VideoStudio 10 DVD burn error

[kboerner]

Nature of the problem:
I have tried multiple tweaks to get Ulead Video Studio 10 to burn a DVD, following suggestions I saw to other user's issues with no luck. When I attempt to write to DVD, I receive an error message stating 'failed to burn to DVD.' Some of the information is written properly every time to the DVD, but only part of the first chapter.

Testing:
I have tried several changes to determine what might be causing this problem, none have corrected the issue:
- Completely unistalled Nero in case of conflict
- Follow proper burn process outlined by jchunter_2, particularly creating an mpeg2, never burning with anything in the timeline view, etc
- Purchased a new Sony rewritable DVD burner in case my laptop drive had an issue (incidentally the internal burner worked fine with Nero before I uninstalled the application)

Properties of your source files (format, file size, where did you get it?)
Captured video from Sony HC-32 camcorder to .avi.
Converted to mpeg2 file. Followed procedure outlined in 'Sticky' posting.

What devices are involved and their mode of connection?
Sony DVD +-RW DW-D56A internal DVD burner
Also tried Sony DRX-800UL external DVD burner (USB connection)

Project Settings


Output format (file, DVD, VCD, SVCD)
DVD

PAL or NTSC
Using NTSC

Error Codes (if any)
'Failed to burn to DVD'

System information
Dell Inspiron 600m laptop, Windows XP, 1GB RAM, Pentium M 1.8GHz processor, Sony DVD +-RW DW-D56A internal DVD burner, also tried Sony DRX-800UL external DVD burner.

Questions:
- Is the list of compatible DVD drives on Ulead's site an all inclusive one? Neither of the Sony drives I have is listed, but I find it hard to believe that Ulead may not be compliant with these rather mainstream Sony units.
- Is there any feedback someone can give on whether these drives might be added to the compliant list?
- Can someone please help give me positive feedback to support pursuing Ulead? I really love the software as it is powerful enough for my interests, yet easy enough for my wife to use, and gets past my issues with Nero, except for the burning to DVD. I really want to make Ulead work and buy a version, but if I can't get the trial version to work properly, I can't justify this.

[Ken Berry]

Do you get any other msg when you start the actual burn? Not an error msg but something like 'This process will take some time'? If so, then the program thinks that the mpeg-2 you created is not fully DVD compliant and is going to convert it. If so, this where problems come in, particularly if your computer is not overly well endowed.

When you converted your DV to your mpeg-2, what format did you choose in Share > Create Video File: 'DVD' (correct) or 'MPEG-2' (potentially incorrect)? And did you make sure 'Do not convert compliant mpeg files' in the Options cogwheel icon in the bottom left of the burnin screen, was selected?

[sjj1805]

Try checking your Windows XP error messages
If you have "my computer" displayed on your desktop
right click "my computer"
manage
expand "Event Viewer"
now look at the error messages in
1. Application
2. System

Look for items with a red circle and white X inside.
Double click the error. Double click the blue link which should give you some guidance about the error found.
If it mentions a Hard Drive Error click here

[lancecarr]

You could also try different blank DVD media. There is always the possibility that the burners you have used do not have write strategies specific to the brand or make of DVD you are using. In some cases the software/hardware/firmware/media brand combination will "wing it" and get the job done and in other cases the combination falls over.
Always burn at 4x, never higher regardless of the claims of manufacturers of burners, software or media.

[maddrummer3301]

.

[kboerner]

Update: So I followed jchunter_2's RECOMMENDED PROCEDURE again and took some notes while checking each step off after completion.
Result: DVD failed to burn completely and correctly. After 14 minutes, Ulead VideoStudio 10 give the following error:
Failed to burn data onto the disc.
[534:-2147216291:0]
I stepped through each individual's suggestions/ questions, and wrote responses below. I have yet to verify, but hope the last user's advice (maddrummer3301) may provide a suitable solution for me (using Ulead to build a disk image and writing to DVD with another application.)


Relevant Notes:
- Roughly 120MB of the total 150MB that should burn to the DVD is written properly (in VIDEO folder .BUP, .ISO and .VOB files.) This occurs each time, regardless of the recent and previous changes I have made based on my own tests and others' suggestions.
- More information is listed in my responses to questions and below.


Thanks for everyone's input. Here are answers to questions raised thus far:

Ken Berry
- Initially, I converted DV using Share > Create Video File: 'DVD', and also tried jchunter's suggested 'custom' selection to NTSC DVD (with quality increased to 100%.)
- I double-checked manually to ensure 'Do not convert compliant mpeg files' was selected (it appears that was the default anyway when I wasn't checking.)
- Upon command to start burning, Ulead does NOT state 'Converting Videos, This will take a long time...' A dialogue box does pop up, however, with 'This action will take some time to render.' All video file parameters lined up exactly as jchunter
suggested in his procedure (with a couple slightly different menu options due to Ulead 10 which should be irrelevant), so I feel fairly confident the file format/ burn format is not an issue. Also for reference, most of the time required to process and burn (about 11 minutes before timeout) is spent converting the menu. The disk begins recording disk (writing at ~1.5x) roughly 8:15 into the process.

Steve J
- Event Viewer results: I saw no applicable errors in Application or System with respect to Ulead and the DVD burner no longer acting properly. There was one System Information Event from Source: Service Control Manager stating 'The IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service service entered the stopped state.' Note that the timestamp on this informative event was 5:10pm, whereas the burning process ended at 5:19pm. I'm guessing maybe this means Ulead was taking control from another service when it started to write to the DVD?

lancecarr
- I had previously tried swapping DVD's (Sony 4x DVD-R and Nexxtech 8X DVDs) using both the internal Sony DVD writer and external Sony UL8000. Before I uninstalled Nero to ensure there was no application conflict causing an issue, it was writing fine with the internal DVD writer using its more crude video editing software (same original captured .avi test file.) Your comment about the software/hardware/firmware/media brand combination still does concern me in that maybe even with the second DVD writer, there may be a compatibility issue. I try to purchase more common (sometimes meaning more expensive) hardware and software to reduce likeihood of compatibility issues, but you never know.
- Ulead automatically chose to write at between 1.2x and 1.6x in the various burn attempts, and up to 3.5x I believe with the external DVD writer, so I don't believe the write speed is an issue either.


maddrummer3301
- Thanks for the info. I need to reinstall Nero, and might not have a chance until tomorrow. In any case, I expect this will be the workaround solution that I will use, in the event the source of the burning issue with Ulead is not determined. [/b]

[maddrummer3301]

.

[solo]

I have bought ULead and used it 3 times and each time it burned ok, however on the 4th video that I tried to burn I too received the error message failed to burn. The only difference was that I had changed the disc type to LightScribe DVD-R 8x. After replacing the disc with Packard Bellwas I able to burn ok.
There are other problems with Ulead Video Studio 10 software that I am not happy about particularly when panning with the camera panning on the final production results in stepping. This I have to sort out.

[Ken Berry]

The 'stepping' effect you get in panning shots is normally called 'jaggies'. And it is usually associated with using the wrong Field Order. In other words, if you captured video using Lower Field First, but then included it in a project which used Upper Field First, you would see jaggies in fast-moving or panning and zooming shots.

So you will need to check what the exact Field Order was in your original video, and compare that to the project properties and also the burn properties if they varied in any way.

The secret is always to use the same Field Order throughout a project. And not mix and match video using different Field Orders in a single project. The only exception to this is if you use Frame Based video with either UFF or LFF.

And, as a general guide, normally video captured from a mini-DV digital video camera is LFF, and from analogue capture sources, it is mostly (though not exclusively) UFF. A number of mini-DVD and hard disc video cameras also, I understand, use UFF. However, a number are also, I believe, now using Progressive Scan as that is compatible with digital/HDTV. Progressive Scan is equivalent to Frame Based. I think one or two of the more expensive analogue capture devices also capture using Progressive Scan.