Video Studio 9 SE with DVDXpressDX2 Multiple Mpg files

Archer · Post by **Archer** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 8:26 am

I'm running into an issue with multiple mpg files. When I create a DVD, the mpgs show up as chapters, but only play per chapter. How do I make multiple mpgs run continuously as a movie? I know that if I have only one mpg and create chapters, it will do that. But when I break down a capture with multitrim video, why can it not play as a complete movie?

Thanks,

Archer

GeorgeW · Post by **GeorgeW** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 8:35 am

I haven't used VS9 in a while, but check hit the little gear icon (bottom left corner). There should be an item for "Clip Playback" with some options to either return to menu or play next clip

Regards,
George

Post by **Ken Berry** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 9:01 am

I am not sure, but there might be some confusion over terms here too -- not to mention a question about workflow.

I am guessing somewhat, as you don't give us much information to go on. But I am assuming you capture video with the Adstech device. Then use VS9 to multitrim it into what appear to a number of mpeg-2s... I suspect that (after whatever other editing you might do) that you then go straight to Share > Create Disc.

The burning engine which appears then uses your *project* file and treats each multitrimmed part as a separate title (not chapter). That's fine so far as it goes, but, as George suggests, you need when you build your menu to specify that it 'play next clip' if you want all the titles to play consecutively.

If this is mostly accurate, then I suggest that after you multitrim your video, and do what other editing you want, you first go to Share > Create Video File > DVD. This will then render all the separate multitrimmed clips into one new DVD-compatible mpeg-2.

Then you close the project and with an empty timeline, go to Share > Create Disc. And in the burning engine, you insert the new mpeg-2. When you build your menu, you will have only one title, which you can then sub-divide into as many chapters as you like. And chapters, by their very nature, play consecutively until the end of the title.

(I am a bit of a Luddite here and never use multi-trim. I do it all manually, and with each clip I have trimmed, I use Save Trimmed Video to create a new clip. When I have all that I want, I clean the timeline, and insert all my new saved trimmed clips, then produce a single mpeg-2 as described above...)

Archer · Post by **Archer** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 4:12 am

GeorgeW wrote:I haven't used VS9 in a while, but check hit the little gear icon (bottom left corner). There should be an item for "Clip Playback" with some options to either return to menu or play next clip

Regards,
George

It doesn't have that option in the gear icon. Since it is SE, I think I'm shorted functionality. Oh well. Only if I could join all my mpgs into one, I would be good to go. Do you know of any freeware that will do that?

Thanks,

Archer

Post by **Ken Berry** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 4:37 am

But that is the central function of Video Studio. As I already said, you put all your separate mpegs (or leave your multitrimmed video) in the timeline in the order you want; add transitions between them if you want. Save them as a project in case you have to go back to them. Then go to Share > Create Video File > DVD and this will produce one single mpeg-2 video clip of the collection of separate clips.

You then close the project by opening a new one. But leave the timeline empty. Then select Share > Create Disc, which opens the burning module. Insert the new mpeg-2, create your menu and burn.

I am at a loss why you cannot find 'Do not convert'. It is not a peculiarity of the trial versions -- it is a central feature of *any* version, trial or not.

Archer · Post by **Archer** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 7:30 pm

Ken Berry wrote:But that is the central function of Video Studio. As I already said, you put all your separate mpegs (or leave your multitrimmed video) in the timeline in the order you want; add transitions between them if you want. Save them as a project in case you have to go back to them. Then go to Share > Create Video File > DVD and this will produce one single mpeg-2 video clip of the collection of separate clips.

You then close the project by opening a new one. But leave the timeline empty. Then select Share > Create Disc, which opens the burning module. Insert the new mpeg-2, create your menu and burn.

I am at a loss why you cannot find 'Do not convert'. It is not a peculiarity of the trial versions -- it is a central feature of *any* version, trial or not.

Ken,

So, you were saying that I have the ability to drop an unedited mpg into the timeline and do my editing there? I have tried this but the instructions are vague. If I have mutliple trims I want to do, I keep getting stuck. The guide really is not informative at all. That is why I was using the multitrim video, that works fine except it created seperate mpegs.

Thanks,

Archer

Post by **Ken Berry** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 10:45 pm

Getting back to real basics, Video Studio is primarily a video editing program -- so its primary purpose is to ... TAH DAH! edit videos...

So yes, you drop files, edited or unedited in the timeline of the editing module (not the burning module), and edit them or not as the case may be.

Once you have edited them, (or not if they are already edited/cut to the size you want), you go to Share > Create Video File > DVD to join them all together into one big mpeg-2 which can then be burned to disc.

As I say, I don't use multitrim so don't really know how it operates. If it actually creates a whole series of *real* (as opposed to virtual) files, then it is similar to my own Luddite process of manual cutting and then using Save Trimmed Video. (I believe, however, it may create a series of virtual clips which appear to be separate in the timeline, but are in reality the original file with bits which have been electronically, but not in reality, deleted. However, I would be very happy to be corrected on this...)

Whatever the case, if you have a whole series of new files with icons in the Library pane, you empty the editing timeline and drag the new files into the timeline in the correct order you want. You can add transitions between them if you want (which is basic editing). And then you click Share > Create Video File > DVD as already described.

If on the other hand, you have a whole series of apparently separate video clips in the timeline after using multitrim, you do exactly the same.

Archer · Post by **Archer** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 11:04 pm

Ken Berry wrote:Getting back to real basics, Video Studio is primarily a video editing program -- so its primary purpose is to ... TAH DAH! edit videos... So yes, you drop files, edited or unedited in the timeline of the editing module (not the burning module), and edit them or not as the case may be.

Once you have edited them, (or not if they are already edited/cut to the size you want), you go to Share > Create Video File > DVD to join them all together into one big mpeg-2 which can then be burned to disc.

As I say, I don't use multitrim so don't really know how it operates. If it actually creates a whole series of *real* (as opposed to virtual) files, then it is similar to my own Luddite process of manual cutting and then using Save Trimmed Video. (I believe, however, it may create a series of virtual clips which appear to be separate in the timeline, but are in reality the original file with bits which have been electronically, but not in reality, deleted. However, I would be very happy to be corrected on this...)

Whatever the case, if you have a whole series of new files with icons in the Library pane, you empty the editing timeline and drag the new files into the timeline in the correct order you want. You can add transitions between them if you want (which is basic editing). And then you click Share > Create Video File > DVD as already described.

If on the other hand, you have a whole series of apparently separate video clips in the timeline after using multitrim, you do exactly the same.

Thanks again Ken,

I will just have to mess around with it. I find the timeline concept clunky to edit in, but hopefully I will figure it out.

Archer

Post by **Ron P.** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 11:30 pm

How is the Timeline clunky? If you are using overlay clips/images, then yes you must use the timeline, if not then there is the Storyboard.

Most all other NLE applications use only a timeline. It is the easiest method to be able to get frame accurate cuts, and editing.

Do you have your timeline view set to File Name only, Thumbnail and File Name, or Thumbnail only? This can be done in the Preferences (Press F6 on your keyboard, or go to File>Preferences), once there, on the General tab, look for the Clip Display Mode. There is a pull-down menu where you can set the display mode for the timeline.

File Name Only: Displays the file name of the video clip or image.
Thumbnail Only: Displays all frames as thumbnail images.
Thumbnail and File Name: Displays a thumbnail of the first frame of the clip along with the File Name.