Does Pinnacle Studio 8.X.X work for you for a >70 min vid

[k5oz]

Visiting the Pinnacle forums I see a lot of zealots promoting/defending the S8 product. I also see many dissatisfied posters complaining about S8. Some of these posters both for and against have let their emotions fly. The zealots claim there are relatively few people who cannot get S8 to work for them. The complainers claim that there are relatively few people who can get S8 to work.

I personally have tried S8 (including the latest Beta) with limited success. It seems that if the project is over 70 minutes, has a moving thumbnail menu, and several transitions it will always fail to compile.

So who is right, are the zealots correct or the complainers? Let the poll do the talking. Does Pinnacle Studio 8 work for you with > 70 minute video, moving thumbnail menus and transitions? Does it produce a DVD or working image file?

Of course if it does not work for you on any length video please answer with a NO.

Thanks

[ktnwin]

It worked for me (my longest video is about 90min on one DVD-R).Where to vote ?
Sorry, let me correct this. Any DVD shorter than 60mins work fine for me, I made two DVD that are about 90min long and both have audio issue after 60mins.
The answer is NO.

[igalan]

I have tested Pinnacle Studio 8. The main problem is not the lenght of the video. It has several problems, like the audio drops of the version 8.3.18 (which is the latest official release), hangs during render of videos with multiple transitions and audio tracks, fails to compile some video files for no apparent reason, jerky transitions, crashes... Too bad because it could be a great program. The latest beta 8.5.8 seems better, but there's still a long way until Studio 8 reaches a stable version (it was released more than one year ago!).

[ktnwin]

Although I have problem with audio after 60 mins or so, the same DVD disc play perfectly fine on an Apex player (at my relative's). Now, I am confused.
I used to have system crashes with Studio, TMPGenc on and off for the last 12 months until the system totally died then I found that the RAM memory is bad. After replaceing it, it never crashes again. (cross my fingers).
Video software uses lot of memory, so if memory is flaky, it will do strange things.

[ktnwin]

I have made many more home DVDs each is about 90 mins in lenght. As usual, after abotu 60 mins, the audio start having some static noise problems.

[mustang581]

longest project so far 96 minutes, consisted of 2 clips one 20min. + 76min, a couple of transitions and two menus. burned directly to DVD.
burned all night but was succesfull, no problems.
version 8.5.21
yes, it works.

[jarroyo]

I am almsot done converting over 46 hours of home video from 8mm camcorder to DVD. Most DVDs are 2 hours in length. The longest was about 2:20:00 the shortest about 1:15:00. I am using 8.5.21

No problems with audio since I moved from analog capture to DV. When I was using analog capture, VirtualDub, ATI MMC 7.7, VirtualVCR, IuVCR all had trouble with audio out of sync. I tried Pinnacle, Ulead MoveFactory, and Ulead VS 6.0 all with the audio problem as well.

One note though after my 3rd video with Studio, I moved to doing encoding with TMPGEnc and later with CCE Basic. I use Studio for
1. Capture,
2. then I create transitions and titles.
3. I then generate AVI
4. Encode AVI to MPEG (CCE Basic)
5. Import MPEG into Studio
6. Create Menus
7. Make Disk (I have done Studio burning and Nero Burning)

[curritch]

jarroyo. Please elaborate as to how you get in excess of two hours with Studio 8 when importing mpg2 files. It is a well documented problem with S8 (acknowledged by Pinnacle) that it will not import more than about 2.8 GB's of mpg2 data. Thus a 2hr 20 min DVD must be a relatively low rate mpg2, in the range of 2800 kbps if I am doing my math correctly.
I have given up on S8 because of this limitation until Pinnacle fixes it.

[jarroyo]

Hummm. Ignorance must be bliss! I did not know there was supposed to be a problem.

