Let's face it, MF4 stinks..

GeorgeC · Post by **GeorgeC** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 4:09 am

I'll convert them. However I haven't reinstalled yet. What should I do to get the transitions (that I loaded from the extra content CD) working? Is there an install procedure that I need to follow? I have to install the original DVDMF3SE and then the upgrades.

George

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 6:11 am

There are 2 resident drivers that MF4 loads which can cause problems
and conflict with other programs.

One driver "Monitor". Monitors the CD/DVD drives.
The other is the packet writing driver.
Both these drivers conflict with other packet writing software and
cd/dvd monitoring software.
Those are part of the ulead "Data-Add". I simply don't load them
at bootup.
All programs install something new that usually conflicts with other
software on the computer.

MF4 is a big suite of programs. The nice thing about ulead products
compared to other programs is you can customize almost every
mpg2 setting. Unlike most other programs. I really like the ability to
save and re-render right from the timeline in MF4. Also the different
choices of how it's rendered not to mention bit_rates etc.
Plus now being able to import a complete dvd.

MF4 does have some bugs. The program works better on my system
installing VideoStudio 9 after MF4.

I just loaded 570 pictures into one slideshow with a whole album of
songs. I can render that without any errors to a dvd.
But, after loading the audio (mpg3 at constant_bit_rate) if I try to go
back into the slideshow from the timeline the program locks.
So, once I add the audio that's it. I must continue on. Probably should
be using pcm audio instead. Not a big deal.
When I create a slideshow for some reason sometimes I cannot
click to fast within the program. MF4 can stop responding. Again, I think
this is because of the audio track(s).

I was waiting for MF4 to choke on a 56 minute slideshow and all the music
I loaded but it worked. That was one slide_show.

Once I learn where the bugs are I can work around them.
My upgrade from MF3 wasn't expensive, and I can, and do use the
new features in MF4. Ulead will work on fixes. They do monitor this
forum. You can BET your *** the programmer(s) that wrote MF4 monitor
this forum. Do you know of another forum?

MD

GeorgeC · Post by **GeorgeC** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 7:04 am

maddrummer3301 wrote:There are 2 resident drivers that MF4 loads which can cause problems
and conflict with other programs.

One driver "Monitor". Monitors the CD/DVD drives.
The other is the packet writing driver.
Both these drivers conflict with other packet writing software and
cd/dvd monitoring software.
Those are part of the ulead "Data-Add". I simply don't load them
at bootup. Where do I find these to disable?

Thanks MD, You have helped me before and I appreciate it. I just need to know what install process to do to get the Transitions working.

Do I understand that I just reinstall all the upgrades and then disable the boot load of the files that you mention (once I find what they are). I will try with the basics (no audio) and then if successful, try PCM audio. One step at a time?

GeorgeC

GeorgeW · Post by **GeorgeW** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 10:47 am

I forget about that "Data Add" module -- I never installed that because in "general", I don't want to install any type of "packet writing" or drive "monitoring" software on my system -- maybe that's why everything is working fine for me?

You can have both MF3 and MF4 installed at the same time (to default directories). In fact, I currently have MF1, MF2, MF3 anf MF4 installed and running on my machine without a problem. So, I would install MF3, then install the MF4 Upgrade to its own default directory. If you then have "extra content", install that as well.

GeorgeC · Post by **GeorgeC** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 11:11 am

Okay George I'll try that and see how I go. I have had the various upgrades installed in their separate folders but I'll try again without the "Data Add" module.

See how problematic the install procedure can be?

Regards,
George

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 12:46 pm

I think the transistions might be the "Extra Content". Very large additional
download from ulead. I have the CD.

When you install select "Custom" and uncheck "Data Add" and one other
program. I forget the list but only load what you need.

Also might be better to run MF4 directly from the executable rather than
from the splash menu.

When you run MF4 at first go slow. Don't know why but clicking around to
fast can generate errors (at least on my machine) making a slideshow.
The problem is when I go back into an existing slideshow or select a new
one. The program stops responding. This is after I add audio to the slideshow.

MD

GeorgeW · Post by **GeorgeW** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 1:04 pm

I usually don't do big slideshows (if at all) in MovieFactory, so that could be a reason why I don't have as many problems (not an excuse, just a different workflow).

So there might very well be an issue with "big" slideshows (I remember there was a memory issue with MF3 and slideshows).

When you do the big slideshows, do you break them into logical "sections" (i.e. smaller pieces)? I like to break them into smaller slideshows, each with its own background song.

