DVD Workshop2 problems after PAL to NTSC conversion

[rbatty11]

Using the DGPulldown method, I've converted PAL source to NTSC... While DVDWS2 accepts both m2v and ac3 files, it will NOT play properly at all while previewing. Video consistently stutters every ~1sec or so (jerky) and sometimes just freezes..and audio is out of sync. Compile won't even finish--keep getting an error--so I can't even burn to test on a set top DVD player..

What else is strange is the chapters. Video is 120mins with chapters every 10mins (12 chps).. But only 10 chps come up with a video frame in the thumb nails.. the other 2 are blank (color spectrum frame in the thumb nails)... ??

Has anyone successfully authored a PAL-->NTSC project in WS2?? If so, please advise how to fix. I've tried several PAL-->NTSC projects and WS2 won't/can't author any of them. Thanks.

[lordsmurf]

DVDWS2 does not work with pulldown. Homegrown and small business sources are expected to be interlaced or purely progressive.

PAL<->NTSC always requires voodoo, and this software is not loose like TDA or SVCD2DVD is.

Not a negative against DVDWS2, simply it is not designed with this in mind

[rbatty11]

Guess I'll have to find another authoring app that can handle PAL--NTSC streams spit out via DGPulldown method..

Does anyone know if DVD Lab or DVD Lab Pro will work?? Or any others recommended?

[manono]

Not a negative against DVDWS2, simply it is not designed with this in mind

In my book that is a negative, and a big one. It claims to be an authoring app, and yet it doesn't accept all NTSC DVD compliant sources?

Or any others recommended?

Well, let's assume, just for the sake of argument, that you did it right and your sources are compliant. Try Muxman.

[GeorgeW]

I have seen DVDWS2 handle 23.976 w/ pulldown. When you tried to burn to hard drive, did it try to re-encode, or was it trying to use your mpeg files "asis"?

What happens if you remove the last 3 chapter marks?

Regards,
George

[darkwunder]

Has anyone successfully authored a PAL-->NTSC project in WS2?? If so, please advise how to fix. I've tried several PAL-->NTSC projects and WS2 won't/can't author any of them. Thanks.

I frequently use DVD WS2 to author PAL-->NTSC projects with 2:3 pulldown. It works great, except the timeline for the video is reported improperly on playback. This makes it difficult to set chapters accurately.

I am only able to do this using DVD WS2 right out of the box (i.e. no patches installed). As soon as I update DVD WS2 using the latest patch, I have all sorts of problems with PAL-->NTSC projects. I haven't had any problems with the unpatched version, so I just run it unpatched.

[lordsmurf]

Ah, I used v2.2-something, the latest version, as it addressed some DL and other issues.

[rbatty11]

Patch or no patch.. has never worked for me. I updated WS2 just a couple of weeks with the DL patch in hopes that that would solve the problem.. but no go. This is about the 5th PAL->NTSC project I've tried with WS2.. each has failed in WS2.

George, no re-encoding at all.. as is elementary streams (re-encoded with CCE and original ac3 audio). And yes, I tried deleting last few chapters b/c I remember reading that after a search. Didn't work.. If it works for some (Darkwunder) and not others (me), all I can think is that it's likely the settings I've used in the re-encoding process (CCE all progressive, add seq end code, close GOP's (tried both closed and open), GOP seq 3, 4) ??

Just thought of something, could it be that it's anamorphic 1.85:1 material?? doubt it but.. Also, it has to be the framerate b/c of the stuttering/jerking every second or so..

Darkwunder, I'm curious, what method of PAL-NTSC conversion are you using? I'm using the DGPulldown method so I do not have to putz with the audio.

manono, I'm in agreement with you, it's a negative.. esp. for a ~$400 app.. damned thing should accept NTSC compliant material even when it's not being used.. instead of spending valuable hours trying to troubleshoot and solve.. Thanks for everyone's responses..

[manono]

Hi-

Darkwunder, I'm curious, what method of PAL-NTSC conversion are you using? I'm using the DGPulldown method so I do not have to putz with the audio.

He said he used 2:3 pulldown, meaning he slowed the video to 23.976fps before encoding and applied pulldown to output 29.97fps. Therefore he didn't use DGPulldown for 25->29.97fps. It shouldn't make a lick of difference though, as DGPulldown also produces perfectly compliant video streams.

Also, it has to be the framerate b/c of the stuttering/jerking every second or so..

You said it jerks in the Preview. How about when playing it in a software player? Does it also play jerky before and/or after DGPulldown? If you have a sample you can upload, I can have a look.

[darkwunder]

rbatty11,

I do pretty much what manono said (although I slow the video down while encoding, not beforehand). I haven't tried the DGPulldown approach yet, but I was planning to in the near future.

I purchased DVD WS2 pretty close to the time it was released, so I'm pretty sure my version is version 1...it doesn't actually say anywhere in the software or guide that I can see. If you bought your copy more recently, it could be pre-patched. If I remember correctly, the very first bugfix patch they released was responsible for my PAL-->NTSC authoring problems.

[darkwunder]

Ah, I used v2.2-something, the latest version, as it addressed some DL and other issues.

Luckily, none of the issues they patched after the initial release affected me directly (so far). The DL fix would be nice, but I usually use other programs to burn my authored projects anyway.

[rbatty11]

manono, the pre- and post-pulldown video streams work fine in PowerDVD.. It's only after I import into WS2 that problems begin. I even authored in IFOedit and it had no problem whatsoever in processing a playable DVD.

The project is complete/done.. It's just that authoring a DVD in WS2 is so simple and intuitive, imo.. it does essentially all the grunt work for you with images, layers, text, etc.. I'm not proficient at all in making menus, buttons, layers manually. I'd upload a clip, but really don't know how b/c the file is huge..

Btw, darkwunder, I bought my copy of WS2 about a ~1 year ago.. maybe an already patched version after you bought yours.. The only update I did was the DL patch..and that was only b/c I was hoping it would solve this issue. All I can say is, I wish I had your version..

[manono]

Hi-

If it plays well before and after DGPulldown, and it authors well in IFOEdit, then you know where to point the finger of blame.

I'd upload a clip, but really don't know how b/c the file is huge..

There's no need now, of course, as you've finished the project and you've answered the questions I had about the stream. In the future, if you want to upload something, open a vob in DGIndex, scroll to a place with motion, and use the "[" and "]" buttons to isolate a small section. Often just 10 seconds is enough. Then File->Save Project File And Demux Video. Take the M2V it gives you and upload it to www.rapidshare.de Wait till the upload is finished, take the link it provides, and post it here (or whereever).

[rbatty11]

Thanks to all. Really pi$$es me off that WS2 has problems handling something like this.. If anyone can shed some light on this issue, I'd appreciate it. manono, thx for the 'how to upload clip' tutorial..

[GeorgeW]

Are your elementary streams the same duration? What are the exact properties of your encoded video stream, and does it have the pulldown flag set properly?

If you can post a clip, I can try it here to see what happens...

Regards,
George

[rbatty11]

George, thanks..I will upload a ~10sec muxed clip tonight. As for properties, not sure.. hopefully you will be able to tell by the uploaded clip. I do suspect it's the pulldown flag that WS2 is having problems with.. I take the 25fps mpv and load it into DGPulldown, 25fps-->30fps.. I'm guessing it's correct but... ??