OK, I got fed up with trying to edit with MF4 so I have been using this method - and it seems 100% successful!
1. Use Pcgdemux to rip the dvd recorded in your recorder to the hard disk, it seems to take a while but its no slower then the temp file MF4 makes.
2. Use Imagompeg to join together the audio and video the Pgcdemux makes (both programs are freeware).
3. Use Mpeg2vcr to edit the video ($49 but demo available) and then save the edited mpeg with mpeg (not ac3 audio).
4. Use the stable MF3 to create dvd! Mf3 dosen't support AC3 so thats why I save the file with mege layer 2 audio.
This has been very succesful and as most of the software is free or demo its worth a try.
A foolproof way to edit DVD from a standalone recorder!
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maddrummer3301
- Posts: 2507
- Joined: Fri Dec 10, 2004 10:24 pm
- Location: US
Hi,
You can import videos with Dolby audio into MF3 or MF4 as long as they are Dvd Compliant and you have the "Do Not Convert" checked, AND you don't edit/trim or modify the video or audio.
You can't preview the audio within MF but the audio will be on the final dvd unless you have MF3 Disc Creator that can handle Dolby. MF3 or MF4 will take the original mpeg file and multiplex it into the VOB containers. Passing the original material along, just handling it.
MF4 has dolby included even in the standard edition.
If your using a dvd recorder and having trouble with MF3 importing the chapters, or don't like the video being split up into small files instead of the complete video(s) this method will work to import a complete 4.2 gig file Provided you have recorded the material correctly and it's one mpeg2 file on the source dvd.
Record the video in the -VR mode.
Create a playlist in the dvd recorder assigining the complete video to
the playlist. When you import the dvd into MF3 the name of the playlist will showup as playlist1, etc. Do not click on the default top choice.
MF3 will import complete playlists. So the complete movie will be imported and not broken up, -VR mode only because only the -VR mode has playlists.
If the dvd recorder records in +VR mode then the only choice if your using MF3 is to set "No Chaptering" on the dvd recorder. Then you can import the complete video. Not all dvd recorders have the "No Chaptering" feature(s).
Just one point to remember on a dvd recorder/camcorder everytime you record something and stop recording this creates a mpeg2 file on the dvd. (Or if you split/divide the video).
I use the "Pause" feature more on the dvd recorders in order to keep only 1 mpeg2 file on the dvd. This way I don't have to join the videos in a computer. Same with a dvd camcorder. Check it out. My material was recorded on a "Sony RDR-GX7" in -VR mode on dvd-rw disks.
Have transferred at least 40 VHS tapes for people to dvd and imported them into MF3 (complete mpeg2 file using the playlist feature).
Then create chapters, menus and burn a dvd to DVD-R brand name disk.
MF4 importing also works good. Importing playlists is different in MF4 than MF3. With MF4 you use the -VR module and right-click on the video and save it.
After installing MF4 with the updates I no longer need to create a playllst on the dvd recorder to import the complete movie. With MF4 I select the "Top Selection" which is the complete movie.
With MF4 you can also mark & preview the dvd marking only a section of video to import. That's a nice feature if you only want part of the complete movie.
My process now if I have to do any Mpeg2 editing (ouch) is import using MF4 or VS9. Perform the editing in VS9 and dvd creation/burning in MF4.
Depends on what editing is needed.
Hope this helps,
MD
You can import videos with Dolby audio into MF3 or MF4 as long as they are Dvd Compliant and you have the "Do Not Convert" checked, AND you don't edit/trim or modify the video or audio.
You can't preview the audio within MF but the audio will be on the final dvd unless you have MF3 Disc Creator that can handle Dolby. MF3 or MF4 will take the original mpeg file and multiplex it into the VOB containers. Passing the original material along, just handling it.
MF4 has dolby included even in the standard edition.
If your using a dvd recorder and having trouble with MF3 importing the chapters, or don't like the video being split up into small files instead of the complete video(s) this method will work to import a complete 4.2 gig file Provided you have recorded the material correctly and it's one mpeg2 file on the source dvd.
Record the video in the -VR mode.
Create a playlist in the dvd recorder assigining the complete video to
the playlist. When you import the dvd into MF3 the name of the playlist will showup as playlist1, etc. Do not click on the default top choice.
MF3 will import complete playlists. So the complete movie will be imported and not broken up, -VR mode only because only the -VR mode has playlists.
If the dvd recorder records in +VR mode then the only choice if your using MF3 is to set "No Chaptering" on the dvd recorder. Then you can import the complete video. Not all dvd recorders have the "No Chaptering" feature(s).
Just one point to remember on a dvd recorder/camcorder everytime you record something and stop recording this creates a mpeg2 file on the dvd. (Or if you split/divide the video).
