Best file format for video clips?
 

I'm putting separate video clips onto a DVD.

The program that I'm using to edit the clips down offers many different formats for outputting. Which one should I select?

I thought at first to select the MPEG for DVD, but the more I thought about it, I was thinking that I should select MP4 file output. Which one would be better? Or would it be something else?

MP4 is not a format. It's a container that can accept several different codecs. MP4 cannot be used for DVD authoring. The only codec that can be used for DVD is MPEG, and the only container that can be used for DVD is also called an MPEG program stream in a .VOB container. The MPEG codec can also be used for BluRay, but the containers are different. MP4 cannot be used for the DVD or BluRay disc formats.

You can use the MPEG codec in an MP4 container, but some players won't accept MP4 using that codec. If you want MP4 on an optical disc you must burn the video to disc as "data", not as DVD or BluRay. You will need a BluRay or other external media player to play mp4 videos from a disc or other storage device. DVD players can't play MP4, and not all BluRay players will accept it.

You must select MPEG for DVD, no choice.

For years now, I've found it helpful to refer to "DVD" with accurate jargon. The format is "DVD-Video", whereas "DVD" is just a disc. When you make that important distinction, I find it much easier to explain to others.

The DVD-Video format uses containers for not just video and audio, but navigation data. And that navigation data is externally controlled by the IFO (InFOmation files). The IFO also has clone BUP (BackUP files), in case the IFO is damaged thus rendering the VOB unmanageable. So, technically, VOB is a container, but it's also not. It's not self-contained like MP4/MKV/etc.

MPEG is actually not just a codec, but container as well. But when inserted inside VOB, or the BD structure, the MPEG container is shed for the disc formatting container.

I think you know most of that already, so primarily for the OP and other thread readers. :wink2:

Thanks for the advice!

To clarify, there's 2 MPEG options there. 1 is MPEG for DVD File Output and the other is just plain "MPEG" I assume I select the one that's just plain "MPEG"?

Also, it lets me change the bitrate on the audio. It has it preselected at 220, but I can pick several higher ones. Which one should I pick, or should I stick with the 220?

MPEG alone is a wide spec, while DVD-Video MPEG has constrained allowances: profile, GOP length, min/max bitrates, etc. To keep it easier on yourself, I'd suggest just using the preset. Though noting the problem with presets is that all are often 720x480, not 352x480, hence needing to learn spec details.

Audio at 192kbps or 224 is passable, but 256 or 384 sounds best for stereo. For 6-channel, which you probably should not use, never go less than 448.

Yeah, you were right. I selected the MPEG for DVD output file on the newest clip I just did and it was preset to 720x480, so I changed it to 352x480 and made the audio 384

It's been about 6-7 years since I made a DVD project such as this, so I definitely needed the refresher. It's slowly starting to come back to me, thanks!

Now, I just need to find a great DVD making program, either free or with a 30 day free trial, and I'll be set (I think)

Ulead DVDWS2 still works quite well in Win7 (without audio preview) or in a WinXP VM.

I'm on Win 10 now, so I don't think that one would work? Any suggestions for one on Win 10?

Also, I meant to ask this other question -

I'm using another program to extract the videos that I'm using for this project from a website, initially. For quality of the download, it gives several options.

640x360 - 1284 kbps

960x540 - 1929 kbps

960x540 - 2573 kbps

960x720 - 3218 kbps

1280x720 - 4829 kbps

After I download the full video clip with this program, that's when I take it into the video program that I've been asking questions about, where I split the clip and export it with the MPEG to DVD Output file setting.

Which quality setting would you suggest I set it to in the first program to download the clip initially?

Thanks for giving us the extra details. It appears from what you've described that in every case you're mostly lowering video quality regardless of the low-bitrate, low-quality web clips you're downloading, so it oesn't make much difference either way. Download the quickest way that's convenient for you. In the end what you're getting is video hash. Whatever meets you needs is what you should do.

WWE, right?
The 960x540 @ 1929 kbps looks great, and can be encoded as 720x480 16:9 MPEG with a 5+ mbps bitrate.

