DVD Workshop Freezes

[Intuit]

I am trying to author a dvd in ULead's dvd workshop. It seems as though everything is right, i used a menu template, created chapters, linked the chapters to the text etc. But when I try and play a chapter, the very beginning of the movies starts and then stops and freezes and doesn't do anything else. I am very frustrated. Please help someone!

[thecoalman]

Is your software updated?

[Intuit]

Yes. I have tried to find just basic tutorials and I can't find anything that makes sense. I am very much a newbie. All I want to do is split a video into chapters and have a title menu with links to the chapters...thats all! It seems impossible to do! Do you know if I have to set a mark in and mark out point on each chapter?

[rkm69]

Are you using v1 or v2 of DVD Workshop?

[thecoalman]

Not sure why it's hanging but the easiest way to create chapter points i9n DVD workshop 1 (should be the same or very similar for 2): Click edit on the top, Insert your video onto the timeline (don't put anything in the first play frame unless you want a intro), Play the video or use the jog bar in the preview screen to find the point you want to add a chapter. With the video stopped click the + sign with the little stip of film behind it to the right of the jog bar. To the right of the preview screen should now be a thumbnail of that frame which represents a chapter point. Select the rest of your points.

Click menu on the top. Select a pre-built menu, drag a thumbnail onto a link in the preview window on the menu. That button will now go to that chapter. Repeat until all your chapter points are done.

I suggest giving it a few trys with a simple small video with just a few chapters too get the hang of it.

[Intuit]

That is exactly what I have been doing...but it doesn't work. I either get a blank black screen, or the clip stops .5 seconds into the first clip. I have ver. 2 of DVDWS by the way...Anything else I might try??

[thecoalman]

1. Is it on disc or are you just using the preview in DVDWS? If it's on disc it could be your DVD player is incompatible with the media.

If you have only been using the preview create a small DVD compliant mpeg file to test with to cut out any uneccesary conversion time and use a RW so you can burn multiple tests to the same disc. Try burning a disc, If there's any issues with your chapters DVDWS will probably find it and give you the problem, you might have accidently inserted a loop or something. If that doesn't work try starting from scratch with the small test file with just one or two chapter points and one menu.

[Intuit]

I have been trying that with a RW and small files. I burn to disk and then try viewing on my cpu with no luck. I will check for looping. Unfortunately, DVDWS is not pointing out any problems...anything else I might try?

[anzimike]

FYI, there is an online manual for dvd wrkshop here:
ftp://ftp.ulead.com/pub/Manual/workshop2/dws2_manual.zip

[anzimike]

You might try using menu wizard to create the menu. I will do all the linking for you. There are also good tutorials at jerry jones group site;
http://www.jonesgroup.net/media/tutorials.htm

[anzimike]

Correction, It (wizard) will do the linking. (one day I will learn to type.)

[thecoalman]

I have been trying that with a RW and small files. I burn to disk and then try viewing on my cpu with no luck. I will check for looping. Unfortunately, DVDWS is not pointing out any problems...anything else I might try?

Does it work in the DVDWS preview before burning?

[lordsmurf]

DVDWS2 has an update to 2.011, and a patch for some MPEG issues. Be sure you have them both.

[Intuit]

I have all patches and everything. Now, everytime I try and create a chapter, the program crashes! I give up. I can't even burn a clip without chapters. All it will play is what looks to be like the first frame. I am through with this program. Anyone have any ideas for a better authoring program? All I want to do is split clips into segments and have a basic menu to access them. Thats all. Any suggestions?

[thecoalman]

Many people use that app very sucessfully, it is one of the best ones there is. Yours is obviously having some kind of conflict.

Does your system meet the required specs, specifically I'm pretty sure you need the latest version of directx installed. Also if you have updated your computer recently to SP2 that may be the culprit as well. Many apps have been broken by SP2. You could also try reinsatlling it then reinstall the latest update especially if you recently installed sp2.

Also there's forums that are accessible from the ulead website. Might want to give that try.

[anzimike]

I sense your frustration, intuit. DVDWS is a very promising app, but is still buggy. I hope you are only using the trial. I paid $400 or $500 for ws 1 then another $200 for upgrade to ws 2 and still have issues. At times it will render beautiful projects, and others mysteriously error out during rendering or freeze while editing/creating the project. I am in the process of reinstalling to a new faster system to see it that helps the bugs. In the meantime, if all you need is an app to do simple editing, render video with basic menus you may look at TMPGEncAuthor It is very stable, easy to learn and has fully functional 30 day trial. Best of luck.