AME H.264 Blu-ray Presets

The PAL H.264 Blu-ray presets in AME have "Profile" set as High, but in the printed manual for Encore on page 48 at the top there is a warning in italics
"Note: for Blu-ray projects, the encoding profile must be Main when you select H.264 as the encoding format. You cannot burn a Blu-ray disc when the encoding profile is set to High."
Can anyone give a definitive answer as to which is correct, please?
Message was edited by: Alan Craven

I think that I may have the answer to my own question. I scrolled down the list of H.264 presets in Adobe Media Encoder and found that ALL the HD presets, PAL or NTSC; 1920,1440, or 720; interlaced or progressive, have the Profile set at High. Only the four High Quality SD presets at the bottom have Profile set at Main.
A little research makes me suspect that the warning in the printed Encore CS4 manual that I quote in my first post has the crucial words "Standard Definition" missing from it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.264/MPEG-4_AVC#Profiles
A search of the Adobe on-line help throws up a blank for this topic, and the equivalent section to pp 47-8 of my printed Encore CS4 manual is taken from the CS3 Help files, and does not include much of the information that is in my manual.

Similar Messages

AME Shuts Down when exporting H.264 Blu Ray

I have a current project that was shot in HDV and I am trying to export an H.264 Blu Ray file. This is a 4 Disk set and the other 3 files exported with no problems but for some reason I cannot get this last one (which happens to be Disk #3). I will start AME running as I am getting ready to leave my office. When I come back in the morning there is nothing open on my desktop, just the normal screen. Anyoen have any ideas??? Below are my export setting and computer info
Format: H.264 Blu Ray
Preset: Custom
Pixel Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 16:9
Profile: High
Level: 4.1
Bitrate Encoding: VBR 2 pass
Target Bitrate: 20 Mbps
Maximum Bitrate: 25 Mbps
Audio: PCM
Multiplexing: None
Computer
Windows XP Pro 64
Intel Core 2 Quad 2.5GHz
4 GB RAM
300 GB System Drive
1.5 TB Video Dive with 700 GB of free space.
Thanks
Phil

This is from the regular LOG.
5/9/2009 12:37:29 PM : Queue Started
- Source File: C:\DOCUME~1\ADMINI~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\Kapadia Wedding_24.prproj
- Output File: V:\DVD's\Kapadia\From Premiere\Disk_3_HD.m4v
- Preset Used: Custom
- Video: NTSC, 1440x1080, 29.97 [fps], Upper
- Audio: PCM Audio, 48 kHz, Stereo
- Bitrate: VBR, 2 Pass, Target 20.00, Max 25.00 [Mbps]
That is it... It does not show that there was a problem or that it was completed.
I then went into the Errors Log and there was nothing about this particular project.
Do you think that maybe the PC is shutting down and restarting? Not sure how I would know that...
Dont get me started on the Pr not supported by XP 64 thing. Quite frustrating to me....
Phil

