How to author & burn a DVD using DVD Moviefactory 2

[Baldrick]

This guide will very basic explain how to author and burn a DVD with very basic menus and a slideshow.

Preperation
Convert your videoclips to standard DVD MPEG using TMPGEnc or some other good DVD Encoder. You could let Ulead DVD Moviefactory convert your video to DVD MPEG, but it is a bit slow at encoding and the video quality may not be as good as other encoders. But it is a lot easier. You can always try make a short sample and burn on DVDRW.

Guide

Tools required: Ulead MovieFactory 2(30 day trial avaialabe).

Step 1 - Configure
Install and start MovieFactory
Click at the bottom left and select Preferences.
Set the system to PAL if your are making a PAL DVD(25fps) or NTSC if a NTSC DVD(23,976/29,97fps). Be sure that your DVD Player and TV supports this system.
Select New Project DVD
Hit Next.



Step 2 - Add video and a picture slideshow
1. Add your video DVD MPEG files by clicking Add Video. (Or you can add a non-mpeg video file and let DVDMovieFactory convert to DVD MPEG, be sure to select Project Settings(4.) to configure the video and audio bitrate).
2. To add a slide show click on Add slideshow and select all your images that should be included.
3. To add chapters to your video, just click on the video file and select add/edit chapters(see below).
If you only want the video on the DVD with no Menus or stuff then select First clip as first video play item and deselect Create Menu(and skip the next step in this guide).
4. Click on Project settings at the bottom left to change the playback settings(see below) and video encoding settings.


Add chapters
Drag the bar where you want the chapter and click add.
Click on autio to make chapters points every x second/minute.


Projects settings
Here do we configure if want your videos to either play continuesly(continue to play next item) or if they should return to the menu(if you have a menu) or if they should play forever(auto repeat when playback ends).
If you have added any non-mpeg video files, click on change mpeg settings to configure video and audio bitrate.


Now click Next.



Step 3 - Add menu(s)
Moviefactory will create a basic menu for you.
Select a menu template.
Click on the menu to change or move the text.



Step 4 - Preview
Use preview to test your menus. I have found that the preview may not work all the time(only black images) then you could instead burn on DVD-RW to test or burn to a folder on your HD and test with WinDVD or PowerDVD.



Step 5 - Burn
Last burn the DVD to a DVD-RW or DVD+RW to test on your DVD.
Select Record to disc, choose your DVD Writer and then hit Output.
(You can also create a DVD-folder and burn the VIDEO_TS folder manually later or if you would like to try the DVD on your Computer using a software DVD player)



Done.

[donpedro]

I think that two important parts are missing here. Adding chapters and option that can be changed to play clips continuously or return back to menu after each one.

[Baldrick]

Okey...will add some more info.

Will finish it tomorrow....so don't read this guide.

[simmons3d]

I have a question. In DVDMF 1 you could create one menu screen, with the name of your film at the top. It seems that in DVDMF 2 you must have a beginning menu from where you select your movie, then you go to the scene menu... Is there anyway to just have one menu with the scenes to pick from as the ONLY menu?

[Laddydaddy]

I have tried to download a trial version from all three ftp sites on your link and everyone is corrupted. Any other links for a trial version?

[bbeiler]

Will this version of Movie factory multiplex an mpv/m2v file and an ac3 file?

[Robert Simandl]

Will this version of Movie factory multiplex an mpv/m2v file and an ac3 file?

Nope, the ac3 has to be already muxed into an mpg file.

[bbeiler]

Nope, the ac3 has to be already muxed into an mpg file.

Thanks for the info.

[simmons3d]

Will this version of Movie factory multiplex an mpv/m2v file and an ac3 file?

Nope, the ac3 has to be already muxed into an mpg file.

And even then DVDMF's multiplexing process seems to put the audio progressively more out of sync. It's been very frustrating!

[4k4e4n4]

but Moviefactory will convert the audio to uncompressed PCM, 10 MByte/min instead of 1-2 MByte/min using compressed audio

MF2 can compress audio to MPEG, its in 'Project Settings'.....'Change Settings'.....'Customize'....'Compression'....'Aud io Format'.....then choose 'MPEG Audio'....then choose 'Audio Bitrate'

[Baldrick]

4k4e4n4: Thanks. Missed that.

[rhegedus]

Will this version of Movie factory multiplex an mpv/m2v file and an ac3 file?

Nope, the ac3 has to be already muxed into an mpg file.

And even then DVDMF's multiplexing process seems to put the audio progressively more out of sync. It's been very frustrating!

Has anyone got a 'work around' for fixing the sync problem?

Regards,

Rob

[sunmanking]

Hi baldrick,

Thanks for you nice guide.

I think there are three issues that need a little bit more
of developing...

1) The "convert non-MPEG compliant" check box...
what does it EXACTLY mean? Does it only take for
MPEG compliant files VCD mpegs? or also XVCD mpegs?
That is a relevant issue because it it doesn't take
XVCD as compliant then something should be done
about it...

2) Seemingly, there's no way to add your own templates
in order to make XVCD... This issue was dealt in another
posting but no solution was successful in order to be able
to make and/or modify your own templates.

3) Do you think the standard VCD templates would take
XVCD mpeg? Since that xvcd mpeg is already compressed,
is there any option to disable REcompressing? Since it
would be a waste of time actually.

Since many people are interested in video quality and
the only way to get high quality with mpeg1 is to max out
the vcd and make it xvcd, I think these question are
fairly relevant.

Thanks in advance,

sunmanking

PS. great job and great guide!

[Evil Jesus]

Hi sunmanking,

I have been playing around with this program, and I can answer your questions.

1) The "convert non-MPEG compliant" check box...what does it EXACTLY Mean?

If you leave this unchecked, the program will use it's internal routines to convert the input-files into dvd format. Checking the box tells the program to leave the stream alone if it is MPG compliant (very broad range).

NOTE: I seem to have found a bug which prevents the output-size indicator bar at the bottom of the screen from refreshing. After you make the changes, but before you OK the MPG settings popup, tick off "convert non-MPEG compliant" check box. Click OK and then go right back into MPG settings and un-check it again. Works to force refresh.

2) Seemingly, there's no way to add your own templates in order to make XVCD...

All you need to do is click the 'Customize' button under the template selection area. It brings up another screen where you can change the font properties for the heading and button text. At the right is a selection window that has 20 or more layouts to apply to the template. Very Cool! My only complaint is that there doesn't seem to be a way to drag the elements around or add/change buttons.

3) Do you think the standard VCD templates would take XVCD mpeg?

I have found that this is the ultimate tool for making dvd's out of anything! M$ AVI's, VCD and SVCD mpegs, even the troublesome ones with the screwed up frames (with the color-bar pattern.) You can even load up a previously ripped VOB set and it will import it, letting you choose from the streams you want. You can put in just about anything and it will re-encode it to standard, compliant DVD files, folders or ISO.

I have sucessfully used this program to assemble two ripped films onto one disc at a decent bitrate (well, 2290... still looks sweet!)

I don't find Movie Factory 2's conversion engine at all slow. I'm using an Athlon XP 1600 (1.4ghz) with 256MB DDR and it takes me only a few hours, 4 max to do a full 240-minute MPG2-DVD conversion, even resizing from 480x480 to 720x480.

One last word of warning! If you install this program to a smaller drive, you will run out of space quickly when importing VOBs! Install to a drive that has at least 10GB free, and defrag the drive often to improve conversion speed.

I will be putting it through it's paces for the next few days, testing different formats out. DivX5 would be great! I'll update this further with my results.

-Evil Jesus-
-Man made God in His own Image!-
http://members.rogers.com/evil.jesus/

[Evil Jesus]

It accepts Divx5 no problem!

[pjandres]

One question that I haven't been able to get a clear answer for is the reason behind my 4.0 GB movie grows to 5.5 GB when I try to create a disc write, DVD directory, or DVD image (i.e. finalize my movie), with a 50kb jpg background image. I'm talking about the total size of the files created (.vob, etc)

Where does the mysterious 1.5 overhead come from?

I do not perform a re-render of my movie (MPEG-2, VBR-max 8mbps, etc) because the quality produced by my ATI AIW RADEON 8500 is so outstanding, so I check the "compliant" box.

TIA,
-pja

[Evil Jesus]

Well, it does accept Divx, but without AC3 audio, it doesn't know how to handle it. If the Divx has 2-channel audio, it works fine!

Also, there is a way to change buttons and window frames. You need to use the drop-down menu above the list where you select your layout. You still can't move the elements around, though.

Not sure about the extra overhead, unless your inputfile didn't have 48Khz 384Kbps audio. Even so, 1.5gb is very excessive for that! My advice is to let it convert the file, but specify the same bitrate as the inputfile.

BTW: I didn't mention this before, but Movie Factory 2 can import VOBs. It splits them up into separate files based on the chapters encoded into them, but it does it! You can drop a VOB set that DVD2One has had it's way with, then add your chapters and menus. (at least until DVD2One comes out with the means to include the menus from the DVD as well!)

Nice tool, this![/img]

[Pinchas]

On Ulead DVD Moviefactory 1 and 2 when I make chapters in the movie and begin to burn it, it multiplexes it and then says "Some chapters entry frame number exceed the total frames." What can I do????

[letgoofmyears]

I also have the same problem, with regards to the "overhead". I just choose the bitrate it was encoded at and let DVDMF re-encode it.

However, I have I another problem that I can't seem to figure out. When attempting to make a letterbox dvd, it always stretches it to full screen. In the mpeg properties box, there is an option to keep aspect ratio, but it's grayed out. I don't know if this is because it's the demo, but any help would be appreciated.

[Pinchas]

So if I let DVDMF re-encode it it will work?

[Ryen]

why does it freeze on certain files..
Im making my divx to VBO but when I do mutli files it freezes..
but when I do one by one it doesnt... so I thought I solved my case.. but then I got to a file.. each time I convert it , my computer freezes.. is there anyway to stop my computer from freezing?

[Distearth]

When I let DMF convert my widescreen divx it fills the screen with the streched image and I can't find aspect ratio settings, is this a problem for anyone else? oh I just saw another post with this same problem any word yet?

[crossing23]

Hi Baldrick,
You did a great job in explaining Ulead for us Newbies. In fact it was because of you that I purchased it 2 weeks ago!

I have been using EO...and Ulead for 2 weeks to get my downloaded movies from Kazalite onto my DVD'S to play on TV. Everything was great until this morning. Whenever I try to burn a movie with Ulead this message comes up:
C:\ProgramFiles\KazaLite\MySharedFolder\(TMD)City. by.the.Sea(2of2) is not accessible. So I tried another movie and got same error message.

I can watch it on my computer, but cannot burn to dvd. Sure hope you can help me!

Marilyn

[DWE]

Hiya Distearth,
I've experienced the same problem. I have a downloaded divx of the Matrix. It gets streched when I allow DMF to convert to MPEG. In the project settings/change MPEG settings/customize, a menu video save options is displayed. However the selection of keep aspect ratio is unavailable. I'm thinking that thia trial version of DMF I'm using is not fully funtioning. I've been trying to solve this concern for a week, without much sucess. I've even tried converting Divx to MPEG using TMPGE. It makes the new MPEG (which plays fine) but MDF has problems with it. The aspect ratio problem is fixed however the video stalls and the audio continues and leaves the video behind.

Any input as this concern would be greatly appreciated.

DWE

[Stoppardi]

I'm using Ulead Movie Factory 2 and i find it good. It's more fast than Tmpg and video conserve a good quality. But the last movie i'have encoded give to me a trouble. After near 55 minutes audio and video go out of syncronization. Without warning i hear the movie before i see. Someone have experienced the same problem? Or Have any idea how to solve?
Another question, If I have a movie with ftp 29,9 and want to converto ti ftp 25; how can make.

Thanks in advance.

[Choller]

How do i make submenu's ?

Can't figure it out.

[Choller]

No one ?

[jaeshin]

Hi! What is the best setting for making DVD from DV home movie?

I've been trying to transfer DV home movies of son to DVDs but I am confused with many variables.

1) What's the difference between "variable" and "constant" video data rate? "Constant" data rate of course requires a lot more disk space but is it worth it?

2) Talking about data rate... what's the best setting for regular home movie? Videofactory and DVD workshop tell 8000 best, 6000 good, and 4000 fair. Do I need to go with 8000 in order to make it as good as commercial DVDs? 8000 only puts an hour of video on a DVD when 6000 puts 90 minutes.

3) What's that quality bar in Videofactory setting? It was set for 70 but when I changed it 100, the file size remained the same? What is it?

4) Is DVD format as good as DV? I tried to make a short DVD from one of my DV movies but it wasn't as good as the original. (I think with Videofactory with 6000 data rate...) In fact, it was far worse than commercial DVD movies. So is that what I should expect or am I missing something here?

5) Let's go to audio setting. What's the best setting for audio for a home movie? LPCM, MPEG, frequency???

6) Oh... last one. How long does it take to convert 1:30 of DV to MPEG2 for DVD? This afternoon, I tried to use DVD workshop to convert one and it took almost 8-9 hours. Unfortunately the movie was too long to fit in one DVD. Generally speaking?

Your answers will be much appreciated. By the way, if you can email me, it will be super! jaeshin@msn.com

Thank you!!!

[Baldrick]

Don't use moviefactory to convert letterboxed/widescreen divxs cause it can't keep the aspect ratio. Use instead tmpgenc or some other standalone mpeg2 encoder.

[tony2k]

Hi guys,

thanx for all the useful info above, and the guide, both very helpful. Just a quick question in regards to this overhead that occurs when i have used TMPG to convert a movie. The video and audio files add up to 3.9 gig. But when i add them to ULead MF2 they become 6 gig. The only way round this is if i uncheck the non- complient mpg box. Then the file size goes down to 4gig. I have burned with this setup before and they come out fine. What difference does checking or unchecking the box make to TMPG converted files ( i cant find a visible difference)

Thanx

P.S every time i finish burning a movie on Ulead it says cannot eject disc, i have too shut down the program, and then eject. the dvds work fine though. Any body had this prob????