I encoded it at 4120 kbit/s with 192kbit/s audio per the bitrate calculator out of this site. I added a motion menu from Studio 8 (the first one on the second page of the menus which has the film background). I have 18 chapters (6 per page for 3 pages). When I did a make disk I set the bitrate to 3000 Custom. Studio does not reencode the MPEG if the bitrate you specify is lower than the one encoded in your MPEG (doesnt sound right, but that is how it works) and as long as the audio is MPEG 1 layer 2 Stereo. Make sure you select the MPEG audio checkbox.

Also, I did a make disk without burning. I burned using Nero which I prefer for burning because it is better at telling me of error BEFORE screwing up my blank DVD-R!

Every single DVD I have burned contains an MPEG-2 which is at least 4Gig in size. Again, this is all on Studio 8.5.21. I am not saying that Studio is the greatest thing, but it sure has worked for me.

I had a really hard time getting it to not re-encode my MPEG-2 imports. My problem was in the audio. I was using joint Stereo instead of straight stereo and that caused it to re-encode the whole MPEG. Now it renders the menu and it goes straight to Compile Disk... It takes about 1 1/2 hours to compile the disk to my hard drive (which I consider dreadfully slow for just creating the VOBs). Nero then takes 29 minutes to burn it.

[ASB]

jarroyo

Thanks for this excellent info. I have just ordred Studio 8 with plans to move my 80+ home video tapes in 8mm, Hi8 and DV via DV firewire input to DVD.

[jarroyo]

I would really encourage you to order the FREE Trial CD and make sure it works for you. Some people are definitely have some problems with it. Here is the link to get the trial:

http://www.pinnaclesys.com/ProductPage.asp?Product_ID=577&Langue_ID=7

I believe that you can even download the trial (If you have broadband access). I would hate for you to spend your hard earned money and have it not work for you. I am not trying to sell Studio here, I am just sharing my experience.

[curritch]

jarroyo. Don't mean to be argumentative but the 2.8 GB issue is well documented. I believe that if you start with 4 GB mpg2 files and they end up on the DVD then S8 is re-encoding them to a lower data rate.

[ASB]

jarroyo
I'm willing to take the risk, only paid $13.99 though buy.com and $50 rebate.

[jarroyo]

Curritch,

No problem, question away. I just double checked. The DVD has 4.29GB of data in it. I ran bitrateviewer against it and it is definitely an average bitrate of 4098. I am positive that Studio did not re-render because
a) Bitrate viewer data
b) amount of data in the DVD
c) The fact that it only took 1 1/2 hours to compile the DVD. Trust me, Studio could NEVER render 2 hours worth of video in less than 10 hours.

If you want me to run anything against these DVDs, let me know. I would be glad to do it. Again, I am not trying to sell Pinnacle, just share my experiences.

BTW, I had 3 of my 8mm tapes that were 150 minutes long. So I have three of my videos that were over 2:15:00 (I edited some stuff out). The other 8mm tapes were 120 minutes, so most of my videos are around 2:03:00 long.

[jarroyo]

$13.99? WOW! I am Jelous! I paid $49 for it! Good deal. Good luck and make sure you download the 8.5.21 patch.

[maineiac]

I have made about 10 to 15 DVDs with Studio 8. All of them have been over 70 minutes, some as long as 120 minutes. All with no problems except stupid mistakes that I made. These were all movies which I captured using Hauppauge WinTV PVR 250. Then I loaded them into Studio 8, then had Studio 8 render them to my hard disc. Then I checked each of the vob files to make sure there were no problems. Then I had Studio 8 create the DVD...which takes about 1/2 hour or so as I recall. No audio problems, full discs and the video quality seems fine to me. I haven't gone back and actually checked the bit rate or anything. Note though that I use very little in the way of transitions or menus - mainly just the movie.

[ptmurphy]

I have used it quite a bit with mostly success. There are a few bugs here and there, but I can mostly work around them.

I have had no trouble with the length of the videos, I have done several 90+ minutes videos and burned to DVD with no problems.

If they can just work out a few bugs, they will actually have a great product on their hands.

By the way, why can't I vote in the poll?

[curritch]

jarroyo. Apparently your version of S8 doesn't work like mine. I just attempted to load 4 GB of mpg2's into S8. In the automatic setting it told me I had too much data to fit the disc which has been the problem all along. Then I went to custom at 3000 kbps and it proceded to start re-encoding.