CS4 - Adobe Media Encoder - Encore - H.264 Blu-ray

As many folks are aware, Encore's transcoding can sometimes be less than optimal. I played with the AME settings and with the help of other folks on these and other forums finally determined all the right settings so that Encore would treat my DVD quality videos as native and not attempt to transcode them.
I am now trying my hand at Blu-Ray and am running into similar problems but so far I have not really found any answers that have worked. Based on my research, the following settings should work:
AME
Format: H.264 Blu-ray
_Video_
TV Standard: NTSC
Frame Dimensions: 1920x1080
Frame Rame: 23.976
Field Order: None (Progressive)
Pixel Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 16:9
Profile: High
Level: 4.1
_Bitrate Settings
Bitrate Encoding: VBR, 1 Pass
Target Bitrate: 18
Max Bitrate: 22
_Audio_
I have Multiplexing disabled because I am using DD 5.1 encoding and for DVD quality, I learned that Multiplexing is a no-no to prevent Encore from trying to transcode things. I assume the same thing applies to Blu-Ray so I'm not really worried about the Audio.
Encore
_Project Settings_
Authoring Mode: Blu-ray
_Settings
Television Standard: NTSC
Codec: H.265
Dimensions: 1920x1080
Frame Rate: 23.976
Fields: No Fields (Progressive Scan)
_Automatic Transcoding
Maximum Audio/Video Bitrate: 25.0 Mbps
_Audio Transcoding
Audio Transcoding Scheme: Dolby Digital
I have tried a number of other settings around these (including using 29.97 frame rate to match my source), but after 4 days of trying different things with AME, I am completely stumped. What I am primarily looking for is someone to be kind enough to post their settings, in the level of detail above, that allow them to import an asset into Encore so that it doesn't want to transcode the video.
I know there are other tools out there that can do these things, but I paid my $ for Adobe Mastersuite so that it would do all these things for me. If at all possible, I would really like to stick with just these tools.
I am not sure if it matters, but my source is a Panasonic HDC-TM700 set to record in 1080p30 (I don't use their proprietary 60 frame format). I have successfully downconverted this source with AME to DVD quality. I have also successfully outputted from AME to 1080p that was uploadable to Youtube. Again, I'm not sure that it matters other than I can make useable video from my source. Here are the properties of the video according to Premiere:
Type: MPEG Movie
File Size: 2.6 GB
Image Size: 1920 x 1080
Pixel Depth: 32
Frame Rate: 29.97
Source Audio Format: 48000 Hz - compressed - 6 channels
Project Audio Format: 48000 Hz - 32 bit floating point - 6 channels
Total Duration: 00;22;23;25
Average Data Rate: 2.0 MB / second
Pixel Aspect Ratio: 1.0
My actual clip is about 6min, but my intention would be to use clips of up to an hour in length.
Oh, I'm not sure if it is clear from my above information, but I am not using Adobe Dynamic Link. I'm not sure if that is where my problem lies, but my one attempt to use it did not produce the results I was looking for either.
Thanks in advance for your time and for making it this far into my post
-Jay

Well, that's a bit of a disappointment. I have to imagine most Adobe users are bald due to Adobe providing settings/output options that it's own software doesn't like. I really don't understand the sense of that.
In any event, I attempted to use:
Format: H.264 Blu-ray
Preset: HDTV 1080i 29.97 High Quality
And Encore still wants to transcode the video. It also wanted to transcode the audio that the format put out (PCM audio). I tried messing with some of the settings in Field Order, Profile, and Level and no love all around. I also tried one of the 1440 formats and no love there.
Does anyone truly have this working natively or am I just chasing my own tale? It really should not be this hard to get Premiere to output something that Encore will use without difficulty.
-Jay

AE CS4 render engine / Adobe Media Encoder won't create a container for h.264 blu-ray

here's the problem.
First, I tried to render a comp using the render engine inside AE using h.264 blu-ray preset.
It was supposed to create 1 file, but I ended up with 3 : audio track, video and a file with .xmpses extension.
I then decided to render it in lossless .mov, which works fine, but 3:40 minutes is taking up over 8gb, which is of course, unacceptable.
After that, I've put the .mov file into Media Encoder to try h.264 blu-ray there.
Absolutely the same ********.
I'm using the Mac version of AE CS4.
Here is the screenshot of original .mov file and the result. As you see, it refuses to make a container. This is absolutely unacceptable

It raises another question: what settings do I need to encode the comp in 720p resolution without taking up lots of space?
Well, it depends on whether you need a production master (something for broadcast, for example, or to use as a source for other encoding tasks) or if you want a version for distribution. If it's the former, there's nothing wrong with "lots of space" - A Quicktime file with PNG or Animation codec is a good idea, but it will take a lot of space. If it's the latter, H264 is perfect but there's no built-in preset to take 720 material to the web.
You could do this:
* Pick the generic H264 template. You'll see that it will give an error if you attempt to render, because the default setting uses an H264 profile/level which doesn't let you use HD resolutions.
* In the H264 video options, set the "Profile" menu to "Main" and "Level" to 4.0. That will keep it compatible to Quicktime and Flash player, while allowing larger frame sizes and higher bit rates.
* Set Target Bitrate to 5-8 Mbps and Maximum Bitrate to 9-10 Mbps if you're targetting web delivery. That's a bit over what Apple uses for 720p content on the Apple TV, for example.
The H264 original preset will instruct you in the comment field to stretch to 640x480 in Output Module. There's no need, since you are using a profile/level combination which allows higher frame sizes.