Are you using the "fit to music length" option? Maybe there is an issue with that? Using a 20-minute .mp3 vs. five 4-minute .mp3's might be a resource hog (I don't know)

I'm not trying to make any excuses -- just trying to see what might be causing the problems, and then maybe we can get a resolution from the folks at Ulead

GeorgeC · Post by **GeorgeC** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 10:57 pm

MD - I have the CD also. I don't recall a "Custom" option with the Content install but I'll try the reinstall now, starting with the original program V3SE and then upgrade from there. I have tried running the program both ways - Launcher and direct but no difference. I'll go back to basics and start with a small program. The larger project I had done previously on DVDMF3 with no problems but I had to do another version and that's why I bought V4. The person I am doing it for was getting a little anxious hence my urgency too

GeorgeW - I do break them up into logical sections. As I said to MD I completed this project in V3 but can't get it to work in V4. I do fit audio to length but have removed audio until I get transitions working. I read somewhere that to get Transitions working you need to remove the old version of MF first?? This then seems to cause the "key error"?

I guess ULead must monitor this forum because they responded quite quickly to my direct requests to TS but this time I haven't heard. Maybe they're hoping you guys can resolve

George

GeorgeW · Post by **GeorgeW** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 11:04 pm

Just out of curiosity, are you opening an MF3 project? Or starting an MF4 project from scratch?

Sometimes projects from earlier versions are not as compatible with newer releases...

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 1:34 am

Sorry, I didn't mean custom with the content install.

When performing a MF4 installation
I meant to select the custom install of MF4 and
leave out the data-add program. Also the quick-drop is another
program not to load. Other users have had much better performance
leaving those programs out.

Are you looking for the same transistions in MF4 as are in MF3?
They made some changes.
Are you loading a MF3 project into MF4?
I have never tried that.

I'm going to do some tests and will post back what's happening on
my machine.

Importing Mpg2 compliant video files, chaptering, menuing and burning has not been a problem on my system.
Only editing/transistions & slideshows. Always seems to be audio
related. Maybe should always stay with pcm audio.

MD

GeorgeC · Post by **GeorgeC** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 6:17 am

GeorgeW - I looked at converting to WAV files but can't find the reference to 48kHz. My options in my audio program are -

A/mu-Law Wave (.WAV)
ACM Waveform (.WAV)
Amiga IFF-8SVX (.IFF, .SVX) (*.*)
Apple AIFF (.AIF, .SND)
ASCII Text Data (.TXT)
Dialogic ADPCM (.VOX)
DiamondWare Digitized (.DWD)
DVI/IMA ADPCM (.WAV)
Microsoft ADPCM (.WAV)
MPEG Layer 3 (.MP3)
Next/Sun (.AU, .SND)
Real Media (.RM)
Sound Blaster (.VOC)
Windows PCM (.WAV)
PCM Raw Data (.PCM) (*.*)

I tried the Windows PCM (*.WAV) and the file size increased from 32mb (mp3) to 142mb but it is 44.1kHz not 48kHz. Which do you recommend?

MD - I figured that out. I did the reinstall and loaded only the first 2 programs for the moment. I got the transitions working now but when I added audio it failed.

I was trying to load a MF3 file into MF4. I have now abandoned that idea and I am starting from scratch. I'll let you know how I go.

Thanks to the both of you for your help.

George

GeorgeC · Post by **GeorgeC** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 6:30 am

I did some more research on sample rate and came up with this from the Help file of my audio program.

Sample Rate

The sample rate determines the number of times per second to take a snapshot of the audio. Higher sample rates produce higher quality audio, at the expense of requiring more disk space. Frequencies of up to 1/2 the sample rate can be produced effectively, so to reproduce a frequency of 10Khz, a sample rate of at least 20Khz must be chosen.

8,000 Hz Telephone Quality
11,025 Hz Poor AM Radio Quality
16,000 Hz Reasonable compromise between 11 KHz and 22 KHz
22,050 Hz Near FM Radio Quality
32,075 Hz Better than FM Radio Quality (Some boards support 32,000 instead)
44,100 Hz CD Quality
48,000 Hz DAT Quality

So 44.1 should be okay?

GeorgeC · Post by **GeorgeC** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 6:49 am

Hi guys - I adjusted the sample rate in my audio program to 48kHz easy

George

GeorgeW · Post by **GeorgeW** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 10:46 am

Hi George,

Yes, 48khz is needed for DVD specs -- so it's good that you were able to adjust them

When I asked, I was only guessing you were loading an MF3 project into MF4 -- maybe that could be the source of some of the issues (I'm not sure, but it's something we'll keep in mind moving forward).

keithm · Post by **keithm** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 1:54 pm

Someone has said that not many people complain about MF4 so it must be OK; well sorry to disagree but maybe a: they don't know about this forum or B: they can't be bothered and accept the problems.

I have taken MF4 off my system as it was useless, it kept crashing when trying to customise the menu with a SDK error; I know Ulead are looking into it but I've gone back to V3 - at least it is stable. I think the problem is everytime a new verion comes out it's completely different instead of being an evolution of the old product - so it's full of new bugs.

I only wanted AC3 support (I still think that should have been a free addon for MF3) but I have given up. If they fix it - great I'll have another go: but if they can't fix it they should offer a free upgrade to V5 or another program free of charge.