Yeah and that's actually the setting that I have been using, the 960x540 @1929 kbps

Oh ok...so I've been switching it to the 352x480 in the last program I use, that I was asking about earlier. So, it's ok for me to go back to the default of 720x480 in that program then? I just changed it to 352x480 because of what you said earlier.

Most segments/matches that I'm going to be putting onto DVDs range from 5 minutes to 15/20 minutes. I'd say most are probably closer to 5-10 mins on average.

Also, when you say "MPEG" is that still the MPEG to DVD Output File option, or just plain MPEG now? I can change the settings for both choices.

You mentioned 5+ bitrate. Any exact number on that, or just keep it at 5? I noticed it also does points, like 5.1 for example.

Any suggestion on the DVD making program for Win 10? Possibly best payware one that offers a fully functional 30 day trial? I should be able to get this full project done in that time, I'm hoping.

5, 5.5, 6 -- it really depends on content. For wrestling, I'd sometimes even look at 7 to avoid blocks, do do either 2-pass VBR, or CRF (which isn't available on most software for MPEG).

MPEG-2, specifically, as used for DVD-Video.
And it should outout MPEG no matter the template, it doesn't/shouldn't author.

I'd still try to install DVDWS2, see if it works. On XP VM if it didn't. I'm not changing my software because the OS sucks. I'll just find a way to run the old OS. The only non-expensive "modern" choice is the old TMPGEnc authorware. If you wnt to go menu-less, then there are some freeware options, namely SCDVD v5.

Yeah, i've tried to put it back on my new computer a few times, but it never worked, unfortunately. I really liked that program, I made my biggest DVD set with it, a 95 DVD set.

you mentioned TMPGE, that's actually what I'm using for the conversion, the video master 6 program, seems to work pretty good for what I'm using it for

Going back to the one thing, I've been switching it to the 352x480 in the Video Master after I crop it down to the 1 match/segment that I want in video master. Just for clarification, so it's ok for me to go back to the default of 720x480 in that program then? I just changed it to 352x480 in there because of what you said a few messages back.

WWE has two video types: 4x3 matted to 16x9 with black bars, or 16x9 HD sources.
I'd make either 16x9 720x480 from both.
Or the more complicated cropping black pillarbars, 4x3 encode to 352 or 720.

16x9 widescreen just does not look good at 352x480, and technically it's no to-spec either.

Ok, thanks. Yeah, I'm not a fan of the black bars, personally..

How would I go about removing those black bars? Just change the setting from 16x9 to 4x3 and encode to what?

Or do you suggest that I don't do that?

I'd suggest you just don't do it, adds another layer of complication to your software workflow, and you're already confused enough. Just let it be. It won't cause any detriment on modern widescreen TVs and computers.

Nah, not as much confused as out of practice. This is the first big project I've done in like, 8 years. So just trying to get everything refreshed.

I think I'm doing ok so far. Have all the things that I want, now just finishing cutting, etc.

I want to add the theme music on the menu
I already took it off of YouTube.

It's about 4 minutes, it plays the music two full times through, so I'm going to crop it down to where it ends after it plays fully once.

Is there any encoding or settings changes I should do to that file in video master, or just add it to the DVD as is?

Also in addition to the music, could you explain the process of removing the black bars? I might still attempt to do it.

-- merged --

Quick update on the music. I put it as Dolby Digital, (it encoded as ac3) 48000, and bitrate of 384

Does that sound about right?

The music clip was about a minute and a half or so.

-- merged --

Update. I made a test disc and yeah, there were black bars on each video segment, and I don't want that.

I ripped them initially with the 960x540 1929 kbps in the first program to get them off of the site.

Then, I took them into Video Master, cut them down to get each segment and I encoded each one to 720x480 16x9

I thought encoding them to those settings might remove the bars on the final version, but that didn't happen.

I know you said trying to remove the bars will just add to the workflow, but I'd really like to try. Would filmora video editor work? It seems to have a specific option to do it, or could I do it in the Video Master program?

Thank you :)

-- merged --

Here's a pic from the test DVD I made. You can see the bars on the side.

I just want it to look like it does on the network I took it from, no bars, no picture distortion etc

I'm willing to add the extra steps to my workflow to accomplish that.