H.264 blu-ray 720P60 sync problem

I'm not able to maintain sync between sound and video when encoding 720P59.94 sequences (avi or mov) to 720P 59.94 h.264 Blu-ray (standard PrPro export settings). The sync is lost gradually, and at the end of a 42 minute clip, is off by more than a second. In trying to chase this down, I noticed that the exported elementary video file is longer than the source sequence by about 1 frame per minute. The elementary sound file (Dolby or PCM) appears to be the same length as the source sequence.
Although I first noticed this in Encore (Blu-ray project), an import of the "encode" files back into Premiere Pro confirmed the situation.
I checked very carefully to ensure that my sequence settings and export settings are consistant - 1280x720 P 59.94.
I don't see this sync problem with the non-blu-ray h.264 (multiplexed) encode, and I don't see this problem with the mpeg2 blu-ray encoder.
I'm interested to know if this issue is unique to my setup, and if not, if there's a fix or workaround.
I'm running the latest versions of software -
Adobe CS 6.03 (monthly account)
Kona LHi 10.3.2 (up to date)
win 7, i7, 16G ram
Thanks...Ben

Jim,
I found that, of the sequences I've been working with, those that were created by dragging the footage onto the "new" icon were NDF. Sequences that I initiated from scratch are DF. But even after exporting to h.264 from a "DF" sequence, when re-imported and dropped on the "new" icon, a NDF sequence was created.
So...I established a new DF AVI sequence, and copied the source footage into it. This gave me a 720P59.94 DF cineform avi sequence, which doesn't seem any different than the NDF predecessor. Audio and video are in sync from beginning to end - 42 minutes duration.
I did a fresh export from this sequence to the adobe h.264 blu-ray preset (720P59.94, dolby, high, 4.1).
I then re-imported the resulting m4v, and dragged it onto an unused track in the source sequence. As expected, It extended beyond the source by 78 frames (in 42 minutes), and had the gradual drift out of sync.
I applied the 50 % crop, and looked for the first sign of change between the two tracks. I noted that at 00;01;01;42, the h.264 "encode" track seem to take one step backward, resulting in a 2 frame difference for a while. I tried to find the next exact place where a change occur, but found it impossible to do so.
Since this seems kind of weird, it would be helpful to know if anyone else has been successful in exporting a 720P59.94 sequence to h.264 blu-ray, without gradual loss of sync. The duration would need to be long enough for the sync loss to be obvious - 15 minutes or so?

CS6 H.264 Blu-ray 5.1 Dolby

CS6
I don't seem to have the option of Dolby Digital 5.1 sound export from the H 264 Blu-ray preset.
I have not activated the Surcode plugin yet ( I'm waiting for the code email) but the Mpeg 2 dvd and Blu-ray give the 5.1 option.
Richard Knight

In fact, we discover that the lack of MPEG2 support will be resolved in CS6, but AA CS6 still do not import, but PPro CS6, Encore, AE, will import with no problems , and even that infamous error when importing a project from 5.5 , or CS5 in CS6, he says that there are no importers to decode the content, resolves, it is clear that using external plugins like I use, (Boris, Magic Bullet, Mojo, etc.) must be also be installed on CS6, finally, the CS6 is now open smoothly projects with contents in MPEG2 normally as did the previous one.
The problem is that this solution costs about $ 1000 .... !! yes ... unfortunately ... This price is high as this way when purchasing all the modules that includes all exporters standards for digital cinema, as Motion JPEG and other formats used in Digital film.
To work without need this exporters, the amount paid is less.
The whole problem in this story is that WE HAVE TO BUY, AND PAY more money for a software package of plugins to do something that the old versions were already done .
I think it must have a trick with the Adobe for the behalf of MainConcept, to increase their sales.
For CS5 and 5.5 the version of this package is the MainConcept Suite 5.1 and the CS6 version changed its name to ROVI TOTALCODE V6.01.
Another benefit from ROVI TotalCode is the full support of CUDA hardware from NVIDIA. It can be used to import, play the timeline smootthy , better than Mercury Engine, and
can be use to export ( acceletated presets on Rovi´s Settings pane ) , that cut off substantial time in our work.
I hate to accept that this new purchace was the only solution we learn after months of researh , to get this solutions for us here. The most part of our material is in MPEG, SD or HD.
We here love MPEG !!!!
You guys can get more information on their website in www.mainconcept.com.
So with this solution , all tha way we are accostumated, returns. The PProCS6 goes directely to Encore, to generate our BluRays and DVD etc ...

