DVD WORKSHOP TIPS & TRICKS

[boss]

you don't need to use vobs with workshop. you can just drop and drag your mpeg files.
workshop will then convert them to vobs so they can be put on a dvd.

[Robert Simandl]

I've enjoyed reading this thread, and have not used this proggy for DVD, but have for SVCD before.
To make a DVD, can I just drop and drag Mpgeg2 encoded for DVD like I could for SVCD, or do I need to IFOedit and make VOBs?
Thanks

You can just import the MPEG-2 files. DWS will make the VOB's for you.

[tauzlns]

Is this suppose to happen? I am creating a svcd-dvd with DWS and when I create the dvd directy and open the VOB files to reconvert to 480x480 only the first vob file is 352x480 and the 2nd and 3rd vob files are already 480x480 without using the patch. I checked the svcds I used and they were all patched to read 352x480. Why is it doing this?

Also when I try burning these files after I repatched the first one as 480x480. Only the first one works. The others show only like 2/3 of the screen and are blocky on the sides. This only happens after I burn because when I viewed the vob files with power dvd before burning the picture was fine on all vobs. Can anyone please help me? Thanx.

[leebo]

What the heck is a SVCD-DVD????

[tauzlns]

just svcds on dvd.

https://www.videohelp.com/svcddvdr.htm

[leebo]

You may have just solved an authoring problem I've had for almost a year.
Thanks.

[meandhers]

Not to jump on a thread, but...
How come when I go to make a menu and burn the dvd it's saying that one of the buttons is invalid?
It goes with the first one, the other 3 on a 4 part menu point to the right file, but no matter what I do I cant get it to link to part 1....
looked on their site for tips but could not find....

[capitola]

How much space does motion menu takes? I maximized the file size when converting from AVI to MPEG using TMPGenc; used 1.0 version of this program with Bitrate higher than my TMPGenc setting to avoid re-encoding. The Final step took 23 hrs! Even though the required space = available space = 4.4 gb, after the long wait, it says there is not enough space! Why does it take so long to render motion menu even with my 900 mhz machine?

[gimp]

I use dvdws 1.2 to put 2-3 svcds on 1 dvd-r. When i encode my svcds its always with 720x480 res. & the audio is 48khz. My problem i'm having is the mpeg is right on the money with audio sync but when i use dvdws 1.2 & burn it the audio gradual gets off sync. At about middle ways through the movie its bout a second off sync (audio before the video.) Dvdws doesn't re-encode none of them. What can be my problem here???

By the way ulead has pulled the 1.3 update from their site!!!!

[tauzlns]

Does anyone know what this error means and how to fix it?

The number of video frames in a GOP is not valid for a DVD

I am creating a dvd with svcd files. I have converted the audio and fixed the headers as in the guide. But when I go to create the vob directories and files it gives me this error in DVDWS.

[aubrey_q]

Ulead has re-posted the DVD Workshop 1.3 patch. It now enables use of hyperthreading CPUs, among other things.

The link is here:

http://www.ulead.com/tech/dws/dws_ftp.htm

I installed it but haven't tested it. I only have a PIII 933 MHz CPU anyway.

Aubrey

[darkomega69]

I just finished trying out DVDWS. It has some great features that DVDit lacks. But there is one feature I absolutely need that DVDWS seems to like from my knowledge. In DVDWS, is there anyway to manipulate the remote next button? What I mean is, if I have two movies, playing after another with chapter points and all, if I keep pressing the next button, it will stop at the last chapter point of the current movie. It won't go to the first chapter point of the next movie. It's something that you can do in DVDit. Any thoughts on this situation? Thanks a million.

[bedev]

I am having the VERY frustrating audio sync problem. The sync is progressively lost. Files play PERFECTLY in sync on my PC. Ulead DVD workshop, and DVD movie factory 2, both SCREW UP the audio. This is very annoying, because aside from this, i find this program to have almost all the other features i need.

I am using version 1.2

Where abouts is the patch for this?? can someone email me y_ayyar@optusnet.com.au this thing, because its annoying me no end, and its really screwing up the movie.

[leebo]

if I keep pressing the next button, it will stop at the last chapter point of the current movie. It won't go to the first chapter point of the next movie. It's something that you can do in DVDit. Any thoughts on this situation? Thanks a million.

The only way I know of to do this (with ANY authoring app), is to join your two movies together into one movie. Then place chapter points where you want.

[darkomega69]

leebo, you can do this in DVDit. But after trying out the interface for DVDWS for a day, I would LOVE to switch. I especially like the alignment functions that DVDWS has. Bummer.............

[jmaruca]

Hi there folks,

I thought I would try this particular forum to ask the following questions:

Hos do I import DVD VOB files into DVDWS?

Please do not suggest to rename the VOB files, because it doesn'y work. It's just that it is very frustrating to see useful options like: Add Video, Add Slideshow, Import DVD Video in a very low cost package like DVD MovieFactory 2; yet in the much more expensive DVD Workshop, there are no such options. It doesn't make any sense; I wonder what rationale Ulead used not to include such useful functionality.

