Ulead DVD Workshop 2 EXPERT NEEDED

[sdsumike619]

I'm bringing an mpg video into DVDWS2 that isn't a "standard" frame size. When I drop it in, it looks distorted in the preview windw. The frame size of the video is 576x240 and on the preview window it looks stretched vertically.

Now, I know in the disc template manager, there's an option to pick a frame size from a number of standard frames. There is also a GREYED OUT "user defined" option where you can define the frame size, yet you can't select it...

Can somebody help me out with this problem so that my video isn't distorted like that?

Thanks!!

[marsmayhem]

I have encountered the same problem, without finding a way around it. I was trying to author CVD mpegs.

Anyone else figured this out yet?

I came across a utility once that could enable controls on a windows form. I think it was on one of those VCD spanish websites, when they were showing how to enable VBR MPEG1 under some encoder (CCE perhaps)... can't remember where it is now though

[sdsumike619]

now im trying to make the iso file and it's causing the program to f*ck up, practically locks it up, says it's converting the video, when it shouldn't be....is there a surefire way to avoid re-encoding? I did set the setting higher than the actual, and that has always worked to avoid it, but now what?

[p_l]

sdsumike619,
AFAIK, 576x240 is not a legal size for DVD, so you can't expect to make a compliant DVD with that file as is. Maybe resize it in VirtualDub-MPEG2 or VirtualDubMod?

marsmayhem,
I've created a custom template to half-D1 specs. Works with TMPGEnc Xpress half-D1 encodes I bring into it without re-encoding, and though I haven't tried it yet, I suppose it could also be used to encode .AVIs to half-D1 within DWS.

352 x 480 pixels MPEG2 (Called Half-D1, same as the CVD Standard)

[sdsumike619]

p_l not so sure about that, because I recently did one that was 608x256 and everything worked perfectly. The only thing that was different was the encoder - For that one I used the one that comes with Vegas (mainconcept) and for this one , I tried CCE - perhaps it's just CCE that is making the non compliant file....... I've never had a problem with the mainconcept, it's just slow as hell......

[marsmayhem]

@p_l

I already have my CVD asset encoded (from TMPGENC Plus). The problem is I can't change the template DVDWS2 uses to change it from the canned SVCD settings it uses (ie. I can't change the width setting in the DVDWS template).

Could you perhaps explain how you manage to set up a CVD template in DVDWS, for those of us that already have 1/2 D1 MPEG2 and want to create CVD-spec SVCDs in this pretty program.

And why, oh why, didn't they enable the Default button on the menu authoring for VCD/SVCD.... sigh...

TIA

[p_l]

1. Click on the little tool icon and select Disc Template Manager.



2. Click New.



3. On the General tab, choose 352x480 for Frame Size.



4. Under the Ulead DVD Workshop] tab, give it a name and click OK.



5. It should now show up among your templates.

[Zetti]

Hi all,

I have a related question....isn't there a way to map the "end action" of each film on the timeline ?

Even if I place a film after the other on the timeline, when the 1st movie ends, it doesn't jump to the other movie, but goes back to the menu...annoying..

Am I losing the point somewhere ?

Thanks,

Zetti

[lordsmurf]

Yes.

The button/text PLAYLIST is completely independent from the menu. The mapping is a lot like DVD Studio Pro, to some degree. In theory, at least.

I just figured this out a few days ago myself. Almost slapped myself when I realized how easy it was.

Anyway, when you drag a movie to the menu button you want, then go to the PLAYLIST for that button/textlink. Drag other videos from the video list (bottom of screen) to the playlist in the order you want them to play.

For an "episode" disc:

Let's say we have 4 episodes on here, and want them to play one after another, until it hits the last one, then returns to the menu at that point.