PR and AME 8.1.0 Export H.264 Blu-ray Creates Malformed xmpses File

Posting this here in PR, but this also applies to AME. The bug report was coded to AME. The only symptom may be upon import to Encore. See issue and bug report in this thread: Re: Re: Encore won't import markers with bluray vid output from Premiere through Media Encoder
Bug report filed. This appears to affect H.264 Blu-ray exports from PR 8.1.0 directly or through AME 8.1.0. It does not affect MPEG2 Blu-ray. The only practical symptom identified so far is a failure of files to import to Encore without deleting the xmpses file, which results in loss of chapter markers. A possible workaround is to modify the xmpses file.
Has this already been identified as a bug? Are there any other consequences?

Hey Kevin -
Having this issue on my new PC. I posted this on the Encore thread too but figured I'd update this thread as well. Hopefully the fix is coming in the next update (8.1.1?) Interestingly, I'm using 8.0.1 right now and I'm in my first week using my new PC (switched last week from long time Mac user) and both projects I exported had this issue. What's strange is that on my PC when exporting projects to the H264 Bluray format I get the xmpses and and xmp file whereas on the mac I only got the xmpses file. Even stranger is that I never had this issue on my Mac and when I bring in a project that I just exported using my mac into Encore on my PC it doesn't give the "error parsing MPEG..." message and all chapter markers come in just fine. These exports were just from last week using the same version of Premiere (8.0.1) I'm using AME 2014.1 though on this new PC whereas I can't remember on my mac if I had updated it yet to 2014.1 I don't think I did. Can't remember and I already wiped and sold it. Anyway, glad to hear the bug has been isolated and hope for a fix real soon. Thank you!
Premiere 8.0.1
AME 8.1.0.122
X99 5930K 6-Core
32GB Ram
GTX 970
Windows 8.1 Pro
(total side note: I wish in the signature of posts every forum member could have stored their specs so it would automatically be on each post for reference. Random thought.)

H.264 vs H.264 Blu-ray VBR 2-pass bit rate presets ...

If I select H.264 1080i, 29.97fps VBR 2-pass PP CS6 is recommending a target bit rate of 30 mbps and a max of 40 mbps. However, if I switch to H.264 Blu-ray I get 25/30. I was curious if there are logical reasons here for the difference.
In case it matters ... home movie (birthday parties, spring break trip, etc.), target output is playback on PC and PS3, and then Blu-ray disc. I've given up on the one file concept and was leaning towards an .mp4 and then separate .m4v/.wav files to feed to Encore. Curious what you would set for bit rates, if you would go VBR 2-pass, etc. (encoding time is not an issue).
Thanks

Blu-ray has bitrate limitations that computer files don't. (That's my guess on why the difference.)
Anyway, a preset is nothing more than a starting point, not the final authority on what you can export.

I can't see a H.264 Blu Ray Format on AME CS6.

Good day!
I just wanna ask how can't I see the format H.264 Blu Ray on my AME CS6. I've provided a screen capture for you to see.
Thanks.

I already reinstalled it.
I'm gonna try installing After Effects and see if that Blu Ray appears.
Wish me luck!

Is PrProCS3 able to encode H.264 Blu-ray file?