Say, don't you know how to capture as frame directly from a video instead of using your camera to photo a TV screen? Are the side pillars part of the image itself, or were they put there by your wide screen TV?

The core image is a 4:3 picture. if the pillars are actually a part of the image itself, and you remove them, a 16:9 TV will replace them. A 4:3 image will not fill a 16:9 screen unless you stretch and distort the image.

What do you do when a TV broadcast or retail DVD/BluiRay has a Panavision or Cinemascope image that doesn't fill your 16:9 screen?

As I stated a few messages ago, I took the videos off of a website, and the videos play on the website with no bars on them. I watch this website on my TV, and there's no bars on them.

And yeah,I know how to take a screenshot of a video on my computer. But, I took the picture on my TV to show LordSmurf how the test DVD that I made looks on my TV, since that's where I'll be watching them. So, he could see what I'm seeing with it.

I ripped them initially with the 960x540 1929 kbps in the first program to get them off of the site.

Then, I took them into Video Master, cut them down to get each segment I wanted, and I encoded each one to 720x480 16x9

Those are the settings of the final videos I used on that test DVD which the picture is from. The bars appeared on each video after I took them off of the website and put them in video master to cut them down to take the segments I wanted.

Then I encoded them with the above settings and the bars stayed

Ask for help without being rude. Last post edited. sanlyn's concerns were valid, as sample image was photo of a monitor, not a screen shot -- though he must've missed part of the conversation earlier in the thread. It also helps that I know your source exactly, WWE Network, he probably does not.

You need to crop in an encoder. 960 down to 720, about 120px off left/right side, and redo aspect from 1:1 of source to 4:3 (and not 16:9). That's all. It adds more steps to the encode.

But on a widescreen TV, where the 960x540 was down-converted to 720x480 16x9, it should not be postage stamped (bars on all sides). Or your DVD player is setup wrong -- again, if widescreen TV. For 4x3 SD set, I'd understand.

I've asked for help several times, he was rude to me for no reason first, twice in the same message. I've been here almost 10 years, no need for him talking down to me like I'm stupid.

Anyways, based off what you said, would I need a separate encoding program other than TMPGEnc Video Master? I'm not sure if you're familiar with that program, but that's what I used after I ripped the videos from the site initially. I cut out the rest of each show, down to each segment I wanted then did the encoding process with the settings that I listed

No, I don't think the DVD player is set up wrong. I have several home made DVDs that don't have the black bars on them, or retail bought DVDs without them either

On the test DVD I made last night, the picture quality is awesome, it's just the bars that I don't want on them.

If you don't think I can do what you suggested in Video Master, what encoding program should I get for this?

Also, you said 960 down to 720. I assume that you mean the initial video that I ripped off the network and not the one that I encoded to 720?

The solution to rudeness on the site is to PM a Site Staff, not be rude back. ;)

I've not used that exact TMPGEnc program in a while, no. But honestly, it does not matter. You need to crop the video is whatever programs let's you encode the video.

You realize that the 4x3 video will always have left/right black bars, when viewed on HD/WS screen, correct?

You need to start over the the 960 source, not re-encode the 720 encode.

Interesting. How come when I watch the network on my TV, their videos do not have black bars, but the ones I took do?

Yeah, I was afraid you were going to say that. I already deleted the videos that I ripped intially after I cut them down. So..that's not good for me.

Earlier you said this is one of the steps, about 120px off left/right side
I don't believe there's a setting in video master that allows me to pick that option, so how would I do that one?

It allows me to put it to 4:3, so that's not a problem

If you don't go back to the source, you're just going to make it harder yet. Taking the 720x480 and cropping off 120px from each will give 480x480, which you'll then have to downsize to 352 to be compliant to the DVD specs.

You need to attach a sample clip of your current encode work.

Here's (31-33) a screenshot of the advanced settings in the program. Do you see that option in here anyway? I don't think I do but figured I'd check with you

-- merged --

This is one (34) of the regular settings. These are the ones I used for all the clips I encoded intially

-- merged --

And I understand what you mean about encoding the original from the 960 to 720x480

but what I don't understand is when you say take 120px off to take it to 480x480. Is that another encode? It doesnt give a 480x480 encoding option in there.

