capturing w/ulead movie factory2 probs

[budz]

I capture w/ulead movie factory 2. I have a canopus advc-100. The current problem I'm getting is when I capture in MPEG mode I end up w/ a error msg telling me the file is corrupt and the file will delete itself. I would like to know if capturing in MPEG mode do you use ULEAD DSW MPEG CAPTURE PLUG-IN or ULEAD DIRECTSHOW CAPTURE PLUG-IN? I've tried choosing the ULEAD DIRECT SHOW CAPTURE PLUG-IN then whe I select MPEG it goes automatically to DV mode. Then I change to ULEAD DSW MPEG CAPTURE PLUG-IN then I'm able to go to MPEG mode. I'm so frustrated, LOST &

I was able to successfully capture in MPEG mode yesterday. But last night and today I got the error msg. I'm getting really pissed off because I got the error msg like 2 mins. before the movie ended.

I tried using scenalyzer a few weeks ago but when I merged the 6 avi files with TMPGE I ended up with video/audio sync problems. I'm using win98se so I have that file limit size of 4gb.

I would appreciate any help. Thanks in advance.

[snafu099]

I use and like MF2. only run into this problem when I cap at biterate or time leangth where the file exceeds my fat32 4g file size, could this be the problem?

[budz]

Thanks for replying snafu099. The movie that did work was 1 hour 40 min. long and the other ones I was trying to do were about the same length. I don't think I'm caping beyond the FAT 32 4gb limit. What bitrate would you suggest? I'm caping from my digital cable box. I don't seem to have problems when I cap from a vhs tape.

I'm capping from scenalyzer right now and will try to merge the avi files with TMPGE. Just hoping I don't get sync problems. Or I'll just use Movie factory to process the AVI files. I know it will end up with individual clips on menu portion.

[budz]

Snafu099 I think you were correct about the file size being too big. I checked how big the 6 avi files I have and together they were bigger than 4gb. I think my only options would be to once again install WIN2000 PRO W/SP 4 or capture from a vhs tape. In other words I record from my digital cable box to vcr then capture from the vhs tape. The video resolution would be so much better if I could go directly from the digital cable box.

I had problems when I installed WIN2000 PRO W/SP 4 so I went back to WIN98SE. The thought of having to reinstall everything all over again. ACK! Sucks to be me!

Would you have any other suggestions? Thanks in advance!

[Will Hay]

That 4gb file limit sure is a pain in the arse!
Personally, my proceedure is as follows....

1) Capture DV avi from the ADVC-100 with Studio (or Scenlyser, or DVIO, whatever).
2) Encode with TMPGEnc Plus (including cutting and trimming)
3) Author with Ulead Movie Factory 2.0
4) Burn with RecordNowMax

My proceedure for home movies is slightly different (the above is for broadcast captures only) as I include an edit and 'save as DV avi' between phase 1 and 2.

When you say 6 avi's are you saying to achieve your 1hr 40mins you had to capture in segments?

If so, why not encode all individually using TMPEGnc and then join with the merge and cut function (in TMPGEnc Plus)?
You can then import into Ulead MF 2.0 for authoring and you won't suffer sync issues.

You're having audio/video sync issues because TMPGEnc has documented issues with merging files not created within TMPGEnc.
The author of this superb encoder has acknowledged it.

I wouldn't recommend you 'capture' directly from your ADVC-100.
You'll never match the benefit of avi to mpeg2 and as you've already fpund out its fraught with problems.

I would strongly recommend you upgrade to NTFS, ideally with WinXP if you can.
I never fancied Win2000 or ME, but WinXP is flawless compared to Win98se.

Why do yo think you feed to format?
You might have some issues with hardware that isn't suported under NTFS (I had to change a netword card) but it's unlikely.
Worst case you need a new driver but trust me, you'll never look back if you can stretch to WinXP.

So, to recap, my best method (from all my testing!) is as follows (and I'll assume a 1hr 40min capture from VHS or broadcast satellite)....

1) capture with Scenlyser, DVIO, Pinnacle Studio, whatever with the DV avi codec at 720 x 576 (I'm in PAL land, are you?)

2) Encode with TMPGEnc but resize to 352 x 576, I'm from the planet that firmly believes anything bigger is a waste for this kind of imput and source your footage (ie. clip the adverts out etc.)
For 100 minutes you can encode at 4000CBR which is the equivelent of full DV quality, ie 720 x 576 @ 8000CBR.
I think you can get 110mins at 352 x 576 / 4000CBR.

3) Import into Ulead Movie Factory and add your titles (if you wish) and chapter points (again, if you can be bothered; for broadcast I just add regular intervals at say 3 mins, I can't be bothered to fancy it up, I only do that with home movies of my son) and then burn.


Easy
Will Hay

[snafu099]

Snafu099 I think you were correct about the file size being too big. I checked how big the 6 avi files I have and together they were bigger than 4gb. I think my only options would be to once again install WIN2000 PRO W/SP 4 or capture from a vhs tape. In other words I record from my digital cable box to vcr then capture from the vhs tape. The video resolution would be so much better if I could go directly from the digital cable box.

I had problems when I installed WIN2000 PRO W/SP 4 so I went back to WIN98SE. The thought of having to reinstall everything all over again. ACK! Sucks to be me!

