IS there a way to take 30 single AVI's files and make it into a seamless running dvd without the menu? I know that there is a SINGLE AVI under the NEW>PROJECT, but I have separate files (about 38 of them). I would just use Vegas to rendering them together, but it is going to take 5 hours according the the ticking clock. IS there a better and quicker way to go right from the 38 AVI's on my hard drive to a single playable DVD arch. movie?

Yes. Put them all on the Vegas timeline, render as one big MPEG 2, assuming you're not creating a file that exceeds 4.5 gig for a single layer, and approx 7.5 for a dual layer.
You're going to have to render them together no matter what, and whether it's Vegas taking 5 hours or DVD Architect taking 5 hours, that's the amount of time your machine is going to take.
There is no other way to transcode an avi to an mpeg without rendering. Additionally, you don't have the length of those avi's posted, so there is no way to advise you regarding bitrate, etc, but you'll want to be sure you're within disc ability at XXX bitrate.

It is about 2 hours of footage, I guess I will go the MPEG2 route - ok doing it now, it is going to take about 3 hours rendering. I might have to optimize is after because I don't know how big it will be after it is all said and done - is this an ok sequence to do this arch 3 DVD in? Render Mpg2, bring it into Arch 3, optimize and prepare, and then burn?

You're not going about it correctly. If you render to the *correct* mpeg bitrate in Vegas, you won't be optimizing anything, it'll already be the correct bitrate to fit your media. Then it's just a matter of burning, nothing else. No additional rendering.
Use a bitrate calculator; they're all over the web for free, to determine the correct bitrate for the EXACT length of video you have.

The best thing to do is use a bitrate calculator to determine optimum settings before you have Vegas do the encoding.
Feeding 2 hr. into the bitrate calculator I use (http://www.johncline.com/bitcalc110.zip) (be advised that the link is a zipped file, I get the following somewhat conservative settings as I like to have a safety margin.
BTW, this assumes that you're using AC3 audio.
CBR: 4,600,000
VBR: 2,800,000, 4,600,000, 8,000,000

delete by user

Wow, I find that very confusing. The bitrate calculator has somethings I don;t know anything about. Hmm...it is about 10 gig of videos, about 2 hours long. I suppose I can just continue the render of mpeg2 at this point and optimize it because I think after a quick look at the bitrate calc. it is beyond me...

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David, the above is a bit confusing. 2 hours of AVI would be approx 25GB of media. Getting that to a 4.7 GB dvd is quite easy, your bitrate should be around 4.5/4.6 as Mike mentions. You set that value in your Vegas render options.

Ok, but I played with the bitrate calculator and it said 3496 as a bit rate. There is no drop down menu choice of that number. So under the Mpeg2 CUSTOM video tab, I am unsure of what to do. Do I put in a bitrate under constant? Do I put in a variable with the max bit rate of 3496?

Also, I rechecked and it is 2 hours 45minutes long, not 2 hours. IT is 10.9 gigs worth of video from a Sony DCR-SR80 HDD camcorder.

Lastly, the three pull-down menu number for CBR are :
192000
420000
980000

Not sure where you got those numbers.
CBR is Constant Bit Rate so you'll only have one number.
VBR is Variable Bit Rate and you'd get 3 sets of numbers.
Using your new length of 2 hr. 45min.m I get
CBR: 3424
VBR: 2568, 3424, 6856
As I said earlier, I would round these down to 3400 or 2500, 3400, 6800.

To use that calculator, select DVD-5 in the Disk Type drop down box and 192 Kb/s - Dolby 1.0 (Vegas AC3 default) in the Audio Encoding drop down box.

Click the Settings tab on the lower left and you can preset some variables.
For example, click the 1 Kilobit = 1024 bits option.
You can also select 192 Kb/s - Dolby 1.0 in the Audio encoding type and Bitrate box. Change this if you encode using PCM or a higher Dolby rate.

As Douglas said, you enter those numbers in Vegas by selecting the Custom and then Video tab options in the Render settings. You can also save it as a preset. I've got a number of different settings I've saved over the past few years based on the type of videos I 'm working on. It does come in handy.

