Encore inflating file sizes

[thirdeyepro]

When I add files to Encore, they'll show in the project pane with the correct file size (4.3 gb), but when I add the video to a timeline and then check the build pane, the disc info shows that it's now taken up more of the disc space than it should (4.72 gb) making it JUST too big for the disc. So frustrating.

I initially thought that maybe it was the chapter menus and the pictures I used in the menus that were taking up extra space and for some reason, wasn't being counted by the disc info until I added the video timeline... so I deleted them. Nope. It's just the video file that's taking up all the space for some reason. Adding the video file to a timeline mysteriously increases the file size from 4.3 to 4.72. Where is this extra 400 or so megabytes coming from? Is there any way to stop this from happening? I really don't want to have to waste time re-encoding the video (which takes hours) just to get rid of .02 megabytes that shouldn't be there anyway. Again... just plain frustrating.

[Moved from Premiere Pro to Encore... Mod]

[John T Smith]

1 - do you have anything entered in the "rom content" block of your build?

2 - I don't remember the exact size, but "some" space is used for "house keeping" overhead

[Stan Jones]

The difference is .42 Gigabytes, except that isn't the way Encore counts it...

A single layer DVD, is called 4.7GB. But the technical size is measured in GiB, and that is only 4.37 GiB where 1 kbyte is 1024 bytes.

What this means is that if you read your file size as 3.9GB, it is actually 4,187,593,113 bytes. To make this confusing within Encore, Encore reports your file in the project panel as 3.9GB. But when it lists the amount of the disk used and free in the build panel, it is reporting bytes with "GB" after it.

So I suspect that your "4.3 BG" file is too big.

I assume that you see "do not transcode" in the DVD transcode status column in the project panel, confirming that Encore sees you file as DVD legal.

[SAFEHARBOR11]

How did you create the content for the DVD - is it already MPEG-2 DVD compliant?

Always use a bitrate calculator when creating content for DVD - DVD-HQ : Bitrate & GOP calculator

Or a quick method is 560/minutes = bit rate, though I usually round down a little for safety margin.

For short vids, like 60 minutes or less, just encode at 8.0 and no worries.

Thanks

Jeff

[SLDH]

I am suddenly having this same problem. My file is slightly less than 3gig, but when I go to build, the file is too large for my DVD. I've never had this happen before today,

Shari

[Stan Jones]

See John's point number 1: do you have any ROM content (526 Kb is Encore housekeeping and is okay).

Does your asset show "do not transcode" in the DVD Transcode Status column? If not, Encore is transcoding it,and you problem is in the transcode settings in Encore - or really, the fact that your imported file is not DVD legal.

[SLDH]

Stan,

Thank you! Yes, my ROM content reads 526kb.

My DVD Transcode is showing "Automatic." I believe it used to always read, "do not transcode" on my previous projects. "Do not transcode," is not an option I can select. You said I imported a file that is not DVD legal. I am creating an Mpeg2 for DVD, which is what I do for most of my projects. I don't know that I've done anything differently, so I don't know what to change?!

Thanks again,

Shari

[SAFEHARBOR11]

Hi Shari,

A screen shot of MPEG-2 DVD export settings please, could be helpful in troubleshooting.

Thanks

Jeff

[SLDH]

[SLDH]

My preset is "NTSC DV Wide." It changes to custom when I deselect audio.

Shari

[SAFEHARBOR11]

Thanks for the screen shots. Not to change the subject, but why is the source sequence 17fps? Is source possibly phone footage, which may use a Variable Frame Rate? Premiere does not like Variable Frame Rate. This should not affect what is going on in Encore, but should be addressed as part of the overall workflow. Also, source is Progressive but DVD encode is set to Interlaced. I'd go with Progressive for DVD as well then.

Well, 83 minutes encoded at 5.0 setting should certainly fit on a DVD. Maybe a shot of Encore screen to look at next step

Thanks

Jeff

[SLDH]

The footage is a Super8mm film transfer, which was typically recorded in the 17fps range.

Here is a shot from Encore...

[SAFEHARBOR11 · Accepted solution]

Have you changed any settings in Encore at all? By default, when opening a NEW Encore project, you should be able to drop in ANY clip that was exported from Media Encoder as MPEG-2 DVD and it will work, no need to change anything, whether footage is 4:3 or 16:9, Encore just "works" and does not transcode. Unless file is too big, then it would need to shrink it down to size.

So maybe try a New Project in Encore, Import your clip, then what does it say? Check under the Project tab, as shown in pic

From what I've seen of your Export settings, the .m2v clip ought to be compliant in Encore.

And to make sure I understand the 17fps thing, you had an outside company transfer the footage and they provided 720p clips at 17fps? That makes sense then, I've looked into those companies myself. Make sure to export as NTSC DV Wide Progressive though, no need to interlace that footage. I wonder if you are better off to just edit the clips in a 720p 29.97 sequence to start with, rather than 17fps sequence? Frame rate has to be converted as some point anyway.

Thanks

Jeff

[SLDH]

Thanks, Jeff. I did another project and it worked just fine with the "don't transcode" setting popping up automatically. I created a new Encore project with the file I was having trouble with and now that is working, too. Weird. Thank you for your assistance as I am no expert in what all of my settings should be, as you can probably tell!

Yes, I have a transfer unit to transfer film and then export 720p at 17fps. I will export as NTSC DV Wide Progressive, as you suggested. Thank you again for your technical expertise!

Shari

[SLDH]

I did a new export of the project I was having trouble with and that is the one that worked. The first file I was having trouble with seems to be the only one that doesn't come up as "don't transcode" automatically. For some reason, it must not be "DVD legal" as you suggested. Thanks, again.