DVD-Lab not compiling correctly

[briandugas]

I'm trying to make a motion menu in DVD-Lab. I've read the guides provided with the program, and the one on their website, which was linked from this site. I get everything set up perfectly, but when I go to create the dvd structure, it builds the AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS folders, and it puts all the .VOB files in the VIDEO_TS folder, but it doesn't create the other parts, like menus, .IFO and .BUP files. All I get are the .VOB files. Why is this? I'm not getting any errors. I've uses DVD-Lab successfully in the past, with no problems. This is very strange. Should I try another computer maybe? I tried to uninstall and reinstall, with no luck. Thanks.
-Brian

[awlchu]

different audio from main movie?

size of the video for the motion menu? - keep it under 15s!

[briandugas]

I could try that. My motion was set to 30seconds. I didn't know it had a problem with 30 seconds.

[bugster]

I have had this problem with DVD-Lab motion menus that have audio. Remove the audio and it compiles fine, never did get to the bottom of it. Length was not a problem though, menus of 60 secs commonly, just no audio!!

[racer-x]

All my motion menus work prfectly. I never tried the thier method though, all my menus are created in Premiere, but you can use any Video Editor. I also use audio in my motion menus, no problems whatsoever and I've made them over 1 min in length. Again, No Problems.

I would sugest you try compiling a motion menu in your video editor along with the audio, ouput to mpeg, then import into DVD-Lab.

[Ziffelpig]

I also believe it is related to the audio and is a bug, however Oscar(DVDlab creator) would disagree, others suggest its the GOP, or incorrect aspect setings of the motion menu file.
Here is a good thread on motion menu headaches from the forum over at DVDlab
http://www.mmbforums.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=4139

[briandugas]

Well, I finally got it to work by removing the audio. That's crazy, and unacceptable for most people. Most people would prefer to have an audio background rather than a motion backgound. I read in that other thread that some people think TMPGEnc Plus is the problem. I'll have to download the trial of the Mainconcept Encoder and see if that yields different results. I was dealing with all elementary streams.....and I even converted my audio to AC3. Oh well, I'll try the same thing, but this time use Mainconcept to convert from AVI to MPG2.

[briandugas]

As the day carries on, I continue to experiment, and I got the motion menu to completely compile/create the DVD folders....again. This time, I had to remove the video (not really a motion menu anymore) and use audio (AC3) only. If I added the video file, it would fail. I tried mainconcept encoder and TMPGEnc. The program doesn't seem to like the results of those two as far as mpg is concerned. I wish there was a definite answer as to what combination works. This is irritating. I really don't need this, I just hate being defeated by a computer. Oh well.

[racer-x]

briandugas, did you read my post?

I use motion menus for about 70% of my DVDs. Every single one have audio in the motion menu and they all work perfectly! I use Main Concept to encode and have no troubles!

Do what I told you, make the motion menu in your video editor along with the audio.

1) Export to elemental streams, m2v and wav.

2) Then convert the wav into ac3. Import both into the assets bin.

3) Create a new menu and drag the m2v and the ac3 into the menu.

4) Set the links and the timeout.

That's it. You obviously are doing something wrong, because I get 100% success.

[briandugas]

I haven't tried making the menus with a different program yet. I tested out the menu that did work last night....the one with no audio. The video quality wasn't all that great....kinda grainy.
So, once I make the menu in an external program, and import it, it just becomes a motion background, and I won't be able to use any of the existing text as links. Should I just do something like put a button in front of the text, and make that button change colors when selected? I'm thinking that would work.
If I stack many objects on top of the motion background, does that take away from it's quality? Thanks guys.
-Brian

[painkiller]

briandugas:

I have to say that I agree with racer-x.

Just so you know there are more of us (!) out here ... I use EditStudio myself for DV capturing and editing. Afterwards using its MPG XS encoder to create various formats (VCD, DVD streams, WMV).

I have been successfully making motion menus and intros (so far a max of 1 to 2 minutes long) in DVD Lab PRO v1.4.

I must say, I like the results.

So, don't give up. Perhaps you may have hit on a combination of s/w and encoding that causes your problem.

Please try another combo, and good luck.

[racer-x]

briandugas:

There are many ways you can make a motion menu with links. Here is what I do most of the time.
I use Premiere, but you can use any video editor for this:

1) Bring in your images or video into the timeline.

2) Use the title maker to make the text links within you video editor. Make sure the titles start right away from the begining and all the way to the end. It is also a good idea to fade to black the last second of the video and titles. this will make for a smooth transition when the motion menu loops.

3) Ouput your timeline to m2v and wav. Then convert wav to ac3.

4) Import menu m2v and ac3 into assets bin. Create new menu and drag both m2v and ac3 into it.

5) You can use any buttons within DVD-Lab, but I like to use the Rectangle Button tool to draw underlines under the text links. Then set the buttons to link to the desired movie / chapter or whatever.

6) You can set it to timeout at the end of the clip or let it loop. It will loop by default.

By default the buttons will be invisible normally untill selected, then you will get the highlighted button.

If you do it correctly, you will end up with a very high quality menu.

[sfalcon]

Hello there friends!

I would like some hint, pls. I use DVDLab and I am very much pleased with the results!
However, when I try to edit the sound, converting the AC3 into WAV and working with CoolEdit Pro to better the high frequencies and to raise the overall volume (some DVDs have a poor sound...), I have encountered some problems. I get the VOBs from the original DVD and put them into DVDLab so it can join them and then demux them. I get only the video joined VOB and the edited WAV file and DVDLab does the rest compiling the entire DVD with menus included. The final work seems to be OK as I can play it with Power DVD from the hard disk and everything is fine.
But when I have the DVD burned (whether DVD-R or DVD-RW, DVD+R or DVD+RW) using Sony DRU 500A or Pioneer 106, I have the film with lots of sound gaps, especially at the end, when I play it ouside of the PC.
Is there a workaround for this problem?

tks for yr help!
rgds
sfalcon