VS9: "failed to load templates"

[dv_sno]

Hi all,

I am trying to create a disc (I have done it dozens of times in the past, so I am not a newbie). After loading the projects and creating/editing the chapters, when I go to "next" I get an unfriendly message saying "failed to load the templates", and from here on - I can't do anything, except close VS9.

What does the message mean? What should I try to fix whatever is wrong?

Thanks,

Dave.

[Ron P.]

Welcome to the forums,

It simply means that VS is not able to load the DVD Menu templates.

We may need a little more information, so please go HERE, and return with as much of the requested information as you can.

You might also try Creating your DVD Compliant MPEG-2 video files (Share>Create Video File) before opening the burn module, and use those MPEG files in the burn module, instead of VSP (project files).

[dv_sno]

Thanks, Vidoman, for the informative and quick reply. I'll try to create MPEG2's and use them in my created disk, as you suggest. However, I have been using VS9 assuming that creating an MPEG2 prior to burning a DVD will cause me a "generation loss", thus lowering quality. Is my assumption false?

BTW, do you have an idea what can cause VS9 to refuse to load the menu?

Thanks again for your help,

Dave

[Ron P.]

First I don't really know, why VS may do this. I've had similar situations where I guess maybe due to luck, just shutting down the program and restarting corrected it, or rebooting my PC. On some occasions I've had to repair or reinstall the program though..

No you will not have any degradation in quality. Why? Because the project is just a set of instructions, telling VS what to do with the source clips, images, audio, ect., what parts to use, not to use, filters to apply and when. So when you Create a Video file from your project, the source video clips are not being re-coded. You could use the same source clips over and over again, creating a new video file each time, and the quality should be the same as the source clips.

[dv_sno]

Thanks again. I've tried (1) closing and starting the "create disc" menu about 4-5 times; (2) repairing my VS9, and (3) rebooting the computer. Nothing worked. I am now following your suggestion, making MPEG2's of the projects, to be later used to create the DVD.

I realize that "recording" the same project over and over again will not cause it to "deteriorate". My question referred to the possibility that, if I take whatever format my video was in, convert it into MPEG2, and then re-convert the result into a DVD, this extra conversion will lower quaility. I DID read somewhere that MPEG2 IS the format of DVD, but if so, I don't see whay rendering MPEG2 into a DVD takes as long as it does. I also experimented with it once, to test thois question, and created a DVD and an MPEG2 file from the same sourse, and they were not the same size, which, to me, meant that they were different formats.

Vidoman, you've been helpful, and I don't want to impose on your kindness, so if these questions take up too much of your time, just ignore them.

Thanks again,

Dave.

[Ron P.]

If you have the Do Not Convert Compatible MPEG-2 option checked, AND, your MPEG-2 video files are DVD Compatible (you can have MPEG-2 video files that are not DVD Compatible), they should not be re-coded during the burn process. The only conversion, or encoding is being done to create the menus.

The file sizes may not be the same due to the menus being added, and/or the bitrates. For example if you created your MPEG-2 video files using a bitrate of 8000kps, and then in the burn module, your bitrate setting is 6000kbps, there may be some difference in the file size. 8000kbps may produce a higher quality than 6000kbps, so the file size will differ. The quality will also be dependent on the original source files.

The menus are actually small video clips. So in the burn module additional videos are being added...

Also you are running VS9 on XP ? It may be possible to run it on Vista, using the Compatibility mode, and changing other settings, but may fall over at any given time.

If you have not done so recently, you might Go HERE and download the latest MS Direct-X drivers. The most current is dated March 2008.

[Ken Berry]

The all-important 'do not convert compliant mpeg files' command referred to by Ron, is found in the second of the three icons in the bottom left of the burning screen.

If it is NOT ticked, then even if your new mpeg-2 you inserted in the burning timeline is DVD compliant, but its properties differ from the default properties in the window above the 'do not convert' box, then it will be re-rendered using those second properties with consequent loss of quality. That is the outcome that the 'do not convert' button is precisely meant to avoid...

[dv_sno]

Thanks Ron, Thanks Ken. Things are getting clearer to me. I managed to find the "do not convert" check-box, and it IS, indeed, checked. My MPEG2 rate is variable, max 8000 kbps. Last question: where do I check to make sure that the DVD will be the same rate, so that re-rendering will not be performed?

Dave

[Ken Berry]

If the box is already checked, and your mpeg-2 is already DVD compliant, then it will NOT be re-rendered. But the default properties that will be used in the burning process, if the box were not ticked, is in the window above the box in the same pop-up window. However, at the risk of repetition, if the bitrate is already 8000 kbps, and the do not convert box is ticked, you don't have to change anything!

[dv_sno]

Thanks, Ken. I heard you loud and clear. It took me a while to find where to make sure that my MPEG2 are DVD compliant, but I managed. I am now checked everywhere I need to be checked, and all my bi rates are right.

Thanks again.

Dave

[Ken Berry]