Hi.

What are you exporting them to, i.e. what is the intended "destination" of these files? If it is to a DVD you have to export as mpeg-2 because that is the DVD standard.

Jeff

So if I load the files straight from the DVD’s into Magix, use the uncompressed AVI export option, then burn directly to DVD (MPEG-2) will the quality of the original video be degraded in any way? Or will it be the same quality as the original without any loss of quality?

Hi, there is no value whatsoever in first exporting the DVD (MPEG-2) files to uncompressed AVI and then reconverting them to MPEG-2 for your new DVD. Indeed, that route is highly liable to lead to a loss of quality in the final export.

By converting to uncompressed AVI you will produce potentially huge files, which even a powerful computer may well struggle to play smoothly. And then, if you attempt to re-export those files for burning to DVD, i.e. re-convert them to MPEG-2, you will be adding another level of compression to the original files. As a general rule, each conversion that includes a level of compression is bound to lead to some data being "thrown away"; that is how compression works. In video terms, a single compression is going to throw away data that is not "essential" to the viewing experience, i.e. "redundant"; any subsequent compression is highly likely to remove data that is not redundant.

What you should do to allow the re-use of existing DVD files in a "new" DVD: load the .vob files from the original disc to your timeline, make the edits you need and then re-export. Where it is possible to do so MEP/VPX will Smart Render or Smart Copy your files to the new disc.

HTH

Jeff

Hi, there is no value whatsoever in first exporting the DVD (MPEG-2) files to uncompressed AVI and then reconverting them to MPEG-2 for your new DVD. Indeed, that route is highly liable to lead to a loss of quality in the final export.

By converting to uncompressed AVI you will produce potentially huge files, which even a powerful computer may well struggle to play smoothly. And then, if you attempt to re-export those files for burning to DVD, i.e. re-convert them to MPEG-2, you will be adding another level of compression to the original files. As a general rule, each conversion that includes a level of compression is bound to lead to some data being "thrown away"; that is how compression works. In video terms, a single compression is going to throw away data that is not "essential" to the viewing experience, i.e. "redundant"; any subsequent compression is highly likely to remove data that is not redundant.

What you should do to allow the re-use of existing DVD files in a "new" DVD: load the .vob files from the original disc to your timeline, make the edits you need and then re-export. Where it is possible to do so MEP/VPX will Smart Render or Smart Copy your files to the new disc.

HTH

Jeff

Hi Jeff, thanks once again for your help. So I load the files from the DVD into the timeline in MEP. Then what do I do? Do I have to click on an option for smart render or something?

Once your files are in the timeline you simply choose the Burn screen. If Smart Render or Smart Copy can be used it will be an option on the Encoder Settings screen. See my screenshot below:

This is a screenshot taken in VPX, using a file that could not be Smart Rendered, but I hope you get the idea!

Jeff

Once your files are in the timeline you simply choose the Burn screen. If Smart Render or Smart Copy can be used it will be an option on the Encoder Settings screen. See my screenshot below:

This is a screenshot taken in VPX, using a file that could not be Smart Rendered, but I hope you get the idea!

Jeff

Thanks, I’ll give it a go.

Once your files are in the timeline you simply choose the Burn screen. If Smart Render or Smart Copy can be used it will be an option on the Encoder Settings screen. See my screenshot below:

This is a screenshot taken in VPX, using a file that could not be Smart Rendered, but I hope you get the idea!

Jeff

Hi, I imported the files into the timeline and went to the encoder settings on the burn menu but smart render is grayed out. The files are straight from the DVD so they are VOB of course. Is that why it won’t let me use smart render?

@jak.willis

Hi

We need clarification on what you are actually doing to the VOB files once you get them into MEP ie:

Are you re-editing an existing DVD and then reburning to disc?

Combining VOB files from the DVD and exporting to create one mpg file to play on the computer, upload to the Internet or elsewhere?

if neither of the above what is the final destination what you are trying to do.

. . . . Is that why it won’t let me use smart render? . . . .

Smart render / smart copy only works under specific circumstances eg if there have been no changes to the VOBs and the export settings must match the source VOBs format, i.e. the video formats, image resolutions, bit rates (variable or constant) and audio formats.

Even when these conditions are met it is not guaranteed smart render / copy will occur.

John EB

@jak.willis

Hi

We need clarification on what you are actually doing to the VOB files once you get them into MEP ie:

Are you re-editing an existing DVD and then reburning to disc?

Combining VOB files from the DVD and exporting to create one mpg file to play on the computer, upload to the Internet or elsewhere?

if neither of the above what is the final destination what you are trying to do.

. . . . Is that why it won’t let me use smart render? . . . .

Smart render / smart copy only works under specific circumstances eg if there have been no changes to the VOBs and the export settings must match the source VOBs format, i.e. the video formats, image resolutions, bit rates (variable or constant) and audio formats.

Even when these conditions are met it is not guaranteed smart render / copy will occur.

John EB

 

 

Hi. Yes, I’m trying to combine some VOB files together and burn to a new DVD without any recompression so that the video retains its original quality.