HELP! FAVC 1.04- Why is it creating 0 byte iso's at times?

[spexwood]

First of all, I sure hope I am asking this in the right forum.
Sorry if I am not.

As for my question, SOMETIMES when I try to create an iso image file out of multiple avi's, I get a resulting iso file that is exactly 0 bytes. FAVC reads the files alright, seems to encode them alright, but right when the command prompt screen gets to the iso creation screen, it suddenly spits out an error and closes the screen. I cannot read the error because it shows for less than a second before the screen closes.

Does anyone know what is going on and how to fix it?

The FAVC settings I am using are:
SOURCES AND OUTPUT:
iso creation = YES
open img burn = NO
dvd format = NTSC
working files = DELETE
disc capacity = 4.37GB (I only have single layer discs)
chapter length = 5 minutes
menu = YES (also tried no menus though with same results)
encoder = HC
shutdown = NO

HC OPTIONS:
method of encoding: tried both "2-Pass Variable Bitrate" and "Predictive Quantization"
NORMAL quality
dc precision = 10
video resolution = FULL D-1
bitrate = 8000
NO TV overscan
MPEG matrix
(when using Predictive Quantization): CPU cores # = 1

AUDIO OPTIONS:
AC3 audio encoding
"Retain if Present" for AC3 audio
audio encoder = Aften
AC3 bitrate = 384
no volume normalization

now for the video files:
Frame Width: 704
Frame Height: 480
Data Rate: 13kbps
Total Bitrate: 142kbps
Frame rate: 29fps
audio bitrate: 128kbps

(I have gotten the same problem with other avi files, but this is data on my current project which is giving me problems)

Sorry if this is too much detail, but I wanted to be thorough.

Thank you

[Mr_Odwin]

The problem is that Muxman, which is used for authoring, is sensitive to bitrate spikes. Try lowering the maximum bitrate to 7000, or something even more conservative. Unfortunately there seems to be no way of predicting whether this will be a problem before trying to author.

[spexwood]

So far I have tried it at 8000kbps and 7000kbps...
no luck

now trying 6000kbps

EDIT:
Is there a way to use a different authoring tool instead of Muxman if we kept the Working Files from FAVC?
If so, what is recommended?

[Mr_Odwin]

http://www.videohelp.com/tools/sections/authoring-dvd

Does the VIDEO_TS folder in the dvd folder created contain bup and ifo files?

[spexwood]

http://www.videohelp.com/tools/sections/authoring-dvd

Does the VIDEO_TS folder in the dvd folder created contain bup and ifo files?

it contains 1 ifo and 2 vob files; no bup files
BUT this isnt the complete DVD (I dont think since the iso is 0 bytes)

[srenaud]

I get this too, with the bitrate max at 5000.

When this occurs, I've see the Video_TS folder have all 0 byte files, and also seen them have normal sizes. But was unable to burn using Nero for some reason.

I've had to use DVD Flick to convert the few movies FAVC fails on.

[spexwood]

I am trying it on DVD Flick right now.. surprisingly, it is working SO FAR!
In the past, DVD Flick crashes right when I cick the creat DVD button. Hmmmm...

EDIT: I ran a test using FAVC with HCenc at 6000kbps and using only ONE of the 3 video files I was using. I think I got positive results and it played perfectly! I am now trying the full DVD with the same settings to see what happens. (I ran the test in 2-pass mode, but now I am trying the full DVD in the Predictive Quantization mode... hope that will not change the results)

By the way, DVD Flick worked, but I kind of wanted menus (simple ones too) so I guess I will only be using DVD Flick as a last resort.

[spexwood]

WHOA!
IT WORKED!
I was able to get an iso of all 3 video files by changing FAVC's settings to use HCenc with 2-pass at 6000kbps!

Thanks for all your help everyone!
Now I know what to do in the future when I encounter this problem again.

One last question though then I can officially say that this post is through:
What does that bitrate that I messed with do to the videos that I am encoding?
Is it changing the quality, the frames per second, screen size, or something entirely different?
Thanks