How are chapters ADDED to the project in TmpgEnc DVD Author?

[GreatSinatraFan]

I'm attempting to make chapters out of various clips; using TmpgEnc DVD Author; however, when I click "ADD Clip" to the left hand column, the clip IS added; however, it also states that there is no VIDEO or SOUND..in other words..DVD Author seems to NOT recognise that there IS content within the clip !

I've got 3 clips; I wish to make a chapter out of each clip. First; I've added each source clip to the project.

Then; I've edited each clip so that the first frame is the START of a specific chapter; and the LAST frame is the END of a specific chapter. Then Click "OK".

I then go back to the project page of TmpgEnc DVD Author. I then click "Add Clip" (on the left side of the page).

When I do add the 1st clip; DVD Author DOES recognise this FIRST clip, with all of the content; but when the two other clips are added, DVD Author does NOT show any content within each clip (NO Video, NO Sound.)

This is my first attempt to add chapters to a menu. What can I do to add these clips to the project with all of the content intact in each clip ?

IF all else fails; I can still author the 3 clips; they will simply play back to back...BUT, without the individual chapters, I cannot direct the DVD Player to go to any specific chapter.

Thanks for any suggestions !

[rcb]

One way, mebbe..

Got TMPGenc Plus ? If so, use it's mpeg tools to merge your 3 clips into one... and you could also use it's clip editing function to trim your clip start stop points.

Clips gotta meet this criteria:

Video Parameters
Picture Size The picture sizes must be equal.
Frame Rate The frame rates must be identical.
Aspect Ratio The aspect ratios must be identical.
Bitrate The bitrates may vary. If the bitrates vary between the files, a variable bitrate is used.
VBV Buffer Size The VBV buffer size is set to be the largest required for the file.

Audio Parameters
Sampling Frequency The sampling frequencies must be identical.
Channel Mode The channel modes must be identical.
Bitrate The bitrates must be identical

complete merge process, assigning unique name to output file.

Add newly merged file to TDA's track one. Then using edit popup screen, set chapter points where you want them . Proceed to "create menu" screen.

Select "Display menu setting" button. Then under "general" tab, select "Only track menu"

Finish menu setup as you prefer and do the output thing. You can then either burn or use something like powerdvd on your computer to check results.

Above should do it or at least give you ideas on how else to get what you need. Good luck.

BTW, wasn't Sinatra the one with the pipe ?

[GreatSinatraFan]

Thanks for the advice

All of these clips are from my Video Tapes of THE BEATLES ANTHOLOGY; I've captured 'em with the ATI AIW 9000 Pro card, in Mpeg-2 format, at SVCD bitrates; but in half D-1 resolution (352x480). Each segment is around 70 minutes long..I was able to get 4 segments on one DVD.

Yeah; I KNOW that the result ain't gonna look as good as it might if I were to put 2 or 3 of the segments on the DVD..BUT these are mostly black and white documentaries regarding events that took place 40 years ago; so the content doesn't look that good in the first place; using old B&W news footage.

That's ok by me; at least they'll be preserved; and I'll be able to see these movies on my DVD player.

That being said; no, I didn't use my TmpgEnc Plus to encode these videos at all. And I'm not planning to do so.

The TmpgEnc DVD Author automatically joins all of the clips together into ONE DVD structured file. That is NOT the problem.

I've structured the chapters; as I've said, using that utility that's incorporated within TmpgEnc DVD Author. The problem happens when I ADD TRACKS to the project..each file, or TRACK is meant to be a separate chapter. When I ADD each TRACK, DVD Author states that there IS NOT ANY CONTENT within each TRACK.

My question is, HOW do I correctly ADD TRACKS within TmpgEnc DVD Author; that WILL reflect the actual CONTENT of Video and audio? (each time I "ADD TRACKS" to the project; DVD Author states that there IS NO Video OR Audio in each of the tracks.)


And.. Frank Sinatra is the one who wore HATS in all of his photos from the '50s. 8) BING CROSBY is the guy with the pipe.

[rcb]

hokay.... we'll forget the TMPGenc Plus merge route.

What if you add each clip as TRACKS (1,2,3) in the "source setup" window of TDA...(see l/h side of window)

THEN, edit each track in turn to get wanted start/stop points.

Next, select menu display setting for "main window only". Set firstplay action to "display main menu".

Lookin closely back at your initial post, looks like you are loading the 3 clips into TDA - all 3 into track #1; editing within TDA; and then trying to effectively reload the same 3 clips in their edited form right back into TDA.. ? If so, that aint gonna work.

M/W, that guy in the hat - wus he the one with the toboggan nose ?

[GreatSinatraFan]

Sorry; but, what you've suggested is EXACTLY what I've been doing. Read what I've written above.

