Fatal Problem VideoStudio 11 and multiple-film DVD

[ralph.dn]

I can burn a DVD with just a single film on it. However, when I try to burn a DVD with a selection of three videos on it, the program terminates after internal rendering and before burning with the error message "Unbestimmter Fehler" (I have a German version of the program, this means "Unknown Error").

I don't know for certain whether I'm proceeding properly, but this description with my German program version explains what I'm doing:

- After starting the program with no project in processing, I go directly to "Share" (output, "Ausgabe" on my German version)
- Then I click on "Disc erstellen", the third option, should mean "Create Disk" or similar
- The program opens a smaller window, where I can select media files such as AVI, MPG etc. to integrate into my project, using symbols at the top left of the page. I use only the first symbol, for selecting video files, then select the menu checkbox "Menu erstellen" (create menu) before continuing to the next step; as I understand it, if I don't click this box then the program merges the three films into one. It does appear to be so, since I then get the opportunity to preview "the" final film. I wish to retain and use the 3 separate, complete video files and if I understand things correctly then I needn't use any chapter logic..?
- When I move on, I'm presented with a screen containing a gallery of full-screen menu templates along with a choice. I choose a menu style which allows for film selection among three options and tweak it a bit, ensure that the "processing" step on the register is OK, and then move on to the burning procedure. For the sake of simplicity I've left the background photo and music as it was in the template. According to the bar at the bottom of the page I have 4.38 GB and the DVD is not overfilled.
- All I can do on the next page is "burn", which I do. I have done this same procedure with a single film, with no problem. But when I continue here and click on burn, I watch the percentage scales increase for quite some time, and when both reach 99% I get the "Untestimmter Fehler" (Unknown Error) message.

This message is really a drag for those of us who have to see it. I have no way of knowing what went wrong, or where. I've tried to re-assemble the project several times, changing things around, but all to no avail.

Please help, I can otherwise burn no multi-film DVDs and this can't be what this program is all about!

Thanks in advance,
Ralph

[Black Lab]

When people have problems such as yours we usually advise them to follow the Suggested Workflow, which is to create a DVD compatible MPEG-2 file before the burning stage. So you would:
1. After completion of your product go to Share > Create Video File and create your MPEG-2 file.
2. On an empty timeline (by choosing New Project) go to Share > Create Disc. Once the burning window opens you use the Add Media (Add Video Files) to insert your MPEG-2 file(s) to the burning timeline. You can then proceed to insert chapters, make a menu, etc. or just burn your DVD.

[ralph.dn]

Thanks for your response! I take this to mean that AVI files are not usable for DVDs, maybe it would be a good idea then if the program doesn't allow me to add them to my DVD project..?

You speak primarily of MPEG-2, I have used MPEG-1 in the past for no other reason than it runs everywhere, and as a result I have mostly MPEG-1 files available. Is there a disadvantage to including them that would make it recommendable to convert them to MPEG-2 before putting them on a DVD?

I've just converted the only AVI file which was in the project to MPEG format and re-rendered, only to receive the error message again. Really frustrating, I hope it might be possible for me to determine the source of this truly uninformative error message.

Since writing the above paragrahs I've bought the English version of VSPlus 11 (Upgrade) and spent hours of watching the rendering progress, only to receive the "Unspecified Error" once again. I've removed the "suspicious" film, leaving only two true MPEG files (not sure whether they're MPEG-1 or -2), and the error nevertheless occurs. Is it not possible to burn two video files on one DVD?

It would be of primary value to me to find out whether my general procedure is correct:
- Start the program
- Go straight to "Create Disk"
- Add mpeg video files to the project
- edit the menu, changing background photo and other minor changes
- burn the disk

Thanks again for your answer and your time...
All the best,
Ralph

[ralph.dn]

When people have problems such as yours we usually advise them to follow the Suggested Workflow, which is to create a DVD compatible MPEG-2 file before the burning stage. So you would:
1. After completion of your product go to Share > Create Video File and create your MPEG-2 file.
2. On an empty timeline (by choosing New Project) go to Share > Create Disc. Once the burning window opens you use the Add Media (Add Video Files) to insert your MPEG-2 file(s) to the burning timeline. You can then proceed to insert chapters, make a menu, etc. or just burn your DVD.

Hello,

This is exactly what I'm doing at this time. I'm also implementing MPEG-1 files if present, and this is why I'm asking whether this can be the source of the problem. I only have problems when I burn a DVD with more than one video file on it and in the menu.

Regards,
Ralph

[ralph.dn]

Hmm... no more answers... if I can't solve this problem then this seriously limits my use of VideoStudio 11.

The concrete question: As I've said above, I apparently can't burn multi-film DVDs. I've just burned another DVD with only one MPEG-2 on it, no problem.

What causes the undefined error? What am I doing wrong?

All the best,
Ralph

[Black Lab]

This is exactly what I'm doing at this time. I'm also implementing MPEG-1 files if present, and this is why I'm asking whether this can be the source of the problem. I only have problems when I burn a DVD with more than one video file on it and in the menu.

I've just burned another DVD with only one MPEG-2 on it, no problem.

So what are you trying to burn to DVD, MPEG-1 files, MPEG-2 files, or both?

[ralph.dn]

This is exactly what I'm doing at this time. I'm also implementing MPEG-1 files if present, and this is why I'm asking whether this can be the source of the problem. I only have problems when I burn a DVD with more than one video file on it and in the menu.

