Nero Recode 2 User Manual

Nero Recode Manual

Nero AG

The Nero Recode manual and all its contents are protected by copyright and are the property of Nero AG. All rights reserved. This manual contains material that is protected by internationally valid copyright. No part of this manual may be reproduced, transmitted or transcribed without the express written permission of Nero AG.

All trade names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Nero AG rejects any claims that transcend the clauses of the guarantee rights. Nero AG does not undertake any liability for the correctness of the content of the Nero Recode manual. The contents of the software supplied, as well as of the Nero Recode manual, may be changed without prior warning.

The trademarks mentioned here are named for information purposes only.

Contents

1 General information 5

1.1 Conventions of the manual 5

1.2 About Nero Recode 5

1.3 Versions with different ranges of functions 5

1.4 Terminology 6

2 Technical information 7

2.1 System requirements 7

3 Program start 8

3.1 StartNero Recode using Nero StartSmart 8

3.2 Start Nero Recode directly 8

4 The Nero Recode start screen 9 5 Nero Recode wizards 11

5.1 Basic settings 11

5.1.1 DVD tab 12

5.1.2 Nero Digital tab 12

5.1.3 General tab 13

5.1.4 Preview window tab 13

5.1.5 File I/O tab 14

5.2 Import Files screen 14

5.2.1 DVD-Video Files/Nero Digital Titles tab 15

5.2.2 Data Files tab 16

5.2.3 Title import profile 16

5.3 Set Burn Options screen 18

5.3.1 Additional settings 19

5.4 Recoding and Burning screen 19

6 Recode an Entire DVD to DVD 21

6.1 Task-specific input options 21

6.2 Recode 22

7 Recode Main Movie to DVD 25

7.1 Task-specific input options 25

7.2 Recode 26

7.2.1 Trim Title 28

Seite 3

Contents

8 Compile a DVD 29

8.1 Task-specific input options 29

8.2 Recode 30

9 Recode DVDs and videos for Nero Digital 33

9.1 Task-specific input options 33

9.2 Recode 34

9.2.1 Audio settings 36

9.2.2 Create your own subtitle track 37

9.2.3 Set chapter markers 39

9.2.4 Define video settings 40

9.2.5 Set Nero Digital options 41

10 Recode main movie to Nero Digital 42

10.1 Task-specific input options 42

10.2 Recode 43

11 Nero Digital expert settings 46

11.1 MPEG-4 terminology 46

11.2 MPEG-4 profiles 48

11.2.1 Create a new profile 48

11.2.2 Encoding mode 49

11.2.3 Quality/Speed 49

11.2.4 Advanced 50

11.2.5 Keyframes 52

11.2.6 Matrices 52

11.2.7 AVC Encoder 53

11.2.8 Bitrate mode 53

11.2.9 General settings 53

11.2.10 Decision quality 53

11.2.11 Encoder Tools 54

11.2.12 Visual Enhancements 55

12 List of figures 56 13 Index 57 14 Contact 59

14.1 Contact details 59

Seite 4

General information

1 General information

1.1 Conventions of the manual

This manual is intended for all users who want to find out about how to use Nero Recode. It is task-based and explains how to achieve a particular objective on a step-by-step basis.

In order to make best use of this manual, please note the following conventions:

Symbol Meaning

Indicates warnings, preconditions or instructions that have to be

1. Start …

Æ Î

Chapter

[…] Indicates keyboard shortcuts for entering commands.

followed strictly.

Indicates additional information or advice.

A number at the beginning of a line indicates a request for action. Carry out these actions in the order specified.

Indicates an intermediate result. Indicates a result. Indicates text passages or buttons that appear in the program

interface. They are shown in bold print. Indicates references to other chapters. They are executed as

links and are shown in red and underlined.

1.2 About Nero Recode

Nero Recode enables you to copy non-copyright DVD videos onto DVD for archiving purposes.. If the source video is larger than 4.7 GB, it is compressed to fit on a single layer DVD disk without loss of quality. You can also exclude unwanted material on the source DVD from the copying process (including subtitles or soundtracks) thereby maki ng space for additional videos or for better video quality. As an alternative, the target DVD can also be recorded on the hard drive in the form of a DVD video directory or can be created on the hard drive as a so-called disk image.

Naturally, you can also choose to produce your own compilation from the contents of various (non-copyright) DVDs and then export it to the pioneering Nero Digital™ MPEG-4/ H.264 AVC, for example, and then to burn it onto disk. It doesn't matter whether the video is intended for portable devices or HDTV because the different export profiles enable you adapt the output size to your requirements and you will always receive the best quality relative to the file size.

So, Nero Recode lets you copy, recompile and recode the contents of DVs and DVDs and then to burn the results onto disk.

1.3 Versions with different ranges of functions

Nero Recode is not just available in the full version. The versions differ from the full version in terms of the range of functions, i.e. not all the tasks described in this manual can be resolved and the user interface is adapted to the specific version.

Seite 5

General information

The following versions are available:

Nero Recode

 Full version

Nero Recode Essentials

The following features of the full version are not included:

 PSP export function  iPod export function

Nero Recode Essentials SE

Exclusive features:

 Recode complete DVD to DVD  Burn function (via Nero API)

Nero Recode Essentials CE

The following features of the full version are not included:

 Recode complete DVD  Recode Main Movie to DVD  Change the structure of a DVD

1.4 Terminology

 Encoding means the conversion of a video of any format into another format, e.g. MPEG-

2 or Nero Digital™ (MPEG-4). A corresponding encoder is required for every target format.

 Transcoding means converting a video from a particular format into another parti cular

format, e.g. from Xvid to MPEG-2.

 Recoding involves converting an existing video with certain properties (e.g. bit rate 2500

kbit/s) into the same format with different properties (e.g. bit rate 1990 kbit/s).

 Decoding means opening or playing a video that has been encoded in a particular format.

In this manual transcoding is used synonymously with encoding.

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Technical information

2 Technical information

2.1 System requirements

In addition to the general system requirements for Nero Suite, the following individual system requirements apply to Nero Recode:

 Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0b or later

Optional:

 DVD video plug-in for DVD video recordings and the "DVD-9 to DVD-5" function  Multi-core processor

Seite 7

Program start

3 Program start

3.1 StartNero Recode using Nero StartSmart

To start Nero Recode with Nero StartSmart, proceed as follows:

1. Click on the Nero StartSmart icon.

Æ The Nero StartSmart window is opened.

2. Click on the arrow button on the left side of the window.

Æ The extended dialog box is opened.

3. Select the entry Nero Recode in the Applications drop-down list.

Æ The Nero Recode window opens.

Î You have now started Nero Recode using Nero StartSmart.

3.2 Start Nero Recode directly

To start Nero Recode directly, proceed as follows:

1. If you are using the Microsoft® Windows® XP Start menu, click on Start > All Programs >

Nero 7 (Premium) > Photo and Video > Nero Recode. If you are using the classic Start menu, click on Start > Programs > Nero 7 (Premium) > Photo and Video > Nero Recode.

Æ The Nero Recode window opens.

Î You have now started Nero Recode.

Fig. 1: Nero StartSmart

Seite 8

The Nero Recode start screen

4 The Nero Recode start screen

After you launch Nero Recode the Nero Recode start screen will appear.. This is where you can choose what you want to do with Nero Recode. Choose the

appropriate menu icon to call up a wizard that will guide you through the required task stepby-step.

The Nero Recode start screen offers the following options:

Menu icons Recode an Entire

DVD to DVD

Imports DVDs including their menus and extras. Unwanted audio tracks, subtitles or video content can be removed and the structure of the video titles can be changed.

Imports the main movie contained on a DVD without menus or

Recode Main Movie to DVD

extras. Unwanted audio tracks, subtitles or video content can be removed and the structure of the video titles can be changed.

Imports video titles and creates an individual DVD from one or

Compile a DVD

more DVDs. Unwanted audio tracks, subtitles or video content can be removed and the structure of the video titles can be changed.

Recode DVDs and Videos to Nero Digital

Imports video titles from one or more DVDs and converts these into Nero Digital (MPEG-4) files. Unwanted audio tracks, subtitles or video content can be removed and the structure of the video titles can be changed.

Imports the main movie on a DVD without menus or extras and

Recode Main Movie to Nero Digital

converts this into Nero Digital (MPEG-4) files. Unwanted audio tracks, subtitles or video content can be removed and the structure of the video titles can be changed.

Fig. 2: Nero Recode start screen

Buttons More

Opens and closes the extended area in which the basic Nero Recode settings can be made.

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The Nero Recode start screen

? Exit

Displays the online help, version and manufacturer information. Closes Nero Recode.

Buttons in the extended area

Options Erase Disc

Disc Info

Calls up a window containing various tabs that allow you set the way the program operates (see

Basic settings).

Erases a rewritable disc. Calls up information about the disk in the drive. Launches Nero CoverDesigner in a separate window.

Nero CoverDesigner

Nero CoverDesigner allows you create covers and labels for your DVDs and CDs. You will find further details in the Nero CoverDesigner manual.