Would appreciate your thoughts, many thanks. regards, Joe.

[gwbrownmo]

To darkomega69:

Regarding proceeding from one clip/titile to another.

I've created a DVD with a series of separate clips/titles with only a single chapter for each one. Each clip flows nicelin into the next.

In the Edit view, right click on the image in the title list you want to proceed from. At the bottom of the pop up menu is the command "After Play" - click on that and set the option to Next Title. You might also want to put a chapter point as close as possible to the end of this clip so you can click to get there, and then it should continue on into the next clip.

Hope this actually works.

[leebo]

Please do not suggest to rename the VOB files, because it doesn'y work.

Well, that would be news to dozens of people who have been doing just that for a while now.

I don't know why it dosn't work for you.

[darkomega69]

gw, thanks for the tip, unfortunately it still not what i'm looking for. it looks like i just have to put the movies together.......

[julbukki]

I have problems that i could have not yet solve. I asked from ulead support but ansvers were "..intall again.." etc .
My prolems are that dvdwksp can not encode it gives error messages or hangs up. now i can only think two more possibilities and though if anybody have had similiar problems. One that i think or do not know is what directory is used as for temp files? I think if that is running out of space or over 2 g file limit.
My system is so that i have dual boot w2k system where one is just for video editing. There is nothing else but premiere and dvdwk. That partition is only 1,7 gt ntfs. for dvdwkp i pointed that it should use k drive as working directory and for movie files. This partition is 80 gt and ntfs. Files that i use are from tv and svcd format so those has to be encoded for dvd+r. Iam really desperate about finding authoring software that works. Maybe new adobe encoder will do....

[Vizcaya]

Hey great thread. I am working with Workshop v.1 right now. This program seems very promising. Except for 1 problem I am having. I cant seem to get the program to not blow up the size of my files. Meaning I have DVD mpeg compliant files encoded from Tmpenc, and after I complete the menus, and choose a bitrate higher than the encoded video, it doesnt reencode, But after it its done creating the folders, the file size is like 9 Gigs.
This is driving me crazy. I use DVD moviefactory using the same mpeg2 files, and create the menus, and the DVD comes out to just 4.2 gigs. Same files. So why is workshop blowing up my files to twice the size? I was think the problem was Motion menus, so I took those out. Still the same problem. Workshop is doing something to my video.
I always use Tmepnc or Ulead video studio to convert my AVI files to a Mpeg2 compliant DVD file. DVD movie factory has no problems, its just Workshop.

I really want this program to work. I do not believe I need to have Version1.2 or 1.3 to get this work. I know I must be doing something wrong. I just have not figured it out.

Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Viz

[Specialist]

Viz,

Have you tried cleaning out your project folder?

Sometimes the file size estimate can go up in a big way if the project folder is still full of old files.

As another user wrote elsewhere:

"Check your project folder for "temporary" mpeg files."

"Every time I make a change in a project and re-encode the file size is incremental."

"This all gets reported inside DVDWS as required disc space."

"Just go in and delete the mpeg files Workshop creates and magically your required hard drive space will shrink to its proper level."

There's also a helpful FAQ for Ulead DVD Workshop here:

http://www.ulead.com/tech/dws/dws10faq.htm

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[stony]

Hi guys,

<snip>
*********

To avoid re-encoding :

1 - Never trim (edit beginning or end of file ) inside DVDWS . Do all your editing OUTSIDE DVDWS, BEFORE importing your video file into DVDWS .

2 - Version 1.0 does not have the "Do not convert ..." option. So, when you go into MAKE DISC option, choose CUSTOMIZE and set the bitrate to something HIGHER than what you have used for encoding with TMPGEnc , CCE or whatever software you used. Set it to 9000 , for example. DVDWS will NOT re-encode your video .

*****************
<snip>

Hello Lula. I'm really hoping you or someone else in this forum can help me stop DVDWS from RE-encoding my files. I've tried ALL the above steps in DVDWS 1.2 to no avail.

Can you guys also tell me how long it takes in the final stage to get the dvd? What I mean is, in the final stage, I choose the output to the VIDEO_TS folder option. That's when it starts creating the menu files etc and it takes AGES at the "audio/video multiplexing" stage.... this means that it is reencoding right? It takes like an hour at this stage and then one more step for like an hour(sorry, can't remember exactly what it says during this stage... I just get fed up and leave) Anyways, so after you've make your chapter points and made your menus.... how long should it take to make the VIDEO_TS folder IF IT IS NOT REENCODING!


thanks a lot.

Bombart.

I had a problem where DVDWS would insist on reencoding my MPEG-2 compliant files no matter what bitrate was set and the do not reencode option was checked. Finally found the problem - in the project properties there is an option to make the resulting DVD VCD compliant. If checked this will cause duplicate MPEG1s to be created blowing out the file sizes and crashing DVDWS if bigger than 4.7GB (so it seems). Make sure the VCD compliant option is not checked.
I use Premiere for AVI editing (mostly DV format), frameserve to TMPGEnc using Avisynth to create MPEG-2s, and DVDWS to arrange these and insert chapter marks and menus. I am about to try TMPGEnc DVD Author which seems much faster.

