Creating PRECISE chapters in SpruceUp?

[asifanwar]

Hello all.

I just got a Pioneer A03 burner and have a question about SpruceUp.
I use ChapterXtractor to get the EXACT chapter timestamps from the DVD. When I am authoring in SpruceUp, I would like to match the chapters exactly, but dragging the slider is too inaccurate. I am invariably off a bit which is annoying.

Is there a way to type in the EXACT timestamp in SpruceUp? I believe DVDit will do this, but I dont like the way that works, it wont burn AC3 files (converts to PCM) and it keeps crashing on me.

Thanks for your help.

AA

BTW, here is my routine:

SmartRipper to grab VOBs
DVD2AVI to create D2V file, and keep AC3 separate (ForceFILM)
VFAPI to create AVI from D2V
CinemaCraft 2.62 standalone to encode (actually do a single run at 0-9800, then a 2-pass VBR at about 3000-4000) - phenomenal!
Pulldown.exe to 'fix' the MPV created by CCE
SpruceUp to author, using data from ChapterXtractor, plus any other graphic goodies I can get off the DVD

Machine:
Dual AthlonXP 1600 XP, 512Mb DDR, 40Gb, WinXP Pro, Pioneer A03 v1.65

[damnim]

asifanwar

Are you referring to MyDVDit?
DVDit PE will accept .ac3 up to 2 channels and will encode to ac3.

This doesn't answer your question but I think it's something you need to know.

When you encode a movie there is the chance of the encoder changing the exact location of the I frames. I don't know about Spruce Up, but in Scenarist when I type in the exact time of the chapter, Scenarist will automatically move it up to the next available gop. Sometimes this can be as much as a .06 seconds. Doesn't make a big difference only to the discerning.

When you encode make sure you get a 1per gop interval and maximum 18 frames.

[asifanwar]

Thanks for the reply.

2-channel AC3 is rather pointless I think. If DVD writing software cannot even maintain a 5.1 AC3 stream it is given, then it serves little purpose.

However, I DID try it again (DVDit PE 2.3), but had to install Win2000 just to get it to not crash. It did tend to 'jump' the chapter point after I typed it in, probably because of the reason you gave.
Given this innacuracy, I am happily back to SpruceUp. I read somewhere that it is NOT possible to type chapter points with v1, and the feature was supposed to be available in v2 until Apple bought it and canned it.....

Oh well.....

Kind regards,
AA

[damnim]

Well at least you could get DVDit PE to stop crashing. I stopped using it the last time it crashed.

I agree with you, DVDit PE for the money should be able to handle 5.1. It looks to me if its a ploy to get you to buy there more expensive software just to be able to use 5.1. Another thing 5.1 is almost a standard anymore on DVD's