Each screen contains quick references, detailed information and explanations for the various buttons, icons and menus. Hold down the mouse button over a control for a few seconds to see the quick reference.

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Nero Recode wizards

5 Nero Recode wizards

All the tasks you can perform with Nero Recode can be divided into four steps:

 Define the basic settings  Import the files you want to recode  Set the options for Nero Digital and/or for burning a disk.  Burn the disk.

The wizards also follow this four-step structure, so that a separate screen appears for each step. You can use the Next and Back buttons to move back and forth through the three screens while performing a task. This means that you can also change settings that you have already made and undo actions.

Nero Digital™ is an MPEG-4 codec. It is compatible with MPEG-4 Video and MPEG-4 High Efficiency AAC and offers high quality Surround Sound and high resolution image signals for your home cinema.

5.1 Basic settings

The basic settings are made on the tabs in the Nero Recode Options window. This is opened using the Options in the extended area.

Fig. 3: Nero Recode Options window

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Nero Recode wizards

5.1.1 DVD tab

This tab is used to define the settings for importing DVDs. The following input options are available:

Prompt to include DVD data files when importing check box

Relax DVD-Video specification to allow 16-bit Unicode for the volume label

check box

Remove P-UOPs (Prohibited User Operations) from target disc check box

Remove Layer Break

check box

This decides whether this content is included in copying when importing a DVD with data content. This box must be checked if the data content is also to be copied.

This relaxes the restrictions on the use of character sets. Nero Recode does not use characters from languages like Japanese or Korean, which have a 16-bit Unicode character set-that does not comply with DVD video requirements.

This decides whether the prohibited areas on a DVD are to be made available to the user while copying. For example, if the original DVD contains an area that cannot be skipped, you can use Nero Recode to remove the block, so that users can skip or fast forward through the area.

This removes the layer interrupt. If the original DVD consists of two layers, there is a command on the DVD to freeze the image briefly to allow the laser to switch from the first layer to the second. When Nero Recode is used to copy to a DVD with just one layer, this command is redundant and can be removed.

5.1.2 Nero Digital tab

This tab is used to define the settings for conversion to Nero Digital format. Once Nero Recode has created an MPEG-4 file, a check is automatically made to see

whether the video quality of would improve by converting the file a second time. The selection menu is used to define how Nero Recode should proceed in this case.

The following selection options are available:

Ask me to confirm which files need a second pass.

Do not ask me. Always do a second pass for those files which need it.

Do not ask me. Never do a second pass.

If a second conversion would improve the quality, a dialog box opens before the second conversion takes place. This can be used to define whether or not the second step is to take place.

If a second conversion would improve the quality, this is carried out automatically without checking.

A second conversion never takes place, not even if this would improve the quality of the resulting MPEG-4-file..

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Nero Recode wizards

The following input options are also available:

Standard button

Enlargement/ Reduction Method drop-down list

Analyze files while importing check box

Auto-close iTunes after iPod transfer check box

5.1.3 General tab

This tab is used to define general Nero Recode settings. The following input options are available:

This restores the default settings. This enables the method for changing the video resolution to

be selected if necessary. The default setting is Automatic which means that the best method is chosen automatically.

Analyzes the video file while importing it.

Automatically closes iTunes after transcoding to Apple iPod video.

Enable All button

If minimize, minimize to tray check box

Do not eject the disc after encoding/burning is complete check box

Offer to save detailed report after successful burn process check box

Language drop-down list

5.1.4 Preview window tab

This tab can be used to set the audio quality in the DVD preview. The following input options are available:

Preview window

area

This enables all warnings if these have been disabled manually

Specifies that the program should appear in the status bar when minimized.

Prevents the disk from being ejected after burning.

This enables the report generated about the burning process to be saved.

Sets the language for Nero Recode.

Specifies the audio quality of the preview.

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Nero Recode wizards

5.1.5 File I/O tab

This tab is used to define the method for accessing the drive for direct conversion. The following input option is available:

File I/O

area

When reading-copyright DVDs that have a copyright bit with SPTI/ASPI, a message occasionally appears in Nero Recode indicating that the DVD cannot be copied. In this case, select the Windows File System option when reading.

5.2 Import Files screen

The screen for importing files changes, depending on the task chosen. The input options available in this screen are explained below. The explanation of the input options displayed, which differ depending on the task selected, can be found in the description of the individual tasks.

Specifies the method for accessing the drive during direct conversion.

Fig. 4: Importing video titles in Nero Recode

The following input options are standard in the screen for importing files and are available in the context of every task:

This recodes the imported disk automatically so that it fits onto the blank disk. The box is checked off as standard.

Fit to target

check box

If the check box is deactivated, the size of the copy can be defined, irrespective of the limitation of a disk.

Although it may not be possible to burn the resulting DVD structure onto a typical commercial blank disk, the DVD video title could certainly be played from the hard drive.

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Nero Recode wizards

Fit to target

drop-down list

Total size

area

This shows the target medium. The capacity bar in the lower area of the screen shows the volume of data selected. The drop-down list is active when the check box is checked.

Shows how much space on the disk is used. Shows how much space on the disk is used. Provided the bar

Capacity Bar

area

is blue, the entire content will fit on the disk. If a red bar appears, the volume of data is greater than the capacity of the disk.

5.2.1 DVD-Video Files/Nero Digital Titles tab

The following input options are contained on the DVD Video Files tab as standard and are available in the context of every task:

Import DVD

button

Preview area

The following input options are contained on the DVD Video Files tab as standard and are available in the context of every task:

Audio/ Subtitle Information tabs

This opens a dialog for importing the required file.

Ends playback. Starts playback.

Skips to particular points. Enlarges the preview area..

Among other things, the Audio/Subtitle Information tabs in the middle of the screen show the audio tracks. The audio and subtitle tracks have been imported in line with the profile selected during importing. The following tabs are available:

Audio

tab

Subtitle

tab

Info

tab

Displays the imported audio tracks in line with the import profile.

Displays the imported subtitle tracks in line with the import profile.

Displays information about the imported video title.

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Nero Recode wizards

5.2.2 Data Files tab

Data files can be burned onto the disk as well as the film. These files are imported using the

Data Files tab. The following input options are available in the context of every task:

Add Files button

Delete button

5.2.3 Title import profile

The Nero Recode Profile area allows you to switch to the Title import profiles. A new profile can be created there.

The following input options are available in the Title import profile area:

Current profile selection menu

New button

Delete

button

The following tabs are available in the Title import profile window:

This opens a dialog for adding data files. This deletes a data file and is only active if at least one data file

has been added. Displays the contents of higher folders and is only active when

the user is located in a subfolder. Opens the dialog to create a folder in the disk's data area.. Opens a menu in which the way in which the files are displayed

in the folders can be changed.

Indicates the current profile.

Calls up a dialog box in which a new profile can be created. Deletes the current profile displayed in the Current Profile

drop-down list.

Video tab

Quality distribution area

Menus area

Audio tab

Preselect the following audio tracks check box

Add button

Remove button

From multiple tracks of the same language select

drop-down list

Defines the quality ratio between the main movie and the extras.

Specifies whether the menus are to be copied in original quality.

Defines whether the DVD is to contain audio tracks in specific languages only, or in all languages.

This opens a dialog window where audio tracks can be added in different languages. This button is only active if the Preselect the following audio tracks box is checked.

Deletes the highlighted audio tracks. This button is only active if at least one audio track has been marked in the overview of selected audio tracks.

Specifies the audio format used of there are several audio tracks in the same language on the DVD.

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Nero Recode wizards

Select all tracks if none meets my selection criteria check box

Subtitles tab

Preselect the following subtitle tracks check box

Add button

Remove button

Select all tracks if none meets my selection criteria

check box

Selects all audio tracks of the tracks on the DVD if the tracks on the DVD do not meet the set criteria.

Defines whether the DVD should only contain subtitles in certain languages or in all languages.

This opens a dialog window where subtitle tracks in different languages can be added. This button is only enabled if the Preselect the following subtitle tracks box has been checked.

Deletes the marked subtitle tracks. This button is only active if at least one subtitle track has been marked in the overview of selected subtitle tracks.

This selects all subtitle tracks if the tracks on the DVD are not to have any subtitles with the set criteria.

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Nero Recode wizards

5.3 Set Burn Options screen

The screen for setting burning options changes, depending on the task selected. The standard input options in this screen are explained below. The descriptions of the various tasks contain explanations of the input options displayed, depending on the selected task.

Fig. 5: Nero Recode burning settings

The Burn Settings screen contains following default input options and are available in the context of each task:

Target drop-down list

Target Directory

input box

This specifies the target for assembling the data. You can use a CD/DVD recorder to burn the data, store the data on a hard drive, or generate an image file.

Specifies the target directory in which the compilation is stored and in which the temporary files created during burning are stored. These are automatically deleted after burning.

Opens a window showing the computer's directory tree. The destination directory where the compilation is to be stored or in

Browse button

which the temporary files are to be held during burning can be selected here. The path is automatically referenced in the Destination Directory input field. The temporary files are automatically deleted after burning.

