I don't know what to do anymore

[sXeChic]

First I'd like to say that over the past few years I've made over 25 compilations and all of them have been a great success if using Videostudio 7, 8 or 9. I have not made any compilations with version 10 since it shuts down as it feels.

Anyway. This past month I have been working on three compilations. All is well, I create a video with the timeline and follow the proper procedure. Then I go to create disk and also save the files on my desktop. I also burn the project and when I watch it playback on my standalone, the picture is choppy and skiddish. BUT the vob files from that project are fine on my computer. I'm so confused.

After losing so many blank DVDR's, I've given up on all these compilations and now I'm wondering how I can play the project back through Ulead and have it go into my standalone DVDR so I can record it that way. I have a capture card but it only has inputs. I really need to get these files off my computer, they've been there since the beginning of October. I've tried other programs and it's with every program. There's obviously no solution but to hook my computer up to my standalone.

How do I hook this up? I have my TV hooked up as a second monitor so if I wanted to I can watch my compilation on the TV, but when I record it doesn't record what I see, only what's currently playing through my standalone DVDR.

I'm baffled, completely. I've never had this problem but these compilations are not working. All the videos in the compilation were captured with my capture through Ulead from my DVDR, just like all my other compilations, nothing is different, the videos come from the sources as the others. This doesn't make sense.

[2Dogs]

First I'd like to say that over the past few years I've made over 25 compilations and all of them have been a great success if using Videostudio 7, 8 or 9. I have not made any compilations with version 10 since it shuts down as it feels.

Since you've been successful with so many previous projects, you almost certainly are thoroughly familiar with the RP, and check your settings at all stages. Do you still have VS9 or any earlier versions installed? You should be able to run both VS9 and VS10 on your pc. You might then see if VS9 still works for you. Although it's hardly a solution to your problem, it might give some clues as to what's going wrong.

Anyway. This past month I have been working on three compilations. All is well, I create a video with the timeline and follow the proper procedure. Then I go to create disk and also save the files on my desktop.

By that I presume you mean that you also create DVD folders on your pc, right?

I also burn the project and when I watch it playback on my standalone, the picture is choppy and skiddish. BUT the vob files from that project are fine on my computer. I'm so confused.

Can you still play the earlier compilation DVD's on your standalone player ok? If so, that should rule out a problem with the unit, but you might also see if the new problematical DVD's play on friends' or relatives' players.

After losing so many blank DVDR's, I've given up on all these compilations and now I'm wondering how I can play the project back through Ulead and have it go into my standalone DVDR so I can record it that way.

To save on coasters, you could burn to an RW disk before making copies.

I have a capture card but it only has inputs. I really need to get these files off my computer, they've been there since the beginning of October. I've tried other programs and it's with every program. There's obviously no solution but to hook my computer up to my standalone.

How do I hook this up? I have my TV hooked up as a second monitor so if I wanted to I can watch my compilation on the TV, but when I record it doesn't record what I see, only what's currently playing through my standalone DVDR.

Whereas it may well be feasible to do all this, it just seems like too much of a hassle. You should surely be able to sort out VS10. Although I don't doubt that there are some bugs in VS10, there are also lots of more or less happy users.

I'm baffled, completely. I've never had this problem but these compilations are not working. All the videos in the compilation were captured with my capture through Ulead from my DVDR, just like all my other compilations, nothing is different, the videos come from the sources as the others. This doesn't make sense.

It may be possible that your burner is playing up. They don't last forever, especially if there are smokers in the house. I don't suppose you've experienced any problems with data disks lately have you? You could try burning at really low speed, see if that changes anything. Buners are also very cheap, and there's no harm in having two in a pc if there's room.

[sjj1805]

Please view:
DVD Burning / Playback issues

[sXeChic]

Since you've been successful with so many previous projects, you almost certainly are thoroughly familiar with the RP, and check your settings at all stages. Do you still have VS9 or any earlier versions installed? You should be able to run both VS9 and VS10 on your pc. You might then see if VS9 still works for you. Although it's hardly a solution to your problem, it might give some clues as to what's going wrong.

Yes, I've been making the compilations with VS9.

By that I presume you mean that you also create DVD folders on your pc, right?

Can you still play the earlier compilation DVD's on your standalone player ok? If so, that should rule out a problem with the unit, but you might also see if the new problematical DVD's play on friends' or relatives' players.