One last thing. With a video that long, I'd use the VBR settings as well as checking the Two-pass option in an attempt to squeeze the maximum quality out of the render. This will increase the render time but it should be worth it.

Ok, but I played with the bitrate calculator and it said 3496 as a bit rate. There is no drop down menu choice of that number. So under the Mpeg2 CUSTOM video tab, I am unsure of what to do. Do I put in a bitrate under constant? Do I put in a variable with the max bit rate of 3496?

Also, I rechecked and it is 2 hours 45minutes long, not 2 hours. IT is 10.9 gigs worth of video from a Sony DCR-SR80 HDD camcorder.

Lastly, the three pull-down menu number for CBR are :
192000
420000
980000

In this image, you can see where you set the values. You don't get a dropdown for a specific number, you have to input your own.
Just looking at the SR 80, it's already MPEG, so not sure where/how you got avi's out of it. You converted them somewhere?

Those are the drop down menu numbers for CBR and VBR on my mpeg2 video tab.
I guess that answers my question I was asking as well. I can type in any number I want into the box and I don't have to use the drop down-menu,
BUT when I type in for VBR : 6800 (max) it defaults to 192,000. I guess I am still doing something wrong here.

Do I render a separate audio stream in the audio tab? Or do I render out a separate audio after I render the mpeg2 video stream?

I pulled the files right off the HDD using the USB. Maybe they are mpeg2, I am not sure, all I know is that there are 38 separate files that I need to run as a single movie - and that is where I am now, trying to input the rates, but as I said - when I punch in the ones Mike gave me "6800", "3400", "2500", it defaults to "192,000"...

I was just looking at the camera's features and among them I see One-Touch DVD Burn which begs the question "why not use the built-in options for doing this" instead of torturing yourself?

p.s. Under RECORDER/PLAYER, it says:
Format: HDD (Physical); MPEG2-PS (SD Logical)
so Douglas's question "Just looking at the SR 80, it's already MPEG, so not sure where/how you got avi's out of it. You converted them somewhere?" really does need to be answered.

Because I only need about 1/2 the files on the HDD. I need 38 files that are sandwiched between about 67 files. They are very specific files that I need. That is why...I really do wish I could use the one touch, but alas I cannot because of this.
Lastly, this is not my Sony Cam, it is a friends that is completely computer illiterate and asked me to do it, so I cannot delete the files or anything else.
So why does it default to "192,000"?

Because I only need about 1/2 the files on the HDD.

I don't have the manual but I'm surprised that you're not offered an option to pick specific files for burning to a DVD.

So why does it default to "192,000"?

Sony's default template for AC3 encoding says:
"Audio: 192 Kbps, 48,000 Hz, Stereo
Main Audio Service: Complete main
Use this setting for stereo DVD soundtracks."

You're free to change this all the way up to 576 Kbps but that may not be within DVD authoring specs.

edit: I trust that you're aware of the fact that, by bring these MPEG-2 files into Vegas, you're forcing them to be re-encoded, further reducing the quality of the original files.
I'd do a test on one file using the values that the bitrate calculator said to see what the final result will look like. You may decide to do it over 2 DVDs instead of just one.

I don't have the manual handy, I will ask my friend for it tomrrow, maybe you are right about it being able to do certain files.

Anyways, could someone please answer my question about bitrate : when I punch in the numbers that Mike gave me : "2800" exactly as in quotes into the VBR, it auto defaults to "192,000". Why is that? Therefore I cannot enter in my own bitrate into Vegas...

David, you might find it easier to use a playlist in DVDA. That will let you use your original files, and the DVD will simply jump from one to the next upon playback. This way you can just "optimize" with DVDA and let it use a single bit rate for every file. Another way to do the same thing is to manually set the end action of each clip to link to the next.

There are often many, many ways to skin a pig.

Anyways, could someone please answer my question about bitrate : when I punch in the numbers that Mike gave me : "2800" exactly as in quotes into the VBR, it auto defaults to "192,000". Why is that? Therefore I cannot enter in my own bitrate into Vegas...192 kilobits per second is the minimum bit rate allowed by the DVD specification, so you can't encode at a lower bit rate than that for DVD. You wouldn't want to do so anyway; it would look extremely bad. :)

The numbers Mike is giving you are meant to be read as kilobytes per second. Bits and bytes, bits and bytes.