Writing Speed drop-down list

Number of copies input box

Burn

button

Specifies the write speed. The drop-down list is only active if a CD/DVD recorder is selected in the Target drop-down list.

Specifies the number of copies to be burned. The drop-down list is only active if a CD/DVD recorder is selected in the Destination drop-down list.

Launches the burning process.

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Nero Recode wizards

The following task-specific input options are also available:

Burn-at-once check box

Extended Analysis check box

High Quality Mode

check box

The following additional setting options are available when converting into Nero Digital:

Current Profile drop-down list

New button

Delete button Encoding method

input box Expert Mode

check box

Users who are very experienced in converting video and audio files can use expert mode for advanced setting options (see

If this box is not checked, the DVD structure is saved on hard drive before burning. Burning takes longer in this case. This method is faster if more than one copy is required because recoding only occurs once. The check box is only active if a CD/DVD recorder is selected in the Destination drop-down list.

Dramatically improves the quality of the encoding process of a DVD. Recoding takes place in two steps and therefore takes longer. The check box is only active if a CD/DVD recorder is selected in the Destination drop-down list..

Improves recoding quality. This means that recoding takes longer. The check box is only active is a CD/DVD recorder is selected in the destination drop-down list.

Displays the Nero Digital Profile that you have selected in the My Nero Digital Disk screen.

Just one profile is available as the default, however a new one can be created.

Creates a new profile. This can then be selected in the Current Profile drop-down list.

Deletes the profile selected in the Current Profile drop-down list.

Selects the method to be used to encode the MPEG-4 file.

Switches to the Nero Digital expert settings.

Nero Digital expert settings).

5.3.1 Additional settings

The expanded window also offers the following additional setting options:

Shut down computer when finished

The computer automatically closes down after burning is complete. Only displayed in the Burning Settings screen.

check box

Priority

drop-down list

Defines how the resources available in the computer are to be used when burning the disk. The drop-down list is only displayed in the Burning Settings screen.

5.4 Recoding and Burning screen

The Recoding and Burning screen changes depending on the task selected. The standard input options in this screen are explained below. The descriptions of the various tasks contain explanations of the input options displayed, depending on the selected task.

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Nero Recode wizards

Fig. 6: Nero Recode burning process

The following input options are contained in the Burn Disc screen and are available in the context of every task:

Enable video preview

Activates the video preview during burning.

check box

Status area

Progress Bar area

Pause button

Stop button

Resume button

Back button

button

Enlarges and reduces the area of the video preview. Indicates the progress of the burning process.

Shows the progress of the burning process in graphical form

Interrupts the burning process

Ends the burning process. Continues the burning process. This button is only displayed if

the burning process was interrupted using the Pause button. Displays the previous screen.. This displays the What do you want to do now? screen.

There are various options here for implementing further actions.

If you are recoding files for Nero Digital, the following input options will be available.

Show Nero Digital compatible devices

check box

This opens a browser window containing a list of devices that can reproduce the Nero Digital profile during the encoding process. This function requires a fully functional Internet connection.

Seite 20

Recode an Entire DVD to DVD

6 Recode an Entire DVD to DVD

Nero Recode allows you to adapt and change the structure of a DVD while copying it, so that the data can be burned onto a commercial blank disk.

Unless you possess the copyright yourself, or at least have the permission of the copyright holder, the unauthorized reproduction of discs may be a breach of national or international law and may lead to severe penalties!

The best way to produce a simple 1:1 copy of a DVD is to use Nero Express or Nero Burning ROM. The data is not compressed in this case, so that the blank disk used must have enough space for the content of the original DVD as displayed. For further details on using Nero Express or Nero Burning ROM see the relevant manuals and/or help files.

6.1 Task-specific input options

Fig. 7: My DVD Backup screen with already imported DVD

In addition to the input options described in the chapter on the Import Files screen (see

Import Files screen), the following buttons are available in the My DVD Backup task in the

Recode an entire DVD to DVD screen:

Removes video titles contained in the original. These are not

Disable

transferred when burning the copy. The button is only active when a DVD video title has been imported.

Enables video titles that were previously disabled. These titles

Enable

are then transferred when burning the copy. The button is only active if an imported DVD video title has already been disabled.

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Recode an Entire DVD to DVD

Lock

Unlock

The columns in the upper area of the DVD-Video Files tab have the following significance:

Locks the automatic change of recoding quality for a DVD video title. It is still possible to make manual changes to the quality settings by moving the control. It may make sense to block individual video titles if the quality of other content is to be improved, necessitating a proportionate deterioration in the rest of the content. The button is only active if a DVD video title has been imported.

Removes the lock on the automatic change of recoding quality. This button is only enabled when a DVD video title has been imported.

Content Duration Size

Video quality

6.2 Recode

To recode a DVD, proceed as follows:

1. Start Nero Recode.

Æ The start screen will appear (see The Nero Recode start screen).

2. In the Nero Recode start screen select the Recode an Entire DVD to DVD task.

Æ The My DVD Backup screen will appear.

3. Insert the DVD you want to recode in the DVD drive on your PC.

4. Insert a blank disk if you want to burn the data onto CD/DVD.

5. Check the Fit to Target box as required.

Æ The content of the source DVD is then recoded to fit on the blank disk that has been

inserted.

Shows the structure contained on the DVD. Shows the length of the relevant area. Shows the size of the relevant area. Shows the quality. The higher the number, the better the

quality of the file recoded with Nero Recode.

If the Fit to Target box is not checked, the DVD video is imported in its original size. In this case the volume of data can be so great that it can only be burned onto a double-layer DVD or saved on the hard drive.

6. Select the required import profile in the Title import profile area (see Title import profile).

7. Click on the Import DVD button.

Æ The Find Folder dialog window is opened.

8. Select the drive or hard drive folder containing the DVD that you want to recode and click on

the OK button.

Æ You have imported the DVD.

The capacity bar at the bottom of the screen shows how much memory the imported DVD files use. If the source DVD is larger than the target medium, the central area of

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Recode an Entire DVD to DVD

the DVD Video Files tab shows how the DVD will be recoded in line with the selected profile.

9. Mark the audio tracks you want to copy on the Audio tab.

10. Mark the subtitle tracks you want to copy on the Subtitle tab.

11. If there is an individual video title you do not want to copy:

1. Mark the required video file on the DVD Video Files tab.

2. Click on the Disable button.

Æ The Remove Element dialog window appears.

3. Select the required deletion method in the dialog window and confirm this with OK.

Æ The video title has been deactivated.

12. If you want to reactivate an already deactivated video title for copying purposes:

1. Mark the disabled video title on the DVD Video Files tab.

2. Click on the Enable button.

Æ The video title is active again and can be copied.

13. If you wish to lock the individual video titles to protect them from loss of quality when

recoding:

1. Mark the video title you want to lock.

2. Click on the Lock button

Æ The marked video title is locked.

14. If you want to unlock an already locked video title to adjust the quality proportionately to the

changes in quality in the other titles:

1. Mark the video title you want to unlock.

2. Click on the Unlock button.

Æ The marked video title will be unlocked.

15. Move an area control in the Video Quality column until the required video title quality is

reached.

The quality of the rest of the content of the DVD will deteriorate proportionately to the improvement in the improvement in the quality of an individual video title.

16. Click on the Next button to continue to define the burn settings.

Æ The Burn Settings dialog appears.

17. Make the required settings for the burning process (see Set Burn Options screen)

18. Click on the Burn button to start the burning process.

Æ Burning has started.

The Recoding and Burning screen appears and you can follow its progress on the progress bar

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Recode an Entire DVD to DVD

19. To cancel burning, click on the Stop button. To pause/ resume burning, click on the

Pause/Restart button.

Î The burning process is complete when the relevant message appears in the information

window. You can now return to the burning settings and burn the compilation again. The Next button takes you to the What do you want to do now? screen, where you can select the other options or close Nero Recode.

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Recode Main Movie to DVD

7 Recode Main Movie to DVD

Nero Recode allows you to copy the main movie on a DVD without the extras. You can adapt and change the structure of the main movie so that the data can be burned onto a commercial blank disk.

7.1 Task-specific input options

Fig. 8: My Movie Backup screen with main movie already imported

In addition to the input options described under Import Files screen,:the following buttons are available in the My Movie Backup screen in the Recode a Main Movie to DVD task:

This opens a window where the selected video title can be

Trim Movie

trimmed. The button is only enabled when a DVD video title has been imported (see Trim Movie

Seite 25

Recode Main Movie to DVD

The columns in the upper area of the DVD-Video Files tab have the following meaning.

Content Duration Size

Video quality

7.2 Recode

To recode a DVD, proceed as follows:

1. Start Nero Recode.

Æ The start screen appears (see The Nero Recode start screen).

2. Select the Recode Main Movie to DVD task in the Nero Recode start screen..

Æ The My Movie Backup screen will appear.

3. Insert the DVD you want to recode in the DVD drive on your PC.

Shows the structure on the DVD Shows the length of the relevant area. Shows the size of the relevant area. Shows the quality. The higher the number, the better the

quality of the file recoded with Nero Recode.