Yes. I just created yet another compilation with VS9 and created the folder for the VOB files on my desktop and the VOB files, when played with PowerDVD play a great finished product from VS9. But the burned result has a choppy result. The bitrate is 5000 and I've viewed the finished DVD on two different brand DVD players, one on a Panasonic DVDR and the other a Apex DVD player. So VS9 actually creates a wonderful DVD as I can see with the VOB files on my desktop but for some reason, that picture isn't the same on DVD.

To save on coasters, you could burn to an RW disk before making copies.

That's the strange thing. I was giving a RW disk by somebody and there's something I don't need on it but it won't let me delete it. Nero told me if I try to burn it will automatically delete it but instead it tells me to insert a blank disk. So I do have a RW but for some reason I can't experiment with it.

It may be possible that your burner is playing up. They don't last forever, especially if there are smokers in the house. I don't suppose you've experienced any problems with data disks lately have you? You could try burning at really low speed, see if that changes anything. Buners are also very cheap, and there's no harm in having two in a pc if there's room.

I just got this computer in July and they built it with the DVD burner and I have thought from time to time maybe it's defective or something but then it burns everything else just fine. It just doesn't want to burn the compilations I make with Ulead with the correct picture. Well, the picture is correct but when there's movement it looks choppy. These are the only disk I have problems with. I create disk with avi and mpg files just fine with another program but as for the compilations I capture and burn, they don't come out right. I'm burning at 4x and have tried three different brands of disks.

I went to the link right above and updated both versions 9 and 10 but I'm not sure if it's actually the program that's causing this strange result. The VOB files that Ulead creates are perfect so that's why I'm thinking of just playing them into my DVDR and recording the compilation that way. I wish there was some obvious explanation but I'm clueless.

[sjj1805]

Check your DVD Burner manufacturers website for updated firmware.

Firmware is software that is inside the DVD Burner it self that enables it to communicate with your PC. Think of it in the same way as you would your computer BIOS.

Every so often the manufacturers release new firmware to enable your burner to function with a wider range of DVD discs as new makes appear on the market. They also tweak the burner performance every now and again.

[CycleWriter]

That's the strange thing. I was giving a RW disk by somebody and there's something I don't need on it but it won't let me delete it. Nero told me if I try to burn it will automatically delete it but instead it tells me to insert a blank disk. So I do have a RW but for some reason I can't experiment with it.

Unless the CD-RW was formatted and recorded using a drag-and-drop utility like DirectCD, you can not delete or add individual files from it with other burner software. You would have to erase it before it would again be recognized as a blank disc by any burner software other than what was used to originally record it. Programs like DirectCD are fine for archiving, but useless for anything else. Once a rewritable disc has been formatted for DirectCD (or similar packet-writing program) it can not be used for any other purpose outside of that program.

[sXeChic]

Unless the CD-RW was formatted and recorded using a drag-and-drop utility like DirectCD, you can not delete or add individual files from it with other burner software. You would have to erase it before it would again be recognized as a blank disc by any burner software other than what was used to originally record it. Programs like DirectCD are fine for archiving, but useless for anything else. Once a rewritable disc has been formatted for DirectCD (or similar packet-writing program) it can not be used for any other purpose outside of that program.

Aw, I see. I have no idea how he did it.

Anyway, since the advise of upgrading my firmware came along, I immediately started looking into just that. I found out that my Phillips 8801 can be updated only with BenQ 1650 firmware. I wasn't sure if I liked that idea so I started asking around so that'd be my last resort. I posted on the forum with other users with other Dell machines and I was told to do a mixture of things, but it never did solve the initial problem. After burning, the picture is choppy. Excellent picture when the people are still but once they move, well, my guess it looks similuar to what acid can achieve.

Tonight I wanted to try one more thing before I update the firmware. I put my folders on the network (we have a three computer network with a router) and I moved the files onto another computers hard drive (so I'm using a different burner, one that was in my computer previous to purchasing this one) and I burned the project. I put the DVD in and the same problem occurred so it's not the dvd burner after all.

In the past I've tried capturing the picture with Ulead, then using the internet share option to make a short file so I can show others what I'm dealing with but somehow on the computer, everything changes to a fine picture.

