dvdauthorgui running time problem

[ecc]

I loaded a roughly 95 minute demuxed m2v file into dvdauthorGUI without problems. I even started creating DVD menus from stills with buttons. Okay so far.

However, when I opened up the visual chapter editor, the running time displayed as 35 minutes. I scanned through the file and it all seems to be there (the m2v file is about 2.5 GB) but when I click the button to add a chapter timing to the list, it is incorrect (a chapter that should appear in the list at around 93 minutes for the end credits comes up as 34 minutes or so).

When I first clicked on the visual editor, there was a pop up that said "The visual editor uses the method that Windows Media Player uses to determine time. If WMP reports time incorrectly, then this visual editor will not be accurate."

I loaded the file into "gui for dvdauthor" and the running time seemed accurate but that one seems to want a muxed file and the menu and button creation tools do not seem to be as easy to use as dvdauthorgui.

[grannyGeek]

The developer added a fix that will probably help you out.

If you haven't already got it, get the newest 1.009 release of DvdAuthorGui.
Go to Tools, and select Alt Preview Decoder.

Then it will use the DGIndex decoder, and times should be accurate.


I really like this app, so uncomplicated and easy to use. I hope he doesn't decide to add a bunch of bells and whistles, and make it move into the "complex" category.

Anyway, I hope this suggestion helps.
post back how it goes.

[AlanHK]

I loaded the file into "gui for dvdauthor" and the running time seemed accurate but that one seems to want a muxed file and the menu and button creation tools do not seem to be as easy to use as dvdauthorgui.

Actually, GfD uses separate video and audio streams just fine, I use it myself. Its previewer though will just display the video if it's unmuxed. I briefly tried DVDauthorgui and found its menuing much less intuitive than GfD.... I hardly ever do anything more than a simple list of titles.

The bogus length shown when viewing video streams seems common in those 23.976 fps with pulldown.

[ecc]

Thanks. I've got my chapters created as well as menus m2vs with buttons.

Does anyone know where I can find information for editing the XML file so that my audio menu allows the different buttons to select Title 1 with different audio streams (I've added three to the video stream)?

As it is now, clicking on any of the three will select the first stream I added, probably. With DVDAuthorGUI, you can select edit XML before authoring. I know which is the audio menu there but I do not know what to change since it just lists the unmuxed video title in that menu section. The audio streams are listed down the line for editing their names (i.e. EN, FR, etc).

[borax]

I assume that you talk about GfD... (if not, the mentioned topics may be helpful nevertheless)

Three remarks:
1. You can also edit the XML file (set a tag on 'Edit author.xml file before DVD creation process' within the default project settings)
2. There is only very little information about the syntax of the XML file...
Have a look here:
http://nfs.shawnfumo.com/wiki/DVDAuthor/VMLanguage
3. If you want to change the language, this must be done within a titleset menu (or a submenu of the titleset menu). It doesn't work if you try it within the main menu. If you have only one movie, 'skip' the main menu (set pause=0 and post action=jump titleset 1 menu in the menu background dialog of the main menu) and create the selection in the titleset menu.
Some examples can be found here:
http://download.videohelp.com/GFD/StepwiseGuides.html

[grannyGeek]

@ ecc
kind of a For-What-It's-Worth, and you probably already know this anyway ---

In DvdAuthorGui, you can assign the Language tags to audio and subtitles using the Extras menu.

Also, there is a short guide on the DAG homepage about editing the xml to make menu for selecting audio and subtitle tracks.
http://download.videohelp.com/liquid217/dlfiles42/tips.pdf
Maybe this info will also be helpful for working with GFD ???

I don't know, I've never edited XML, and never used GFD.

Post back how you get on with your project.
Good luck.

[ecc]

Belated thanks for the tips. I was able to author a DVD with a series of menus (stills for background and chapter captured in GUI for DVDAuthor while the project itself was authored in DVDAuthorGUI) and edited the XML to select among 3 audio tracks (2.0 stereo, commentary, and my 5.1 remix just for fun). I started another project and created menus, chapters, added audio tracks, and even resynched subtitles (downloaded online) with Subtitle Workshop.

The new problem happened when I tried to add audio to the menu background. I turned the audio files into ac3 files with BeLight and they played but the authoring was aborted because the log said it could not open the first ac3 menu file (the feature audio went through fine) even though I got the file to play on foobar.

Has anyone else had a problem with menu background music in DVDAuthorGUI?

[grannyGeek]

I haven't done a gazillion projects, but no problems yet using ac3 files converted by BeLight.

What was the source audio format (wav, mp3, etc)?
I understand mp3 sometimes has problems converting properly, escpecially VBR mp3.

Maybe try a different converter, ffmpegGui is well thought of around here.

Maybe try (as experiment) using wav instead of ac3, just to see if the audio has some kind of odd glitch.

I wish I had an instant answer for you, sorry.
post back how you get on.

EDIT ---OOPS
sorry, DAG doesn't accept WAV, I guess my brain went out to breakfast and forgot to ask me along

How about converting the audio to Mp2 (Mpeg1 layer 2)? Just to experiment with the track.

[ecc]

You're right. It was an MP3 that I converted to ac3. I'll try converting them to MP2. If that doesn't work, I'll use ffmpeggui.