Long Project File Question

MPH711 · Post by **MPH711** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 10:25 pm

I'm using VideoStudio 9 and have a project that will be just under 4 hours long. It contains 22 MPG files. Without having anything on the storyboard I went to burn the DVD by adding the files as recommended. The project, as expected, took almost 8 hours to do it. The DVD came out fine except betwen each of the 22 files it left a gap of a couple of seconds...if one of the files ended cold (without a fade) the picture looks like it freezes on the last frame for a full second or so before moving on to the next MPG video. But for most of them when a fade was involved...it take a couple seconds to get to the next track.

Because of this I had an idea to take all 22 MPG files...put them on the storyboard...and add transitions betyween them and then go to SHARE and make one big file of the entire project. This way when I go to burn it, it will be only the one file. When I went to make the one file it didn't take long to render the whole thing...BUT it split my video into 4 separate files intead of making just one big file. Would I be right in assuming that there is some sort of a file size limit. If that is so, does anyone have an idea how I can put it together and loose the gaps between each file?

Thanks much,
Mike

Post by **Ken Berry** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 10:38 pm

I am assuming that the files you are burning are all DVD-compatible mpeg-2 files...? But can you confirm their properties, please. It would also be extremely useful to know what the total size of these files is, as well as the type of disc you are burning them to.

However, the behaviour they exhibit after the successful burn you described seems to me normal. You have in effect burned 22 separate titles to the disc, and even though you have set the disc to play continuously instead of reverting to the menu, there is normally a brief pause between titles. The length of the pause appears to depend on the stand-alone DVD player being used.

As for file size limitations, as far as I am aware, the only one which could arise is if you are not using the NTFS filing system on your computer. You also don't tell us anything about your computer, so we just don't know. Non-NTFS systems (including XP systems where the FAT32 filing system has been retained) are limited to 4GB maximum files. But this in turn again begs the question of how large your total file size is...

MPH711 · Post by **MPH711** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 10:52 pm

Ken,
I'm using an XP system on an HP computer. The files are MPEG-2. I believe you must be right...4 Gig file limit. The first 3 files it made are 3.99 gig and the final one is 2.17. So it's over 14 gigs total.

I haven't had any problems before...but I never did one project that is this large. I burned this on one 4.7 disc (fit to burn).

When I originally added the 22 files...I guess I was asuming they would burn without a gap betwen them...but since you say this is normal...I just may be stuck with the project this way.

Thanks for your help.

Mike

Post by **Ken Berry** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 11:06 pm

I have no idea what HP does with its computers. But you can check the file system you use by going to Control Panel > Computer Management > Disc Management. This will list your drives and the file system used on them.

Be aware that if they are FAT32, you can in format them to use NTFS without harming the existing programs installed, including XP itself. Disc Management will also allow you to reformat the disc(s) (Action > All Tasks).

I might also add the comment that if you managed to used 'Fit to disc' to squeeze that volume of files onto one single layer DVD, then it is about the first time I have heard of anyone on this Board successfully using that feature!

MPH711 · Post by **MPH711** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 11:13 pm

Ken - I surpised myself when it burned it all...and pretty nice I might add. Now, I've looked over disc management and found that the hard drive I have the files on are FAT32...however my main HD is NTFS. Should I just try saving them to that NTFS drive?

Mike

Post by **Ken Berry** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 11:19 pm

That should work, if you have the space available on the main disk...

MPH711 · Post by **MPH711** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 11:21 pm

I'll try to make some space. I'll let you know what happens. Thanks again

Mike

MPH711 · Post by **MPH711** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 5:24 pm

Ken,

I was able to save the file to my main hard drive (14 gigs). Then I burned one DVD (took 8 hours) and also made a Disc Image file of it. Now I will check out the DVD but so far everything looks great and of course in-sync. You'll recall the total length on the disc is 3 hours 53 minutes. Wow!

Thanks again.

Mike

Post by **Ron P.** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 6:07 pm

MPH,

Could you please complete your system specs in your profile page? I'm running an HP machine, and I've never tried burning such a large disc. Just curious if I might be able to. I generally limit mine to around the 1hr mark.

Ron P.

MPH711 · Post by **MPH711** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 2:45 am

I have an HP Pavilion 2.53 Ghz Pentium 4.

I have run into a problem. In an effort to put this nearly 4 hour video together, I have combined all 27 clips into one file that is 14 gig.

I went to share - added in where I want the chapters on this one file and went ahead and burned a DVD...then an Image disc file.

When I tried to play the disc...it looked like it was going to play but it wouldn't. I then burned a disc using the Image disc and I got the same thing.

Remember, I have burned this long project a few days ago and loaded each "chapter" in as a separate video...it burned fine...I just didn't like the pause between each chapter so in an effort to make it all run smoothly together I combined all chapters and did a "create video file" (which gave me the 14 gig file). I guess I'll just re-try doing this (it's an 8 hour project in making it happen) unless someone has an ideas of where I went wrong.

Mike

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 3:11 am

I bet you burned at maximum!
I have a 16x DVD Burner and I use 8x discs. From my experience I have found that it is fraught with danger to burn at speeds higher than 4x.

Some standalone DVD players will accept anything.
Some refuse to play discs burned higher than 4x
Some will play those same discs but with errors.

When I burn at 4x (or less) all the DVD players my discs have been tried in have played correctly.

If its not the burn speed then it could be the brand of discs, a bad batch of discs or the firmware of your DVD burner needs to be upgraded.

MPH711 · Post by **MPH711** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 3:50 am

It burned at 8 times and I haven't had a problem...even with the previous 4 hour DVD. Here is something that is different between the two burnings:

The first time (when I made the video using 27 individual videos I used "Fit To Burn"...I swear it showed figures that it was taking it from like 14 Gig to 4.7 on the DVD. It also came up with a screen that said "To fit, we will use the calculated video data rate of 2000 Kps to burn the CD. Do you want to continue?" I said yes and it turned out fine.

Because I didn't like the transition time from one video to the other...I made 1 big 14 gig file all blended toether. Then I went to "Fit To Burn"...this time it said something a bit different.."To Fit we will use the calculated data rate of 7500 Kps..."

Si it said 7500 instead of 2000 the time it worked. I noticed even though I hit "Fit To Burn" it really didn't change the figures that said how much space for the DVD or image file.

What am I messing up on?

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 3:55 am

MPH711 wrote:It burned at 8 times ..........
What am I messing up on?

You answered your own question.
Also.... instead of fit & burn do it manually.

MPH711 · Post by **MPH711** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 2:20 pm

Thanks Steve. I will try the manual way. I guess the thing that got me is when I was going to make the DVD and I added all 20 some parts to the video and went to fit & burn...it calculated to 2000 kps...and burned it fine.
Yet when I made all those 20 some videos into one big file and tried to fit & burn it calculated to 7500 kbs & didn't burn correctly. I think it didn't do it right because it calculated it differently...I wonder why? Anyway, thanks for the help in giving me the manual directions. I will get that bit rate right!

Mike

MPH711 · Post by **MPH711** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 1:47 pm

Steve - I have burned it now using the manuel method. I set it for 2000 kbs and it turned out great. 3 hours and 53 minutes on one DVD. Thanks for all your help.

Mike