VS10 problem audio narration

[infact]

I already PMed this to a member but thought it worthwhile to post to the forum:

OS: XP home
Intel Mother board & CPU 3.4 gHz; 1 GB Ram,
ATI video card x600 AIW, PCI X
250 GB hardrive 7200 rpm
Sony HDV; firewire live feed interface with microscope capturing in DV format.

I'm having some trouble preparing to produce DVDs

I tried the following:

1/ I inserted video clips into the timeline which I had previously captured and saved.

2/ I then trimmed the video clips for the part I wished to use and saved them one at a time using the DVD 4:3 format in the Share function.

3/ I then inserted each shortened clip into the time line in the order I wanted.

4/ I then narrated over the clips where I wanted narration. Everything appeared to go fine.

5/ I then played the project to preview that everything was okay. It seemed just fine.

6/ I then saved the entire project, again using the DVD 4:3 template in the Share function.

7/ When it finished rendering the audio had vanished except for the first little bit of narration. I could not locate a version with the audio anywhere.

Can you tell me if I did something wrong?

Tim

[Ron P.]

Hi Tim, and welcome to the forums..

First I think your major problem is when you Save to DVD... then go back and edit.

What it appears is that you are capturing to DV/AVI format, correct? I say this due to you using a firewire to capture/transfer your video. However to clarify this, what format are you capturing to?

You should do all your editing before going to Share>Create Video. You can save (and should) regularly during your editing process. This however saves the project file (VSP), which is a set of instructions, telling where the clips are stored on your system, any cuts, transitions, effects and so on.

While in the Edit step, you should then add your voice over narrations. Then again after all editing is completed go to Share>Create Video, and create a DVD compatible MPEG-2, which is the DVD 4:3 format.

I will add that it is possible to edit, MPEG-2 files, and to burn discs, DVD Folders or ISO files, jumping from the edit step to the burn, problems can occur. So in my opinion, to limit problems with VS, following the recommended procedure to Capture, Edit, Create Video file, then Create Disc is better.

You may want to read Steve's tutorial , called From Camcorder to DVD, which could help you alleviate your problems.


Ron P.

[infact]

Hi Ron,

Thank you for replying and your kind welcome.

Yes, I had thought I stated I am capturing in DV format. The strange thing about the whole deal was that I have settings to automatically save project changes but could find them nowhere.

So it appears what you are saying is that there is a problem with saving things in DVD format and then inserting them back to use again in a major project. That seems kind of lame. That would mean that if I store short clips in DVD format for viewing or showing to students then I also need to store the same footage using another format so I can utilize it in a major project for a DVD production. Some of these clips may be stored on the hardrive for months as a means of research record keeping and then later used for DVDs.

This short falling is definitely not what Ulead advertises.

If this is indeed the case can you recomend software which is more professionally oriented which also provides for the full screen live feed?

Sony does not and ATI does not interface with firewire.

Cheers,
Tim

[sjj1805]

What you can do is render any short edited DV (avi) clips in the same format - DV (avi) and then use those edited clips. You only convert to MPEG2 when all editing has been completed and you are ready to move onto the authoring stage.

[infact]

Thank you Steve. I guess that means that I need to dump all those clips I saved in DVD and start over. I read in Ulead's literature that one could even pull a clip from a finished DVD to add to the DVD being authored. I guess not eh??

I thought it would work because I practiced with a short clip first which I had already saved with DVD but I think I skipped practicing the audio part.

Cheers,
Tim

[sjj1805]

You can pull a video from a DVd but it will be in MPEG2 format - not the best raw material to work with.

Where possible use DV (avi) for all your editing. It is not always possible because some of your raw material may have originated from elsewhere such as a TV card in MPEG2 format or as you say 'ripped' from an existing DVD. You might be inserting photographs from a digital camera or scanner.

Sometimes it is best to break things down into small manageable steps rather than one large one. You can edit an entire 2 hour video with cuts, transitions, titles, sound FX and so on.

Or

Do small bits at a time and render a new smaller video for each piece.
Bring them all together as one final edit and render to MPEG2 format ready for the authoring stage.

It's a bit like building. Start with the foundations. When the cement has dried add the walls, put on the roof, install the windows and doors and so on. Leave everything to dry before painting and wallpaper is hung.