4. Insert a blank disk onto which the CD/DVD content is to be burned..

5. Check the Fit to target box.

Æ The content of the source DVD is then recoded to fit on the blank disk that has been

inserted.

If the Fit to Target box is not checked, the DVD video is imported in its original size. In this case the volume of data can be so great that you can only burn it onto a double-layer-DVD or store it on the hard drive.

6. Select the required import profile in the Title import profile area (see Title import profile).

7. Click on the Import DVD button.

Æ The Find Folder dialog window is opened.

8. Select the drive or the folder on the hard drive containing the DVD you want to recode and

click on the OK button.

Æ You have now imported the main movie of the DVD.

The capacity bar at the bottom of the screen shows how much memory the imported fields of the DVD take up. If the source DVD is larger than the target medium, the middle area of the DVD-Video Files tab shows how the DVD is recoded in line with the selected profile

9. Mark the audio tracks you want to copy as required on the Audio tab.

10. Mark the subtitle tracks you want to copy on the Subtitle tab.

11. If you want to shorten a video title:

1. Mark the video title in the DVD Video Files tab.

2. Click on the Trim Movie button.

Æ The Trim Movie window opens.

3. Trim the video title by defining the first and last frame (see

Trim Title).

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4. Click on the OK button.

Æ You have now shortened the video title.

12. Move an area control in the Video Quality column until the required video title quality is

reached

The quality of the rest of the content of the DVD will deteriorate proportionately to the improvement in the improvement in the quality of an individual title.

13. Click on the Next button to continue to define the burn settings.

Æ The Burn Settings dialog appears.

14. Define the settings you require for the burn procedure (see Recoding and Burning screen).

15. Click on the Burn button to start burning the disk.

Æ Burning starts.

The Recode and Burn screen appears and you can follow its progress on the progress bar.

16. To cancel burning, click on the Stop button. To pause/ resume burning, click on the

Pause/Restart button.

Î The burning process is complete when the relevant message appears in the information

window. You can now return to the burning settings and burn the compilation again. The More button takes you to the What do you want to do now? screen, where you can select the other options or close Nero Recode.

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7.2.1 Trim Title

If you do not want to use the whole of a video title in the imported main movie, you can just use a special clip by trimming the video title.

The Trim Movie window where video titles can be trimmed is divided into two areas, the first showing the first frame where the video title is to begin and the second containing the last frame where the video title is to end.

The following input options are available in the Trim Movie window:

Fig. 9: Trim Movie window

First Frame input

Last Frame input

Total Duration input

Total Size

input

Button for skipping forward a few frames.

Button for skipping forward 6 seconds.

Button for skipping back 6 seconds.

Button for skipping back a few frames. Control for setting the required frame manually.

Select the chapter markers of the video title in the drop-down list. This is only possible if the video title contains chapter markers.

Indicates the first frame of the video title.

Indicates the final frame of the video title.

Indicates the length of the video title.

Indicates the overall size of the video title

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8 Compile a DVD

Nero Recode allows you to compile your own DVD from imported video titles and data files.

8.1 Task-specific input options

Fig. 10: My Own DVD Compilation screen with already imported files

In addition to the input options described under Import Files screen, the following buttons are available for the Compile DVD task in the My DVD Compilation screen.

Removes video titles. The button is only enabled if a DVD

Delete

video title has been imported. Locks the automatic change of recoding quality for a DVD

video title. It is still possible to make manual changes to the

Lock

quality settings by moving the control. The button is only enabled if a DVD video title has been imported.

Removes the lock on the automatic change of recoding quality.

Unlock

This button is only enabled when a DVD video title has been imported.

Opens the Trim Movie window where the selected video title

Trim Movie

can be trimmed. This button is only enabled if a DVD video title has been imported.

This merges marked video titles. The button is only enabled if

Merge Titles

at least two DVD video titles have been marked. This separates merged video titles. The button is only enabled

Separate

if at least two DVD video titles have been merged to produce a single title.

The significance of the columns in the upper area of the DVD Video Files tab is as follows.

Content Duration

Shows the structure contained on the DVD. Shows the length of the relevant area.

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Size Video quality

8.2 Recode

To recode a DVD, proceed as follows:

1. Start Nero Recode.

Æ The start screen appears (see The Nero Recode start screen).

2. Select Compile a DVD in the Nero Recode start screen.

Æ The My Own DVD Compilation screen appears.

3. Insert the DVD you want to recode in the DVD drive on your PC.

4. Insert a blank disk if you want to burn the data onto CD/DVD.

5. Check the Fit to Target box.

Æ The content of the source DVD will then be recoded to fit on to the blank disk you have

inserted.

6. Select the required import profile in the Title import profile area (see Title import profile).

Shows the size of the relevant area. Shows the quality. The higher the number, the better the

quality of the file recoded with Nero Recode.

7. Click on the Import Title button.

Æ The Import Title dialog window is opened.

8. Select the video titles you want to recode and click on the OK button:

Æ You have imported the DVD.

The capacity bar at the bottom of the screen shows how much memory the imported files require. If the file volume is greater than the target medium, the central area of the DVD-Video Files tab shows how the files are recoded in accordance with the selected profile.

9. Mark the audio tracks you want to copy on the Audio tab.

10. Mark the subtitle tracks you want to copy on the Subtitle tab.

11. To delete a video title:

1. Mark the video title you want on the DVD Video Files tab.

2. Click on the Delete button.

Æ The video title has been removed from the compilation.

12. If you want to lock an single video title to prevent loss of quality when recoding:

1. Mark the video title in the DVD Video Files tab.

2. Click on the Lock button.

Æ The marked video title is locked.

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13. If you want to unlock an already locked video title to adjust the quality proportionately to the

14. To trim a video title:

changes in quality in the other titles:

1. Mark the video title in the DVD Video Files tab.

2. Click on the Unlock button.

Æ The marked video title is unlocked.

1. Mark the video title in the DVD Video Files tab.

2. Click on the Trim Movie button.

Æ The Trim Movie window will open.

3. Trim the video title by defining the first and last frames (see

4. Click on the OK button.

Trim Title).

15. If you want to merge several video titles:

5. Mark at least two video titles on the DVD-Video Files tab.

6. Click on the Merge Titles button.

Æ The merged video titles are grouped together in a new folder named Merged

Titles.

Video titles can only be merged if they all have the same audio track.

16. Separate the previously merged video titles as required.

1. Mark the Merged Titles folder in the DVD Video Files tab.

2. Click on the Split Titles button..

Æ The merged video titles are shown separately again.

17. Move an area control in the Video Quality column until the required video title quality is

reached

The quality of the rest of the content of the DVD will deteriorate proportionately to the improvement in the improvement in the quality of an individual video title.

18. Click on the Next button to continue to define the burn settings.

Æ The Burn Settings dialog appears.

19. Make the required settings for the burning process (see Recoding and Burning screen).

20. Click on the Burn button to start the burning process.

Æ Burning starts.

The Recode and Burn screen appears and you can follow its progress on the progress bar.

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21. To cancel burning, click on the Stop button. To pause/ resume burning, click on the

Pause/Restart button.

Î The burning process is complete when the relevant message appears in the information

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9 Recode DVDs and videos for Nero Digital

Nero Recode allows you to encode all video formats supported by Nero in Nero Digital files. The Nero Digital Codec conforms to MPEG-4. These files can be played back in Nero ShowTime and other commonly available programs.

9.1 Task-specific input options

Fig. 11: My Nero Digital Disk screen with already imported files

In addition to the input options described under Import Files screen, the following input options are available for the Recode DVDs and Videos for Nero Digital task in the My Nero Digital Disc screen.

Removes video title. The button is only enabled if a DVD video title

Delete

has been imported. Locks the automatic change of recoding quality for a DVD video

title. It is still possible to make manual changes to the quality

Lock

settings by moving the control. The button is only enabled if a DVD video title has been imported.

Removes the lock on the automatic change of recoding quality. This

Unlock

button is only enabled when a DVD video title has been imported. This opens a window where the selected video title can be

Trim Movie

trimmed. The button is only enabled when a DVD video title has been imported.

This opens a window where chapter markers can be set. This button

Chapter

is only enabled if a DVD video title has been imported and marked. Opens a window in which the video settings used for conversion

Video

are defined. The button is only enabled if a DVD video title has been imported and marked.

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Nero Digital Category

Nero Digital Profile

The columns in the upper area of the Nero Digital Title tab have the following meaning.

Content Duration Size

Video quality

9.2 Recode

To recode a DVD or video for Nero Digital, proceed as follows:

1. Start Nero Recode.

Æ The start screen appears (see The Nero Recode start screen).

2. In the Nero Recode start screen select Recode DVDs and Videos for Nero Digital.

Æ The My Nero Digital Disc screen will appear

Changes the Nero Digital Category. The setting relates to the relevant target medium for which encoding is being carried out. The size of the result varies, depending on the selection.

Changes the Nero Digital-Profile. The setting relates to the target medium for which encoding is carried out.