I don't have the manual handy, I will ask my friend for it tomrrow, maybe you are right about it being able to do certain files.

I'll be interested in finding out the answer too.

Anyways, could someone please answer my question about bitrate : when I punch in the numbers that Mike gave me : "2800" exactly as in quotes into the VBR, it auto defaults to "192,000". Why is that? Therefore I cannot enter in my own bitrate into Vegas...

2800 from the bitrate calculator is actually 2,800,000. Try that instead.

Thank you, I will try that today.

Ok Mike, here is the scoop and it is does not have a happy ending.
The camera DCR-SR80 and software do not support "one touch DVD burning" per say. Unless the contents of the HDD are less then 4.7 gigs (more on this later), it will not burn it and say there isn't enough room. So if you filmed more then about 45 minutes (I think), you can't. I phoned Sony tech support and asked if there was a way that the camera/software would at least portion out folders with the correct file size (under 4.7 gig) for use on DVD. The lady from tech support said "no". If I needed to make a DVD, I would have to manually put all of the files in a folder and make sure the folder properties and files size are all under 4.7 gig (not exactly). My friend who asks me to do this is not completely computer illiterate, but this goes beyond common sense for a 'supposedly' consumer friendly camera. I told them so, but I doubt it will do any good. So, I had to portion out 4 folders with around 3.9 gigs because - and here is the other problem- the DVD creation program needs about 300MB of room approx. So, this leads to another issue I had to work around - it is not 4.7 gigs a folder, but somewhat less for it to work.
Needless-to-say, today, 4 hours later and I think I am recommending she take the camera back. What good is filming a certain amount (AND not over mind you - naughty boy), burning to DVD, erasing that footage and starting over. Seems backwards to me.

Ok, so I am going back to Vegas and trying to render with the bitrates you gave me : now last question (I always say that is seems).
1) I rendered out the audio as a AC3 previously. Is this right?
2) What settings should I have for audio when I render out the VIDEO Mpeg2 in Vegas? Is there a way to turn it off the audio because I have already rendered the AC3?
3) When I have both the Audio and Video rendered, can I bring them in as a single file play movie in Arch 3?

Thanks again,

Ok Mike, here is the scoop and it is does not have a happy ending.
WOW!! No kidding :-(

Needless-to-say, today, 4 hours later and I think I am recommending she take the camera back.
I hope she listens to you - and buys a miniDV camcorder instead. IMO, manufacturers should never have been allowed to foist products like this or the miniDVD camcorders on an unsuspecting public :-(

Ok, so I am going back to Vegas and trying to render with the bitrates you gave me : now last question (I always say that is seems).
1) I rendered out the audio as a AC3 previously. Is this right?

That's correct. And as long as you haven't changed anything in the project, you'll be OK. If you added or deleted anything, then you'll have to render out a new AC3 file.

2) What settings should I have for audio when I render out the VIDEO Mpeg2 in Vegas? Is there a way to turn it off the audio because I have already rendered the AC3?

No audio settings are necessary as you'll be rendering out video only at this step.
When you're ready to render the mpeg stream, select MainConcept MPEG-2 (*.mpg in the Save as type: dropdown box and DVD Architect NTSC video stream in the Template: dropdown box.
Now click Custom and then Video.
Here is where you'll make the necessary bitrate changes that you've calculated.
If, as I suggested earlier, you plan to do 2 DVDs, then save these settings as a template so you can recall them instead of having to type everything again.
This is done in this same tab. Go up to the very top of this tab where it says Template:, click in the dropdown box and enter a new name. Then click the floppy disc icon to the right of this box to save the new template.

3) When I have both the Audio and Video rendered, can I bring them in as a single file play movie in Arch 3?

You sure can :-)
Make sure the names for the audio and video streams are the same (such as myvideo.ac3 and myvideo.mpg). BTW, I find it easiest to render both files to the same folder.
Start up DVDA, go File - New, select Single Movie, browse to the folder that contains the files and load the video file. As long as you haven't changed the preferences, the audio should follow automatically. If, for some strange reason it doesn't load automatically, browse to that folder and add it manually.
At this point, I do a Prepare only and use RecordNow to do the actual burn. You may do it differently.
Good luck with the project!!

