Ulead MF2 weird error

[King-Of-DK]

When i have converted a AVI (23.976 with 3:2 pulldown option enabled) and want to author it in MF2 i get this weird error message:

Some chapter entry frame numbers exceed the total frames

Now what does this mean??

[DonVito]

If I know what I'm talking about, and I like to think I do, that means the chapters continue after the movie stops. Uh oh.

[King-Of-DK]

OK,and how do i fix this??

[sammie]

Took me a while to figure this one out too. There clearly is a bug that has MF2 calculate the number of frames for the chapter point based on the reconstituted 29.976 framerate. Therefore the actual insertion points for some chapters end up way past the end of the 23 fps actual number of frames. (For me it meant I used the auto-chapter feature on a 3:2 pulldown movie. ) The only way I found to fix is is do the math. Find the length of the film, multiply by 2, divide by 3 then delete any chapter points after that time. Works like a charm.

Oh BTW, if you are using autochapter you'll probably want to make the chapter time interval a bit lower too. If you want 5 minute intervals, set the program to 3 minute intervals, etc.

[King-Of-DK]

Thank you. I will try this,as it seems to only be on the 3:2 pulldown files. Pure NTSC and Pure PAL i have had no problems.

Let me see if i got this right. My movie is 1:41:32 that is 101,32 minutes times 2 divided by 3 i get 67,545 will this mean i have to delete all chapters that are over the 67 minute mark??

And finally the thumbnails of the chapters do they match the real chapter point?

[sammie]

Yep, that's it. I usually erred about 1 chapter point to the safe side to be sure (I haven't done exhaustive experiments to see how close you can come, but based on what I've seen it ought to be pretty accurate). You know I have no idea on the thumbnails. I never checked?

[King-Of-DK]

OK,i just tried your advice,and it has no effect,i even deleted 4 chapters more to be on safe side,to no effect,it still gives me the error message.

Thanx anyway,looks like i have to do it the hardway,convert to true NTSC or PAL

[sammie]

Hmmm, sorry it didn't work. Always worked here. If that starts not working for me then I'll probably just uninstall MF2 and go back to MF1 alltogether. I'm already finding I've gone back to MF1 about 60% of the time. About the 3rd major problem I've found with MF2, and about the last thing I've seen that offered any advantage of MF1.

Still wish someone would come up with a good autochapters function for DVDs like VCDEasy.

[King-Of-DK]

Actually i found it to work,once i peeled away some more chapters. Maybe you can use the math as a guideline,but it sure didn´t work with me only cutting the chapter right before the calculated time.

I don´t have MF1,have you tried Ulead DVD Workshop??

[sammie]

Yeah, but that left you with 5 chapters short right? Doesn't seem like it would be worth the effort. I never questioned the math because it made sense and it worked for me. Now you've got me curious about it. Like you I had noticed it was on 23.976 pulldowns only. Guess it isn't as simple as 3:2???

I've tried the evaluation program WS. Like it ok, but didn't seem worth the money. For complex stuff I used Maestro.

[King-Of-DK]

Yep it left me with 5 chapters short,but that is ok,if the chapters then align them selves with the timeline,but i am not sure they will. If you check the thumbnails on the chapters and compare them to the time,acording to MF2 i should then be without chapters for the last 40 minutes of my movie. I am going to check if that is the case,and get back to you..