Please help, I've wasted 4 hrs of my life tonight..Authoring and Burning...

[jubbilee]

Hello,

I'm very new at authoring and burning, etc. I've been learning as I go. I have a 1-1/2 hr Pinnacle Studio 12 Plus movie with a menu and chapters that I would like to burn to DVD. It was captured as AVI and it has been saved in MPEG-2.

*******I now know that there are A LOT of problems with Pinnacle, so my question will not revolve around that...

I have downloaded several authoring/burning programs (a couple of which were recommended on here). They include: GUI for DVDAuthor, VSO CopyToDVD, DVD Styler, DVD Flick, AVS4You DVD Authoring.

I have tried burning files in the MPEG-2 format, MOV format and TS/VOB format. It will not burn! (I used a shorter demo-version of my project so I wouldn't be waiting around so long each time to see if it worked, etc). An error message always pops up-usually towards the end!

I am using Fujifilm DVD + RW and TDK DVR.

I can technically burn my project as-is onto DVD...That has not been the problem. I REALLY would like to have a menu and chapters. This project is going to be a keepsake for my grandparents. It does not need to be super duper professional-it just needs to work!

My computer is an: Acer Aspire X1420/AMD Anthlon(tn) II X4 645 Processor 3.1/Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
My burner is: HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH60N SCSI CDROM DEVICE

This computer is only 2 weeks old but I should mention that it was an open box/demo computer for about 2 months at Bestbuy.

It's almost 1:00am and I've seriously wasted over 4 hrs of my life downloading programs and attempting success with this project but certainly not achieving it.

Please help this tired soul! Thank you!

[edDV]

I've wasted far more hours than that on Pinnacle Studio.

See above left for "What is DVD?"

A DVD must be MPeg2 with PCM, AC3 or mp2 audio. It must be authored to a VIDEO-TS folder with VOB, IFO, BUP files.

Most DVD players will play other formats (e.g. divx/xvid) as files.

[jubbilee]

Well I've put about 20 hrs into this project already...I've tried converting to the Video-TS and it's still not working. Is there an issue with my Burner?

Any other suggestions?

[chowmein]

.mov files are not DVD-ready. Load the mpg into DVDAuthorGUI and if it hiccups tell us what it says. DVDStyler & DVDFlick should convert it into compliant mpg anyway. But you don't want another conversion. Get it right the first time?

What does mediainfo say about your rendered mpg?

[hech54]

It was captured as AVI

What kind of AVI? Where the files VERY large? Place this file in GSpot and post the results

saved in MPEG-2

Specs of the MPEG-2 file please. Place the mpeg file in GSpot and post the results.

I have tried burning files in the MPEG-2 format, MOV format and TS/VOB format

A DVD must be authored to include a VIDEO_TS folder with .VOB files(and other associated files) inside the VIDEO_TS folder.
The VIDEO_TS folder must be burned to the blank DVD....not just the files inside.

I can technically burn my project as-is onto DVD...That has not been the problem. I REALLY would like to have a menu and chapters. This project is going to be a keepsake for my grandparents. It does not need to be super duper professional-it just needs to work!

If you mean burning the MPEG file to a DVD....you are wrong. What you will end up with is a data DVD - not a DVD that is playable in a DVD player attached to a television. AUTHORING the MPEG file adds the menu and chapter markers.

It appears you know all of the steps, but either you are doing it out of order or you have gotten lost somehow on the way.

[El Heggunte]

Before wasting even more hours of your life , you'd better take a break, and start having a better comprehension of how DVD-Video works

Recommended reading:

http://www.mediachance.com/dvdlab/Helppro/index.htm

And no, they haven't hired me, BTW.

[AlanHK]

They include: GUI for DVDAuthor, VSO CopyToDVD, DVD Styler, DVD Flick, AVS4You DVD Authoring.

I have tried burning files in the MPEG-2 format

If you have made the separate video (MPEG2) and audio (AC3) files, then using GfD, just select the folder they're in for "Source", drag the them onto the main screen (which creates your menu screen). and you'll get a simple DVD with menu.

Click "Create DVD" and it will compile a "VIDEO_TS" folder with the VOB and other files.

You can preview this using VLC, or burn it to DVD using ImgBurn.

Read GfD's help to see how to make more elaborate menus and other features.

[jubbilee]

I gave up on GUI DVDAuthoring because I couldn't figure out a way of getting around not having the neroCdm.exe file/directory, whatever (I'm tired lol). I have ImgBurn on my computer, under the correct pathway but it still kept saying that I didn't have that nero file...frusterating!