-- merged --

Update. I've been playing around with it a little bit. i'm going to break this down step by step of what I've done.

First -

I took it off the network with the 1929 option. Brought it into Video Master, cropped it down to the segment I wanted. Went to the "Format" section to encode.

I then selected it to be "MPEG for DVD file output" and I selected the 720x480 16x9 settings, 7 bitrate, 384 audio & hit encode. In the video preview screen, there's already black bars on each side of it....

After that completed -

I brought the newly encoded clip back into Video Master. This time, I selected "MPEG File Output" and I selected MPEG-2 video (and not MPEG for DVD file Output as I did in step 1) the reason that I did this is because the 480x480 option is not available in the MPEG for DVD file Output option

In the MPEG File Output, I was able to manually change it to 480x480. So, I did that. I then changed it to 4:3 & selected 384 audio. I made bitrate 7 (it had 3 default selected)

In the video preview window as it was encoding, I could see that it definitely looked smaller this time.

I saved the test DVD file from last night so I opened that, the full DVD I made was there, so I added this new file and in the preview window, it seems to have very pronounced bars all around and the video itself is smaller than the other ones that were already in there

So...seems like I did something wrong, somewhere in these steps..

-- merged --

I took another clip off the site with the highest quality setting the program allowed, brought it into Video Manager, encoded it to 720x480 16x8 and still has the black bars. Seems to have them immediately after taking them off the site?

-- merged --

Currently re-downloading all of the shows to start fresh, as you suggested. Using the 960x540 1929 kbps setting for this step

Next, in Video Master, I'll be cropping the shows down to remove the segments that I want.

Just need walked through step by step what I do from here, and what settings to use to remove the black bars. Thanks!

No, I don't think you'll be cropping to isolate segments. If you're removing frames to alter the length of a video clip, the correct term is trim, not crop. Crop means something else entirely.

We don't know what your clips look like. What portion of the clip is actual image content? Are the images 4:3 pictures in 16x9 frames with side borders? Are they 16x9 images in 16x9 frames? Are they letterboxed 16x9 images in 16x9 frames or pillared and letterboxed 16x9 images in 16x9 frames? Do you have some sort of misgiving about letting us know how the frames actually look before they are displayed?

Note that if you remove side borders for a 4:3 image and encode the result for 16x9, you will stretch, blur, and distort the 4:3 image.

Note that if you remove side borders in a 4:3 image and encode the result for 4:3 display, your 16x9 TV will replace the missing side pillars with its own black borders on each side.

This is exactly it.

Yes, that's correct what Smurf posted. I'm not totally sure the answers to those questions, unfortunately. Good questions though, but this is really the only time other than one other time that I've really dove into something like this, so I'm not quite sure on the measurements... but they're exactly what he posted the sample of.

You're confusing both me and yourself.

- The source is widescreen video. 16:9 DAR (1:1 SAR).
- It has black bars (pillars) on the side, ie image is pillarboxed.
- When viewed on a widescreen computer or TV, you should not see black bars at top/bottom, only on the sides. If you do see it, a setting is wrong somewhere, either in playback software (computer), or the DVD player (HDTV).
- On a 4x3 SDTV, you would see black bars on top/bottom, and on the sides, aka windowboxed or "postage stamped". If the video was cropped to 4x3, and encoded correctly, you'd not have bars anywhere, on the SDTV.

You crop left/right to remove the black pillars, to create 4:3 DAR. But 4x3 or 16x9 should look identical on the HDTV. Black bars will always exist.

I don't think you're doing anything wrong with encoding, it's the understanding and viewing.

Yes, I only see them on the sides on the finished DVD that I made.

I've been trying to do research on this problem to see if I could figure it out myself, but I haven't come across a straight way to remove them.

I've seen some things where people say to bring your video into whatever program and actually crop out the black bars, like you would crop something out of a picture. Would you recommend doing that, or would that hurt final video quality?

You did say black bars will always exist. So,apparently there's no way to remove them..? When you told me several messages back that I had to start from the main source, and pretty much start over, that's why I've deleted my original clips and have been re-downloading all the shows again for the last 2 days, because I thought with starting over and doing a different method of encoding (whatever you'd suggest) that I could remove them somehow? Is that not correct?