I use the "Pause" feature more on the dvd recorders in order to keep only 1 mpeg2 file on the dvd. This way I don't have to join the videos in a computer. Same with a dvd camcorder. Check it out. My material was recorded on a "Sony RDR-GX7" in -VR mode on dvd-rw disks.
Have transferred at least 40 VHS tapes for people to dvd and imported them into MF3 (complete mpeg2 file using the playlist feature).
Then create chapters, menus and burn a dvd to DVD-R brand name disk.
MF4 importing also works good. Importing playlists is different in MF4 than MF3. With MF4 you use the -VR module and right-click on the video and save it.
After installing MF4 with the updates I no longer need to create a playllst on the dvd recorder to import the complete movie. With MF4 I select the "Top Selection" which is the complete movie.
With MF4 you can also mark & preview the dvd marking only a section of video to import. That's a nice feature if you only want part of the complete movie.
My process now if I have to do any Mpeg2 editing (ouch) is import using MF4 or VS9. Perform the editing in VS9 and dvd creation/burning in MF4.
Depends on what editing is needed.
Hope this helps,
MD
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keithm
have you tried Womble's mpeg2vcr? It blows MF4 away for editing mpeg from a DVD (as long as you rip it like I said). It's extremely fast, you can preview the edit and undo it if it's wrong (MF's multiedit won't do that), it seems to hold sync better than MF4 too.
I really wanted to like MF4 (I have MF2 and MF3) but I'm getting better results with Mpeg2vcr and MF3 for dvd authoring: I'll try an ac3 file in MF3, but as I mpeg2vcr can save it as mpeg layer 2 with little hit on the time to render the file, its ok as it is.
I've just suggested the above as a lot of people do have problems with MF4 - so its just to show there are alternatives that work.
I use Ulead Photoimpact 9, and MediaStudio 6.5 so I'm not anti Ulead, but somewhere along the way I think they've lost the plot with MF4..
I really wanted to like MF4 (I have MF2 and MF3) but I'm getting better results with Mpeg2vcr and MF3 for dvd authoring: I'll try an ac3 file in MF3, but as I mpeg2vcr can save it as mpeg layer 2 with little hit on the time to render the file, its ok as it is.
I've just suggested the above as a lot of people do have problems with MF4 - so its just to show there are alternatives that work.
I use Ulead Photoimpact 9, and MediaStudio 6.5 so I'm not anti Ulead, but somewhere along the way I think they've lost the plot with MF4..
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maddrummer3301
- Posts: 2507
- Joined: Fri Dec 10, 2004 10:24 pm
- Location: US
Hi,
I thought you would be interested to know you can pass the audio through and create a dvd without re-rendering the file(s).
I learned that trick back with Video_Studio 6 & 7.
I purchased MF4 when it was first released. Had problems with the initial release but the problems aren't there anymore on my machine after the updates.
I say "On my machine" because as you know it seems like no 2 computers are the same.
I have the complete suite of MF4 installed and it's working. I like the packet writing better than Nero InCD. Also have Nero installed on the same machine.
I'm curious what problems people claim to have because many people have emailed asking questions and their MF4 is working. I do know that many people are trying to import divx or mpeg4 and convert them to dvd. I only use those type of files for streaming video. Converting back to dvd is very hard to do and most of the time they are ripped dvd's.
Nero also will import the dvd's. The latest version of Nero 7 can record direct to mpeg with 5.1 audio. Nero 7 updates are different than Nero 6. They are very large and it's one update to cover all the installed programs.
I've heard Womble and the software your using is very good. Specific to Mpeg editing like VideoRedo. Most of my mpeg editing is limited.
I cut/trim out commercials in a video on the dvd recorder before it hits the computer. Eliminates any audio sync problems.
I have an older version of Womble.
MD
I thought you would be interested to know you can pass the audio through and create a dvd without re-rendering the file(s).
I learned that trick back with Video_Studio 6 & 7.
I purchased MF4 when it was first released. Had problems with the initial release but the problems aren't there anymore on my machine after the updates.
I say "On my machine" because as you know it seems like no 2 computers are the same.
I have the complete suite of MF4 installed and it's working. I like the packet writing better than Nero InCD. Also have Nero installed on the same machine.
I'm curious what problems people claim to have because many people have emailed asking questions and their MF4 is working. I do know that many people are trying to import divx or mpeg4 and convert them to dvd. I only use those type of files for streaming video. Converting back to dvd is very hard to do and most of the time they are ripped dvd's.
Nero also will import the dvd's. The latest version of Nero 7 can record direct to mpeg with 5.1 audio. Nero 7 updates are different than Nero 6. They are very large and it's one update to cover all the installed programs.
I've heard Womble and the software your using is very good. Specific to Mpeg editing like VideoRedo. Most of my mpeg editing is limited.
I cut/trim out commercials in a video on the dvd recorder before it hits the computer. Eliminates any audio sync problems.
I have an older version of Womble.
MD