Got different result rendering with Main concept & Vegas 4

[shulthise]

Hi,

I capture my tape to an AVI file (NTSC DV) using Vegas 4.
After I captured it I rendered it, from Vegas, to an MPEG 2 file, using the Main Concept plug-in.

I then used the Main Concept Mpeg Encoder (1.04.01.00), which is a stand-alone application, to convert the same AVI file into MPEG 2, using the same configuration (bit rate, frame rate, audio freq - the lots) I did with Vegas.

I got two very different files!

The one converted by the stand-alone app was 25%-30%(!) larger than the one rendered by the plug-in.
The visual quality feels the same. But it’s a family video – no high speed car chase.
I assume the plug-in and the app are using the same codec and library. So I fail to see why the app rendered a file much larger then the plug in.

What am I missing out on?

Should I use the plug-in or the app? “is it safe ?”

The main advantage of using the plug-in is that I can render an edited movie, with garbage cut out + effects and all, without saving it to DV first.

But I’d hate losing video quality. See, with not a lot of backup resources I result to deleting the captured DV and reusing the tapes. I then burn the edited Mpeg2 file to DVD. That's it.

So, what do you think I should do?


Also - is there any "Mpeg2 Quality-meter" app you can recommend ?

[setarip]

Check the bitrate settings used by both versions of the MainConcept software...

[shulthise]

setarip, dude-

Here’s a quote from the original post:

I then used the Main Concept Mpeg Encoder (1.04.01.00), which is a stand-alone application, to convert the same AVI file into MPEG 2, using the same configuration (bit rate, frame rate, audio freq - the lots) I did with Vegas.

[tigerman8u]

Just a thought, is the audio compressed the same with both. ie mpeg1 layer 2.

[setarip]

"Last edited by shulthise on 08-21-2004 at 04:05 PM"

"(bit rate, frame rate, audio freq - the lots)"

I don't recall seeing the above in your initial (before editing the following day) post...

[shulthise]

tigerman8u-
The audio is layer 2 with both files.

setarip-
I assure you the only thing changed from the original post is the subject. I'm not posting a lot at forums so I tried to rename the post by editing the subject. Other than that - the message is the same. I'm sure other users noticed the paragraph i quoted in the original post.

Please help to solve the enigma.