DVD Architect 2.0 is recompressing my video files!!!

[Cunhambebe]

Before DVDA 2.0, everything worked out well with DVDA 1.0. I had a project made up of 2 menus (a main menu and a submenu) + 5 video files (4 of them rendered as MPEG2 with TMPGENC, the other one as DVDA NTSC video stream). The project there, rated 5,5 GB. OK, no problem. I used to prepare the DVD and then later, after preparing all files (it took only 20 minutes - some warnings such as preparing video object one, two, etc), of course the project wouldn't fit on a 4,7 GB disc. Then, I opened DVD Shrink, to obviously shrink whatever I wanted, made a backup and then the folder was ready! All process would take about 40 minutes (to get the dvd ready for playing). I said 40 MINUTES.
Now DVDA 2.0 has changed everything. There are some problems. Same project described above rates 7,0 GB (very strange). As I prepare the same project (previously saved as DVDA 2.0 file) DVDA 2.0 says all the video will be recompressed what will take more than 5 hours (with an Athlon 1.7 xp) according to the applc!!!!!

The thing is: I just wanna know if there's something wrong with DVDA 2.0 or if it doesn't accept TMPGENC rendered MPEG2 files anymore. What's happening????

THANKS IN ADVANCE

[MJPollard]

It's a known bug with DVDA 2.0 and DVDA 1.0 projects (I found it and reported it to Sony in their forums). This should cure it:

1. Open two instances of DVDA 2.0. Load your 1.0 project into one, and create a new project in the other.

2. Use the mouse to highlight every object on the 1.0 project menu, then use Edit->Copy to copy it all to the clipboard.

3. Use Edit->Paste in the new project to import all the objects into the new project.

4. Save the new project under a different filename, just in case.

That should take care of it. All you'll have to re-do is the main menu, but that usually isn't too big a deal. All of your other menus, etc. will be preserved. Sony is aware of the bug, and I expect it'll be repaired in the 2.0a release (whenever that happens to be).

[Cunhambebe]

Thanks for taking time to respond and for the valuable help - as always. In fact I tried to save the old DVDA 1.0 project as a new one (giving a new name to it - it didn't work). Anyway, I'll try to follow your instructions. By the way I've read some posts there (SONY FORUM). They are aware (yes) of this problem....they'll try to fix this later, along with new upgrades....believe that? I've seen your post there.....

We are aware of the issue. It will be fixed in the next update of DVDA2.

http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=271643&Replies=3&Page=0

One more thing, very important. DVDA 2.0 does not show correct size for the projects. DVDA 1.0 rated 5,5 and the same project rates 7,0 in DVDA 2.0. I don't understand how come they release an applc with all these bugs. Anyway, I still find DVDA a terrific applc. A must have tool.
Thanks again

[Cunhambebe]

Some more things I've noticed with DVDA 2.0.
When u have 2 motion menus, a main one and a submenu, the function <menu lenght> <auto calculate> does not work out properly for the submenu MPEG2 file since it auto calculates its wrong size (bigger than the file is). That of course leaves a dark screen at the end of the motion menu when you choose for <End Action>, <Command> <Loop>. I've already checked out the MPEG2 file size with Vegas. It is 00:08:14,150 while the auto calculate function shows and makes the final position at 00:08:15,328. Is this a bug?

[BJ_M]

i suspect one is showing it based on Drop frame , the other one is not ..

dvdlab and maestro also have a bit of this bug, though in dvdlab there is a switch to change the flag (problem is that mpeg may not have correct time stamps or drop frame flags (this is not pulldown) or any time stamp at all, it is not required for mpeg2 encoding) .. in maestro -- the first asset sets if it is DF or NDF , which not always correct for the rest of the assets ..

[Cunhambebe]

Thank you BJ_M, as always! I'm trying to solve this problem not selecting auto calculate, but selecting <Menu Length> and <Specify> instead. It seems to work.

[Cunhambebe]

I've been testing DVDArchitect 2.0 for about a week. This is the conclusion:
1. a friend around here (MJPollard) has discovered a bug (openning older DVDA 1.0 files with version 2.0 makes the applc recompress the video) - you can fix that tru copy and paste functions;

2. DVDA 2.0 does not show the real time it takes to burn a dvd. I guess SONY is trying to solve that too (as they are aware of the number one bug)

3.When you have motion menus, the function auto calculate, does not work well, calculating a wrong, bigger size than the file actually is. The result is a dark screen at the end of the motion menu (mpeg file). You can simply fix this by selecting <specify>

Congratulations to SONY. DVDA 2.0 is "the" software. A must have tool, YET easy to use, despite of this minor bugs I'm sure will be fixed soon.

[BJ_M]

if only you didnt have to program XML to make custom new menus

[Cunhambebe]

Sorry but I didn't understand your reply.