Problem with DVD Workshop 1.3 and Adobe Premiere Pro

[gurs]

I am having a problem converting and burning a DVD in DVDWS 1.3 AC-3. My source material came from a DV camcorder, and was edited in Adobe Premiere Pro. I have tried exporting from APP in a number of formats, but I can't get DVDWS to create a DVD (or a DVD directory).

When I try to burn in DVDWS from an AVI video and WAV audio file that was outputted by APP, I get an error message that says:

Failed to convert video file.
Error: 80041c22
[13006.1.60]

I get this message whether or not the "convert compliant files" box is checked. I am using the Ulead.MPEG.Now encoder (my only option) at 720x480, best quality and 8000 kbps CBR. Also, DVDWS won't allow me to select the audio type or frequency once I pick AC-3.

When I use an MPEG2 video file (converted by APP) and the WAV audio file, I get the same message except it says "failed to convert audio file", again regardless of whether the "convert compliant files" box is checked.

When I use MPEG2 and AC-3 both converted by APP, DVDWS will sometimes create the DVD and sometimes give me the same error, and I still can't adjust audio type or frequency.

I have tried un-installing and re-installing DVDWS, and I have installed both the 1.3 update and the AC-3 Powerpack update.

Any ideas? Thanks.

[spmc]

I am pretty new to encoding and authoring myself, so I may not know of what I speak . . . but I use Premiere 6 and Workshop sometimes and have had to trial and error my way through lots of problems.
I had trouble authoring in Workshop with audio and video files that were not "multiplexed" (combined) MPEG2s. I encode from Premiere with a Ligos encoder and make sure I multiplex the audio and video files. The resulting MPEG2 files work as expected in Workshop. If you are not multiplexing your files during encoding, try it. Good luck.

[Scheif]

gurs, I am not sure if this is the problem, but is your audio 48 kHz? If not, try converting it to that sampling rate.

[gurs]

Scheif - I am using 48 kps.

SPMC - I can't figure out how to multiplex, and I don't have the Ligos encoder. just the Ulead.MPEG.Now encoder. I searched the help file for "multiples" and came up with nothing. Any suggestions?

Another wierd thing about DVDWS: when I want to select an audio track to import, sometimes it will show AC3 files as valid sound files and import them, other times it will only allow me to import WAV, MPA and MP3 files. Is everyone's version of DVD Workshop this quirky?

[spmc]

gurs,
Have you been to Ulead's site and downloaded all the most recent updates and patches for Workshop? Do that first.
I don't know much about P-Pro, but I thought it had an encoder built into it or at least available as a plug in. When you "export your timeline", does it not pop up a window giving you export choices? If so, look through the codecs and find the one for exporting to MPEGs. Choose this codec and then set your MPEG2 export parameters, bitrate, field or frame choices, audio bit rate, multiplex, etc. I would not use Ulead's encoder if I had another one to work with. I only feed Workshop MPEG2s I have encoded elsewhere and just use it to create menus, chapters, and to burn the already DVD compatible files. I feel certain parts of Workshop are "quirky", but when fed compatible files it works outstanding as an authoring tool.
Sorry, can't help with the audio things you talk about. Don't have any experience with that.
If P-Pro does not have an encoder built in, look into the Ligos plug in. It is cheap (less than $100) and works well with Premiere.
spmc

[Specialist]

When I try to burn in DVDWS from an AVI video and WAV audio file that was outputted by APP, I get an error message that says:

Failed to convert video file.
Error: 80041c22
[13006.1.60]

I get this message whether or not the "convert compliant files" box is checked. I am using the Ulead.MPEG.Now encoder (my only option) at 720x480, best quality and 8000 kbps CBR. Also, DVDWS won't allow me to select the audio type or frequency once I pick AC-3.

When I use an MPEG2 video file (converted by APP) and the WAV audio file, I get the same message except it says "failed to convert audio file", again regardless of whether the "convert compliant files" box is checked.

When I use MPEG2 and AC-3 both converted by APP, DVDWS will sometimes create the DVD and sometimes give me the same error, and I still can't adjust audio type or frequency.

I have tried un-installing and re-installing DVDWS, and I have installed both the 1.3 update and the AC-3 Powerpack update.

Try encoding your source media to be DVD compliant prior to import into Ulead DVD Workshop.

Then *match* your DVD Workshop project settings to conform to the properties of your source - again this assumes your source media complies with DVD standards.

For example, if I have source material with the following compliant video/audio properties...

NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
MPEG files
24 Bits, 704 x 480, 29.97 fps
Field Order B
(DVD-NTSC), 4 : 3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8800 kbps)
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo

...I click the MAKE DISC button (during the final stage) and then I click CUSTOMIZE to precisely match the video/audio properties of DVD WORKSHOP's project settings to conform to the video/audio properties of my source media.

I also check the DO NOT CONVERT COMPLIANT FILE check box.

When I do this, DVD WORKSHOP does not re-encode the source material.

Instead - DVD WORKSHOP simply burns the already-compliant material to disc (with menus).

As for audio adjustment, did you know you can access ADVANCED encoding options?

On my Windows XP computer...

1. I clicked START > MY COMPUTER > C: DRIVE;

2. I clicked the Microsoft Windows XP TOOLS > FOLDER OPTIONS > VIEW tab and I enabled the option to SHOW HIDDEN FILES & FOLDERS;

3. I clicked the DOCUMENTS & SETTINGS folder;

4. I clicked the ALL USERS folder;

5. I clicked the APPLICATION DATA folder;

6. I clicked the ULEAD SYSTEMS folder;

7. I clicked the ULEAD DVD WORKSHOP folder;

8. I clicked the 1.0 folder;

9. I clicked the DVDWS configuration file;

10. I typed Advance=1 under the [VIO DRIVER] heading as follows:

[VIODRIVER]
UleadVideoPlay=1
UleadVideoDecoder=1
UleadAudioPlay=1
UleadAudioDecoder=1
UseOnlineMuxing=1
MotionEstimate=20
PlayAC3=1
DecodeAC3=1
UleadAC3Encode=1
NoOverLayMixer=1
Advance=1

11. I saved the change;

12. I closed and then re-opened Ulead DVD Workshop;

13. Now - I observe a new button under the COMPRESSION tab of the DVD Workshop MAKE DISC OPTIONS menu (encode options);

14. When I click this ADVANCE button, I can access more audio encoding parameters.

Hope this information helps,

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net