Playlists and Movie layout in DVDMaestro

[blahski]

Hi, can someone please advise me on the following -

I'm authoring a DVD which contains 4 TV episodes with 5 chapters each, and would like to be able to play each episode on it's own, or all episodes in a row, via a menu.

The only way I've been able to do this, is to combine all the m2v and ac3 files together into 1 long "movie", and then create 4 playlists to play the 5 chapters of each episode. the main movie can then be played as the "play all". ie,

Title 1 = Play all
Title 2 = Episode 1 only
...etc....

The 2 problems I have with this are -

1. It doesn't seem to want to let me import the chapters from the *.chp file saved from chapterXtractor, even if I set an offset in chapterXtractor. It will only import chapter points that have a time that is before the end of the first m2v file. So I have to enter the chapter points manually.

2. when I set up the "Play all", it plays as 1 title with 20 chapters, rather than 4 titles with 5 each.

Can anyone suggest an alternative, or explain the options available in Maestro.

Also, is there any sort of manual or guide for Maestro floating around anywhere?

Thanks.

[joepic]

Can anyone suggest an alternative, or explain the options available in Maestro.

Also, is there any sort of manual or guide for Maestro floating around anywhere?

The PLAYLISTS funtion in Maestro has not been well defined in many guides. The first guide referenced below does show an example of PLAYLISTS.

Here is ALL of the GUIDES that I have found on the web for Maestro:

Spruce DVDMaestro
http://www.geocities.com/eaussie01au/maestro.html
http://digital-forums.com/dvd2dvdr/intro.htm
http://www.fukrulez.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=11
http://www.doom9.org/index.html?/mpg/maestro.htm
http://www.doom9.org/mpg/maestro.htm
http://www.doom9.org/mpg/maestro2.htm
http://myweb.cableone.net/trilight/dvdguides/multipgc/default.htm

DVDMaestro - product definition
http://www.spruce-tech.com/products/dvdmaestro.html

[VidGuy]

If you use playlists, I think you're hosed and can't do what you want.

What I would do is make each movie separate, and then use a command sequence on each button to set a register to remember which button was hit, and another command sequence at the end of each video to decide to go on to the next video or return to the menu.

It's a little bit advanced, but the command sequences aren't really that hard to work with - a little bit of playing around and you'll probably get it.

[joepic]

If you use playlists, I think you're hosed and can't do what you want.

What I would do is make each movie separate, and then use a command sequence on each button to set a register to remember which button was hit, and another command sequence at the end of each video to decide to go on to the next video or return to the menu.

It's a little bit advanced, but the command sequences aren't really that hard to work with - a little bit of playing around and you'll probably get it.

Excellent information VidGuy, how about a GUIDE on COMMAND SEQUENCES for Maestro?

Can Command Sequeces be set to play CHAPTERS from different movies in any order or is this beyond the limits of Maestro and should be saved for Scenarist?

Thanks

[marvel2020]

Yeah i liked to see a guide on Command Sequence's as well.


Please, someone do a nice little guide PLEASE PRETTY PLEASE

[VidGuy]

I'll see what I can do on a guide - I've only used them a bit here and there, but they can be darned useful.

I've not found anything that had to be done in Scenarist so far - everything can pretty much be done in Maestro, unless you need very strict control over your PGCs - then you need Scenarist (Maestro does a few things behind your back when using playlists).

[Vejita-sama]

http://www.doom9.org/mpg/maestro.htm

This guide answers most of your questions. Here's what I recommend:

It sounds like you ripped a DVD that had multiple eps and made seperate m2v/ac3 files for each eps along with chapters for each (from chapter extracter). If so then I suggest:

1) Create a new movie for each eps (the above guide tells you how, but basically in the left dialog window right click on movie and choose new).

2) Add the m2v/ac3 and import chapters for each movie

3) Click on the command prompt icon (see guide for pictures). Set first play to movie1-chapter1, and set the last play of movie1 to movie2-chapter1. You get the idea, set everything up to play to the next movie. You can have the last eps return to the main menu

4) Make you menu (see the above guide).

[blahski]

Thanks all for your help, I'll have a muck around with command sequences next chance I get. Would also appreciate a guide, as I got "lost" the first time I tried them.

[VidGuy]

http://www.doom9.org/mpg/maestro.htm



3) Click on the command prompt icon (see guide for pictures). Set first play to movie1-chapter1, and set the last play of movie1 to movie2-chapter1. You get the idea, set everything up to play to the next movie. You can have the last eps return to the main menu

The only problem with this approach is that you can't play a single episode and then return to the menu. To do that - you need to use playlists or command sequences.

The maestro.htm link has nothing on using command sequences - just basic authoring with DVD Maestro. Howver, the DVD Maestro help file does have a pretty good explanation of command sequences - you might check that out.

To joepics question - you can do almost anything you want in command sequences, since they have "variables/registers" to remember things for you. So if you had 8 episodes, you could set up 8 4-bit variables (4-bits to hold 0-7) - store the order, and then at the end of each episode, it would move everything down 1 and then jump to the movie in the first variable/register. It's a bit tedious, but it can be done (There's probably an even better way to do what you mentioned, but this one is what comes to the top of my head quickly).

<Edit> - after reading this, I realize you actually need 9 variables - you need to be able to hold numbers 1-8, and use 0 as a "we're done" flag to signal that it's time to go back to the menu.

[joepic]

To joepics question - you can do almost anything you want in command sequences, since they have "variables/registers" to remember things for you. So if you had 8 episodes, you could set up 8 4-bit variables (4-bits to hold 0-7) - store the order, and then at the end of each episode, it would move everything down 1 and then jump to the movie in the first variable/register. It's a bit tedious, but it can be done (There's probably an even better way to do what you mentioned, but this one is what comes to the top of my head quickly).

<Edit> - after reading this, I realize you actually need 9 variables - you need to be able to hold numbers 1-8, and use 0 as a "we're done" flag to signal that it's time to go back to the menu.

By "8 Episodes" do you mean 8 chapters from 2 different movies that can be played in any order as an example?

Just got to use the same terms!

Thanks

[VidGuy]

The original question was about TV "episodes", so that's what I was talking about.

You cannot jump between movies without a great deal of "monkey motion" - the DVD spec doesn't allow it (where, by "movie", I mean DVDMaestro's idea of a movie, which is really a VTS). But if you "concatenate" all of your episodes/movies/whatever together and put chapters on them, you can certainly create different orders of playing by using the command sequences.

[jbenj01]

hello friend..

i'm attempting the same kind of backup that you are -- X-Files season DVD. Wanted to let you know that there is good guide on doom9.org, however, it is NOT in the guide section. Rather, it's in the 'authoring' forum section with a lind provided for the guide. can't remember exactly, but it's called:

"IFOUpdate, CCE, and DVDMaestro Method for Backing Up a DVD to DVD-R" -- do a search for it.

I'm finishing my project up tonite and hopefully it will work for episodic tv series DVD's.. I used DVD2One method for tv series, but the quality is pretty bad.. so I wanted a episodic guide that used CCE and the above guide was the only one i could find that kept the ORIGINAL menus and extras (without having to create your own menu in Maestro).

if you can't find it, let me know.. give me your email address and i'll scan a hardcopy and email it to you..

[joepic]

You cannot jump between movies without a great deal of "monkey motion" - the DVD spec doesn't allow it (where, by "movie", I mean DVDMaestro's idea of a movie, which is really a VTS). But if you "concatenate" all of your episodes/movies/whatever together and put chapters on them, you can certainly create different orders of playing by using the command sequences.

Thanks VidGuy

I now understand that PlayList function will only work if there is ONLY ONE movie (MOVIE1) in Maestro with mulitple Chapters that can be linked with PlayLists. I was approacking it the other way with multiple movies.

[VidGuy]

Depends what you call "one movie".

I've put 8 extras (all separate "movies") into one DVDMaestro movie slot, use, put chapter marks at the end of each one, and then a playlist, then you can easily have a menu play all 8 consecutively or any one individually. (You use the "Create sync audio" to let DVDMaestro create an audio track for the 8 movies concatenated together).

[marvel2020]

Same here.

I'll be authoring a DVD using Maestro, which will see 4 episode's of 24 Season 2, each on there own timeline, Each being played individualy and a Playall Button to play 1 after another

Using the Playlist function on DVD Maestro.

Although i still have 2 more to Capture from TV .

