DVD moviefactory 7se burning problem

[gregska]

Hi, using dvd moviefactory 7se to burn dvd's from .mpg files created from VHS. It works perfectly when burning files that have not been edited. However, when burning files that have been edited using moviefactory 7 se, once I push "burn" the "total progress" bar gets stuck on 3% and the "detailed progress" bar does not progress at all. When I push "cancel" nothing happens and the program stops responding. I have tried different files of varying sizes and number of edits, with or without menus and the result is always the same. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

System:
Windows 7
CPU 3.20 GHz
64 bit
8.00 GB Ram

[DVDDoug]

There's probably somethihng "wrong" with your original MPG files... (Probably nothing serious... just enough to foul-up Movie Factory.)

What are the properties of your MPG files, and what are you editing them with? You might need to convert to another less-compressed format before editing, or convert them to DVD-compatible MPEG-2 before editing. Or, if they are already DVD-compatible MPEG-2, you may need to re-encode them to "repair" them.

[gregska]

When I burn the original files without editing them there is no problem. The problem only occurs when I have edited the files. I am editing the files using movie factory.

[gregska]

There is no problem burning the original files. It is only when I edit them using movie factory and then try to burn them that the problem occurs.

[teknisyan]

Hello gregska,

Since you are using DVD Movie Factory 7 SE, which is free with VideoStudio Pro X3, you can also use VideoStudio Pro X3 in editing and re-encode your video.

[gregska]

Hello gregska,

Since you are using DVD Movie Factory 7 SE, which is free with VideoStudio Pro X3, you can also use VideoStudio Pro X3 in editing and re-encode your video.

Yes, but I cannot go from pro x3 to dvd movie factory without first saving the file and then reopening it in moviefactory. Saving the file takes time and results in a reduction in quality (when it doesnt freeze and stop responding). Why can't I go from Pro x3 to moviemaker when I have finshed editing, in the same way that I can go from prox3 to dvdfactory?

[Ken Berry]

Saving the file takes time and results in a reduction in quality (when it doesnt freeze and stop responding).

Sorry, but you are completely missing the point. It might take time to produce the final video in X3 which you then use in Movie Factory 7 SE. But it takes exactly the same amount of time that Movie Factory would take if it behaved the way you want it to. If you finished editing in VS X3 and then could jump straight into MF as you can with DVD Factory 2010, it would only be the project file which opens in MF 7. It would then still have to be converted into final DVD-compatible mpeg-2 as part of the burning process in MF.

As it is, you have to currently produce the final DVD-compatible mpeg-2 in X3 and insert that in MF 7. If the box beside 'Do not convert compatible MPEG files' is ticked in the Options icon in the bottom left of the MF screen, then no conversion/rendering of that mpeg-2 you inserted will take place in MF 7. It will burn to disc exactly as it is, with no loss in quality as you seem to think. If it does somehow or other render again, then there is something serious wrong with your original mpeg-2.

And for the record, MF 7 cannot accept X3 project files because it was written well before X3 was ever conceived. It can accept X2 and earlier VS project files, but not X3. Hopefully Corel will get back to the old way of doing things in the next version of VS.

[gregska]

Saving the file takes time and results in a reduction in quality (when it doesnt freeze and stop responding).

Sorry, but you are completely missing the point. It might take time to produce the final video in X3 which you then use in Movie Factory 7 SE. But it takes exactly the same amount of time that Movie Factory would take if it behaved the way you want it to. If you finished editing in VS X3 and then could jump straight into MF as you can with DVD Factory 2010, it would only be the project file which opens in MF 7. It would then still have to be converted into final DVD-compatible mpeg-2 as part of the burning process in MF.

As it is, you have to currently produce the final DVD-compatible mpeg-2 in X3 and insert that in MF 7. If the box beside 'Do not convert compatible MPEG files' is ticked in the Options icon in the bottom left of the MF screen, then no conversion/rendering of that mpeg-2 you inserted will take place in MF 7. It will burn to disc exactly as it is, with no loss in quality as you seem to think. If it does somehow or other render again, then there is something serious wrong with your original mpeg-2.

And for the record, MF 7 cannot accept X3 project files because it was written well before X3 was ever conceived. It can accept X2 and earlier VS project files, but not X3. Hopefully Corel will get back to the old way of doing things in the next version of VS.

Ken, the reduction in quality occurs when I save the file after editing it using X3. This is the issue along with the fact that often I can't save at all, the program just freezes and stops responding most of the time when I try and save. If there is something wrong with the files why can I burn them perfectly if I do not have to edit them? It is only when I use a Corel product to edit a file that the problems begin. I go back to my original post. Why can't I just edit in MF 7 and then burn the editied file? I would appreciate an explanation as to why I can't peform this simple function. I am starting to suspect the reason is that I have forked out a lot of money for a program that does not do what it is supposed to.
And for the record, the only behaviour I want from MF7 is for it to do what it is supposed to do.

[Ron P.]

...the reduction in quality occurs when I save the file after editing it using X3

Check the properties for the MPEG-2 file you're creating, AND/OR the capture settings. Since the original source is VHS, the quality should not be degraded at all. Again what are the properties of your video files? Right-click on one of them in the time-line or library, select Properties and post them here.

First when you capture the video from your VCR, are you capturing to DV (avi) the best possible format, MPEG-2 or some other? If it is MPEG-2, then you should match those properties when you render to a new MPEG-2 video file. The key to maintaining quality is the bitrate used. Unless you're wanting to cram more than 1 hour of video onto a DVD, then using a bitrate greater than 6000kbps, is not going to increase the quality. What settings are you using when you select Share>Create Video File? Also since you're working with SD (standard definition), make sure that you're using Smart Render. Press the Options button to open the dialog window where this is found.

The video file properties for your captured source files should be something similar to this:
NTSC
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Upper Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
LPCM Audio, 48000 Hz, Stereo

PAL
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 576, 25 fps
Upper Field First
(DVD-PAL) 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000kbps)
LPCM Audio, 48000 Hz, Stereo

When you render your project to a new video file, about the only change should be to the bitrate, perhaps using 6000kbps, and the audio compression, you could use Dolby instead of LPCM. Then when you burn your DVD, if you do as Ken stated and make sure the box is checked beside, Do not convert compliant MPEG files, there will not be any recoding of your video files.

[gregska]

Ron,

I'm using PAL and the properties of my files are as you outlined, except the ratio is 16:9 not 4:3, which is my preference.

I was a little confused re your instructions, was not sure if you were talking about using x3 or mf7. However, I would like to keep it as simple as possible and just use mf7. Could you please outline the settings I should use to edit and burn in mf7? For example, I went to disc template manager and selected the option that was the same as the properties of my files (I did this by deleting all the other options, is that correct?) and I also changed the audio to dolby as you suggested.

I tested these settings (mf7 gave me the option of using smart render when I imported the file, I selected "yes") and as usual when I did not edit the file all worked well, but once I edited the file the burning freezes on 3% and I have to reboot the system.

I cannot find the option box that states "do not convert compliant MPEG files", could you please specify where this is located?

Thanks