Saturday, May 18, 2013

PE11: Blu-ray Burn Dialog "Fit Content to Available Space" Choice

INTRODUCTION

In Premiere Elements 11, as in version 10, Blu-ray burn dialog does not have a Quality Slider associated with the "Fit Content to Available Space" option. For version 11, as well as 10, the error message "Adobe Media Encoder Property Data Invalid" can pop up along with Space Required and Bitrate considerations depending on
a. Blu-ray disc capacity (actual)
b. Space Required for Timeline content as shown in the burn dialog
and
b. "Fit Content to Available Space" option considerations, checked versus unchecked in the burn dialog

ISSUE

The issue is what to make of the "Adobe Media Encoder Property Data Invalid" and "Insufficient disc space for burning" messages that might be encountered outside and inside the burn dialog of Premiere Elements burn to Blu-ray disc format on Blu-ray disc. The "Adobe Media Encoder Properties Data Invalid" presents in the left lower bottom corner of the interface as a small yellow triangle with a black exclamation mark in its middle. See Figure 1. When that triangle is clicked on, an Event dialog opens from which the error details can be read. See Figure 2. The "Insufficient disc space for burning" error message presents in the burn dialog Status field. No Figure shown.

Figure 1. Adobe Media Encoder Error Notification Location



Figure 2. Adobe Media Encode Error Event Details

SOLUTION

First the bottom lines and then the results in support of the bottom lines.

A. To avoid the "Adobe Media Encoder Error", do not put a check mark next to "Fit Content to Available Space" in the Blu-ray burn dialog if the Space Required shown in the burn dialog is 23 GB or less. See examples below.

B. To avoid surprises of Status = "Insufficient disc space for burning" put a check mark next to "Fit Content to Available Space" when the Space Required exceeds the actual disc capacity and the program is not being instructed to lower the Bitrate in order to make the fit. See examples below.

 The examples below will demonstrate these points when the Blu-ray disc = Verbatim BD-RE 25 GB 2X (results repeatable if BD-R 25 GB 6X disc used instead) 
(BD disc 25 GB is reported to be actually 23.28 GB)*

EXAMPLES

Basic Setup: Premiere Elements 11 Timeline consisting of four video clips (.m2ts, 1440 x 1080 HD anamorphic 16:9) each with a file size of 7.14 GB and Bitrate about 14 Mbps (megabits per second)

Case 1

With 4 of these 7.14 GB video clips in the Timeline (duration = 04;36;00;18)
(Note: the 28.56 GB size based on 4 x 7.14 versus Space Required = 47.25 GB displayed in burn dialog - explainable on basis of 14 Mbps Bitrate of original versus 20.19 Mbps Bitrate of preset to be used for the burn to Blu-ray)

Fit Content to Available Space (unchecked): Space Required 47.25 GB and Bitrate 20.19 Mbps.
No Adobe Media Encoder Error; however Status Error "Insufficient disc space for burning"

Fit Content to Available Space (checked): Space Required 22.55 GB Bitrate 9.64 Mbps.
No Adobe Media Encoder Error; and, Status = Ready.

Case 2

With 3 of these 7.14 GB video clips in the Timeline (duration = 03;27;00;14)
(Note: the 21.42 GB size based on 3 x 7.14 versus the Space Required = 35.44 GB displayed in burn dialog)

Fit Content to Available Space (unchecked): Space Required 35.44 GB and Bitrate = 20.19 Mbps
No Adobe Media Encoder Error; however Status Error "Insufficient disc space for burning"

Fit Content to Available Space (checked): Space required 22.55 GB and Bitrate = 12.85 Mbps
No Adobe Media Encoder Error; and, Status = Ready

Case 3

With 2 of these 7.14 GB video clips (duration = 02;18;00;19)
(Note: 14.28 GB size based on 2 x 7.14 versus the Space Required = 23.62 GB displayed in burn dialog)

Fit Content to Available Space (unchecked): Space Required 23.62 GB and Bitrate 20.19 Mbps
No Adobe Media Encoder Error; however Status Error "Insufficient disc space for burning"
(Note: Reports that the actual capacity of BD 25 GB disc = 23.3 GB as pointed out earlier)

Fit Content to Available Space (checked): Space Required 22.55 GB and Bitrate 19.27 Mbps
No Adobe Media Encoder Error; and, Status = Ready.

Case 4

With only 1 of these 7.14 GB video clips (duration = 01;09;00;06)
(Note: 7.14 size based on 1 x 7.14 versus the Space Required = 11.81 GB displayed in burn dialog)

Fit Content to Available Space (unchecked): Space Required 11.81 GB and Bitrate 20.19 Mbps
No Adobe Media Encoder Error; and, Status = Ready


Fit Content to Available Space (checked): Space Required 14.04 GB and Bitrate 24.00 Mbps
Adobe Media Encoder Error; and Status = Ready

Lots more to be discussed and sorted out with regard to these observations, interpretation, and what is actually happening with regard to the above examples. For now this is just an introductory look into some factors related to Premiere Elements' burn to Blu-ray disc format on Blu-ray disc.



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*Related trivia from various online sources more or less agree on actual disc capacity for:
Blu-ray Disk 25 GB, actual 23.28 GB
Blu-ray Disk 50 GB, actual 46.56 GB
DVD Disk 4.7 GB, actual 4.38 GB
DVD Double Layer (Single Sided) 8.5 GB, actual 7.95 GB
**Probably not needed to include in the writeup, but a just in case note - remember to put the Blu-ray disc in the Blu-ray burner tray in order to get the appropriate readouts when evaluating the pre-burn situation.

ATR