Here's a picture of the test disc I made. You can see the black bars in faint black color on both sides. That's how it looks on my TV. So, to clarify, nothing can be done to remove those..?

Also to clarify what I do, I download them from the network, bring them into video master trim them down to what I want, (black bars are already there, seemingly as soon as I take it off the network) then encode to 16x9 752x480.

What was hte steps for that you told me about having to encode it to 4x3 352x480 after I do the first encode, if the bars can't be removed?

Referring to black border pixels, the original download has black pixels along the left, top, right, and bottom. You can't see all of them on your TV because your Vizio uses overscan, so that part of the borders are masked on your Tv display. Vizio TV overscan can't be disabled. The borders can't be measured accurately because of it, which is one reason why we can't use pictures of your TV screen. If you think today's HDTV's don't have overscan, think again. Overscan is enabled on today's TV's by default. On more expensive sets from SONY and Samsung, overscan can be adjusted and/or disabled.

A) 960x540 original frame, with borders (126 black pixels left, 8 pixels top, 126 pixels right, 2 pixels bottom). This is a direct frame capture from Virtualdub, not a photo of a display.
http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/atta...1&d=1542602210

B) cropped and resized, no borders, 720x480 anamorphic frame for DVD.
http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/atta...1&d=1542602289

C) 4:3 DVD display from the encoded MPEG.
http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/atta...1&d=1542602320

Attached is a rework of the 960x540 mp4 sample posted by lordsmurf, with side pillars cropped, resized to 720x480 for DVD, and encoded to MPEG for a 4:3 display aspect ratio. The attached MPEG has no side borders embedded in the 720x480 frame.

On an old-fashioned 4:3 standard definition display, the MPEG will fill a 4:3 display screen completely.
On a modern 16x9 display the MPEG will display a 4:3 image with pillarboxes on left and right to fill the frame. The pillarbox borders are placed there by the 16x9 display and are not part of the encoded image.

Cropping: 126 black pixels were removed from the left and 126 black pixels were removed from the right of the original 960x540 frames. Then 8 pixels of top border were removed and 2 pixels of bottom border were removed. The resulting square-pixel image measured 708x530 (which is a 1.338:1 aspect ratio, or very nearly 1.333:1, which is the same thing as 4:3). The square-pixel image was then resized to anamorphic 720x480 for DVD.

You can use whatever you want for the crop and resize, but I used Avisynth and saved the work as a lossless YV12 AVI with Lagarith lossless compression.
The Avi was encoded with interlace flags into MPEG2 for a 4:3 display DVD using TMPGenc Video Mastering Works 5.

Here is the Avisynth script I used:

No one said anything about multiple encodes, which would most certainly trash your video. Why would you want to throw away half of your 720-wide horizontal resolution by cutting quality with a lower-resolution 352-pixel lossy re-encode?

[EDIT}
And if you don't use your PC media player at full-screen but size the player screen to the source MPEG, you'll see that the side pillars are not added by the display at that playback size.

http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/atta...1&d=1542604133

Thanks! Very educational post. I wish I understand this all more thoroughly. For years, I just put my extensive VHS collection on DVD, this is the first time that i've tackled anything like this. I wasn't even planning on doing this black bar thing. Once I started this project, that's when I noticed the black bars and realized I didn't want them on my final DVDs. I hadn't taken it into consideration before I started this particular project. It's definitely become stressful for me

I've re-read your post several times now before I'm typing this reply, trying to understand everything before I replied

So, your pics A and B are what I start with. Pic B is the settings I use after I encode the settings from your pic 1. However, I've never cropped/resized anything, #1 because I don't really know how to. #2, I've been scared that it would ruin the picture quality from how it looks in your pic A, because it really is good pic quality because I'm removing the videos directly from their network.

So, to clarify. To get the bars out, as in pic B, I MUST crop and resize. Correct?

If so, what kind of effect does that seem to have on picture quality? It seems pics B and C seem a little lighter in quality than pic A

"Taking the 720x480 and cropping off 120px from each will give 480x480, which you'll then have to downsize to 352 to be compliant to the DVD specs."