Thanks for that, but alas I have a new challenge - since I was using the bitrate you gave me, it didn't take into effect the 270MB of the audio file plus the MB's needed to make the DVD - now my DVD project is about 4.9 gigs and doesn't fit. I am going to have to re-render the Video portion and turn down the bitrate a bit and see if I can get the video to be 300MB smaller to fit all on the DVD. I am surprised the bitrate calculator wouldn't take this into effect?

I don't know about that particular bitrate calc, but most of the bitrate calcs do take both PCM and AC3 audio into account. If you rendered your audio as AC3, then you'll need to rerender vid, but if you rendered your audio as PCM, keep the vid and only re-render the audio, using AC3 format instead.

I skimmed through this so I hope this wasn't already suggested. If not, then why not create a PLAYLIST in DVD Architect? Make it to where you start on the 1st of the 38 and they play sequentially? I think this would be seamless if strung together correctly. That way you wouldn't have to combine all 38 and re-render together although there will likely be setup/rendering in Architect. Unless I am missing something seems like worth a try.

Yeah, as Mike suggested, I rendered the Audio in AC3. So I am re-rendering again as we speak with lower values on the VBR so hopefully my 'guesses' will make it small enough.

Phil, I would do that, but the files are too big to fit on a DVD anyways and they want it on ONE DVD - all 38 files, 10.9 gigs.

Why guess?
http://www.videohelp.com/calc
has a bitrate calc that will give you exact values including audio.
Bear in mind that Mike only recommended one particular calculator.
Google will provide you with literally dozens.

I am in the middle of the render now, so I will wait and try if it doesn't pan out. Mike know much more than I do about this so I figured his results were probably just a hair off.

David, Douglas is right in that there are numerous calculators out there.
I checked my figures against the calculator he recommended and it came out to the same values mine did.
Just to confirm, are you doing it using a CBR setting of 3,400,000 or VBR settings of 2,500,000, 3,400,000, 6,800,000 as I originally suggested?
BTW, these settings do include audio.
If so, there's no reason for it to turn out larger than needed. I've been using my calculator for a few years now and it's results have never steered me wrong.
If DVD Architect is saying that the file is too large, just ignore it as this is a known fault with the app.
I always check the total size of the AC3 and MPEG-2 files combined to make sure that they're under the 4/37 GB limit. Make sure to right click the files, select properties and use that size (it will be larger) as opposed to what's reported in the detail view.
Lastly, I still say that the final quality (due to the low bit rate form re-encoding it to one DVD) will be far less than the original footage.

Well, my new settings seemed to have worked and I am a hair under 4.7 so all looks good.
I am "preparing" the DVD like you suggested. I hope this isn't going to affect the quality - and it does say it is RENDERING - so maybe I shouldn't be doing this?

Well, I tried, burned and the DVD doesn't seem to work (tested on 4 DVD players around the house). First time that has happened. Also, in DVD arch, for the first time ever, it doesn't give me the Choice of TEST or BURN, just BURN.

More tests, tried it with different media - BENQ DVD's and it works TEST and BURN, just these DATAWARE DVD's for some reason don't give me the option with my Pioneer burner? These DATAWARE are + R and the BENQ are -R, I didn't think it mattered...

I still don't see why the playlist idea wasn't a viable option. You mentioned that you couldn't do this because your client wanted all the files on one DVD.

And? What am I missing here? Why does that rule out a DVDA playlist?

Make a playlist in DVDA, and when you prepare the disc it will recompress your files to make them fit on one DVD. They will play back sequentially, just as if you had rendered them all to one MPEG stream. It's simple; no need to use a bitrate calculator at all here.

There are other benefits to this method, too. For example, there is absolutely no risk of waiting hours upon hours for a render to finish only to find out that you miscalculated your bit rate and are forced to render again. Authoring your disc in this way will also make burning as foolproof as possible, because DVDA will have rendered and prepared its own files.