It seems I overestimated the capabilities of CS3. I have been unable to export a file to create a Blu-ray disc.
System specs:
2009 Mac Pro 4,1 3.33GHz Quad core
ATI Radeon HD 4870 512 (Apple)
16GB RAM
640GB HD for OS X 10.6.4, and all programs
3x 1TB HD in RAID 0 via Apple RAID card for data, scratch
LG WH10LS30 10x Super-Multi Blu-ray burner (kit for Mac Pro from OWC)
Adobe Production Premium CS3 (updated to 3.2.0 for Pr)
File specs:
DVCProHD P2 MXF footage, shot on Panasonic AG-HVX200P
1280x1080 29.97(24P), aspect ratio = 1.5
Project settings:
DVCProHD 1080i/1080p, 60Hz
23.976 frame rate, progressive scan
The project is 1 hour 32 minutes long, and I've tried Export to Encore, Export to AME and Export Movie to H.264 Blu-ray m4v, using the preset for 1080p High Quality 24p and 23.976fps. Codec is MainConcept H.264. The target bitrate is 25Mbps, Max 30Mbps. I've tried both Main and High profile. After I post this question, I'll be trying to change VBR to 1-pass, since it gets through the first pass during encoding every time, but crashes Pr during the second pass. It doesn't even make it to Encore... it just won't encode the export file, despite my attempts to follow all the rules.
I'm out of ideas. I don't want to give up and say Premiere Pro CS3 is worthless to me until I can confirm that as a fact. I purchased CS5, and it's sitting on my shelf awaiting installation, but I thought switching versions in the middle of a feature film edit was bad, so I've been holding off. However, if CS3 is unable to produce a Blu-ray copy, I might have to try that next.

Hi,
I have cs3 but dont have a machine powerful enough to edit HD of any kind that is more than about maybe 20 min ...I have a PC.
It slows up a LOT if I have HD on my timeline and I add effects etc. That is why I haven't responded to your thread.
I have (approx ) a dual core 3ghz cpu and 4 gig ram, 2 hard drives with OS and programs on boot drive and projects on 2nd drive. I have no problems with SD video at all but HD is just NOT something I can do.
I suspect there may be some others using CS3 that also shun large HD projects simply due to the machines they have.
With the new 64bit OS and CS5, allowing PC users to actually "see" more than 4gig of ram, most HD users are now using new 64 bit OS and CS5....with a lot of ram and multiple cpu's and raid drive setups.
Although this doesnt help you out a lot re: your problem, at least it might explain a little bit why so few have responded yet...it's simply because I don't think that many cs3 ( 32 bit program ) users have done what you are trying to do.
Perhaps you could try exporting to encore for blue ray a very small segment of ONE timeline, and see if your hardware works OK with THAT... ?? Sorry I can't help more

Downsides to multiplexing audio for H.264 Blu-ray disc?

I have a 9 minute video; personal/consumer use; 1280x720; 59.94; source video from a Contour+ helmet camera that stores .mov, H.264; audio is on a separate track from my own selection of mp3 files (it is a music video). I have three intended playback targets: Blu-ray disc, Sony PS3 native, and PC/Windows Media Player. Is there a big downside on video or audio quality in this case using multiplexing to produce a single .m2t file imported into Encore to produce the BD vs. separate .m4v/.wav files? Not a huge deal, but having to maintain one production files vs. three is a minor plus if it makes little to no difference on the BD front.
Depending on the answer, If I use the H.264 Blu-ray format/preset in PP to produce the .m2t file does Encore have to re-encode? I am assuming Encore does not reencode if I am using separate .m4v/.wav files.
Thanks

