporting without bars h265  20mbps max, took: 1:22 to export and made a 514 mb file.

Exporting with bars h265  20mbps max, took:  :94 to export and made a 534 mb file.  (not sure why it was faster?)

 

Bigger file with the bars.  But, not much bigger.

 

Exporting with bars h264  20mpbs max, took: 2:27 to export and made a 478mb file + 41mb = 519 mb file.

same export h264 with no bars (cropped off at export) had a longer run! 3:26 ???  

I guess it has to make more decisions at the time of export.

 

Solution: Leave the bars cropped in PPro and just export the whole thing as normal.

I have to use h264-bluray to make a bluray file.  Plus it has the dual pass for better quality.

 

Well, that was an easy one.

Thanks,

Letty

 

 

1 reply

R Neil Haugen
R Neil Haugen
Legend
May 27, 2021

Why don't you do a test and see which gives a better result?

 

Neil

Everyone's mileage always varies ...
L
Letty2019AuthorCorrect answer
Legend
May 28, 2021

Hi Neil,

I did a basic test, but the results were close.

I was hoping there was a rule of thumb about exporting with or without bars.

Read over 2 hours and there are just too many conflicting opinions.

 

3.5 minute sequence:

Exporting without bars h265  20mbps max, took: 1:22 to export and made a 514 mb file.

Exporting with bars h265  20mbps max, took:  :94 to export and made a 534 mb file.  (not sure why it was faster?)

 

Bigger file with the bars.  But, not much bigger.

 

Exporting with bars h264  20mpbs max, took: 2:27 to export and made a 478mb file + 41mb = 519 mb file.

same export h264 with no bars (cropped off at export) had a longer run! 3:26 ???  

I guess it has to make more decisions at the time of export.

 

Solution: Leave the bars cropped in PPro and just export the whole thing as normal.

I have to use h264-bluray to make a bluray file.  Plus it has the dual pass for better quality.

 

Well, that was an easy one.

Thanks,

Letty

 

 

    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices