Should it really take this long?

Shikina · Post by **Shikina** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 6:42 pm

I'm using a trial version of MovieFactory5. Basically, I have a dvd whose chapters I wanted to move around a bit, so I used MovieFactory to collapse all the chapters into one stream of audio/video. However, the process of exporting it out of MovieFactory is going super slow. In fact, the software is telling me that it's going to take 3.5 hours! The dvd is less than 90 minutes of actual content. Is this happening because I'm using the "free" version? Am I doing something wrong? Or is this how long the software takes?

Thanks for your help!

DVDDoug · Post by **DVDDoug** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 7:32 pm

It is NOT because it's the trial version!

It could take that long, if the MPEG is getting re-coded. And, you didn't say anything about your computer's specs.

When you get to the screen with the burning options, check the box that says Do Not Convert Compliant MPEG files. This will also help to preserve the original video quality. (You loose quality with each MPEG encode.)

Depending on what kind of editing you did, a re-code may be required. (And, there can be other mysterious reasons why Ulead doesn't "think" you have a DVD compilant file.)

mmpo · Post by **mmpo** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 1:10 pm

The Checkbox for DVD complient MPG files doesnt work according to me. It renders everything (very slow) whether ticked or not. Just one of the many errors in version 5. See my other posts.

MF5 takes about 6 times longer on the same project as MF4.

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 3:12 pm

Shikina,

If you can use the "Fast Export" feature that will speed up the process quite a lot. That is IF the option is active and not greyed out.
If it's greyed out then that means your combining more than one physical mpeg2 file on the harddisk.
Then you would use the "Fast Export Dvd Compliant" setting and
under the "Gear" icon select "Change Mpeg Settings" -> Customize and change the project settings to MATCH the properties of your source material your working with.
(Right-Click on the First Thumnail and select "Properties" to display the source materials properties).

For right now it's best to change the "Project Properties" to Constant bit rate until they release an update. The resulant video will be much nicer than variable_bit_rate. The variable_bit_rate setting keeps defaulting back to 4200 no matter what the "Project Settings" are set for.
In my opinion Constant bit rate produces an overall nicer flowing video anyway. When you use variable_bit_rate you should always use 2 pass encoding. 2 pass encoding with mpeg editing is time-consuming with minimal disk savings anyway.

The "Fast Export" or "Fast Export Dvd Compliant" video uses "Smart Rendering" to speed the process up.
The process depends on the source material.
The "Fast Export' uses the videos properties. The "Project Properties" you have set are not used with the "Fast Export" feature.
The "Fast Export" is really nice when you import already dvd compliant files.
The "Fast Export Dvd Compliant" feature works similar but the program chooses whether the "video and audio" or the "Video OR audio" is dvd compliant. It's confusing, but if the video is dvd compliant and the audio isn't then the program will keep the original video and change the audio to the settings you have set for the "Project Settings".
Vice-versus with the video & audio above.

Just remember IF when you import any video and they aren't dvd compliant then IF using the "Fast Export" the video stilll will NOT be dvd compliant and have to be re-rendered. Hence, use the "Export Dvd Compliant" feature.

Hope this helps,

MD

Shikina · Post by **Shikina** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 6:47 pm

Thanks for the responses. Maddrummer, I did select the fast export feature, and all of my files are begginning and ending in mpeg format, so I frankly don't understand why anything needs to be converted whatsoever. What really boggles my mind though, is how I'm importing 3 gigs of info, but after I've joined together my clips and begin the export, Movie Factory wants to make it into 6 gigs of info! So not only is it taking over four hours to export, but its actually increased the length of the dvd so that I can no longer fit this onto one dvd. Pardon me for saying this, but it appears to me like this is a cruddy program.

As for dvddougs question about my computer specs, I'm running this all on a DELL Inspiron 2650. It has a Pentium 4 1.7 Ghz, with 384 MB DDR RAM. Now, I know that this isn't the fastest machine in the world, but its certainly not supposed to be this slow. Unfortunately, I think that I will need to find a better dvd authoring tool.

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:02 pm

Hi,
The program is new and does have some bugs but going by your original post it's not possible to "Fast Export" your project. If you imported separate chapters into MF5 then they are separate mpeg2 files on the harddisk.
If you joined them then the "Fast Export" feature can't be used (greyed out).

I think you are exporting using the "Fast Export Dvd Compliant" setting.
If that's the case then you need to change your "Project Properties"
to probably around 5500kbs with dolby audio for approx 90 minutes of video.
If you change the project properties PRIOR to exporting the video then MF will display the new settings in the timeline extimation display at the bottom of the page.

To change the "Project Properties":
Click on the GEAR icon
Change Mpeg Settings -> Customize
2nd tab is the "Compression Tab"
Change to Constant bit rate of 5500
Audio = Mpeg 224kbs (You are using the trial version).

Click OK
Look at the estimation bar now.

Now if that didn't work it's because your video is "Already DVD Compliant".

Export the video using the customize feature and set the encoding parameters manually or choose a preselected template.

To re-encode a 90 minute mpeg video not being smart-rendered will take a good deal of time.

You never posted the "Properties" of the videos you imported.
Whatevey properties you set to export should equal the source videos properties.

You never mentioned the source dvd and how it was made.
If programs like "Dvd Shrink" or ripping programs created the dvd it will take awhile to re-encode the material.

Hope this helps,

MD

mmpo · Post by **mmpo** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 7:00 am

I never said it's not possible to use DVD complaint capture. I said it doesn't work. I state my fact on the case of using exactly the same video clips, same propereties (project settings) and export settings in both MF5 and MF4. On exactly the same projects, MF5 take 5 - 6 times longer than MF5. Whether I tick (or untick) DVD compliant setting makes no diffs on time rendering in MF5, but does in MF4.)
Whether it's the DVD comlpiant settings or not, there is something seriously wrong with MF5. I have this program now for approx. 3 weeks, and it's useless: Slow rendering; ages to save; doesn't cut joined clips in the right place; only renderes part of the last chapter of a joined clip; crashes without reason; the back to menu setting doesn't work (goes on playing next clip) etc; etc. - this was the point when I had to stop using it and redone in MF5. There might be several more faults.

Not even talking about the few templates issue. According to support it's not an "upgrade" but rather a different program. Why then the upgrade offer, similar name, etc. So much for a upgrade!

Still very dissapointed with MF5!

htchien · Post by **htchien** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 5:16 pm

Detailed properties of the source files and the project properties would be great.

Also how complex is your project in both DVDMF 4 and 5? I mean, is there any slide-show albums in the project?

H.T.

mmpo · Post by **mmpo** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 6:24 am

The video files (no photos) are 7 seperate clips. One plays on it's own, 5 joined to form a new chapter, and another playing on it's own. Thus three clips on the "homepage".
I've used the Smart scene menu (05_oneS02) showing the 3 clips. When clicking the 2nd, it goes to the 5 clips in the new chapter. The individual clips doesn't start at the points as inserted (mostly to early- thus in the previous clip) and the last clip only plays the first 30 secs or so - its 5 min long. The back to menu doesn't work as well, as the clips keeps on playing one after the other, although not set that way.
My video clips are all MPEG 4380 KBps, Upper field, PAL DVD 720x576, MPEG sound 256KBps.
Due to the fact that the MF4 doesn't have Smart scene Menus, I tested with normal clips - 7 thumbnails. Still the back to menu didn't work and the project took about 5 times longer to render than the one in MF 4. Exactly the same clips and same project settings in both. ?????

mmponline · Post by **mmponline** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 7:41 pm

Not getting any replies in 5 days means that I was probably right when saying that the program has several bugs!

Do you think a SP will be out soon? and
Will it address these problems?

htchien · Post by **htchien** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 5:20 am

I would suggest to export the joined clip to a new video file that match the project settings by clicking on the Export button in the Add/Edit Media stage and then use the exported clip in your project as the 2nd chapter.

Also make sure to check the "Do not convert complaint MPEG files" in the project settings.

I think MD had provided many information on the export thing here.

Hope this helps.

H.T.

mmponline · Post by **mmponline** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 6:30 am

I'm sorry, but I'm tired of workarounds due to bad programs. The new chapter (2) has 5 clips in it, and when I split the clip, it will probably not cut it at the right point, as it currently does.

I will rather stick with MF4 (that works alright after the several SPs) and hope that Ulead gets their ducks in a row. Otherwise I'll have to start thinking about a refund like several other useres in this forum.

Ulead is in for major problems if they keep on distributing "new" releases with all the problems they do. I've been following the new Video Studio 10 and PI 11board as well, and it seems to follow the same BUG path as MF5 and MSP8. Pitty!!!!