You must always remember gents, when you multiplex, there is a BUFFER attached to that (computer term that means a chunk of size and bit defined fast memory space that holds an intermediate piece of data for shuttling to the next piece of hardware). This changes the MAX Bitrate allowed for your video (but it doesn't show in AME cs6 and I don't think it shows in lower versions; not sure about cc). Since you are tying one stream to another, and effectively weaving the data into one stream, you are maxing out the amount of data you can pass in that stream. Only certain types of data can be read in this manner. Think of it this way, you have taken two sets of data with different bit widths, and different bit-sample rates, and tied them together into one stream. This stream still has to fit in the max data rates of the medium. Your video cannot exceed 30mb\s and you are also left with another problem. Audio, without mux, has so many different formats and bit fiddling profiles that it would be difficult to make sure it was within the sizing for data. If, however, you limit it to one major codec, and use predefined bit\sample rates that can be sized up, you'll be able to tell if all the settings are "legal" or not, as you then have a predefined data-size for both audio and video. If you don't multiplex, you get 2 streams. It takes longer to load the disc, but both streams are cached. Typically, with more motion, I like to non-plex, but with more emphasis on audio, I start leaning toward a TS file. IF you want forward compatibility, select an intermediate codec, with little to no compression, save to a disc image, then burn a disc and file it away. Every 10-15 years, hire an intern to turn their hair white recoding all your video and following the same procedure (unpaid internship time), but make them happy by hiring them as "Labor" on a short job or two and pay them well for standing around or stroking the egos of the "Talent". What can I say, we all work more diligently and creatively when we feel more connected with it, whether we're brooding and trying to communicate the angst of a lost generation, or felling powerful enough to choreograph leaping tall buildings in a single bound. Misery loves company, and powerful loves to be reminded it is by everybody whether it is or isn't.
If you need better clarification...
Lets go back to dvd for a moment. DVD structure is Video TS and Audio TS. TS is Transport Stream. A stream is a BUFFERED movement of data that is transferred quickly in set sized chunks. In DVD there were two transport streams to play back early on. Later, many started muxing those streams and encrypting them, so that upon Decrypting they could be played. Muxing made the encryption easier, as only one stream needed to be encrypted and it was all in the Video TS. Audio TS folders are still written, but there is little data there. In fact, removing this folder when no data is actually present has shown in some cases to do no damage, while in others, it will not play. This is because, it is used as a shell to copy. It initiates the audio stream playback on older players, and on newer players it isn't necessary.
Blu-ray yields similar limitations. You need to match the size of the buffer you are feeding. Most players max out around 35mps from the old sets, and newer players actually pull more like 50mps. If you don't know your target, you'll be out of luck. I've seen blu-rays that don't play on older players being sold at video stores, at Frys, everywhere. I've played them on an old one and found them to be unplayable. Newer formats do not work with older players, but, they note it on the package that you need to meet certain specs, and those specs can usually be found on a sticker on your device so you can see if they match. Remember your Target BitRate and Max Bitrate. The Target should be less than the max for the device you aim for. CS6 won't usually allow anything over 32.7mps, anyway, so setting this in AME even with dynamic linking could cause problems. However, you do have the choice to locate a transcode... ...presents an interesting possibility. I've been trying to get a project done or I'd try this myself:
I'd use the x264 free codec, with some basic options and blu-ray-compatible flag, with --fake-interlaced, to create a transcode and link it into encore. However, encore hasn't liked any of my transcodes that use multiple passes. I'm going to try with a single pass later, and produce an intermediate output for now.

Thoughts on using AME to transcode Blu-Ray video...?

My workflow for Blu-Ray and DVD from Premiere to Encore has had to change since the demise of the Dynamic Link (due to the lack of an Encore CC).
In many ways this has turned out to be a good thing.
My typical project is an opera performance captured on a high-end consumer camcorder (Sony HDR-CX550V) which records an AVCHD folder full of clips. I edit the project in Premiere, adding titles, chapter marks, dissolves etc. I have started to make two-camera projects as well.
I was distraught when I discovered that the link between Premiere and Encore no longer worked in Premiere CC, but soon discovered a great deal of power and flexibility in setting the file sizes by varying the target bit rate and making other changes (such as changing the default PCM sound to Dolby Digital which takes up a lot less space).
I have discovered a curious anomaly, though, with my Blu-Ray transfers. I understand that the preferred file for Encore to ingest as Blu-Ray would be the h.264 Blu-Ray but have discovered that it takes several hours to transcode...and once I'm done, Encore wants to transcode it all over again...another significant time period wasted. An opera such as MAGIC FLUTE, which the company played in 2 hours 51 minutes (without intermissions, etc.) took FIVE hours to transcode to h.264 Blu-Ray and then Encore listed it as a file to transcode (another 2 hours or so).
Along with the added time, the process requires so many multiple transcodes I can't imagine some quality is not lost.
I decided to experiment with the MPEG-2 Blu-Ray setting and found that while it made larger files (still controllable by setting the bit rate...it wants to choose 30 but since the CAMERA can't provide a file with more than 21, setting the target bit rate at 20 makes the video just about fit, with auudio set as Dolby Digital).
The encode time for the above file is just above 1 1/2 hours. Encore ultimately takes some time to index the file (maybe 20 minutes) but puts a "don't transcode" marker on it so no further transcode is done. However, it comes up with a message complaining that the metadata is corrupt and recommending that I delete the .XMPSES file (but will lose my chapter markings). I delete the file, re-import the .m2v file...the chapter markings come in just fine. Is there a reason AME has to make this .XMPSES file in a way that Encore has something to complain about?
Also...is there a reason AME can't output an h.264 file that doesn't have to be re-processed by Encore? I understand .m4v is more advanced and efficient...but if creating one is such a more difficult, time-consuming process and I get a more-than-acceptable result with the .m2v Blu-Ray file, is there any logical reason why I should still consider the "preferred" h.264 encoding?

