Why isn't there a program that really works????

[henryw]

My DVD authoring requirements are VERY simple:

take NTSC DVD compliant (720x480, MP2 CBR video, MP1L2 48KHz or AC3 audio) files under 4GB (usually 1-2GB segments transcoded via TMPGenc from SVCD or AVIs),
create 5 min spaced chapters,
add a still picture with 4s duration at beginning and end,
no menus,
create VIDEO_TS files with re-encoding....

so far nothing works reliably!!!

DVD Workshop: almost but not quite....chapters are never were the thumbnail shows, chapters CANNOT be set in the last 15-20% of any clip (it always shows the timeline to be less than it really is in the EDIT window), 50% of the time the VOBs come out with jerky segments(the biggest problem!!!) on playback in PowerDVD and in players, the program flat ass crashes as you add chapters (at least on all my XP systems)

DVD Movie Factory:easy chapter setup but always gives "chapter frame # exceeds total frames" error requiring dropping chapters at the end of each clip, 50% of the time the VOBs come out with jerky segments(the biggest problem!!!) on playback in PowerDVD and in players

anyone know ANY program that meets my needs...RELIABLY???

thanks

[GenePool_]

dvd architect

[drewson99]

could you detail the probs you are having with Movie Factory? they don't sound like "normal" problems.

[henryw]

drewqson99 said: "could you detail the probs you are having with Movie Factory? they don't sound like "normal" problems."

its fairly simple....I add 4, 1GB clips from a movie...each is about 30mins
I auto add the chapters at 5min intervals....
no menu
it previews fine in MovieFactory2....
then I go to create the _TS folder with the IFOs and VOBS....it crashes on the first segment with a "chapter fam # exceeds total frames"...I then remove the last two chapters form the clip and restart...then it crashes after multiplexing to the end of the second clip...I have to remove its last two chapters...so on and so on....reminds me of the bug in DVD Workshop that prevent chapter creation in the last 20% of a clip...maybe similar code base heritage...

BUT the real killer is the jerky playback....as I said, the original MPGs play smooth in PowerDVD and Window MediaPlayer...and under preview in the MOveifactory, but the resulting VOBs intermittantly freeze for .25s then catchup....very annoying...unwatchable....again, the same problem with DVD Workshop...note that this does NOT occur on all compilations....so I suspect that even though I use hte same TMPGenc templates to transcode, some source have something in them that after transcode to DVD compliance, makes the ULEAD tools barf on them...

[JamesB69]

I had the same problem with both Ulead Products. Finally settled on DVD Maestro and it works perfect.

[henryw]

soory should have read "chapter FRAME # exceeds total frames" in my previous messsage.....fat fingers...small brain...

[henryw]

Just tried DVD Architect....it does not meet my list of minimum requirements as stated above...
1. won't accept MP1Layer2 audio without recoding....also does not accept the MPG files, although it should...they ARE DVD compliant..and it wants to create 2X the file sizes
2. Doesn't seem to have away to eliminate the main menu...I want no menus...just clips played consequtively....

thanks for the suggestion anyway...

[splissken]

I had the same problem in Movie Factory 2 with the jerky playback until I adjusted the bitrate - I had it set too high. What bitrate are you using when you make the DVD?

I usually capture using somewhere between 4000 - 5500 depending on the amount of time I need, and as long as I create the DVD in MF2 using the same bitrate I recorded in, I don't have any problems...when the bitrate in MF2 is higher, then I get the playback you described.

[GenePool_]

re: DVD architect. not sure what you mean when you say that it wants to create files sizes 2x.....

It should take MP1LII audio

[henryw]

Finally, I think I have it figured out.....

First, the chaptering problem....it boils down to this...ULEAD products get hosed up if PULLDOWN is in effect....these are all film (24fps) clips that have been re-encoded to NTSC 29.9fps...this requires 2:3 pulldowns...it inserts 20%( a familiar number from where the chaptering hoses up in a clip eh?) more frames to get the 29.9fps

if I transcode to PAL at 25fps where there is no PUULDOWN added, then the chaptering works like a charm (at least in MF2...haven't tried DVD Workshop yet)....also PowerDVD now shows the right time also when playing the .mpg clips...

Second the jerkiness....I think this is a purely TMPGenc problem...when I use CCE encoder (am using DVD2SVCD in its AVI to MPG mode), this disappears....at first I though it was a "unclosed GOPS" issue since my params for the CCE encoder had them closed and TMPGenc encoder params didn't have it set...but setting it to close them didn't change the hesitations with TMPGenc...not to say I don't have something else hosed....


So, now if the source is FILM, I make a PAL DVD...otherwise NTSC and transcode appropriately....

[Bob W]

http://www.mediostream.com/products/neodvdplus/index.html