Shows the structure contained on the DVD. Shows the length of the relevant area. Shows the size of the relevant area. Shows the quality. The higher the number, the better the

quality of the file recoded with Nero Recode.

3. Insert the DVD you want to recode in the DVD drive on your PC.

4. Insert a blank disk if you want to burn the data onto CD/DVD.

5. Check the Fit to Target check box.

Æ The content of the source DVD is then recoded to fit on the blank disk that has been

inserted.

6. Select the required import profile in the Title import profile area (see Title import profile).

7. Click on the Import Files button.

Æ The Import Title dialog window is opened.

8. Select the drive or hard drive folder containing the DVD or the individual video titles that you

want to recode and click on the OK button.

Æ You have imported the DVD.

9. Mark the audio tracks in Dolby Digital format that you want to copy on the Audio and #2 tabs

and specify the format to which the audio files are to be converted (stereo or 5.1 channel surround).

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10. If you want to change the audio settings, click the Settings button (see Audio settings).

11. Mark the subtitle tracks you want to copy on the Subtitle tab.

12. Create your own subtitle track as required (see Create your own subtitle track).

13. To delete a video title:

1. Mark the video title you want to delete on the Nero Digital Title tab.

2. Click on the Delete button.

Æ The video title will be removed from the compilation.

14. If you want to lock an individual video title to prevent loss of quality during recoding:

1. Mark the video title you want to lock on the Nero Digital Title tab.

2. Click on the Lock button.

Æ The marked video title is locked..

15. To unlock an already locked video title so as to adjust the quality proportionately to the

changes in quality in the other titles:

1. Mark the video title you want to unblock on the Nero Digital Title tab

2. Click on the Unlock button.

Æ The marked video title is unlocked..

16. To trim a video title:

1. Mark the video title you want to trim in the Nero Digital Title tab.

2. Click on the Trim Movie button.

Æ The Trim Movie window will be opened..

3. Trim the video title by defining the first and last frames (see

4. Confirm your selection by clicking on the OK button.

Æ The video title is trimmed.

Trim Title).

17. If you want to add additional chapters to individual video titles:

1. Mark the video title to which you want to add additional chapters in the Nero Digital

Title tab.

Æ The Chapter window opens.

2. Add more chapters to the video title (see

3. Click on the OK button.

Æ The video title now contains new chapters.

Set chapter markers).

18. To change the Nero Digital video settings for particular video titles:

1. Highlight the video title whose settings you want to change in the Nero Digital Titles

tab.

2. Click on the Video button.

3. Change the required settings (see

4. Define video

5. Click on the OK button.

settings).

Æ The video settings are changed.

19. Select the required Nero Digital category in the Nero Digital Category drop-down list.

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20. Select the required Nero Digital profile in the Nero Digital Profile drop-down list.

21. Move an area control in the Video Quality column until the required video title quality is

reached

The quality of the rest of the content of the DVD will deteriorate proportionately to the improvement in the improvement in the quality of an individual video title.

22. Click on the Next button to continue to define the burn settings.

Æ The Burn Settings dialog appears.

23. Make the required settings for the burning process (see Recoding and Burning screen).

24. Make the required settings in the Nero Digital options (see Set Nero Digital options).

25. Click on the Burn button to start the burning process.

Æ Burning starts.

The Recode and Burn screen appears and you can follow its progress on the progress bar.

26. To cancel burning, click on the Stop button. To pause/ resume burning, click on the

Pause/Restart button.

Î The burning process is complete when the relevant message appears in the information

9.2.1 Audio settings

Define the settings for the audio encoder in the Nero Digital Audio Settings window. The following input options are available:

Audio channels drop-down list

Nero Digital Audio Profiles area

Automatic Settings

radio button

Audio channels are available for selection in the Audio Channels drop-down list. These are the same channels available in the selected Nero Digital-Profile for converting the DVD video title to MPEG-4 format.

Automatically adapts to the Nero Digital Profile, so that the quality of the audio track best corresponds to the output medium.

Enables the selection of the available audio profiles. Clicking

Own Profile radio button

Volume

on the drop-down menu activated in this way will show the available audio profiles for the selected Nero Digital Profile. In addition, the quality of the audio track can also be changed by changing the bitrate and the pitch (in Hz).

Sets the required volume.

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9.2.2 Create your own subtitle track

The Second Subtitle Track drop-down list in the Subtitle tab allows you to create a subtitle track. This option is only available if you are converting titles into Nero Digital.

You can also import an already existing subtitle track. For an import of this kind, the file must be saved in the following format: .SRT; .SUB.

The individual subtitles in files in .SUB format consist of a single line. The lines are separated from each other by paragraph marks and must have the followin g form:

{0}{50}Sample subtitle text

The first and last frames in which the text is to appear, in curled brackets. Followed - without a blank - by the subtitle text.

Files in.SRT format consist of blocks of 3 lines. They are separated from each other by blank lines and must have the following form:

Continuous number, beginning with one, increases by one per block.

Precise time in hours, minutes and seconds after which the text is to be displayed.

The thousandths of a second are separated by a comma. Blank.

00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:38,360

Arrow, consisting of two hyphens and an angled bracket. Blank. Precise time in hours, minutes and seconds after which the text

should no longer be displayed. The thousandths of a second are separated by a comma.

Sample subtitle text

The text of the subtitle.

You can only insert your own subtitle if you either select the Nero Digital category Nero Digital or AVC and the Nero Digital profiles Standard, Cinema or HDTV for encoding.

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Fig. 12: Nero Digital Subtitle Settings window

The following input options are available:

Open existing file button

Export button

OK button

Cancel

button

Opens the Open dialog window. Already existing subtitle files can be selected there.

This opens the Save As dialog window. This is where you can export a subtitle file you have created yourself.

Saves the changes in the Nero Digital Subtitle Settings dialog window.

Discards the changes in the Nero Digital Subtitle Settings dialog window.

Properties Tab Track-Name

input box Font

input box Browse

button Text color

drop-down list Position

area Language drop-down

list

Allocates a name to a subtitle track you have created.

Displays the settings from the Font dialog window. Opens the Font dialog window. Make the settings for the font

of your subtitle track here. Specifies the color of your subtitle track. Specifies the coordinates of the text box where the subtitle

track is displayed. Specifies the subtitle track language to be declared. Goes to the end of the current subtitle line or the beginning of

the next. Goes to the beginning of the current subtitle line or the end of

the next The control can be used to skip the required frame.

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Change tab

Export

button

Adds a new line to the end of the frame. In the standard setting the interval between the start and end of

the time code is 4 seconds.

Edit button

Delete button Deletes a previously highlighted line.

9.2.3 Set chapter markers

The Set Chapter Markers function allows you to add your own chapter markers to those already on the DVD. The advantage of chapter markers is that they can be selected at the press of a button on a DVD player.

Chapter markers divide the content of a DVD. You can use the DVD player to skip to these directly.

The following input options are available in the Chapter window:

Current Frame display field

Chapter display field

Add

button

Opens the Edit Subtitle Line dialog window This button can be used to enter the subtitle text for every

interval in the Text column.

Shows the current playing time of the video displayed in the preview window.

Shows the already set chapter markers and the starting time for every chapter marker.

Adds a chapter marker at the marked point in the video.

Delete button Deletes the marked chapter marker.

The control can be used to skip the required frame Starts playback.

Pauses playback.

Skips 6 seconds back

Skips a few frames back

Skips a few frames forward

Skips 6 frames forward

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9.2.4 Define video settings

You can use the Nero Digital Video Settings dialog box to define the settings for the video encoder.

9.2.4.1

9.2.4.2

Deinterlace tab

The following input option is available:

De-Interlace Video

area

The Interlacing process, which is used to display a TV image in PAL standard, displays two half frames in succession. As the frame is generated, only the odd lines from the output device are displayed for the first half frame and, one this is complete, the second half frame is generated from the even lines. The two frames are coded separately. The relatively high refresh frequency means that the eye picks this up as a single frame. Modern screens (e.g. LCD, Plasma, DLP) can only reproduce the Interlacing p rocess with a restricted image quality. For this reason, the half frames of videos can be converted into full frames in the Nero Digital video settings.

Crop tab

If the DVD video has black borders on the sides, these can be automatically edited out. This reduces the size of the video and thereby improves its quality. Nero Recode recognizes these borders automatically and edits them out automatically.

The following input options area available:

Automatic radio button

Custom Crop radio button

Adjust button

Disable

radio button

Nero Recode automatically recognizes when a DVD video title is made up of half frames (see interlaced). If a video is interlaced, Nero Recode recommends deinterlacing to increase Nero Digital image quality. The Enable option converts the video title.

Detects black borders and edits these out. Default setting. Enables the four input fields for Crop (top, bottom, right, left)

and the Adjust button. Opens a dialog window and displays a frame from the video.

You can use the mouse to define the four cropping areas (top, bottom, left, right) by hand. The button is only enabled if the Custom Crop option is enabled.

Allows the video to be converted without cropping the borders.

9.2.4.3 Resolution tab

Selecting a Nero Digital Profile for converting the DVD video title to MPEG-4 format defines the size of the frame to be generated as standard.