I wasn't aware that Encore did this automatically.
What I DO know is that with the new workflow eliminating the Dynamic Link I have the responsibility to do my own bit budgeting, and the ability to make choices in the export process to maximize the quality of my output.
I have a customer base that I can best describe as "cheap"! I recommend they buy a Blu-Ray player or computer disc reader. Even with their flat-screen TVs, they still opt for DVD.
I make recordings of opera performances for the benefit of the opera company (small amateur and semi-pro companies in New York City) and the performers. They balk at the idea that, say, THE MAGIC FLUTE, which weighs in at 2 hours 50 minutes on average, needs to be delivered on 2 DVDs for maximum quality (and I'm going to bill an extra $5 over the cost of a single DVD). So, real estate on these discs is extremely tight. I don't use dual-layer because I find them neither reliable nor cost-effective; in my experience they take forever to burn, the error rate is through the roof and they cost significantly more than single-layer.
SO I accommodate by lowering the bit rate.
In Premiere (or later in AME) I choose my favorite preset (NTSC DV Wide Progressive). The timeline comes in at a whopping 7928 MB, far in excess of the 4.7GB allowed on a single layer DVD. By the single act of changing the audio manually from PCM to Dolby Digital, the amount magically descends to 6,333. Now we change the bit rate from 5 to 3.5 MBPS. The proposed project size goes to 4,503, and I'll take the risk of doing an image at that rate (although sometimes I get burned by having the project exceed disc capacity and have to go back and do it again, since the numbers displayed as proposed project size are predictions/good-faith estimates AND there are other elements that have to go on the disc; since the transcode only takes about 45 minutes now, that's not a big deal). Yes, that's going to make a blurrier image than 5MBPS. My customers seem to prefer that to buying a Blu-Ray disc player for $79.95 at Best Buy and paying me an extra $5 for the Blu-Ray edition. Perhaps that's explainable by the fact that a previous videographer in one of these companies made the videos by recording the show in VHS and playing the VHS tapes into a VHS to DVD recorder ("Progress! We now have DVD!") I can assure that I get a better result than THAT.
The point: probably Encore would have transcoded the WAV file for me into AC3. It also would have freed up a bunch of space in doing so...and that space would be wasted since I didn't account for it in the bit budgeting process. Thus, in order to ensure the best video quality possible (i.e. the largest possible size video file in relation to the audio on the disc), it's necessary to mandate Dolby Digital/AC3 at the point of setting up the export. Allowing Encore to do it ensures a large blank area of disc space and if the project is more than a certain size, an unnecessary sacrifice in quality.
Jay

Exporting H.264 Blu-ray material in CS3

System:
2009 Mac Pro 3.33GHz Quad core
Snow Leopard 10.6.5
16GB RAM
Radeon HD 5870
Adobe Premiere Pro CS3, 3.2.0
Video material:
DVCProHD, 1080p60i/24p, 23.976fps shot on P2, MXF file format.
Exporting to:
H.264 Blu-ray via Adobe Media Encoder
I can render Blu-ray material, and even burn it in an internal LG 10x Blu-ray burner that I installed. The result was wonderful when played back on a Blu-ray player and HDTV.
What I cannot figure out is why I have to render projects in small little segments, rather than one large one, and then line them all up on a timeline in Encore. I then have to rearrange my chapter points, since Encore places a chapter marker at each clip. It's not the biggest deal in the world, but it's just annoying.
I've tried different settings, and the one that gives me the most success is starting with the preset for H.264 (Blu-ray), HDTV 1080p 23.976 High Quality, and switching the Profile from High to Main, and leaving the rest alone. I'm not sure if I tried HDTV 1080i 29.97... maybe I should. Whether it crashes or not seems to depend on how many effects are in the clip, or how long the segment is, but I can usually get away with up to about 10000 frames of video without a crash. The crash almost always occurs during the second pass of VBR encoding. It closes Premiere and offers the crash report window, which I am not good at decyphering. Anyway, I always submit the crash report with what I was trying to do. Adobe has many of them from me now.
Can anyone shed some light as to why it only allows 6000-10000 frames go through this encoding process? My system will show that it only used about 6 out of 16 GB of RAM after a fresh reboot. It helps if I reboot between each encode session, as well. If I try to encode two short segments without rebooting between, I usually get a crash. Also, I can encode DVDs just fine with the same project. I encoded the 105 minute movie with all the same effects, clips, etc. and the DVD was flawless on the first try. It's just the H.264 Blu-ray setting that jacks it up.
I'm glad I can get the thing done piecemeal, but I was hoping someone could at least explain why it's so difficult. (:

I would agree, and I think it must have to do with RAM. When I get a segment exported successfully, the Activity Monitor shows very close to all 16 GB used in many cases. I surmise that when the program sucks too close to all 16GB up, it crashes.

H.264 Blu-Ray rendered .m4v files won't playback in any media player except Adobe software

Hello guys and thank you in advance for your help. I am going to pull my hair out!
I had to reinstall Windows 7 and am experiencing an issue that is driving me crazy. All of my 720p H.264 Blu-Ray.m4v files rendered with After Effects will not play in any player I try in Windows. I've tried Windows Media Player, VLC, and Media Player Classic. I've tried with a clean install and no other codecs except those included with Windows 7. I've tried installing additional h.264 codecs. I've tried installing ffdshow and other codecs as well and no matter what I do, the files will not play at all.
The only way I can preview the file it to load it in AE or Encore or something similiar. Unfortunately, this is not the best solution for me. I'd love to be able to preview the files quickly and efficiently through Windows Explorer / Media Player without opening Adobe software. I don't think that's too much to ask.
Another issue is that before I reinstalled Windows that these files played back just fine in Windows Media Player! I don't know why it was working and now it's not on a clean install. All of the hardware is the same. On the original working install, I don't recall installing any additional codec packs or anything. It just worked...
Regular .mp4 H.264 files (not Blu-Ray) play just fine in all players. Something the Blu-Ray spec is doing to the file causes it to not work. And changing the extension to mp4 does nothing.
Please tell me what I am doing wrong! Is it something with the Mainconcept codec? Is it something with my drivers? What am I missing?!?

Thanks for the suggesstion Mylenium, but that didn't help either.
I installed PowerDVD which came with the Blu-Ray drive, and also a trial of ArcSoft's Blu-Ray player, and neither would play the files.
Any other suggestions? This is killing me. I don't understand why they would play before and not now. The files arne't corrupt. Even new rendered outputs in the same preset won't play. They'll load into Encore just fine though and even are listed as "Don't Transcode", so I know the files themselves are okay.
Could it have anything to do with drivers? I was testing an Nvidia video card with my last build and now I'm just using a Sandy Bridge chip with Intel's on-board video. But I do remember even when I took the Nvidia card out and just ran on-board video the last time, the files still played fine...

Adobe Media Encoder - Encore - H.264 Blu-ray

I just exported a Premiere Pro timeline using the Media Encoder with H.264 Blu-ray format and the 1080i 29.97 HQ preset. Presumably, you would choose this so that you do not have to transcode when you get to Encore. However, when I put my 16GB M4V file in a timeline, it wants to transcode saying it is "Untranscoded". Why? It also says the Blu-ray disc is only 11GB.
Please tell me there is something I can do to prevent from having to re-encode or transcode this file when it is already in a Blu-ray format.

hello,
"This bug is with only H264 VBR 2 Pass presets and if you change to VBR 1 Pass keeping evverything same, the bug should not be there."
honestly speaking, most everyone agrees that 2 pass is better quality than 1 pass
and if this issue has been happening since cs4 and we just received our first update
to cs5.5.1 for ppro, why does adobe still require us to 'lower' quality settings...
it's almost like adobe doesn't want us exporting a full quality BD...
doesn't adobe have the resources to fix this issue already?
unless there is an acceptable answer, then shouldn't this be unacceptable...?
this is almost like saying, "yeah the full hd presets don't work, but if you use the standard def presets, you should be okay..."
especially if other authoring programs can do 2pass BD discs...
is there an acceptable answer as to why this issue hasn't been fixed?
is there any plans to update encore?
thanks,
jeffrey

AME H.264 Blu-ray Presets

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