PLAYLIST for button 1 =
1
2
3
4
MENU

PLAYLIST for button 2 =
2
3
4
MENU

PLAYLIST for button 3 =
3
4
MENU

PLAYLIST for button 4 =
4
MENU

It can get far more advanced than this. Funny how only the harder stuff is explained in the books/guides/tutorials, yet every place seems to leave out the easy part!!!

The only obnoxious thing in here, is that you cannot press >>| (next chapter) on all DVD players to jump to the next item on the playlist. I know a few of them cheaper players are like this. Players' fault as far as I'm concerned.

[sdsumike619]

ok, no one has said anything about the "user defined" greyed out option - why is it greyed out? and why is DVDWS trying to re-encode my m2v file? I don't think it's my encoder because I tried it on a diff file and it worked fine....

[Zetti]

Yes.

The button/text PLAYLIST is completely independent from the menu. The mapping is a lot like DVD Studio Pro, to some degree. In theory, at least.

I just figured this out a few days ago myself. Almost slapped myself when I realized how easy it was.

Anyway, when you drag a movie to the menu button you want, then go to the PLAYLIST for that button/textlink. Drag other videos from the video list (bottom of screen) to the playlist in the order you want them to play.

For an "episode" disc:

Let's say we have 4 episodes on here, and want them to play one after another, until it hits the last one, then returns to the menu at that point.

PLAYLIST for button 1 =
1
2
3
4
MENU

PLAYLIST for button 2 =
2
3
4
MENU

PLAYLIST for button 3 =
3
4
MENU

PLAYLIST for button 4 =
4
MENU

It can get far more advanced than this. Funny how only the harder stuff is explained in the books/guides/tutorials, yet every place seems to leave out the easy part!!!

The only obnoxious thing in here, is that you cannot press >>| (next chapter) on all DVD players to jump to the next item on the playlist. I know a few of them cheaper players are like this. Players' fault as far as I'm concerned.

Thanks Lord, I'll try that at home this weekend.

As far as I realized I have tried everything a man can think on the playlist, but haven't found out the solution,

It isn't explained on the manual

Thanks again,

Zetti

[sdsumike619]

does anyone know what settings to use in CCE to make it so that DVDWS2 doesn't try to re-encode?

[Zetti]

does anyone know what settings to use in CCE to make it so that DVDWS2 doesn't try to re-encode?

On WS2, UNCLICK "Convert to disc template" under the video and/or audio tab;

If it's greyed out, it's because your video ISN'T compliant to DVD standard and WS2 WILL reencode it regardless your wishes,

In CCE, use a DVD template instead of trying your own customized settings;

Zetti

[sdsumike619]

and where do I get that DVD template for CCE? it only has one which is "standard'

[lordsmurf]

I think you should quit looking for templates, and try to learn more about how to define your own settings in the encoder. A real encoder, not something slapped into the back end of an authoring program. Good luck.

[Zetti]

Yes.

The button/text PLAYLIST is completely independent from the menu. The mapping is a lot like DVD Studio Pro, to some degree. In theory, at least.

I just figured this out a few days ago myself. Almost slapped myself when I realized how easy it was.

Anyway, when you drag a movie to the menu button you want, then go to the PLAYLIST for that button/textlink. Drag other videos from the video list (bottom of screen) to the playlist in the order you want them to play.

For an "episode" disc:

Let's say we have 4 episodes on here, and want them to play one after another, until it hits the last one, then returns to the menu at that point.

PLAYLIST for button 1 =
1
2
3
4
MENU

PLAYLIST for button 2 =
2
3
4
MENU

PLAYLIST for button 3 =
3
4
MENU

PLAYLIST for button 4 =
4
MENU

It can get far more advanced than this. Funny how only the harder stuff is explained in the books/guides/tutorials, yet every place seems to leave out the easy part!!!

The only obnoxious thing in here, is that you cannot press >>| (next chapter) on all DVD players to jump to the next item on the playlist. I know a few of them cheaper players are like this. Players' fault as far as I'm concerned.