The following input options area available:

Automatic radio button

Custom resize

radio button

Automatically adjusts the frame size to the Nero Digital Profile so that the frame size generated matches the output medium.

Activates the two input fields for the page format (width and height). The values to be entered must be multiples of 16 and must be in the range 16 to 720 pixels for width and 16 to 576

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pixels for height.

Disable radio button

Letterboxed check box

9.2.5 Set Nero Digital options

The following additional setting options become available when converting to Nero Digital:

Current Profile drop-down menu

New button

Delete button Coding Method

input box Expert Mode

check box

Allows the video to be converted without changing the frame size.

Creates a Nero Digital file consisting of square pixels. Some, players require square pixels.

Displays the Nero Digital Profile you selected in the My Nero Digital Disc screen.

Only one profile is available by default, however you can create another one.

Creates a new profile. You can then select this in the Current Profile drop-down list.

Deletes the profile selected in the Current Profile drop-down list.

Specifies the method to be used to code the MPEG-4 file. Switches to Expert Settings mode (see

settings

)

Nero Digital expert

Users who are very experienced in converting video and audio files can use expert mode for advanced setting options (see

Nero Digital expert settings).

You should only change the expert settings if you are sufficiently familiar with the area of video encoding

Incorrect settings can have a major negative impact on the quality of the output file.

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10 Recode main movie to Nero Digital

Nero Recode allows you to encode DVD video files as Nero Digital files. The Nero Digital codec is MPEG-4-compatible. This option allows you to encode just the main movie on a DVD without the Extras. You can then play this back, for example in Nero ShowTime.

10.1 Task-specific input options

Fig. 13: My Nero Digital Movie Backup screen with already imported files

In addition to the input options described under Import Files screen, you can also use the following input options with the Recode DVDs and Videos to Nero Digital in the My Nero Digital Movie Backup screen.

Opens a window where the selected video title can be

Trim Movie

trimmed. The button is only active if a DVD video title has been imported.

Opens a window in the context of which chapter markers can

Chapter

be set. The button is only enabled if a DVD video title has been imported and marked.

Opens a window in the context of which the video settings

Video

used during conversion can be defined. The button is only enabled if a DVD video title has been imported and marked.

Changes the Nero Digital Category. The setting relates to

Nero Digital Category

the relevant target medium for which encoding is being carried out. The size of the result varies, depending on the selection.

Nero Digital Profile

Changes the Nero Digital profile. The setting relates to the target medium for which encoding takes place.

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The columns in the upper area of the Nero Digital Title tab have the following meaning.

10.2 Recode

To recode a main movie for Nero Digital, proceed as follows:

1. Start Nero Recode.

Æ The start screen appears (see The Nero Recode start screen).

2. Select the Recode Main Movie to Nero Digital task in the Nero recode start screen..

Æ The My Nero Digital Movie Backup screen appears.

3. Insert the DVD you want to recode in the DVD drive on your PC.

4. Insert a blank disk if you want to burn the data onto CD/DVD.

5. Check the Fit to Target box.

Æ The content of the source DVD is then recoded to fit on the blank disk that has been

Content Duration Size

Video quality

inserted.

Shows the structure contained on the DVD. Shows the length of the relevant area. Shows the size of the relevant area. Shows the quality. The higher the number, the better the

quality of the file recoded with Nero Recode.

6. Select the required import profile in the Title import profile area (see Title import profile).

7. Click on the Import DVD button.

Æ The Find Folder dialog window is opened.

8. Select the drive or hard drive folder containing the DVD and click on the OK button.

Æ DVD video titles will be imported.

The capacity bar at the bottom of the screen shows how much memory the imported files require. If the imported files are greater than the target medium, the central area of the Nero Digital Titles tab shows how the files are recoded in accordance with the selected profile.

9. Mark the audio tracks you want to copy as required on the Audio and #2 tabs in Dolby

Digital format and specify the format to which the audio files are to be converted (stereo or

5.1-channel surround).

10. To change an audio setting, click on the Settings button (see Audio settings).

11. Mark the subtitle tracks you want to copy on the Subtitle tab.

12. Create a subtitle track of your own as required (see Create your own subtitle track).

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13. To trim a video title:

1. Mark the video title you want to trim in the Nero Digital Title tab.

2. Click on the Trim Movie button.

Æ The Trim Movie window is opened.

3. Trim the video title by defining the first and last frames (see

4. Confirm your selection by clicking on the OK button.

Æ The video title is trimmed.

Trim Title).

14. If you want to add additional; chapters to individual video titles:

1. Mark the video title to which you want to add more chapters in the Nero Digital Title

tab.

Æ The Chapter window is opened.

2. Add additional chapters to the video title (see

3. Click on the OK button.

Æ The video title contains new chapters.

Set chapter markers).

15. If you want to change the Nero Digital Video settings for certain video titles:

1. Mark the video title whose video settings you wish to change in the Nero Digital Title

tab.

2. Click on the Video button.

3. Change the required settings (see

4. Define video

5. Click on the OK button.

Æ The video settings have been changed.

settings).

16. Select the required Nero Digital category in the Nero Digital Category drop-down list.

17. Select the required Nero Digital profile in the Nero Digital Profile drop-down list.

18. Move an area control in the Video Quality column until the required video title quality is

reached

The quality of the rest of the content of the DVD will deteriorate proportionately to the improvement in the improvement in the quality of an individual video title.

19. Click on the Next button to continue to define the burn settings.

Æ The Burn Settings dialog appears.

20. Make the required settings for the burning process (see Recoding and Burning screen).

21. Make the required settings in the Nero Digital options (see Set Nero Digital options).

22. Click on the Burn button to start the burning process.

Æ Burning has started.

The Recode and Burn screen appears and you can follow its progress on the progress bar

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23. To cancel burning, click on the Stop button. To pause/ resume burning, click on the

Pause/Restart button.

Î The burning process is complete when the relevant message appears in the information

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Nero Digital expert settings

11 Nero Digital expert settings

You can define additional settings for the Nero Digital Options in the Burn Settings screen.

You should only change the expert settings if you are sufficiently familiar with the area of video encoding, in particular MPEG-4 encoding.

Incorrect settings can have a major negative impact on the quality of the output file

11.1 MPEG-4 terminology

To clarify the options available in expert mode, a number of terms are defined in greater detail below:

AVC

ASP

B-Frame

B-VOP

CABAC

Data compression

EPZS GOP

H264 H263

I-Frame

I-VOP

Interlace

ISO ITU Keyframe

Advanced Video Coding. Complies with H264 standard. See H264.

Advanced Simple Profile. Complies with H263 standard. See H263.

Bidirectional coded frame.. Only uses the difference information relative to previous and subsequent key frames (I frames). Because only the difference information is used, rather the full frame information, compression is greater.

Bidirectional coded Video Object Plane (see B-Frame). VOP is only referred to in the context of coding in the H263 standard.

Context Adaptive Binary Arithmetic Coding. The name of a process for arithmetically coding digital video data as part of coding standard MPEG-4 AVC and H.264.

Process in which data is compressed so that it needs less storage space and shorter transmission times in data networks.

Enhanced Predictive Zonal Search. An algorithm for finding motion in video sequences.

Group Of Pictures. The interval from one I-Frame to the next. ITU standard for video decoding and compression. Video compression standard which uses a similar approach

to MPEG-2, but is much more efficient. Intra coded Frame. Contains the complete integral

information for a particular frame. Intra coded Video Object Plane. See I-Frame. VOP is only

referred to in the context of coding in the H263 standard. Horizontal skip process. Used when recording, processing

and displaying images. Mainly used for displaying television signals on receivers based on the CRT principle.

International Organization for Standardization. International Telecommunication Union. See I-Frame.

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Nero Digital expert settings

Macroblock

Matrix

Motion Estimation

MPEG 4

P-Frame

P-VOP Prediction

Quantization

Noise

Keyframe VOP

A macroblock describes 16 x 16 pixels and is the elementary unit in the MPEG standard on which motion coding is also based.

A matrix is a rectangular pattern whose elements are usually numbers, although they can be other mathematical elements such as variables of functions. It consists of m lines and n columns. In relation to qualification: the values in the matrix are factors that control the value of the compression. The higher the number the greater the compression.

Motion estimation/ motion search. An MPEG standard (ISO/IEC-14496) that describes the

process of video and audio compression, among other things.

Video compression is divided into MPEG-4 AVC (see H264) and MPEG-4 SP/ASP (see H263).

Not Coded. Predictive Frame.

Uses only the difference information relative to the previous and subsequent key images (I-Frames). Because only the different information is used, not the complete image information, the degree of compression is greater.

Predicted Video Object Plane. See P-Frame. VOP is only referred to in the context of coding in the H263 standard.

Prediction/estimate General: The generation of a digital signal from an analog

signal. In video compression: Quantization controls the degree of

compression. It involves the reduction of the value range by a division-type operation.

Interference in image or sound. Generally an interfering parameter with a broad, unspecified frequency spectrum. It can thus be interpreted as the overlayering of numerous oscillations or waves of varying amplitude and frequency or wave length.