The input files were TMPGEnc created at 6000 kbps VBR. The audio was 192 kbps stereo (not joint stereo).

Maybe the VBR screws it up. At any rate I am back where I started. S8 stays inactive until Pinnacle fixes it. But at $18 who cares. But you get what you pay for.

[jarroyo]

Curritch,

Ok. You are fighting the same thing I was fighting. Pinnacle kept re-rendering. The key here is to find out what in the world Pinnacle sees that makes it believe that it is dealing with a non-standard DVD MPEG. That is the reason for its re-rendering. I worked on this problem for almost 10 hours!

Here are my usual settings that Studio does not re-encode:

2 pass VBR Max 8000, Min 2500, Average xxxx (usually 4700, but I have used as high as 6500)
Interlaced (should not matter)
DC 10 (should not matter)
NTSC
Motion (Very Slow - should not matter)
Rate 29.97
Aspect Ratio 4:3 525 line (NTSC)
Field order - Bottom first (DV)
Size 740x480 (Full D1, could have use 352x480 per DVD standard)

I Picture 1
P Picture 4
B Picture 2
Max GOP is 15 (that is the DVD standard for NTSC, 18 for PAL I believe)
The structure should look like IBBPBBPBBPBBPBB


Audio 48000Hz, Stereo
Bits 224(I have used 192 and 224 dont think it really matters)
Enable error Protection or CRC

Wait a long while...

Here is the reference I used to come up with these settings http://dvd-hq.info/Compression.html

Another thing you might want to try is downloading the MainConcept Encoder ( www.Mainconcept.com ). The demo works 100% except that it puts a watermark on the upper left hand corner. Its a whole lot faster than TMPGEnc and more standard for DVD. I am not suggesting you buy it (its pricey at $150), it is just faster for running these tests. I found its 1 Pass VBR to be as good as TMPGEnc two pass. I actually use CCE basic ($58), but that is a different discussion.

[ASB]

jarroyo, do you use VBR or CBR?

[jarroyo]

VBR, see my settings above.

[ASB]

Sotty, you must have posted this while I was writing mine

[ASB]

Thats Sorry.....................

[curritch]

jarroyo. I find that it is much easier to simply use Ulead MovieFactory to author and burn my DVD's. It imports my mpg2's with no problem and burns my DVD's without incident. I, quite frankly, find that it is unusual that someone would spend so much time trying to use a flaky application.

[maineiac]

I have also tried Movie Factory and for a lot of things it works quicker and easier than Studio 8......BUT I always get horrible audio sync problems so the output is useless to me.

[jarroyo]

Carritch,

All the applications I dealt with in this space and price point have major flaws I had to work around. So the question was which one I was going to work on getting to work. I think the price of DVD writers came down faster than these applications expected and they rushed to market.

Quite frankly, I don't care what you think about how I spend my time. You were bringing up a problem and I was just trying to help you.

[Paul_W]

I spent days trying to produce a DVD in the range of 50 to 58 minutes and routinely crashed the program after several hours of rendering time, just before it would have begun writing to my DVD burner. I was only able to produce a couple of short DVD's in the 10 to 15 minute range. The program is full of great features. If it had worked, I would have been a huge fan. Instead, I gave up and went to a combo of Premier and either DVDWS or DVD Complete, and have been very pleased.

It's the last time that I'll ever spend money on a program without a chance to try it first.

[ktnwin]

It's good to hear that so many were successful in making video longer than 90 mins using PS8.
I guess I have to upgrade to version 8.5.21 as I am using 8.3.18 at this time.

[ktnwin]

I upgrade to rev 8.5.21 and yes, the audio problem I had is now gone on a DVD that is 85 mins long.
Cross my fingers and hope this stays for my future DVDs.

Updated: subsequent DVD made with rev 8.5.21 do not have audio problem (> 90 mins). But.... I switch to neoDVD because this once is awfully fast in encoding/authoring.