MS8 TBYB question about burning a DVD

TubaDad · Post by **TubaDad** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 4:06 pm

I have installed the MS8 TBYB and have reached the point in my first test project that it is time to create menus and bruce the DVD. I guess my question is, "is the trial version crippled so that I can't burn a DVD?" If so, that kind of defeats the TBYB. There is no way for me to validate the surround sound funtion without being able to burn a DVD.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.

tyamada · Post by **tyamada** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 4:12 pm

I think its kind of messed up because the content pack contains DVD Movie Factory, that's what you use to make a DVD. I'm not sure where you can download the content pack for MSP8.

TubaDad · Post by **TubaDad** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 4:17 pm

When I was going through the documentation, which I hate to have to revert to, I noticed reference to MF. So I downloaded the TBYB of MF4 also. But I can not figure out how to get an MSP project into MF for burning. I am assuming there is something missing when they are brought in separately. I spent a lot of time trying to figure it out before posting with no luck.

I also wonder about the activating of a TBYB. If the trial is what gets activated, then I would only end up with half of the product.

Thanks for the response.

tyamada · Post by **tyamada** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 7:47 pm

In MSP8 Under the Export selection when the MF4 is installed you will see DVD AUTHORING as a selection.
When you select Authoring, it just starts MF4, no smooth transition to the video file you created. Just use the video file you created.

If you purchase a license you should go through Elements 5, you will get a serial number and a link to download MSP8 and the Content Pack.

TubaDad · Post by **TubaDad** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 4:01 am

Even after installing MF, I don't have the Authoring option under export. Maybe I need to have MF4 installed before MS8. I'll have to try removing and reinstalling MS8 this weekend and see if that helps.

Based on the way it works together I just expected that I would have been able to call up the project some way in MF4 once it was installed.

Thanks for the reply.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 6:13 am

This is one of those areas where MSP8 and VS9 differ.
With MSP8 there is an option to
File
.....Export
..............DVD Authoring.

Even with your video on the MSP8 timeline, a box pops up asking you to select a video file for use with the authoring program (MF4) and this is the way it ought to be in VS9. It is a safety net to make sure you render your video first before trying to author a DVD.

When you get the full version of MSP8 you are given a whittled down version of MF4, there are no editing facilities in this version of MF4. Having said this, you would not want them anyway because you have the more powerful MSP8 for your editing.

Devil · Post by **Devil** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 9:28 am

You can always render the MSP trial project and then take the rendered file into MF4 trial, to see how it works. Granted, you don't have the integration from the timeline that comes with the full version, but, technically, it's the same.

TubaDad · Post by **TubaDad** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 4:27 pm

Thanks for the replies Steve and Devil.

One problem that I have with rendering first is that, at least VS, would never pick up the chapter breaks and I would have to manually set every one. That is one of the reasons I differ from the recommended process. I just found that I liked the additional help better in the creation process. That might be something I have to get used to with MSP8.

When I take the rendered video file into MF4 to create the project, it does not give me the option of creating a DVD with surround sound. That is actually the biggest thing I want out of MSP. There are other benefits, but the surround is the top of the list for me, otherwise VS9 meets my current needs.

Thanks again.

Devil · Post by **Devil** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 7:10 am

MSP8 chapter cues, in editing, work fine with rendered files. I have exported files to WS2 with no problems and I believe it does the same to MF4. The only proviso is that you have to run a command to actually translate the cues to chapter points.

As for 5.1, quite frankly, I would wait for SP1 before going ahead along these lines. Even before release, the beta testers found a number of issues with the implementation and which could not be corrected before release. As it stands, it is a little lame and has some restrictions.

TubaDad · Post by **TubaDad** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 1:59 pm

I just found the chapter cues and will work with them. I was very surprised at how long it was taking to render a project that I had put together. It is only some titles and a number of MPEG files. I need to try and run the render over night to see how far off the estimate is, but I don't think I am going to want to live with 42 hours (estimate) rendering for a 1.5 hour project.

I wonder if they will give us 5.1 sound in VS10

, after all 5.1 is in Pinnacle 10.

tyamada · Post by **tyamada** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 4:53 pm

I think the time estimates defaults to about 42 hours for a large project, however the time will drop to a realistic time after awhile.
I responded to a user that was doing 45 min of HD video, his estimate was 42 hours. The project took about 4 hours to render.

It might be a bug in MSP8.

Devil · Post by **Devil** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 8:08 am

TubaDad wrote:I just found the chapter cues and will work with them. I was very surprised at how long it was taking to render a project that I had put together. It is only some titles and a number of MPEG files. I need to try and run the render over night to see how far off the estimate is, but I don't think I am going to want to live with 42 hours (estimate) rendering for a 1.5 hour project.

I wonder if they will give us 5.1 sound in VS10 , after all 5.1 is in Pinnacle 10.

With your hardware, I would estimate that encoding a 1½ hour DV type 1 project should take about 2 hours, give or take an ounce or two, assuming your settings to be 6000 kbit/s CBR and AC-3 (DD) 2.0 192 kbit/s.

With non-compliant MPEG files, or any other lossy type, it will take a lot longer, as each frame, other than the I frames, has to be re-constituted and the higher the initial compression, the longer it will take and the more the quality will suffer.

If your incoming MPEG is DVD compliant, you should take care that it is not re-encoded and the time taken will be correspondingly shorter. If you re-encode, you will suffer poor quality. MPEG-2 is designed as a distribution format, not as a working format. Think of it as a WORM (write once, read many times).

TubaDad · Post by **TubaDad** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:26 pm

Thanks Devil. For this trial that I am running I just took a set of MPEGs that were created in VS9. I was looking at comparing the rendering between the two packages. So the clips are MPEG2, 6000 vbr (not cbr), LPCM audio. The only difference in what I am trying to render to is the audio to DD 5.1, everything else matches. I don't know what the difference is in the audio, but that is all that would have to be rerendered, if necessary.

Again, the biggest thing I am shooting for is the 5.1. This initial test is a concert video and having the surround sound will just add what I want to it.

Thanks again.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:50 pm

The time rendering indicator will go up and down like a yo-yo.
When it hits a spot with several video/audio tracks/transitions/filters etc it will indicate a very long render time. It no doubt thinks the whole video is like that.
When you get back to a single video/audio track the indicator will start to drop the remaining render time considerably.
You know where you have placed "heavy bits" and so should treat the displayed render times with a pinch of salt. Wait until it gets to a lighter area then mentally add some extra on for those heavy bits.

Steve J