See I-Frame. A video frame. This is how a frame is referred to in the

context of MPEG-4 SP/ASP.

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Nero Digital expert settings

11.2 MPEG-4 profiles

MPEG-4 SP/ASP is mainly available in two different profiles, Simple Profile (SP) and Advanced Simple Profile (ASP). Nero Recode allows you to choose the profile in which the files are to be output (see

The functions are supported by the various profiles as follows:

Functionality Profile Simple Advanced Simple

I-Frame x x P-Frame x x B-Frame – x AC/DC Prediction x x 4 motion vectors per

macroblock / unlimited motion vectors

H.263 / MPEG quantization

Global Motion Compensation

Interlace process – x

Various entries are available for selection in the Profile area in the navigation tree. The entries under the MPEG-4 encoder main point are explained below.

The option for changing settings depends on the selection made in the Nero Digital Profile and Nero Digital Category drop-down list. Some selection options cannot be changed and are therefore grayed out.

Simple Profile (QuickTime™ compatible)).

x x

– x

11.2.1 Create a new profile

To create a new profile for the Nero Digital settings, proceed as follows:

1. Click on the New button.

Æ The New Profile dialog window will open.

2. Enter the name for the new profile.

3. Select the profile from which the settings are to be copied from the drop-down list.

4. Click on the OK button.

Î You have now created a new profile. You can now continue to make more settings in

expert mode.

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Nero Digital expert settings

11.2.2 Encoding mode

The Encoding mode setting allows you to choose between the Real-time encoding (1 pass) and High quality encoding (2 pass) settings.

Coding in a single pass may take less time, but it does not offer the same quality as coding in two passes.

If coding in a single pass is selected, two fields are available, Min. quant. and Max. quant.. You can use these to set the range for the permitted quantization factor. This determines the degree of compression for the output file.

Remember that while greater compression reduces the output, it also involves a loss of quality. For this reason you should never exceed a quantization factor of 31.

This setting option is only available if you have selected Nero Digital, Sony Memory

Stick-Video or Apple iPod in the Nero Digital category.

11.2.3 Quality/Speed

11.2.3.1

11.2.3.2

The Quality/Speed entry enables you to make settings in relation to the quality and speed of the coding process.

The Performance/Quality drop-down list can be used to select settings for the best possible configuration of the options. When you choose Custom you can select the options yourself. These options are explained below.

This setting option is only available if you have selected Nero Digital, Sony Memory

Stick-Video or Apple iPod in the Nero Digital category.

Motion search

In the Motion search drop-down list you can choose between None, EPZS (Enhanced Predictive Zonal Search) and EPZS². These are algorithms for reducing image information in

P and B-VOPs. EPZS² produces the best results in this setting, but requires more time for encoding.

The None setting produces the lowest coding efficiency. For this reason it is not recommended.

NC Prediction

You can use the NC Prediction drop-down list to set the speed of the prediction of noncoded macroblocks.

If you choose Fast, an attempt will be made to use a fast process to close the current macroblock from neighboring, non-coded macroblocks. However, the quality of the output file is poorer. The None setting delays the coding process because the non-coded blocks are not predicted but are rather analyzed in detail. This produces the best possible quality. The Normal setting is recommended as it is the middle way.

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Nero Digital expert settings

11.2.3.3 Scene cut

If you check the Scene cut box, you can use the control to set the sensitivity with which the encoder detects scene changes. For efficiency, it inserts keyframes at these points whose information is used by the P- and B-VOPs. This is necessary in scenes involving a lot of fast movement in order to reproduce the details of the picture accurately. We advise a central control setting because inserting too many keyframe s is inefficient.

11.2.3.4

11.2.3.5

11.2.3.6

11.2.3.7

Fast ME

The Fast ME setting speeds up the encoding process by accelerating motion prediction.

Low/High noise

The Low/High noise setting requires you to judge for yourself whether your source features minor or major interference. If your source does have such interference, you should check the corresponding box. The encoder will then try to resolve the problems during encoding.

High B-VOP quantization

If you check the High B-VOP quantization box, you will increase the quantization of the B- VOPs. The increase in quantization will improve the compression of the output file, making it smaller. However, this also means a reduction in quality

This option is only relevant if B-VOPs are permitted in the Advanced entry (see

Advanced).

Rate distortion optimization

The Rate distortion optimization setting enables the encoder to guarantee the ratio between quality and targeted compression level with automatic decisions.

11.2.3.8

Maximum MV range

The Maximum MV range drop-down list allows you to use predefined values to set the maximum range for motion vectors.

11.2.3.9

Psycho visual quality level

The Psycho visual quality level setting uses human perception patterns to achieve better overall quality.

This means, for example, that the quality is better in the middle of the frame than at the edges because the eyes tend to focus more on the middle and a slight lack of detail on the edge will not be noticed. Because quality is "saved" on the edge, it is possible either to improve the overall quality or to increase compression.

11.2.4 Advanced

You can make further settings relating to various areas of the encoding in the Advanced entry. These are explained below.

These setting options are only available if you have selected Nero Digital, Sony Memory Stick-Video or Apple iPod in the Nero Digital category.

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Nero Digital expert settings

11.2.4.1 Simple Profile (QuickTime™ compatible)

If you check the Simple profile box, a number of options in expert mode are grayed out and cannot be changed. The output file is thus encoded in the MPEG-4 simple profile (see

MPEG-4 profiles).

11.2.4.2

11.2.4.3

11.2.4.4

11.2.4.5

Quantization

The Quantization drop-down list allows you to choose between H236 Quantization and MPEG Quantization.

Select MPEG if you want to use your own quantization matrix or change the existing one. If you do not want to do this, leave the setting at H263 quantization.

Pixels

You can choose between Half and Quarter Pixel in the Pixel drop-down list. Motion is then sought in quarter or half pixel steps. If estimation is in quarter pixels, the

coding process takes longer, but the quality is better

Spatial prediction

The Spatial Prediction setting is used to encode macroblocks in correlation with neighboring macroblocks. In other words, they are coded with difference information relating to these neighboring macroblock and on the basis of the probability of similarity. The information from several intracoded neighboring macroblocks is used to be able to predict a macroblock more accurately.

P-VOP

The P-VOP setting enables encoding using P-VOPs.

11.2.4.6

11.2.4.7

11.2.4.8

Unrestricted Motion Vectors

If you check the Unrestricted motion vectors box, you allow the motion vectors also to relate to points outside the frame.

This option improves coding efficiency on the edge of the frame.

4 motions vectors per macroblock

The 4 motion vectors per macroblock setting allows the encoder to divide the macroblocks of 16x16 pixels into four 8x8 pixel macroblocks for the motion search. This means that there are now four motion vectors instead of one. This option improves the quality but slows down the encoding process.

Bidirectional VOP

The Bidirectional VOP setting permits encoding with the help of B-VOPs.

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Nero Digital expert settings

11.2.4.9 Support of interlaced VOP

The Support of interlaced VOPs setting allows the Interlaced process. This process, which is used to display a TV picture in PAL standard, displays two half frames

in succession. As the frame is generated, only the odd lines from the output device are displayed for the first half frame and, one this is complete, the second half frame is generated from the even lines. The two frames are coded separately. The relatively high refresh frequency means that the eye picks this up as a single frame.

This function is not supported by all hardware.

11.2.4.10

Global Motion Compensation

The Global Motion Compensation setting is used to compensate for camera movement. This is achieved by means of pre-set vector fields for motion vectors. The vector corrections required if the vector fields are incorrect are less complex than the creation of a completely new vector field..

This setting requires a lot of time with little increase in quality.

11.2.5 Keyframes

The Keyframes entry allows you to set the intervals between keyframes.

These setting options are only available if you have selected Nero Digital, Sony Memory

Stick-Video or Apple iPod in the Nero Digital category

11.2.5.1

Smallest/largest keyframe interval

The Keyframe Interval setting defines the maximum and minimum values for the GOP size. Remember that the value for the largest interval may not be greater than 300, but should not

be set too low either because the coding efficiency at other locations can become poorer if there are too many keyframes.

11.2.6 Matrices

The user can edit existing qualification matrices or upload their own matrices under Matrices.

The matrices determine how the various frequencies in the macroblocks are displayed.

These setting options are only available if you have selected Nero Digital, Sony Memory

Stick-Video or Apple iPod in the Nero Digital category

11.2.6.1

11.2.6.2

Intra

The matrix in the Intra entry is responsible for the quantization of I macroblocks because this is intracoded.

Inter

The matrix in the Inter entry is responsible for the quantization of P and B macroblocks because these are intercoded.

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Nero Digital expert settings

11.2.7 AVC Encoder

The AVC (Advanced Video Encoding) entry and its subentries can be used to make AVC encoding settings for your data.

11.2.7.1

Thread Count

Nero Recode supports multi-core processors. If you have one of these, you can distribute the encoding process to the required number of threads.

The Thread Count drop-down list allows you to choose whether to allow the encoding process to be performed by several threads. This means that you can use a multi-core processor system to optimum effect.

