Tools
you will need:
GSpot
TMPGEnc Plus
ffmpegGUI
Bitrate Calculator
Step 1: Get file stats
Step 2: Encode Video
Step 3: Encode Audio
Step 1: Getting File Stats
Open the file you wish to convert with GSpot. If you are converting multiple files to put on
the one DVD, you should open all of them individually.
Take
note of the information within the red boxes. If you get “Codec(s) are NOT
installed” messages like I have in either the Video or
Audio stat fields, then you’ll need to find a suitable codec to decompress your
file – otherwise TMPGEnc won’t be able to open it.
Normally a Google of either the value in the codec field or the name will find
you the codec you need. Close GSpot when finished.
Now use Videohelp.com's bitrate
calculator to calculate the bitrate you need to make
the video. If you are using more than one clip, add up the total running times
(durations) from all the clips you wish to use ie. if you have 6 * 22 minute clips, then you have 132 minutes,
so the figure you need to put in is 2 hours 12 minutes.
This is what the calculator looks like when you start:
I
have circled the key points above.
1 is where you input the total running time of all of your
clips (2 hours 12 min in my example)
2 is where you select the audio bitrate
you will use in the end
3 is the video bitrate you need
to use. subtract 100kbps from this figure if you want
to create menus.
So now you have:
My
example tells me I need to use 4424 as the video bitrate,
so 4424 - 100 (to allow for menus) = 4324 kbps. This is the video bitrate I
need to use in TMPGEnc. I refer to this figure
as the ave throughout the rest of this guide.
I have put in 192 as the audio bitrate, because this
is what I will make my audio in the end.
From here we need to make some decisions regarding the
frame size we will use. Sometimes the bitrate
determines what frame size we should use, other times the source. It is best to
choose the nearest resolution to your source, always rounding down where
possible. Choose between 352 * 240/288, 352 * 480/576, or 720 * 480/576 (there
may be times when you have a resolution smaller than 352 * 240 - that is OK, you'll just have to use 352 * 240). Your source's frame
size is the first half of the Aspect value in the picture above from GSpot.
Given a perfect (DVD quality 720 * 480/576) source, I use
the following:
If ave is < 1000kbps, I'd use 352 * 240/288 2-Pass
VBR (min 0 ave
ave max 2000)
If ave is > 1000kbps & < 1500, I'd use 352
* 240/288 ave CBR
If ave is > 1500kbps & < 3000, I'd use 352
* 480/576 2-Pass VBR (min 500 ave ave max 5000)
If ave is > 3000kbps & < 4000, I'd use 352
* 480/576 ave CBR
If ave is > 4000kbps & < 8000, I'd use 720
* 480/576 2-Pass VBR (min 1000 ave
ave max 9000)
If ave is > 8000kbps, I'd use 720 * 480/576 ave CBR
If a resolution is "forced" because of the
source, keep this in mind when perusing the above chart (ie.
if your nearest resolution is 352 * 240/288, there is no point using a bitrate > 2000kbps).
Step 2: Encode Video
Open TMPGEnc. Close the wizard if it
opens. Go to File > New Project, and click OK if it asks if you wish to
reset the current project.
You
now have the following:
I
have circled the key points above.
1 is where you browse to your source file. Select it and
press the Open button
2 is where you choose where you want your output file
saved, and what name you want it saved with. TMPGEnc will automatically generate the output
filename. Only change this if required, by clicking the Browse button,
specifying the output filename and pressing the Save button.
By default, if your source file has audio in it, TMPGEnc will list the source file as your audio source.
This is normal and can be left as is.
If you experience any
issues when trying to open your source, check http://www.videohelp.com/tmpgenc.htm#problems
for assistance.
So after doing points 1 & possibly 2 above, you now
have:
Now
click the Load button (circled above):
Select
either DVD (PAL) or DVD (NTSC), depending on your source. It is wise to output
to the same format as your source if possible (PAL is 25fps, NTSC is either
23.976fps or 29.976fps). Click OK.
Now click the load button again and double-click on the
Extra folder:
Select
the unlock.mcf file and click OK. This unlocks all of
the settings so we can tweak.
1 is
the setting we need to change to. This tells TMPGEnc to only encode the video for us
2 is the settings button. Press it. Only change the
options I describe in the next few paragraphs. Every option not described is
fine as is.
So
now you have:
Size:
This is determined by your format. If it was:
PAL: You can use 720 X 576, 352 X 576 or 352 X 288.
NTSC: You can use 720 X 480, 352 X 480 or 352 X 480.
Aspect Ratio: Either 4:3 or 16:9. You should use the
aspect ratio that most closely matches the input video’s aspect ratio.
Frame Rate: This is determined by your format. If it was:
PAL: Set this to 25 fps.
NTSC 23.976fps: Set the "Encode Mode" setting
further down the Video Tab settings to "3:2 Pulldown
when playback". Then set this to "23.976 fps (internally 29.97fps).
NTSC 29.97fps: Set this to 29.97 fps
Rate Control Mode: Choose either 2-pass VBR or CBR. If
2-Pass VBR, Click the SETTING button next to this, and input the following:
Average Bitrate: ave from bitrate
calculator
Maximum Bitrate: max value from
above
Minimum Bitrate: min value from
above
Click OK to return to the VIDEO tab
VBV buffer size: 0
Encode Mode: for NTSC 23.976 fps video, set this to 3:2 pulldown when playback
for everything else leave as is
Motion Search Precision: Motion Estimate Search (fast) if
source is DVD
If source is less than DVD quality, set to High Quality
(slow)
Click the ADVANCED tab
Field order: TMPGEnc will auto-detect your input. Leave it at
its default unless you know what you're doing.
Source Aspect Ratio: Set this to either 4:3 or 16:9,
depending on what your source's aspect ratio was. 1.77, 1.85, and 2.35 should
be set to 16:9. 1.33 should be set to 4:3.
Uncheck all filters. Click the GOP Structure tab
Leave the numbers in the GOP section as-is unless you
know what you're doing.
'Force
picture type setting' should be unchecked, everything else checked.
Click
the Quantize Matrix tab
Uncheck
everything except for 'floating point DCT', which SHOULD be checked.
Click OK to return to the main screen
Click the START button. When TMPGEnc completes, you will have an M2V file that can
be dropped into any DVD authoring software along with your audio file.
Step 3: Encode Audio
Open ffmpegGUI.
Only
change the settings outlined below. All other settings are fine as they are.
1 is where you specify your audio source. You can simply
point it to the source file, but you will have to change the "files of
type:" setting to All video for all video files to show up. Select your
source file, and press the Open button.
2 is where you specify your
output file. Browse to where you wish to save your audio
file, specify a filename and hit the Save button.
3 is the convert button. Click this after you have done points
1 & 2, and ffmpegGUI will encode your audio
to AC3 for you. Wait until you receive the following message:
You
now have a M2V and a AC3 file. Use your favourite authoring software (I recommend TMPGEnc DVD Author) to convert these into IFO, BUP and
VOB files, add chapter points and/or add menus and then burn the output.