I think I have tried so many things that I have just completely gotten myself confused.

With that being said, any recommendations on DVD Authoring/Burning/Converting etc software that is preferably free or trial.

And let me get this straight:

I have my Mpeg-2 file from Pinnacle. I need another Authoring software to add my menu/chapters in (since Pinnacle sucks)-it might get saved in whatever type of file (one of the ones I have saved it in XML for example). Then I need to convert it to a video_ts (using a program like DivX to DVD) and then I can finally burn it (using ImgBurn or the not-as-popular Nero). Please correct me if I'm wrong

[hech54]

I have my Mpeg-2 file from Pinnacle. I need another Authoring software to add my menu/chapters in (since Pinnacle sucks)-it might get saved in whatever type of file (one of the ones I have saved it in XML for example). Then I need to convert it to a video_ts (using a program like DivX to DVD) and then I can finally burn it (using ImgBurn or the not-as-popular Nero). Please correct me if I'm wrong

After the AUTHORING(chapter markers and menu making) program.....the only thing left to do is burn your DVD. Authoring programs give you a VIDEO_TS folder that is ready to burn. Burn the VIDEO_TS folder with ImgBurn and you are done.

[AlanHK]

I gave up on GUI DVDAuthoring because I couldn't figure out a way of getting around not having the neroCdm.exe file/directory, whatever (I'm tired lol). I have ImgBurn on my computer, under the correct pathway but it still kept saying that I didn't have that nero file...frusterating!

See my previous post.
Don't try to burn from within GfD. (You can, but it needs extra set up.)
Just use the "Create" and then use ImgBurn to burn the VIDEO_TS folder.

I don't suppose you thought to read GfD's manual?
http://download.videohelp.com/gfd/Help/GettingStarted.html

And let me get this straight:

I have my Mpeg-2 file from Pinnacle. I need another Authoring software to add my menu/chapters in (since Pinnacle sucks)-it might get saved in whatever type of file (one of the ones I have saved it in XML for example). Then I need to convert it to a video_ts (using a program like DivX to DVD) and then I can finally burn it (using ImgBurn or the not-as-popular Nero). Please correct me if I'm wrong

As I said, use GfD to "author" the MPEG to VIDEO_TS.
You set the chapter positions in GfD. They're not part of the MPEG file.

Then burn using ImgBurn.

[jubbilee]

Okay, I've tried GUI again and there is a new problem: In the Video and Audio Files Dialog box, after I try to save or okay, etc. I get the prompt: GFD has not found navigation packets in your mpg file (Mux OK=No).
This will cause an authoring error in 99%
To avoid this problem, use elementary streams (demultiplex your input)
or use another multiplexer. Continue anyway?

I have no idea what this means. Keep in mind I'm a newbie...I'm starting to think the GUI DVDAuthoring is way over my head :S

[jubbilee]

Okay...I've had luck with DVDStyler. The only thing I did differently was load the different chapters of my project separately and created the menu and chapters that way (as opposed to one large clip and manually setting chapters). I also deleted the menu/chapters from my main Pinnacle project before using DVDStyler (if that makes any difference).

Anyway, it worked! Thank you all so much for helping to keep me sane at 1:00am last night (well, morning, I guess!)

[filmboss80]

Okay, I've tried GUI again and there is a new problem: In the Video and Audio Files Dialog box, after I try to save or okay, etc. I get the prompt: GFD has not found navigation packets in your mpg file (Mux OK=No).
This will cause an authoring error in 99%
To avoid this problem, use elementary streams (demultiplex your input)
or use another multiplexer. Continue anyway?

I have no idea what this means. Keep in mind I'm a newbie...I'm starting to think the GUI DVDAuthoring is way over my head :S

Glad to see DVDStyler worked for you. Just for future reference, make sure your MPEG-2 encoder delivers elementary streams, as opposed to transport stream packets. That way you'll encounter fewer issues with whatever DVD authoring software you use. (Further explained in the link below.)

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd377400%28VS.85%29.aspx

[AlanHK]

To avoid this problem, use elementary streams (demultiplex your input)
or use another multiplexer. Continue anyway?

I have no idea what this means. Keep in mind I'm a newbie...I'm starting to think the GUI DVDAuthoring is way over my head :S

"elementary streams"
means video and audio in separate files.


"demultiplex your input"
"multiplex" means to combine video and audio into one file. demultiplex means to extract them from a combined file.

If your tools can't do that, try BatchDemux