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Post by **Ken Berry** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:05 pm

Ok. I'll wait for you to get back to us with the results of your latest experiment. But the DirectX update certainly would not have caused the stretching. Rather, it sounds as though somehow or other along the line you ticked a box that said 16:9 and your original video was 4:3 -- or something like that.

Second, I would always, if I were you, avoid the situation of using 'trim to fit' in Video Studio. It just doesn't work very well. We advise arriving at a correct size by adjusting the bitrate (instead of using defaults like HQ or SQ etc). If your project is around an hour or less, then you could use Share > Create Video File > Custom, and choose mpeg-2 as the base format. Then click on the Options button. You would make sure that the properties use Upper Field First, the right screen ratio (16:9 or 4:3), and a bitrate of 8000 kbps. This will fit an hour onto a single layer DVD. And if you use an audio format like your original from the camera, then you could fit another ten minutes or so of video onto the DVD. If you project is around 90 minutes, then you would lower the bitrate to around 6000 kbps, and if its 2 hours, then a bitrate of 4000 kbps.

The basic thing to remember is: the higher the bitrate = the higher the quality = the less video you can fit on a disc...

Otherwise, you could burn a DVD folder at the full size of your project and then put it through an excellent trim-to-fit program like Nero Recode or DVD Shrink to get it to fit on a DVD. Much better quality.

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:46 pm

Rather, it sounds as though somehow or other along the line you ticked a box that said 16:9 and your original video was 4:3 -- or something like that.

When I click on Share>Create Disc I always use the Custom template. Invariably, it is set for 16:9, even though all of my settings are for 4:3.

Double-check that you are using the correct template (4:3 vs 16:9) or if you are using Custom, that it has not reverted to 16:9.

markpritch · Post by **markpritch** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 9:35 am

Hi guys
Thanks again for your help. Ken, you were quite correct re the stretching. When I went into Create Video File I selected mpeg 2, which defaults to 4x3. I had not noticed this, so my completed mpeg file was, in fact, in 4x3 and I then selected 16x9 on the burn.

I have now tried to burn 2 dvds using the mpeg method but, as you advised, by selecting Custom. My project is 86 minutes so I adjusted the bit rates to 6000 and processed. The file came out at only 3.50gb and I thought I would try to get closer to the 4.70gb space available on DVD.
I did a second mpeg file at 7200kbps and the finished file was 4.12gb.

I then used this larger, second file to create my dvd. With menus etc the total size of project was 4.56gb.

I have made 2 attempts to burn this second file to dvd and in each case, on selecting 'Burn' I got a little warning window which said "The disc may not have enough space. Continue?" I selected the 'OK' button and it started to burn.

On both attempts when it got to Convert Menu/Building Menu Transition (014/029) the programme froze. In each case the percentages were 36 and 57 respectively.

Do you think this could be a fault with my Ulead VS10 programme or something I may still be doing wrong within the project itself??

When the programme freezes I am unable to use the cancel button, it is totally ineffective, and I have to close the programme using the task manager.

I'll get there eventually!!

Many thanks
Mark

markpritch · Post by **markpritch** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 12:19 pm

Hi again
Thought I should let you both know that I've now tried a 3rd time. I still got the message about disc space but the burn did complete and all the chapters/menus work.
Only drawback now is that I have a clicking on the opening sound track which wasn't there before.
I am going to re-do the Video file to try to get rid of it .and try once more.
You will appreciate that this process takes quite a long time so I will let you know what happens as soon as I can.

It's all good practice and I have a large stock of DVDs!!

