DVD Movie Factory 2 question

[laffe]

I want to create animated thumbnails on my menues.
But I cant figure ot that this is avaliable on MovieFactory.
Is this the case?

If so, what else can I use?

Laffe

[splissken]

No, you can't do that with Movie Factory. I believe Ulead's DVD Workshop has that feature.

[ktnwin]

Sorry for this out of line question but I am very curious about the encoding speed of UMF2. How long does it take to encode one hour of video to MPEG-2 format ? just give the number and your CPU speed.
Thanks

[laffe]

I have a p4 2.26 and 1 gig ram.
I use about 10-20 minutes i guess. Havent really timed it!

Laffe

[ktnwin]

Hi laffe,
could you time it when you have a chance and post it here.
I am in search for the fastest software encoder (to MPEG-2, DVD).
Thanks.

[mmmbeer]

Ulead encodes fast on mine as well. About 20 mins. or so, however the quality is abominal. Always pixelated and audio sync problems. Even if I burn at 2x it still stinks. I wouldn't use MF2 to encode ever.

[laffe]

ktnwin: What exactley do you want me to do?
Copy a mpg file to dvd? Or copy a dvd?
I dont understand. If you let me know, I will do it!

Laffe

[ktnwin]

Hi laffe,
sorry for not clear enough. All I like to know is how long MF2 takes to encode an AVI file (1 hour for example) to MPEG-2 ?
I am sure you already have this info for your machine.
My goal is to search for a really fast software encoder. CCE is still not fast enough for me.

[laffe]

I dont use MF 2 for that!
I use TMP for that!

MF2 reduces the quality I feel!

Laffe

[ktnwin]

That's the answer I want to know.
thanks

[laffe]

Let me ask you, maybe you can answer.

I want more than one mpg file on each dvd.
But everytime I add them they are to big.

Do you have any tips?

I have used tmpgenc, and reduced the bitrate, and the files are about 7-900mb
But once added to a dvd authoring tool, they dont fit anymore.

Anything you can say to help.......

Laffe

[jaeshin]

I have a p4 2.26 and 1 gig ram.
I use about 10-20 minutes i guess. Havent really timed it!

Laffe

What kind of setting do you use? That sounds amazingly fast comparing to what I've experienced with DVD Workshop. It usually takes 3-4 times of the movie length. For that matter, it is amazingly faster than CCE, Mainconcept, and any other dedicated encoders.

[Specialist]

Ulead DVD WORKSHOP can do animated menu thumbnails.

Here's a tutorial about it:

http://www.ulead.com/learning/dws/dws_02_1.htm

Here's the info concerning Ulead DVD WORKSHOP:

http://www.ulead.com/dws/runme.htm

I have it.

Cool product.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[nerdboy69]

I am not trying to say the Ulead encoder is better than anything else, but are you guys aware that there is a slider that determines the encoding quality as part of the project/template/overall (depending on which product you are using) properties?

I have not bothered to compare the results of these, but would expect it to influence the speed vs quality to some degree.

[mmmbeer]

Never really found any slider like that in MF2, although I remember seeing one that was speed/quality and I have tried it both ways and it stinks either way you slice it. MF2's encoder is not good for anything at all. I'd rather wait the 8hrs w/tmpgenc then to produde coasters that are wayyy out of synch in 20 minutes. Even their so-called "techs" I called told me to use an outside encoder. How much faith should that give you in anything that Ulead produces? I paid 45 bucks for a completely worthless program. The only plus to it is splitting vids is easy and nothing else.

[edsmith77]

Not trying to hijack the thread but.....
any of you mf2 users/owners been able to create your own templates where you were able to specifiy your own specific bit rate, resolution and audio rates. If so, can you please kindly post the steps that I can use that will let me do that as well.
My versio of MF2 will NOT let me create a new template with my own parameters. I can get to the screen that shows where those parameters are to be entered but on my system they are all greyed out. Yes, I have tried 3 times the uninstall and reinstall process sans sucess.

ANYONE?

[mmmbeer]

I am quite sure you can in svcd mode and dvd mode but not vcd. It really doesn't make a difference as it's encoding quality is horrible all around. I have updated every patch and update available for this waste of cash and it all comes out the same. Use Tmpgenc to encode and Ulead to burn only.

[nerdboy69]

Ulead quality settings. Not trying to argue whether any good, justing pointing out where they are so people can try for themselves.
All the products I checked have 2 settings. One on the general preferences as a drop list, and the other within the template managers.

VideoStudio6:
1. - In overall preferences -> General -> Resampling Quality (drop-list)
2. - In Templates & Make Movie manager -> Edit -> Compression

DVD Workshop 1.3
1. - In overall preferences -> General -> Resampling Quality (drop-list)
2. - Need to edit DVDWS.ini (C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Ulead Systems\Ulead DVD Workshop\1.0) and add "ADVANCE=1" after "PlayAC3=0" entry (which you may as well set to "PlayAC3=1" whilst you are there). Now you will have a "Advanced" button within the Template manager -> Compression tab that brings you to extra settings with a slider.

Movie Factory 2 (Trial)
1. - In overall preferences -> General -> Resampling Quality (drop-list)
2. - Disc Template manager -> (choose) -> Edit -> Compression

Perhaps you have different releases.
As for not being able to change values - never seen that behaviour for templates I have created. On pre-existing ones, yes.

[Specialist]

Good points, Nerdboy.

I would add the following link:

http://forums.matroxusers.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39367&highlight=screen+shots

These screen shots show the ADVANCED MPEG encoding parameters that can be activated for Ulead's DVD Workshop (and Ulead MediaStudio Pro).

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net