I DO add each clip as a TRACK in the left hand side of the source setup window of TmpgEnc DVD Author. The trouble is that while DVD Author DOES recognise the FIRST track as containing Video and Audio.. each successive track is NOT recognised as having Video and Audio content at all.

Nope; I'm not loading all three tracks into track # 1.. I AM loading each track SEPARATELY. In fact; I don't see how it's possible that three clips can be loaded into ONE track.

But; I am following the steps that you've suggested. I have no problem there.. my problem is the fact that while I CAN load each track separately; only the 1st track is recognised as having Video and Audio content.. DVD Author states that the 2d and 3d tracks have NO Video and Audio content at all.

That guy with the Toboggan nose was BOB HOPE. 8)

[dafreak]

ok, just to make sure we are on the same page:

you click on start new project.
-click on add file
-direct tda where your first clip is
-edit start and finish
-click ok

-then you click on "add new track"
-click on add file
-then direct tda where your second clip is

-etc etc right?


if you're doing that it sounds like you are doing the steps just fine.

I guess the next question we need to ask is are all of the clips playable? Can you load the files in media player and watch the clips? Do they play ok?

[rcb]

sheesh -

After resding your last reply, I fired up my TDA and loaded 3 mpeg files from my archives into 3 different tracks... and all went well.

Could get/see a/v info for each file as I selected back and forth in Source setup window.

Onliest difference I can pick up between our setups is that I'm adding 720 x 480 NTSC files encoded by TMPGenc Plus where as you are loading half D-1 resolution (352x480) files encoded by your card.

I'm outta ideas. Let's hope someone else can add to this thread.

Think I'll throw on an 'Ol Blue Eyes cd and kick back for a bit

[presto]

I've structured the chapters; as I've said, using that utility that's incorporated within TmpgEnc DVD Author. The problem happens when I ADD TRACKS to the project..each file, or TRACK is meant to be a separate chapter. When I ADD each TRACK, DVD Author states that there IS NOT ANY CONTENT within each TRACK.

My question is, HOW do I correctly ADD TRACKS within TmpgEnc DVD Author; that WILL reflect the actual CONTENT of Video and audio? (each time I "ADD TRACKS" to the project; DVD Author states that there IS NO Video OR Audio in each of the tracks.)

It sounds to me like you just don't understand how this program works. I know that is exactly what you are saying but some of the responders seem to think there is something very mysterious here but it just seems like you are looking at the whole thing wrong.

When I ADD each TRACK, DVD Author states that there IS NOT ANY CONTENT within each TRACK.

When ANYBODY adds a TRACK, DVD Author creates a track which is empty. You then add the file using the "add file" button.

You don't add all the source files and then add the tracks. You add the tracks and then put a file into each track. If you have 4 files and want them each to be a track. Just put the first one into the first track, then add a second track and put the second one in there, then add a third track etc etc etc. Whenever you hit "add Track" a new empty track will be created and you must use the "add file" button to add a file to that track.

Then; I've edited each clip so that the first frame is the START of a specific chapter; and the LAST frame is the END of a specific chapter. Then Click "OK".

You don't need to define the start and end of a given chapter. You just add chapter points. Each clip that you added to a track will be a track. You can then chop them up into chapters if you want.

Also be sure to go to the "create Menu" tab and click on "Display Menu Settings" and tell the program wether you want your menu to include both tracks and chapters. In fact I bet what you wanted to all along was to just add all three of your clips to the first track and then go into "Display Menu Settings" and tell it to show only chapters. You will then get a menu which just shows each of your clips as a chapter.

[GreatSinatraFan]

Presto,

What youv'e suggested makes perfect sense. I simply didn't understand how the DVD Author software works.

I'm gonna follow these suggestions; but not tonight, as it's already a bit too late for me(morning comes too early around here!).

I'll make another try at this project tomorrow; and let you know the results of my attempts..

These suggestions sound like the perfect solution to my problems. NONE of the TmpgEnc Guides address this situation at all.

Thank you, Presto for your help.

And; by the way, rcb, - Ya gotta give a listen to the "Francis Albert Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim" cd.. this is one of the best albums that Sinatra ever recorded (Reprise 1967) 8)

[GreatSinatraFan]

Presto,
It WORKED ~! Yay!

Yup; I was going about it backwards. I was first Adding the file THEN adding the track.. shoulda been the OTHER way 'round.

With your instructions, I was able to create a decent menu; with the content IN each track, with chapters ~! Whoo Hoo !

Boy ! That was frustrating. Keep in mind that NONE of the guides address this particular situation. They all sorta kinda skip over this part of the Authoring process. No wonder that it's confusing.

Thanks again to everyone, especially to Presto for all of the suggestions !