DVD Lab Pro v 1.4B1 Issue

[stevie1877]

I have been using TMPGENC DVD Author until now to author my DVDs, however I now find it's functionality too limiting. I have decided to try the latest version of DVD-Lab instead as it seems to be highly regarded. After burning my first authored DVD via DVD-Lab, everything worked fine, except for the fast forward and rewind functions. I tried the same DVD on my PS2 and it never worked either. I then authored the same video with TMPGENC DVD Author again and it worked fine.

Does anyone have any suggestions? As I've said, I'm new to DVD-Lab, but it seems so intuitive I'm surprised it doesn't work.

Any help would be gratefully received.

[stevie1877]

A bit more info., as I'm reading my own post and realise it doesn't tell you much. As I've said, I have authored the same .m2v and .mp2 file pair using TMPGENC DVD Author and DVD-Lab. The original .mpg was demuxed using TMPGEnc and was captured from a VHS source using my ATI RADEON card and the MMC software that comes with it. A little editing was done to the mpg file using Womble MPEG-VCR (removing a few start and end frames). I have a Yamada 6100 player - when I say the FF and FR don't work, what I mean is: FF goes into slow motion, and with FR the screen freezes, but it is "rewinding" slowly (approximately equivalent to playing backwards) as can be seen by the clock display (when you press play it has moved back a little). Every other DVD I've played in the machine FFs and FRs quite happily. The same applies to my PS2, which I tried it in to see if that had anything to do with it, so it can't be the player. I even tried using the .mpg file and letting DVD-Lab itself demux, but this made no difference either. I have tried on different formats (DVD+R and DVD+RW) but again no difference. The only thing I can think of trying now is an entirely different mpg, but I fail to see how this could make a difference as it worked fine using TMPGENC DVD Author. However I will give it a try and post my results here. Meantime if anyone can suggest a solution I would be eternally grateful, as I really like the software(perhaps it's a setting I'm missing?), or if anyone can suggest a good alternative (but similar) piece of software that would be great - I like the slideshow offering, is there any other authoring tool with this facility?

[stevie1877]

I have now tried this with a different mpg and get the same results. I tried upgrading to beta3 and still get the same results. I reverted to v1.31 and still get the same results. I am using Nero to burn the DVD. I can't believe this is correct; it must be something I am doing wrong or this would have been reported before. As I say, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I'm clean out of ideas.

[Safesurfer]

Sorry, I don't have any answers for you - just a suggestion. Try posting your query on Mediachance's DVD-Labs forums at http://www.mmbforums.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=index&c=3

There are many knowledgable DVD-Lab users there, and you also might very likely get an answer from Oscar himself.

[stevie1877]

Thanks for your help SafeSurfer - I took your advise and got a response at this other forum - it appears that DVD-Lab has GOP issues that are causing my problem. I will need to continue using TDA or some alternative authoring tool until this is resolved, hopefully in a beta released soon.

[fmctm1sw]

Have you tried the non-beta version? I found I didn't really need the extras offered by DVD lab pro

[stevie1877]

Thanks, yes, I tried the non-beta version, but I'm afraid it made no difference. I think I've had it, which is a real shame, as I really like the feel of the application

[guns1inger]

The only other thing I can suggest is the media. It may be that the media isn't up to scratch, or your burner hasn't burned deep enough to allow the players to track nicely when FF/FR-ing.

I can't see how the authoring program could influence the FF/FR functions, however a poor burn/poor media might cause this.

[Roderz]

Been using the pro beata my self an never run into this prob,

You also mention GOP issues, have you tried any tools on the files (restream or others) or the ones in dvdlab itself under tools, to see if it has any effect ? (could try on a small 5min project to +-RW, just a thought)

[stevie1877]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I have tried authoring the same mpg file with both TDA and DVD-Lab, using Nero to burn resulting files. I have also tried using different DVD+R and DVD+RW media. In all instances, the resultant DVD works fine when authored in TDA and never works when authored in DVD-Lab. I've even tried importing the VOB file into DVD-Lab, from the TDA authoring - once imported and authored (I imported it "as is", I didn't get DVD-Lab to do anything with it) the result was the same again, i.e. FF/FR didn't work. I find it strange that (for me) it always works when using TDA and the result is identical every time when using DVD-Lab, regardless of media, player, source. As no-one else seems to have these peoblems, I can't help but think it's the way I've got DVD-Lab configured (PAL format, 4:3 size) or something, but I don't see anything obvious, or perhaps it's not compatible with my burner (long-shot), a Pioneer 106D. Baffled.

[stevie1877]

Apologies, I implied in my last post that importing a VOB file crreated by TDA didn't work either - in fact, this DID work. So, my workaround is (for now) author the mpeg in TDA, import the VOB file(s) into DVD-Lab using File..Import Asset... (selecting "Use it directly without demultiplexing") and use DVD-Lab as normal thereafter. Not ideal, but at least I get to create menus / slide-shows as I require.