Ulead Movie Factory can't create complete dvd folder

[Red Snapper]

I 've captured about 8 parts of a documentary from VCR to my harddisk. Then I used those 8 mpg files for a dvd project to create a longplay dvd of about 4 hours. Everything seemed to go fine until I saw the result.
In the last step of MF I prompted to write dvd folders to harddisk but it gives a video_ts file of prox. 1.3GB instead of 4.3GB what the program itself calculated this folder would be. When I play this video_ts file with Powerdvd you can see that some chapters are missing/skipping. I've had the same result with either MF 1 and MF 2.0.

Please help!

[Specialist]

Whenever I read about an error such as the one you described, I always start at the beginning.

When you created your MPEG source files, how did you create them?

Which application did you use?

What are the attributes of your source files?

There is a Half-D1 template in Ulead DVD MovieFactory 2 with the following attributes:

MPEG files
24 Bits, 352 x 480, 29.97 fps
(DVD-NTSC)
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 2400 kbps)
LPCM Audio, 48 KHz, Stereo

This is designed for fitting four hours of video on a disc.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[epo]

Specialist:
If MPEG file is DVD compatible and MF is told not to re-encode, no template matters in MF2. i.e. you can mix Full and 1/2 D1 (probably also LPCM, MPEG and AC3 - have done MPEG only).

I would try to re-mux clips, skipped in authoring, recompressing audio, cut 1 frame from beginning. Authoring engine doesn't accept some MPEG files, while they look OK in UI

[Specialist]

Specialist: If MPEG file is DVD compatible and MF is told not to re-encode, no template matters in MF2. i.e. you can mix Full and 1/2 D1 (probably also LPCM, MPEG and AC3 - have done MPEG only).

This may be an over-simplification, actually.

Actually, the software's encode/re-encode logic depends on whether one is importing muxed or elemental streams.

The following Web page explains Smart Render and Encode/Re-encode Behavior of Ulead video editing and DVD authoring software:

http://www.matroxusers.com/mreviews.php?op=showcontent&id=6

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the drop-down arrow and then click SMART RENDER IN DEPTH.

If one reads that page, one will learn the following:

1. When using multiplexed (system) VBR video files in DVD Workshop (or DVD MovieFactory 2), as long as the bit rate settings are greater than or equal to the max bit rate of the video file and VBR is set correctly, DVD Workshop will NOT re-render the video.

2. If you are using elemental VBR videos, then all of the videos must have been encoded in the same manner and the system template must be set to the max bit rate of the files and VBR set. Note that this means that it is currently impossible to use more than one elemental stream MPEG-2 video in DVD Workshop without re-rendering unless both (all) of the files in the project were encoded with the same settings.

3. If you are using constant bit rate elemental or system videos, they all must have the same bit rate and DVD Workshop's bit rate must to set to that exact same bit rate for smart render to function.

But I would agree that - if the correct steps are followed - no re-encoding will occur using the Ulead authoring applications.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Red Snapper]

I have captured with a Hauppauge PVR 250 using WinTV2000 and edit them with nanoPeg Editor 2.2. All files captured have the same propeties.
And in MF2 those settings:
MPEG files
24 Bits, 352 x 576, 25 fps
(DVD-PAL)
Video data rate: 4000 kbps
Audio data rate: 384 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo
And I've checked [do not convert compliant mpegfiles]

[Specialist]

Sorry I am not familiar with that device.

But I have noticed that problems like the one you described can be linked to two user groups:

1. Those who obtain source files from the 'ripping' of commercial DVD discs;

2. Those who obtain source files from proprietary MPEG devices.

Have you tried - as an alternative - using the software encoder included in Ulead DVD MovieFactory 2?

I use and recommend this method - myself - as it allows for creation of the final DVD without any problems.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[epo]

Well, PVR-250... used one, before I got Nexus (DVB-S).

And I had also Your problems. Not allways, but often. Unfortunately I don't remember exact solution, I found (some months have passed and new problems rised to solve).
First experiment with different driver sets for card and nanoPEG versions. If this doesn't help, use some other tool for cuting. One thing, I remember, You can't cut on black/silent frames with nanoPEG (2.2 or earlier at least) - result is mess.

And never ever use ULead's encoder (even ULead doesn't recommend it).

[CrustyCurmudgeon]

I also use the Hauppauge PVR-250 to make DVD compliant MPEG2 files. When I first got it, it worked ok, though it was obvious the WinTV2K had a few bugs still. One was if I used the Audio Mute, it would cause the audio to mute anytime I changed channels or the preferences. Couldn't even unmute by clicking again it's button a second time. Had to uninstall then reinstall WinTV2K to get the audio level to stay where I put it.

I also found out it's important to select only DVD compression, not the plain MPEG2 compression. Somehow the two aren't the same.

Another thing, do not download and install Hauppauge's updates. They are hosed. Uninstall all of the Hauppauge software if you have updated and reinstall only from the CD that came with the PVR 250. The same goes for Ulead's MF. Don't install it from their included CD, use the Hauppauge install CD. Same for the NanoPEG editor. Use only the 2.2.0 version that comes on the Hauppauge CD.

Now, back to your original problem. You've got mpeg2 files from the documentary and Ulead MF won't burn them, this bites. I never found a reliable way to fix mine. My best luck came from using the NanoPEG 2.2.0 editor to shave a few frames off the start and end. Sometimes MF would accept the results. It'd be great if the editor would let you pick only 'I' frames for the starting cut points.

[Red Snapper]

My solution for now is that i use TMPGenc plus 2.5 to convert the mpeg files to the proper format. And then again I use Ulead MF to create the dvd folders. (do not convert compliant files checked)
I've learnt my lesson, next time I will pay more attention when capturing from WinTV2000 to make sure I record with the proper settings, so no conversion will be needed.

[Specialist]

And never ever use ULead's encoder (even ULead doesn't recommend it).

Not true.

The Ulead MPEG.Now encoder is recommended by Ulead.

Those who choose not to use it usually have no understanding of how to activate the ADVANCED encoding options.

On my Windows 2000 computer...

1. I clicked MY COMPUTER;

2. I clicked my C: drive;

3. I clicked the DOCUMENTS & SETTINGS folder;

4. I clicked the ALL USERS folder;

5. I clicked TOOLS > FOLDER OPTIONS and then clicked the VIEW tab to make sure Windows would show HIDDEN FILES AND FOLDERS;

6. I clicked the APPLICATION DATA folder;

7. I clicked the ULEAD SYSTEMS folder;

8. I clicked the ULEAD DVD MOVIEFACTORY folder;

9. I clicked the 2.01 folder;

10. I clicked the DVDMF i-n-i file and then typed ADVANCE=1 under the [VIODRIVER] heading;

11. I saved the i-n-i file;

12. Then I closed Ulead DVD MovieFactory 2 and re-opened the program.

Now when I enter the project settings, I see a new ADVANCE button under the COMPRESSION tab.

Clicking this ADVANCED button causes an all-new MPEG encoding menu to appear.

As Ulead's MPEG encoder is based on the MainConcept SDK, the options are fully explained by this document that was authored (zipped) by MainConcept:

http://digitalvideo.8m.net/mc-adv-doc.zip

By using the ADVANCED encoding options, the Ulead encoder will produce top-notch results - according to the skill of the individual user.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net