That's something Smurf said in an earlier post, that's what I was referring to. I thought I'd have to re-encode again wtih those settings to remove the black bars, and I thought that'd be the final step, based off what he said. Unless I misunderstood

This is how I feel reading/answering this thread: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_1ruZWJigo :laugh:
We're having a disconnect.

But this thread is getting complex when we don't go back to the original source...

The 352 thing is preference. 4x3 as 352x480 is fine. And if you started with the MPEG encode, not the MP4 source, the 720>720 stretch would be damaging, as only 480 is true picture, so 352 is better. (For VHS or off-air, I often do 352x480 for DVD. Quality can be just as much about bitrate as resolution, and you can get better allocation that still allows for more disc content at 352.)

Honestly, I'm actually getting confused now too. :smack:

Explain what you do and don't understand. Let's start again from there...

Nope. You started with picture A and you stayed with picture A, including its black borders, during your entire workflow and encoded for 16x9, putting yourself back where you started. That's why your workflow doesn't work the way you want -- you never removed the black borders that are embedded in the original source frames.

I'm still trying to figure out how you looked at those frames in the graphical interface of Mastering Works and didn't notice that the original black borders never went away.

You can't crop off pixels in Mastering Works. It's basically and encoder, not an editor. You need an editor or restoration app that allows it, and not all editors will let you do so. You can crop in Avisynth and VirtualDub. Some of the other free encoders and converters will let you crop, but I don't use any of them so I can't help there.

Cropping off border pixels does nothing to the core image content. Pixels that belong to the image are left intact. The image itself isn't altered until the image is actually resized. However, there are strict rules for cropping based on colorspace and frame structure. Those rules aren't exclusive to Avisynth or Virtualdub, but apply to all video processing apps, even the expensive ones.

Images B and C look "lighter" than image (A) because they don't have the black borders that make you think the top image has more contrast. In fact, the black levels and contrast are the same for all the images. That can easily be proven by examining levels in histograms, which I did very early in my workflow. However, B and C are actually a little softer because of resizing imperfections and because C is a re-encode of an original that already has low bitrate lossy effects. Every lossy re-encode of a lossy original will have lower quality to some degree or other. That's the nature of digital encoding and there is no way around it. That is why lossy codecs aren't used in digital capture and cleanup work -- rather, lossless codecs are used for workfiles. Lossy encoding would be the very last step in a workflow.

The original frame is a 16x9 frame with dimensions 960x540. The original 4:3 image inside that frame is 708x530. After the black border pixels are removed from all 4 sides, the image is still 708x530 and hasn't changed. Then the image is resized, at which time the image and the frame are both the same size, 720x480. There is no further cropping.

Partly. To get rid of the black bars, you have to crop. To get to DVD or any other official spec, you have to resize -- 708x530 is an oddball size that doesn't match with anyone's official requirements, and YouTube would just laugh at it and then resize to a more conventional dimension.

Not sure where you're going with this. 720x480 would already be a full-sized image for DVD or standard definition BluRay. Why would you remove that many pixels?

I don't get that at all. 352x480 is strictly for utility IMO and is a much softer image than 720x480. You'll have to convince me that 1/2 the resolution of 720 pixels is 'better'. Having used that 1/2 frame size myself for captures as well as digital recordings, and having paid for it in cheap retail DVD issues, I find it very unimpressive to watch even at high bitrates.

The source MP4 detail is lost due to deblock, and 352x is probably closer to the actual detail. I don't really have a preference on this source, it will look about the same either way. The bigger problem with wrestling is bitrate, and you need superbit (5@352 or 9@720). Even then, you get noise, a content type where DVD-Video fails to perform. With 352, you can still fit 2+ hours, while with 720 you only get 1.

It's not an easy decision, not just about resolution. Several factors must be weighed.

OK, I get your meaning now. It just "reads" differently at 2 a.m., LOL.

You can crop and resize in TMPGenc Video Mastering Works 6 using its "Filters" dialogs. Crop and resize aren't as precise or clean as they would be in Avisynth, but they'll get the job done. First, you have to set up the Format and output settings dialogs that you posted in the first 3 screenshots in post #26 on November 18. After setting up those dialogs, use the "Filters" window to crop and size your output video.

