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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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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