[AMillionThingsToDo]

I'd love it if someone could tell me if this is possible, and if it is, how to do it:

I'm making a DVD compiling 15+ short films for my family. In the main menu, I want to give them the option to either view the clips one-at-a-time or in order. Basically like many DVDs "Delected Scenes" sections are laid out with a "Play All" button.

[igalan]

I'm making a DVD compiling 15+ short films for my family. In the main menu, I want to give them the option to either view the clips one-at-a-time or in order. Basically like many DVDs "Delected Scenes" sections are laid out with a "Play All" button.

If each film is is a separate file, I don't think that with DVDWS you can create a DVD that plays each file one after the other. Instead it will go back to main menu so you can select the 'Title' (movie). A workaround would be to join all movies in a single file with another program.

However 321 Studio's DVD X Maker does allow you to specify what to do after playing a movie: jump to another movie, jump to root menu or stop DVD.

[Lula1]

@AMillionThingsToDo :

Using DVDWS, on the Menu Step, select the Title List at the bottom.
Select a Video Title and right click over it. On the After Play option, choose Next Title. I hope that is what you are looking for.

[northcat_8]

Amillionthingstodo -

The way you have to do that is with a double set of files. One is a complete set beginning to end and the 2nd set would be each clip dropped on the timeline individually.

I don't think there is anyway to do this in DVDWS or any other authoring software for that matter with just one video file. On store purchased DVD's, when they have deleted scenes, you can either watch "all" or you can choose which one you want to watch. When you have that option, on the DVD itself, you have one VOB file that has all the scenes rendered together like one long clip and then you have 4-5 other VOB's that are the clips individually. So basically it's doubling up the clips. I'm pretty sure if Hollywood can't or doesn't do it, we can't either. I mean, you can do it, but you have to render all of them together drop the combination clip on the timeline and then drop them all on the timeline individually. Now DVDWS does allow you to write a DVD over 4.7 GB so you can just render the DVD and then use Instant Copy from Pinnacle to compress it to fit. I've done that several times, although not for the reason you are wanting.

Just a couple of TIPS (I guess since that is the name of the thread) when working with DVDWS.

Don't drop raggedy clips on the timeline. You should use a video editing software to make the clips like you want before bringing them into DVDWS. DVDWS is for authoring DVD video, not for editing video, so if you want to clip it then clip it before bringing it in. This will also prevent DVDWS from rerendering files that are already MPEG-2.

Using DVDWS to create several original videos which I sell. Another tip is do not bring extremely large files into DVDWS. DVDWS does not handle extremely large DV-AVI files very well when it has to encode them to VOBs. I'm talking 16 GB+ AVI files or so.

6000 bit rate is great video quality. 8000 is over kill, you can't tell the difference.

A golden tip - always have DVDWS write to your HD. Either as VIDEO_TS folder or as an ISO. So you can check the DVD on your PC before you burn it and find out your menu's don't work right. Always a good idea. You can always go back and burn with DVDWS or burn the ISO with DVD Decrypter. This will save you some coasters.

DVDWS is very picky about how close thumbnails are together, becareful. Also make sure you delete all navigational buttons that are not applicable. For example the "<<" button on your main menu or the ">>" button on your last menu.

You can create "easter eggs" in your menus by creating a button the same color as the background or is a part of a picture you have in the background. (good tip if you have too much time on your hands)

Save your project often, especially if you get complex about it.

For the record I love DVDWS, I have never had it fail me on anything I've done. EVEN when I dropped 56 GB's of DV-AVI video on it and asked it to render out the DVD, it didn't like it and it hung a couple of times but it eventually did it (it was my first DVD done in DVDWS). Video always looks great and folks are always happy.

I hope to have some time to read this whole thread, and here I've been spending all of my time over at the DVD to DVD-R forum

[sjmaye]

Everytime I get to 'finish project' burn DVD I get the error messages
"MPEG is not a standard audio type for a NTSC DVD"

I get this same message when I go to Make Disc. The project has one AVI file made in MediaStudio Pro 7. I have 3 title screens with background music(MP3).

Could I have or should I have created an MPEG file instead of AVI file from Media Studio Pro?

I don't understand the various codecs, please explain why I have the problem and how to avoid.


THANKS!

[Robert Simandl]

The "standard" audio types for an NTSC DVD are Dolby Digital AC-3 and linear PCM. MPEG audio (not to be confused with MPEG *video*) is not considered part of the official NTSC DVD standard.

That doesn't necessarily mean you can't use it, though. After all, DTS isn't part of the official standard either, but look how many titles on store shelves have it.

That's just DWS' way of telling you the audio MIGHT not play on some of the old, old, old DVD players out there. My six-year-old Sony won't play mpeg audio on DVD-R's for example. But for any player, say, less than four years old, MPEG audio shouldn't be a problem.

[krazymuppet]

ive been looking at MF2 & Workshop, i prefer workshop so have been using that to make vcds. There is a menu picture in MF2 that i want to use in workshop, is it possible to extract the pictures out?