I'd like to know. Is there anyone I can send one of these many messed up compilations to and maybe then somebody can take a quick look and go "Oh, this is what she's doing wrong in Ulead" by chance? Back when I only had version 8, I used to (I know it's a no no, now I do) make disk with the files in the timeline. I'm wondering if I do that again, if things will be fixed. Or if maybe 5000 is an odd number, because references go from 3,000-4,000 up to 8,000 but I've found that 5000 will make the compilation fit perfectly for a 2 hour compilation.

So is there a way I can share what this looks like or send one of these comps (now it's up to 5 of them ) to somebody? I'm pretty sure members of this board will be able to just look at it and be able to help within a couple seconds.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

When I watch it playback on my standalone, the picture is choppy and skiddish. BUT the vob files from that project are fine on my computer. I'm so confused.

If the playback is choppy I would suspect a Field Order problem.

The type of capture ¡Vanalogue or digital¡Xdesignates the order as Upper or Lower.

How did you capture your video? To Mpeg or Dv-Avi? Via firewire or capture card?
What are the capture properties of your video.?
When you Share-Create Disc- what template did you use.?
What are these properties?

If you used 5000kbps, did you create your own template?

Read my Quick Guide to DV-Avi and Quick Guide for Mpeg

Trevor

[sXeChic]

Hi

When I watch it playback on my standalone, the picture is choppy and skiddish. BUT the vob files from that project are fine on my computer. I'm so confused.

If the playback is choppy I would suspect a Field Order problem.

The type of capture ¡Vanalogue or digital¡Xdesignates the order as Upper or Lower.

How did you capture your video? To Mpeg or Dv-Avi? Via firewire or capture card?
What are the capture properties of your video.?
When you Share-Create Disc- what template did you use.?
What are these properties?

If you used 5000kbps, did you create your own template?

Read my Quick Guide to DV-Avi and Quick Guide for Mpeg

Trevor

As soon as I answer your questions I will check out your guide.

I'm using version 9 because I attempted 10 tonight and went insane with the templates.

I'm capturing from Digital cable
NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
MPEG files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
LPCM Audio, 48000 Hz, Stereo

When I go to create Video File I change it to:
MPEG files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 5000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 128 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)

Normally I only change the audio so the video will fit on the disk.

When I create a disk, I make sure to keep the fields the same as the 5000 kbps order.
I create chapters every 3 minutes, then I use one of the premade menu templates. I change the background and put music in the background as well. I also change the title, remove chapter menu and thumbnail number and rarely use the motion menu. Sometimes I use a video as the background instead.

[sXeChic]

Oh by template you didn't mean the picture. I use the custom to make sure the property is the same as:

MPEG files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 5000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 128 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

By template I mean the properties used for the video file.

You have use ¡¥Custom¡¦ that¡¦s ok
When using custom select Ntsc-dvd as the compressor¡Xyes?

You could have selected a number of options above the ¡¥custom¡¦ option
Or
Create your own using Tools-Make Movie Manager

-------------------------

What do you actually mean by (I'm capturing from Digital cable)

Is this firewire or composite cable, Sorry to dwell on the point.

Trevor

[sXeChic]

Yes, I use the custom and use NTSC.

[sXeChic]

Lowerfield picture=bad
Upperfield picture=worse

1 field left. I'm afraid to try it and risk another coaster. I have no more money for disk.

Can I send my compilation to somebody so they can tell me how to fix it?

Never saw a picture look so choppy in my life.

[Ken Berry]

No one appears to have mentioned in this thread -- though it is raised in Steve's referenced tutorial -- the burning speed. Since everything else seems to have been covered and not worked, I just wonder if you could try burning at as slow a speed as the disc will allow. Some DVD players have difficulty with home-made discs burned at high speeds since in effect the signal has not had enough time to be burned deeply enough into the tracks... That could also account for the erratic play you have been experiencing on stand-alone machines...

[sXeChic]

No one appears to have mentioned in this thread -- though it is raised in Steve's referenced tutorial -- the burning speed. Since everything else seems to have been covered and not worked, I just wonder if you could try burning at as slow a speed as the disc will allow. Some DVD players have difficulty with home-made discs burned at high speeds since in effect the signal has not had enough time to be burned deeply enough into the tracks... That could also account for the erratic play you have been experiencing on stand-alone machines...

I've burned at 4x. The slowest any programs I've tried has allowed me.