I've just burned another DVD with only one MPEG-2 on it, no problem.

So what are you trying to burn to DVD, MPEG-1 files, MPEG-2 files, or both?

Yes, both. Is there some reason why this doesn't work?

[GeorgeW]

What are the properties of your mpeg-1 and mpeg-2 files

Also, do you have any *.mp3 music in any of your assets (video, background music, etc...):?:

When you burn, are you burning to DVD Folders, or IMAGE, or direct to disc

Regards,
George

[ralph.dn]

What are the properties of your mpeg-1 and mpeg-2 files

Also, do you have any *.mp3 music in any of your assets (video, background music, etc...):?:

When you burn, are you burning to DVD Folders, or IMAGE, or direct to disc

Regards,
George

Thanks for your help, George. The properties are:

Video 1:
MPEG File
634 MB (664927512 bytes)
Media length: 00:31:37
Video size: 352 x 288
Created: Not known
Video: MPEG1 Video 352x288 25.00fps 2548Kbps [Video]
Audio: MPEG Audio 44100Hz stereo 224Kbps [Audio]

Video 2:
MPEG File
238 MB (250300420 bytes)
Media length: 00:23:28
Video size: 384 x 288
Created: Not known
Video: MPEG1 Video 352x288 (4:3) 25.00fps 1150Kbps [Video]
Audio: MPEG Audio 44100Hz stereo 256Kbps [Audio]

Video 3:
MPEG File
Size: 320 MB (336296748 bytes)
Media length: 00:31:47
Video size: 384 x 290
Created: Not known
Video: MPEG1 Video 384x284 (187:142) 29.97fps 1150Kbps [Video]
Audio: MPEG Audio 44100Hz stereo 224Kbps [Audio]

I only realized at this point that these are all MPEG1 videos. I have also tried to burn a DVD with only videos 1 and 2, but received the same error message.

No, I have not used any music in my burning project, just a menu background photo. I burn directly to disc, I go directly to the option "Share" / "Create disc" with an empty project timeline and add the MPEG files to the burn project using "Add media:" / "Add Video Files" and only add MPEG files which I have created via projects previously, no VSP or other data involved.

Thanks again for your assistance.
Ralph

[GeorgeW]

All your files are NON-DVD Compliant (one way or another) -- so they have to be re-encoded to be compliant.

Are you making a PAL or NTSC DVD

Do you have Chapter Marks near the end of any of your videos If so, try removing them to see if it helps (as one or 2 will need to convert their framerate)

Try putting them on the VS Timeline, and render out DVD-COMPLIANT assets first. Then follow your procedure -- adding the Compliant assets when creating the DVD.

Regards,
George

[ralph.dn]

All your files are NON-DVD Compliant (one way or another) -- so they have to be re-encoded to be compliant.

Are you making a PAL or NTSC DVD

Do you have Chapter Marks near the end of any of your videos If so, try removing them to see if it helps (as one or 2 will need to convert their framerate)

Try putting them on the VS Timeline, and render out DVD-COMPLIANT assets first. Then follow your procedure -- adding the Compliant assets when creating the DVD.

Regards,
George

How can one find out what makes a video non-dvd compliant? And how can I find out if there are chapter marks in them? I never put any there in any case... If I put them on the timeline and render them, how do I ensure that I'm rendering out dvd compliant assets? Sorry about all the questions but I'm not really firm at this detailed level... and one thing seems certain, the error message in the program should be a bit more explanatory...

Thanks again, for your quick responses as well,
Ralph

[GeorgeW]

Are you making a PAL or NTSC DVD

Don't worry about chapter marks (since you are not adding any).

LINK --> Info on what is DVD-Compliant

When you go to SHARE, you can also Create Video File (and there will be some DVD Templates).

Regards,
George

[ralph.dn]

Are you making a PAL or NTSC DVD

Don't worry about chapter marks (since you are not adding any).

LINK --> Info on what is DVD-Compliant

When you go to SHARE, you can also Create Video File (and there will be some DVD Templates).

Regards,
George

Everything in Europe (I live in Germany) is PAL rather than NTSC... I'll have a look at the link and templates, thanks!

Ralph

[ralph.dn]

Are you making a PAL or NTSC DVD

Don't worry about chapter marks (since you are not adding any).

LINK --> Info on what is DVD-Compliant

When you go to SHARE, you can also Create Video File (and there will be some DVD Templates).

Regards,
George

Everything in Europe (I live in Germany) is PAL rather than NTSC... I'll have a look at the link and templates, thanks!

Ralph

Thanks for helping me to help myself, I think I've solved the problem and learned a lot about what one can do with DVDs and what might well cause difficulties. I'm at least now able to burn a 3-film DVD with no more difficulties, after converting all of my files via the Share / Create Video File option using the PAL DVD Dolby Digital 5.1 template.

Now my next goal is to find out where I can find a tutorial or similar on the subject of building my own DVD menus without using the Menu templates, as well as how to modify them more effectively. Thanks so much for the help everyone gave me here!

All the best,
Ralph

[Black Lab]

Now my next goal is to find out where I can find a tutorial or similar on the subject of building my own DVD menus without using the Menu templates, as well as how to modify them more effectively.

I'm sure you can find what you are looking for in the Tutorial section of this forum. A link to it is in my signature below.