DMF3DC crashes part way through conversion

[Back2Future]

I'm creating a DVD with TV episodes I've recorded with my Sony RDR-GX7. All is ok as I progress through the DMF process, but when I initiate the Output, DMF3 crashes part way though the conversion process. (Actually, DMF3 crashes other times also, but I can restart it and continue.)

Any ideas on what to look for to determine the cause? Or at least a workaround? I know it could be a million different resons.

Some info...

Dell PC with PIII 863Mhz, 120 Gbytes disk space 50% full, Plextor DVDR PX-708A.

The MPG files were Imported from a DVD-VR disk. I have 4 episodes that are about 3 hours total. I have a main menu and a chapter sub menu for each episode. The total project size is 4.64 (4.32). Earlier I successfully create a DVD from these same files. but I re-edited them and split one scene into two and rearranged them a little.

Progject info:
MPEG files
24 Bits, 352 x 480, 29.97 fps
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 3200 kbps)
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
AC-3 Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)

[Specialist]

If you experience a crash during an encoding session, then first rule out the possibility your computer might have a bad ram stick.

Download the FREE Memtest86 utility and run the ram integrity test.

http://www.memtest86.com

When I wish to NOT re-encode the source video and NOT use the editing tools, I click the PROJECT SETTINGS button, which is the second button in the lower left corner of the screen.

Example:

1. Open Ulead DVD MovieFactory 3.0;

2. I clicked the CREATE VIDEO DISC button;

3. After the CREATE VIDEO DISC pop-up menu appeared, I chose the NEW PROJECT and DVD options and I clicked the NEXT button;

4. I clicked the ADD VIDEO FILES button;

5. After the OPEN VIDEO FILE pop-up menu appeared, I browsed to the location of a Panasonic VDR-M30 DVD disc camcorder MPEG that I had recorded earlier.

The precise properties of this Panasonic MPEG-2 file are as follows:

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 (8800 kbps)
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo

6. I highlighted the file I wished to IMPORT and I clicked the OPEN button;

7. Next (and this is the step everybody seems to miss) I click the PROJECT SETTINGS button;

8. After the PROJECT SETTINGS pop-up menu appears, I check the DO NOT CONVERT COMLIANT FILES check box *and* I click the CHANGE MPEG SETTINGS button;

9. After the small pop-up menu appears, I click CUSTOMIZE;

10. After the VIDEO SAVE OPTIONS pop-up menu appears, I click the GENERAL and COMPRESSION tabs and I adjust my PROJECT SETTINGS to precisely *match* the properties of the source media clips as follows:

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 (8800 kbps)
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo

11. I click the OK button of the VIDEO SAVE OPTIONS pop-up menu to accept the new encode settings;

12. I click the OK button of the PROJECT SETTINGS pop-up menu to confirm the new encode settings.

If I don't do any editing, I arrive at the final menu burn page and I observe immediate initiation of the video/audio multiplexing process - no re-encoding occurs.

(If I edit, then I observe re-encoding regardless of how I've adjusted the project settings because Ulead's Smart Render technology does not seem to be as fully-implemented in Ulead DVD MovieFactory 3.0 as it is in Ulead's video editors - Ulead VideoStudio and Ulead MediaStudio Pro.)

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

I'm creating a DVD with TV episodes I've recorded with my Sony RDR-GX7. All is ok as I progress through the DMF process, but when I initiate the Output, DMF3 crashes part way though the conversion process. (Actually, DMF3 crashes other times also, but I can restart it and continue.)

Any ideas on what to look for to determine the cause? Or at least a workaround? I know it could be a million different resons.

Some info...

Dell PC with PIII 863Mhz, 120 Gbytes disk space 50% full, Plextor DVDR PX-708A.

The MPG files were Imported from a DVD-VR disk. I have 4 episodes that are about 3 hours total. I have a main menu and a chapter sub menu for each episode. The total project size is 4.64 (4.32). Earlier I successfully create a DVD from these same files. but I re-edited them and split one scene into two and rearranged them a little.

Progject info:
MPEG files
24 Bits, 352 x 480, 29.97 fps
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 3200 kbps)
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
AC-3 Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)