The number of processor cores used corresponds to the number of threads you have selected.

11.2.8 Bitrate mode

The Bitrate mode entry can be used to make settings in relation to the bit rate mode and quantization (see

11.2.9 General settings

The General Settings entry is used to make settings for the Decision Quality, the Motion Vectors and the GOP Properties.

These setting options are only available if you have selected Nero Digital AVC in the Nero Digital category.

Encoding mode).

11.2.10 Decision quality

The Decision Quality control indicates the required quality of the output file in relation to the time expended.

High Quality produces the best quality with the longest encoding period. High Speed requires the shortest encoding period with the poorest possible quality. We recommend a medium value in the Best range.

11.2.10.1

11.2.10.2

Motion vectors

See Maximum MV range .

GOP properties

A GOP (Group Of Pictures) is an interval from one I-Frame to another.

 Maximum reference frames

The number in the Maximum Reference Frames field indicates the number of frames from which a P or B-Frame may draw its information. If B-Frames are permitted, the number must be at least 2.

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Nero Digital expert settings

 Maximum GOP size

The number in the Maximum GOP Size field indicates the number of frames permitted between I-Frames.

 Maximum B-Frames

The number in the Maximum B-Frames field indicates the maximum number of consecutive B-Frames that can be used in a GOP.

11.2.11 Encoder Tools

You can make the settings for the encoder process in the Encoder Tools entry.

These setting options are only available if you have selected Nero Digital AVC in the Nero Digital category.

11.2.11.1

11.2.11.2

11.2.11.3

11.2.11.4

11.2.11.5

CABAC

CABAC (Context Adaptive Binary Arithmetic Coding) is a particular coding method. Instead of bit sequences of variable length, it uses better arithmetic coding to achieve a 10 to 20% data rate saving. This is only used with MPEG-4 AVC.

Bidirectional prediction

The Bidirection Prediction setting permits encoding using B frames.

Macroblock Partitions

The Macroblock Partitions setting allows you to split macroblocks (see 4 motions vectors

per macroblock

Weighted Prediction

The Weighted Prediction setting allows reference frames to be weighted when predicting motion. This increases coding efficiency, particularly in the case of cros s-fading.

8x8 Transform

The 8x8 Transform setting allows the encoder also to use an 8x8 transformation as an alternative to the standard 4x4 transformation (see

4 motions vectors per macroblock).

11.2.11.6

This setting permits better compression, particularly for HD resolution.

Deblocking Settings

Deblocking Settings operates like a soft focus on the sharp edges of the macroblocks. You

can use the control to change the intensity of this effect.

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Nero Digital expert settings

11.2.12 Visual Enhancements

The settings in the Psycho visual quality level entry use human perception patterns to achieve better overall quality.

This means, for example, that the quality is better in the middle of the picture than at the outer edges because the eyes tend to focus on the middle and do not notice slight blurring at the edge. Because quality is "saved" at the edge, you can either improve overall quality of achieve greater compression. This means that you can achieve greater compression without any appreciable loss of quality.

These setting options are only available if you have selected Nero Digital AVC in the Nero Digital category.

11.2.12.1

11.2.12.2

11.2.12.3

11.2.12.4

Picture Level

The Picture Level setting takes account of human perception so as to achieve better compression for individual video frames in particular areas of the picture.

Macroblock Level

The Macroblock Level setting takes account of human perception so as to achieve better compression for individual video frames in particular areas of the picture.

Advanced

The Advanced setting provides more ways to achieve higher compre ssion, however these may be evaluated by different viewers in different ways.

Enhanced Chroma Prediction

Traditionally, only brightness information was used for video compression, enabling compression decisions to be made in the encoder. The Enhanced Chroma Prediction setting includes extensive color information in these decisions, making for better compression.

Seite 55

List of figures

12 List of figures

Fig. 1: Nero StartSmart.....................................................................................................................................8

Fig. 2: Nero Recode start screen ......................................................................................................................9

Fig. 3: Nero Recode Options window.............................................................................................................11

Fig. 4: Importing video titles in Nero Recode ...................................................................................................14

Fig. 5: Nero Recode burning settings...............................................................................................................18

Fig. 6: Nero Recode burning process...............................................................................................................20

Fig. 7: My DVD Backup screen with already imported DVD...........................................................................21

Fig. 8: My Movie Backup screen with main movie already imported .............................................................25

Fig. 9: Trim Movie window...............................................................................................................................28

Fig. 10: My Own DVD Compilation screen with already imported files .........................................................29

Fig. 11: My Nero Digital Disk screen with already imported files...................................................................33

Fig. 12: Nero Digital Subtitle Settings window..............................................................................................38

Fig. 13: My Nero Digital Movie Backup screen with already imported files..................................................42

Seite 56

Index

13 Index

ASP 46 Audio settings 36 AVC 46

Basic settings 11 Burn Options 18 Burn-at-once 19 Burning 19, 27, 31, 36, 44

CABAC 46 Capacity Bar 15 Chapter Markers 39 Contact 59 Conventions 5 Custom Crop 40

Data Compression 46 Decoding 6 Deinterlace 40 Disk Image 5 DVD

Importing 15

Encoding 6

Fitting

To Target 14

Keyframe 47

Layer Break 12 Letterboxed 41

Macroblock 47 Movie

Trimming 25, 29, 33, 42

Multi-core Processor 53

Nero Digital expert settings 46 Nero Recode

Starting using Nero StartSmart 8 Nero StartSmart 8 Noise 47

Options 11

Preview 13 Profile 16

Advanced Simple 48

Simple 48 Program start 8 Progress Bar 20 P-UOPs 12

H263 46 H264 46 High Quality Mode 19

Import Profile

Audio 16 Subtitles 17

Video 16 Importing 14, 21, 25, 29, 33, 42 Information

Technical 7 Interlace 46 Interlacing Process 40

Quantization 47, 51 Quick References 10

Recode 34 Recoding 6, 19, 22, 26, 27, 30, 31, 36, 43, 44 Resolution 40

Start screen 9 Starting Nero Recode

Directly 8

Subtitle track

Creating your own 37

System Requirements 7

Seite 57

Transcoding 6

Target Group 5 Title

Disabling 21

Enabling 21

Lock 33

Locking 22, 29

Trimming 26, 28, 31, 35, 44

Unlocking 22, 29, 33 Titles

Merging 29

Separate 29

Versions 5 Video files

Converting 33, 42

Video Settings

Defining 40

VOP

Bidirectional 46 Intracoded 46 Predicted 47

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Contact

14 Contact

14.1 Contact details

Nero Recode is a product of Nero AG.

Nero AG Im Stoeckmaedle 18 76307 Karlsbad Germany

Web: Help: E-mail: Fax:

www.nero.com http://support.nero.com techsupport@nero.com

+49 724 892 8499

Seite 59

Nero Recode 2 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

1 General information

1.1 Conventions of the manual

1.2 About Nero Recode

1.3 Versions with different ranges of functions

1.4 Terminology

2 Technical information

2.1 System requirements

3 Program start

3.1 StartNero Recode using Nero StartSmart

3.2 Start Nero Recode directly

4 The Nero Recode start screen

5 Nero Recode wizards

5.1 Basic settings

5.1.1 DVD tab

5.1.2 Nero Digital tab

5.1.3 General tab

5.1.4 Preview window tab

5.1.5 File I/O tab

5.2 Import Files screen

5.2.1 DVD-Video Files/Nero Digital Titles tab

5.2.2 Data Files tab

5.2.3 Title import profile

5.3 Set Burn Options screen

5.3.1 Additional settings

5.4 Recoding and Burning screen

6 Recode an Entire DVD to DVD

6.1 Task-specific input options

6.2 Recode

7 Recode Main Movie to DVD

7.1 Task-specific input options

7.2 Recode

7.2.1 Trim Title

8 Compile a DVD

8.1 Task-specific input options

8.2 Recode

9 Recode DVDs and videos for Nero Digital

9.1 Task-specific input options

9.2 Recode

9.2.1 Audio settings

9.2.2 Create your own subtitle track

9.2.3 Set chapter markers

9.2.4 Define video settings

Deinterlace tab

Crop tab

9.2.4.3 Resolution tab

9.2.5 Set Nero Digital options

10 Recode main movie to Nero Digital

10.1 Task-specific input options

10.2 Recode

11 Nero Digital expert settings

11.1 MPEG-4 terminology

11.2 MPEG-4 profiles

11.2.1 Create a new profile

11.2.2 Encoding mode

11.2.3 Quality/Speed

Motion search

NC Prediction

11.2.3.3 Scene cut

Fast ME

Low/High noise

High B-VOP quantization

Rate distortion optimization

Maximum MV range

Psycho visual quality level

11.2.4 Advanced

11.2.4.1 Simple Profile (QuickTime™ compatible)

Quantization

Pixels

Spatial prediction

P-VOP

Unrestricted Motion Vectors

4 motions vectors per macroblock

Bidirectional VOP

11.2.4.9 Support of interlaced VOP

Global Motion Compensation

11.2.5 Keyframes