I used TMVW version 5 to get the settings. The dialog windows are a different layout in version 5 than in version 6, but the settings would be the same.

Add an internet download video to TVMW and enter its original parameters in the input text boxes:
File name: whatever the file name is.
Display Mode: Progressive.
Field Order: Top Field First
Aspect Ratio: Pixel 1:1 (square pixel)
Framerate: 29.97

If you don't know this information, take the input defaults that TMVW enters.

[Notice, above, that your input video display mode is progressive, but in the encoder setup below, the video will be encoded as interlaced to insure compatibility with older playback decks].

The basic format for which you want to encode should be set for "MPEG for DVD".

Setup for screenshot (31) "Video" category dialog:
Stream Format: MPEG-2 video
Video Encoder: Standard Encoder
Profile & Level: MP@ML
Size: 720x480
Aspect Ratio: Display 4:3
Framerate: 29.97 fps
Scan Type: Interlaced
Field Order: Top Field First
Rate Control mode: VBR (average bitrate)
VBV buffer size: 224 (or whatever is set at default)
Performance: Slow

[right-hand side dialog box, VBR settings:]
Multipass settings:
- Pass Count: 2 pass

Bitrate/Quality:
- Bitrate (or average bitrate): 7000
- Maximum bitrate: 9000
- Minimum Bitrate: 2000
- Quality: (This should be grayed out, or take the default)
Audio bitrate: 320 kbps

Setup for screenshot (32) "GOP" category dialog:
Normal Number of frames in GOP: 15
Maximum Number of frames in GOP: 15
Minimum Number of Frames in GOP: (take default. Do not change this)
Number of B Frames in GOP: 2
enable "Output sequence header for each GOP
enable "Output bitstream for editing (closed GOP)
disable "start closed GOP with B frame"
enable "Detect scene change"

Setup for screenshot (33) "Advanced" settings dialogs:
Take the default for each setting, except the following:
Under "Video Settings" category:
- Video Format: should be NTSC

Under "Motion Search Settings":
- Type: "Highest (with error correction)" if available, otherwise "Standard"

After you have entered those settings, go into the "Filters" dialogs. You'll see an icon that's labeled "Filters" in the Edit or Cut-edit window.

The image below is what your typical 16x9 video looks like with its original side borders.

http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/atta...1&d=1542805633

There are a few border pixels across the top and bottom as well, but don't worry about them. TVMW doesn't center properly if you crop the vertical dimension, so just leave the top and bottom as they are. There are not enough top and bottom pixels to worry about, and cropping them off will give you a distorted aspect ratio vertically. So crop off the left and right side borders only.

The image below shows how the Crop filter works. You have tomenable cropping in the big icon on the left and in the main dialog window. The orangfe arrows show the crop icon and the center dialog settings. The settings show 126 pixels cropped off the left and right sides. Don't crop off the top or bottom and don't make entries in the other boxes. The picture in the viewing window shows you the results of the crop. Always use even-numbered pixel values. Never use odd-numbered pixel values in YUV video.

Cropping filter setup
http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/atta...1&d=1542805694

Next, the image belopw shows the resize filter. After cropping is done, some of the entries in this dialog are already set to defaults. in this dialog the output frame size has already been set to 720x480 in earlier setup windows. Set "Picture Position" to Full screen and "Resize method" to Lancsoz-3. The checkboxes for "Keep aspect ratio" and for "Output interlace with high quality resize" should not be checked.

Resize Setup
http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/atta...1&d=1542805812


You will have to set the crop and resize filters for each clip that you add to the video.

This is absolutely amazing! Thank you so much! :)

Quick question about the bitrate settings.

You said 7000 in the bitrate box. 9000 in maximum then 2000 in minimum.

Just to confirm, I would only put 7 in the bitrate. 9 in max and 2 in minimum, correct?

It doesn't seem to be letting me put actually 7000, 9000, 2000. When I try, it's automatically changing it to different numbers, so I was thinking, instead of 7000, I'd just put 7, etc

Is that correct?