Movie Factory 4.0 = Buggy and only Slightly Improved

[iamjcl]

Have had MF 2, MF 3, and just (bought) MF 4.

I have been using Tsunami TMPEG DVD Author for about 6 months because it is the only app I have found that gets most everything right.

- Will import DVDs by chapter, or not.

- Will not re-encode entire DVD if you cut out 3 seconds of black.

- No lipsync, etc... etc...


Anyway, So far I can say that MF 4 STILL wants to re-encode the entire project if you want to cut out 2 seconds of video. No effects, nothing - just a cut. TMPEG has no issue with this, and others don't either.

Also, It is impossible to set the working directory.

MF 4 always wants to assign my working directory as C:\.........MF 4.....


My C: drive is OS only.

Every time I change it, it changes it back. Even tried eliminating all refs. to this directoroy in registry - no go.

You DO seem to be able to import DVDs with chapter stops or without, at least.

These problems I have discovered in the first 20 minutes of trying to make it work.

NOT ready for prime time.

- Chris

[maddrummer3301]

Hi,

I don't understand why it's always defaulting back to your home
directory. That isn't happending on mine.
Have you saved a project?
Maybe you have to save a project for it to remember.
It writes those settings to your home directory in .ini files so when
you run MF again in can reload the previous settings.
What version of windows?

>Anyway, So far I can say that MF 4 STILL wants to re-encode the entire
>project if you want to cut out 2 seconds of video. No effects, nothing -
>just a cut. TMPEG has no issue with this, and others don't either.

Try MainActor from mainconcepts. It makes compliant mpeg files.
Other programs that stitch the mpeg together make the mpg file
fall out of compliancy. That makes dvd creation programs lockup
when creating the vob containers.

VideoRedo is supposed to be excellent.
I wouldn't put MF4 high on the list for mpeg editing.
Best to use it for dvd creation or dv.avi to mpeg etc.

Nice feature to be able to create a slideshow and immediately
export it out to any format.

MD

[htchien]

Strange, I just did a test and I can set the working folder to drive D: and E: in my DVDMF 4 and it will not reset it to C:, not knowing why you cannot set the working folder properly...

I assume you have clicked on the OK button when you close the Preference dialog, right?

For the re-encoding issue, you can do the followings:

1. Click on the Gear button on the bottom left corner in DVD MovieFactory (or hold the Alt key and press J).
2. Click on the Change MPEG Settings button and select Customize, then adjust the project settings to precisely match the properties of your source materials.
3. Click on OK to return to the Project Settings dialog.
4. Check Do not convert complaint MPEG files.
5. Uncheck MPEG audio as non DVD-complaint if you see the option available.
6. Uncheck Support X-disc if you see the option available.
7. Uncheck Two-Pass Convertor if you see the option available.
8. Click on the OK button to close the Project Settings dialog.

Then the Ulead Smart Render technology will be activated and DVD MovieFactory will not re-encode your source materials, unless for:

1. Any media clips that are been edited.
2. Any media clips that do not match the project settings.
3. Your source materials are slide-show pictures.

These steps will work for other Ulead video/DVD products also.

Hope this helps.

H.T.

[iamjcl]

Unfortunately, any MPG settings produce the same result, and I had the problem on MF3 as well. The source MPGs are from a Sony standalone DVDR, and are fine in any other app, and are fine in MFxx as long as you don't try to do a simple "cut" edit.

Seeing the large number of "issues" MF4 seems to have at the moment, I will discontinue use and revert to TMPGenc DVD Author, as it is bulletproof for my purposes.

- Chris