[furball6969]

In Maestro, to play the next episode or video clip, set the end action of the last chapter to the first chapter of the desired clip.

[furball6969]

What you guys want to do is actually quite simple. I'll make a guide and post a link shortly.

[marvel2020]

Hehe i already have a guide.

Although in PDF format

[furball6969]

Here it is.

[joepic]

Depends what you call "one movie".

I've put 8 extras (all separate "movies") into one DVDMaestro movie slot, use, put chapter marks at the end of each one, and then a playlist, then you can easily have a menu play all 8 consecutively or any one individually. (You use the "Create sync audio" to let DVDMaestro create an audio track for the 8 movies concatenated together).

"one movie" = one timeline (MOVIE1). If you have 2 movies then they are on seperate timelines (MOVIE1 & MOVIE2). Each movie has multiple chapter points. Then BUTTON1 plays MOVIE1 only, BUTTON2 plays MOVIE2 only, BUTTON3 (PLAY ALL) plays MOVIE1 then MOVIE2, finally BUTTON4 plays CHAPTER2 from MOVIE1, CHAPTER1 from MOVIE2 and finishes with CHAPTER 1 from MOVIE1. Will this work with PLAYLISTS in MAESTRO?

If I understand correctly this will NOT work as each movie must be on the same timeline, ie MOVIE1 only. If you put multiple movies on the same timeline then use the "audio sync" to add the audios it will only work for AC-3 not MP2 audio files.

[joepic]

Here it is.

furball6969

I just looked at your PLAYLIST example.

I think you are on to something, let me see if my idea is correct.

1. A PLAYLIST can duplicate ALL or some of the CHAPTER points in a movie timeline?

2. You can have mulitple PLAYLISTS per movie timeline?

3. If 1 & 2 are correct then lets try my example using 2 movies on seperate timelines:

a. MOVIE1 has 3 CHAPTERS.
b. MOVIE2 has 2 CHAPTERS.
c. Create 2 PLAYLISTS for MOVIE1. PLAYLIST1 only has CHAPTER1
PLAYLIST1A only has CHAPTER3.
d. Create 1 PLAYLISTS2 for MOVIE2, CHAPTER2.
e. Create BUTTONS that do the following:
1. BUTTON1 plays MOVIE1
2. BUTTON2 plays MOVIE2
3. BUTTON3 plays PLAYLIST1A, PLAYLIST2 and then PLAYLIST1.

If this example works then MASETRO and you just opened a lot of doors for me!

What do you think furball6969?

[furball6969]

It's not actually that complicated. Only one playlist is needed per timeline.

It is the links in the connections window that make it work. Pay close attention to the links in the GIF's.

Edit

Yes, you can edit the playlist for each movie to only play certain chapters, jsut right click on the chapter where they are listed and delete the ones you don't want. For this you will need to have more than one playlist per movie. Then you will also need to add another command sequence and link your menu button to that which is linked to your modified playlists in the comand editor.

[joepic]

Yes, you can edit the playlist for each movie to only play certain chapters, jsut right click on the chapter where they are listed and delete the ones you don't want. For this you will need to have more than one playlist per movie. Then you will also need to add another command sequence and link your menu button to that which is linked to your modified playlists in the comand editor.

furball6969 you just became the MAESTRO MAN!

This configuration for MAESTRO (play ALL, play 1 of n movies (each on a seperate timeline) or play CHAPTERS from 1 to n movies in different order) has been raised MANY times in this forum without a successful answer.

How about a GUIDE published here at DVDRHELP showing this example?

THANKS for ALL of your HELP.

[furball6969]

Thanks!

I have created a guide in DVDRhelp.com user guides section.

[blahski]

You might be interested in how I ended up doing this (using the help I received).

I sorted it out using command sequences but no playlists (could've done it that way but this made more sense to me). Basically created each episode as a separate "Movie", linked a button to each as you would normally for single ep play, then created a "play all" button. This button calls a command sequence that sets register GP0 to 1, then jumps to ep1. I then created a command sequence for each ep that is the end action. it checks if GP0=1, if it is, it jumps to next ep, otherwise goes back to the menu. the command sequence for the "end action" of last ep, sets GP0 back to 0. Easy

Thanks for all the help.