Many thanks
Mark

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 1:05 pm

I would sometimes getting a clicking noise on some tracks when I used Dolby. I have since reverted to only using LPCM and I have had no further problems. Keep in mind that LPCM will take up more space, but it is of excellent quality.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 1:41 pm

And drop the bitrate below 7000 kbps, especially if you keep using Dolby! But do that when first producing your DVD-compatible mpeg-2... That will ensure that everything fits and no clipping should occur with the audio. Remember, a single layer DVD holds only a maximum of 4.3 GB. The 4.8 GB you often seen only relates to the way they count the bytes and bits!! And they lie!!!

markpritch · Post by **markpritch** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 10:43 pm

hi guys
Thanks. I did give it another go but still got the clicks on the soundtrack and only 5 of the 9 chapters work. When I selected chapter number 6 the DVD shut down,

I will try again at 6500kbps but from what Ken says the 4.12gb I ended up with should have been ok as it was under the 4.3 level.
If all else fails would you advise me to upgrade the programme.
If so, for which more recent one and would the files I curretly have survive if I uninstall VS10? Especially those in folder 10.0.

What's LPCM, is that included in VS10?

Thanks again, I'm now off to bed.

Cheers
Mark
++

Post by **Ken Berry** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 10:50 pm

First, LPCM is the rock standard DVD audio format. It is for instance the format used with DV video (where it is called PCM). But it is essentially uncompressed and top quality. Dolby and mpeg-layer 2 are more highly compressed, which means if you don't use LPCM, you can fit more video on a disc. But you should never have any audio problems if you use LPCM...

I begin to suspect there may be something else wrong, but where, I don't know. But until it can be identified, I would not try the upgrade route because if there is something wrong on your computer or with one or more of the videos in the project, then the new version of VS will only have the same problems... If indeed it is something inherently wrong that has happened with your installation of VS, then perhaps an upgrade might help. So download the trial version of VS12 and see if it improves anything... All versions of VS install as total and quite separate packages, so it won't affect your existing VS10 set-up. VS12 will also be able to open you VS10 project...

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 4:32 am

What's LPCM, is that included in VS10?

Yes, it is one of the audio options.

markpritch · Post by **markpritch** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 8:09 am

Thank you both.
I'll give vs12 a go together with lpcm but with a busy weekend coming up it may be a few days.
I'm sure you guys will enjoy the rest from me for a while but I'll be sure to let you know what happens.
Thanks and regards
Mark

markpritch · Post by **markpritch** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 8:53 pm

Hi again
Sorry , but I just could not resist it.
I've downloaded the trial version of X2 (VS12) and tried to create a video file.
Unfortunately my two attempts to make a video of my 86 minute project ended in failure, with a little message window advising in each case, quite simply, "Unable to load Library". To the left of this message and the OK button is a yellow warning triangle containing a black exclamation mark and underneath the triangle, in brackets, are the letters 19151:3:3

Between these two attempts I made up 2 different short projects from the same, longer project (By topping and tailng) each lasting between 5 and 10 minutes. They both contained music, video and still images that are included within the 86 minute project and video files of both these short projects were created successfully without any problems.

My custom settings were at 6500kbps and I used LPCM.
I'm running out of ideas!!

Thanks
Mark

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 2:54 am

"Unable to load Library"

Often that error has to do with a trouble transition. See this similar thread: http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic. ... ad+library

markpritch · Post by **markpritch** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 12:41 pm

Thanks Jeff, that worked. I had just one flying flip and it would have taken an age to track the problem down, so much appreciated.

However I now have another problem.

I tried to do a search for 'Black screen in chapter menu in X2' but got over 10,000 hits on 300 hundred pages. So not sure that I can be using the search mode correctly. I did select VS for all answers.

Anyway, when I download the newly created video to the Create DVD menu and selected Add Chapter the next screen to appear showed a blank/black monitor with no jog bar and the 'add chapter' icon greyed out.
When I have attempted to add auto chapters (in the hope of getting some video on screen which I could then adjust) I get an error message that says Corel X2 has a problem and must shut down.
What next please?

Slowy slowy catchee monkey

Cheers
Mark

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 11:15 pm

Glad you got the one problem solved.

Many preview issues are solved by updating DirectX, but you already did that, correct?

markpritch · Post by **markpritch** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 11:48 pm

Hi Jeff
Yes I did, just the other day.
But I read in one of the posts that this had solved the problem for someone else so, just to be sure, I downloaded again today but to no avail.
It didn't make any difference and I still have a blank screen at the Add Chapter stage.
Cheers
Mark