Would you have any other suggestions? Thanks in advance!

I have the ADS usb jIDVD-2 hardware encoder for perfect caps, only does mpg.
Also have Winfast tv2000 deluxe but am only playing with that for pvr capability.

I really can't tell you anything about working with avi from exp but from other posts it would seem possible to do each clip seperate, telling MF2 to output to folder, then use dvdshrink to compress, and then put on dvd. Have seen post on each of the steps but have not really followed it as I don't do that.

As an alternative. my boot drive is in a removeable caddy so I can just swap it with a xp drive setup just to do caps. Doing this I have gone over the dvd disc size, output to folder, shrink, burn with good results.

My best advice if $ allows would be to get cap device that accepts your desired input(s) and hardware encodes to mpg using some type of "audio lock" for perfect sync.

some options that I know work.
http://www.adstech.com any EXCEPT IDVD-1 which does audio through sound card

[Will Hay]

I really can't tell you anything about working with avi from exp but from other posts it would seem possible to do each clip seperate, telling MF2 to output to folder, then use dvdshrink to compress, and then put on dvd. Have seen post on each of the steps but have not really followed it as I don't do that.

I don't know where Shrink comes into the equation to be honest.
You have Ulead MF 2.0 so why not simply import the avi's into there, edit and then save as an mpeg2.
MF 2.0 has this option and then is ready for authoring to a DVD.

2) Encode with TMPGEnc but resize to 352 x 576, I'm from the planet that firmly believes anything bigger is a waste for this kind of imput and source your footage (ie. clip the adverts out etc.)
For 100 minutes you can encode at 4000CBR which is the equivelent of full DV quality, ie 720 x 576 @ 8000CBR.
I think you can get 110mins at 352 x 576 / 4000CBR.

An alternative to the above would simply be to import back into MF 2.0 for encoding to mpeg2.
You could then author and burn, therefore eliminating a stage.
I only suggested TMPGEnc Plus as I thought everyone must use this superb programme
Will

[budz]

will hay wrote:

When you say 6 avi's are you saying to achieve your 1hr 40mins you had to capture in segments?

Thanks for replying to my posting. Yes there are now 6 avi files after I captured from scenalyzer. I think it's because of the 4gb limit so it saves to 6 avi files. The movie is 1 hour 45 min. long. I tried to get TMPGE to resize as you suggested but it does not give me that option. The sync problems I had before were after I encoded and merged using TMPGE. But I think it was because I had the bitrate too high. Is there a specific setting for me to use when I have to merge the 6 newly created MPEG files ? I'm encoding now on my other pc. I've used ULEAD MOVIE FACTORY to author before too.

I'm still debating on putting on WINDOWS 2000 PRO W/ SP 4. The issues I had before was that my Plextor 708A burner would not work properly. So I put back WIN98SE. If I do end up installing WINDOWS 2000 PRO I have to wait till the weekend when I have more time. I'll let you know how the encoding and authoring process turns out. Thanks again!

[Will Hay]

Thanks for replying to my posting. Yes there are now 6 avi files after I captured from scenalyzer. I think it's because of the 4gb limit so it saves to 6 avi files. The movie is 1 hour 45 min. long. I tried to get TMPGE to resize as you suggested but it does not give me that option. The sync problems I had before were after I encoded and merged using TMPGE. But I think it was because I had the bitrate too high. Is there a specific setting for me to use when I have to merge the 6 newly created MPEG files ? I'm encoding now on my other pc. I've used ULEAD MOVIE FACTORY to author before too.

I forget how you captured these but I think you suffered audio/video sync because you didn't encode with TNMPGnc.
If you try joing clips with TMPGEnc that weren't created by TMPGEnc then you'll have problems.
One or two you might get away with but six?
No chance!
Didn't you capture with Ulead MF?
As for the resizing, you need to load your template and then load the 'unlock' template that gives you the option to change the settings.
If you get stuck post here and I'll do some screenshots, hopefully tonight.
When you encode an avi to 352 x 576 (PAL) your standalone DVD player will resize automatically; don't worry how they look on the PC (unless you intent to watch them on the PC that is).
Will

[budz]

Thanks will hay for responding! I did encode the 6 avi files using TMPGE. I captured with scenalyzer and ended up with 6 avi files. Then I encoded each avi file individually with TMPGE and then merged them with TMPGE too. Maybe I'm doing the TMPGE process wrong or not using the correct template. I got sync issues so I ended up using ULEAD MOVIE FACTORY to author and encode the 6 avi files to create a ISO image. Then burned the ISO image with DVD DECRYPTER. I got no sync issues doing it that way. The junk part about using ULEAD MOVIE FACTORY to author and encode is I got 6 chapters showing on the title page instead of just 1 thumbnail showing I got 6. I guess it's due to having those 6 avi files. I'll try the template information you gave me when I get home from work.

[Will Hay]

The junk part about using ULEAD MOVIE FACTORY to author and encode is I got 6 chapters showing on the title page instead of just 1 thumbnail showing I got 6. I guess it's due to having those 6 avi files. I'll try the template information you gave me when I get home from work.

Yep, that's the shitter.
I posted a message about that on the Ulead forum but there's no fix/workaround.
Will