@Lord,

Yesterday night I made a test and got to a weird conclusion;

I made a disc with 3 films, and each film had 3 chapters INSIDE them;

Watching the disc from its beggining, WITHOUT NEVER pressing the "next" button, took me to where I want, I mean, when a film ended, it started the second movie as mapped on the "playlist" section - OK....

BUT...

If I press the "next" button to shuffle through chapters inside on of the movies, WS2 messed around and when reaching the end of the movie, jumped to the main menu and NOT to the next movie...

have you realized that Lord ?

I'm pretty sure there's a way to "fix" it and it mightbe dealing with the hell "playlist" thing, but I just can't get that at all


Do you have an idea ?

I'm tired of dealing with that "playlist" thing, burning on RW media (of course...) but at the end just to find ouit, after hours, it doesn't do what I want

Annoying

Thanks Lord,

Zetti

[marsmayhem]

@p_l

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, this would only solve my problem if I was actually creating DVDs. I'm burning CVDs (on CD).

I have to select SVCD from the templates, otherwise DVDWS2 would try to create and burn a miniDVD.

Right?

[lordsmurf]

Yes.

The button/text PLAYLIST is completely independent from the menu. The mapping is a lot like DVD Studio Pro, to some degree. In theory, at least.

I just figured this out a few days ago myself. Almost slapped myself when I realized how easy it was.

Anyway, when you drag a movie to the menu button you want, then go to the PLAYLIST for that button/textlink. Drag other videos from the video list (bottom of screen) to the playlist in the order you want them to play.

For an "episode" disc:

Let's say we have 4 episodes on here, and want them to play one after another, until it hits the last one, then returns to the menu at that point.

PLAYLIST for button 1 =
1
2
3
4
MENU

PLAYLIST for button 2 =
2
3
4
MENU

PLAYLIST for button 3 =
3
4
MENU

PLAYLIST for button 4 =
4
MENU

It can get far more advanced than this. Funny how only the harder stuff is explained in the books/guides/tutorials, yet every place seems to leave out the easy part!!!

The only obnoxious thing in here, is that you cannot press >>| (next chapter) on all DVD players to jump to the next item on the playlist. I know a few of them cheaper players are like this. Players' fault as far as I'm concerned.

@Lord,

Yesterday night I made a test and got to a weird conclusion;

I made a disc with 3 films, and each film had 3 chapters INSIDE them;

Watching the disc from its beggining, WITHOUT NEVER pressing the "next" button, took me to where I want, I mean, when a film ended, it started the second movie as mapped on the "playlist" section - OK....

BUT...

If I press the "next" button to shuffle through chapters inside on of the movies, WS2 messed around and when reaching the end of the movie, jumped to the main menu and NOT to the next movie...

have you realized that Lord ?

I'm pretty sure there's a way to "fix" it and it mightbe dealing with the hell "playlist" thing, but I just can't get that at all


Do you have an idea ?

I'm tired of dealing with that "playlist" thing, burning on RW media (of course...) but at the end just to find ouit, after hours, it doesn't do what I want

Annoying

Thanks Lord,

Zetti

I'll dig around a bit. I've not noticed that. I know that DVDWS does throw out some commands that cheap players don't like, but I get that with commercial disc even (most recently, Cowboy Bebop and Gundam Wing did this to me, really weird stuff on that cheap Cyberhome).

I'm not sure what it is. DVDWS2 works great and has a lot of power, but some of the supporting documentation (book, online tutorials, etc) is pretty crappy. It's still the best software I've found for less than a mortgage payment and a complete college course.

[p_l]

@p_l

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, this would only solve my problem if I was actually creating DVDs. I'm burning CVDs (on CD).

I have to select SVCD from the templates, otherwise DVDWS2 would try to create and burn a miniDVD.

Right?

Right, and I can't figure out how to get it to let you make an SVCD template where you can choose 352x480. The "User Defined" option for frame size is there, but it's grayed out. Does someone know how to enable it?