Sony Architect Workflow

[Bob]

Have to agree with Charles Deemer as to making it a bigger deal than it has to be. Remember, DVD Architect Studio is a consumer level product which touts ease of use and drag and drop functionality. It's intended to transcode whatever media you drop into it without the user having to know the gory technical details.

I'm not currently using DVD Architect, but I've been considering getting it and have been looking into it. I've only seen one issue with avi and that was with DVD Architect Pro 5 where there was a bug transcoding AVI and you had to work around by using mpeg-2 instead of avi. But even there, Sony said they were working to fix that in the next release. I don't know whether that bug even appeared in the consumer "Studio" version.

Just out of curiosity, just where exactly does it say that DVD Architect prefers mpeg-2? I've never seen that anywhere. Has Sony ever said that, or is it "conventional wisdom" (i.e. an "urban legend", so to speak)?

[edmacke]

I think you're making this into a much bigger more stressful deal than it is.

Excellent, I was hoping that was the case. I feel a little better that the Architect folks have weighed in with a vote for simplicity.

I thought I saw there was a trial version of Architect? I'll give that a try with some of my existing AVIs, and try some MPGs, too, just for comparison. AVI would certainly be easier, but exporting to MPG with defaults (or a saved template) would be easy enough, too.

the more one learns, the better

Or, ignorance = bliss.

[Bob]

I thought I saw there was a trial version of Architect?

The free trial is here: http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/dow ... dvdastudio

[cdeemer]

You know, Bob, that's a good question ... I read it somewhere but can't seem to find it in the manual at the moment. However, Sony Vegas and Architect work together, and I do know (because I recently did it) when you select "send to Architect" from Vegas, when it sends is an mpg file (which also suggests the preference). Also, I am using an earlier version of Architect, and newer versions may be more flexible.

I just tried to import an avi into Architect and it didn't take, not in my earlier version.

[Bob]

I just tried to import an avi into Architect and it didn't take, not in my earlier version.

Interesting. The current version of Architect Studio (4.5) definitely says it supports avi -- says DirectX 9.0c is required though. That shouldn't be a problem.

[Paul LS]

I have DVDArchitect 4.5 and recently it was upgraded to 5.0. However I only use 5.0 for HDV Blu-ray work and not importing AVI. One thing I have read on the forums (but didn't take much notice of) is that many people import the video and audio seperately because of issues with the audio import... if I recall. I'll try to find some of those old threads.

[Svein Berger]

I've just tried DVD Architect (trial, 4.5). And I used DV-AVI files from PE. No problem at all. Everything worked fine.

[edmacke]

I've just tried DVD Architect (trial, 4.5). And I used DV-AVI files from PE. No problem at all. Everything worked fine.

Yeah!! I love it when stuff works. I'm going to give DVD Architect a try on my next project. Thanks to all who weighed in!

[Bill Hunt]

The main reason that I always Import elemental streams (Encore2), is that I am Exporting my Audio to DD 5.1 SS, as AC3 and when these are mux'ed to an MPEG file, the DD often does not translate perfectly. Though it takes a moment longer to do elemental stream Exports, I can get exactly what I want, and what seems to work the best in my authoring program. It also allows me to store my Video only files in one folder and Bin and the same for Audio. Plus, if I have to make any changes to either, I'm just Exporting that "part" of it. While I have not had too many problems with mux'ed Assets in Encore2, some have - so I keep it simple and "elemental." [Pun intended]

Pretty much the same for any other Audio Assets. I always Export as AC3 (if DD) and PCM/WAV. I convert all MP3's in Audition (or other), especially as I try to "recover" a bit of the lost bass from that compression scheme. While many MP3's work fine, some just do not. I'd rather use, what the application likes best to cut any losses. [Note: I do get lazy with tiny SFX files in MP3 format in my NLE, but to date, all have worked fine. Still, if I am re-working them, say making mono into stereo, or vice versa, I'll Export these as AC3 or PCM/WAV.]

I'm just a creature of habit...

Do not know Architect's preferred Audio format, but I'd say that whatever is native to Sony's Soundforge would be my first choice.

Hunt

PS I hear that the Sony products are quite good and come highly recommended. I just do not have any.