Let's face it, MF4 stinks..

[maddrummer3301]

Another system setting I have disabled is under "Preferences" (F6).
I think it's the 2nd tab and says create an index file for mpeg better indexing/performance (something like like).

On my system that's disabled (unchecked). The program created indexing
files and audio was still out-of-sync after some editing.

Last night I made a slideshow of 80 pictures.
I could go back and forth from the timeline to the edit mode continuously.
As soon as I added a wav audio file sampled at 44.1khz and the "FIT"
wasn't checked on I couldn't go back into the edit screen.
After I added the audio track I clicked "OK" and back to the timeline.
Then hit "Edit" again, the program terminated itself (no errors on screen).
I was left at the standard windows desktop.

I then started MF4 again, loaded the same project back (saved it previously).
After re-loading the project I could go back and forth from the timeline to
the edit screen. Added another slideshow with audio wav and could go
back and forth no problem.
When your creating a slideshow you need to be able to go back and forth
because your previewing on the timeline and making changes in the edit
screen etc.

What I did notice was after exiting the slideshow creation screen MF4 needed time to work with memory etc. But, after one crash the program
worked loading the old project back in. Didn't have to reboot the machine.

Tried to import a -VR disk, first a ramdisk, then a dvd-rw.
Both times had problems. MF3 imported both the disks no problem.
The import feature doesn't display the playlist.
Two errors,
1st - The ramdisk is CSS protected (MF3 imports no problem).
2nd - Dvd-rw (-vr mode) Cannot build preview graph etc.
Playlists do not appear as any selection. Only main movie & chaptering.

The ramdisk was created on a panasonic DMR-E65
The dvd-rw was created on a Sony RDR-GX7
Both disks using -VR mode containing a main movie & playlists.

Same error trying to import these disks using VS9 importing feature.

Solution so far is to use MF3 to import the playlists or movies.

MD

[maddrummer3301]

Finally had some time to work with MF4 some more.
Installed a new copy on another XP installation.
MF3 & MF4 are the only burning programs on that system.
So there isn't any conflicting software.
I will start writing down my problems and then forward them to ulead.

Either there is a bug in the importing of VR disks or they changed the
operation versus MF3 to work in a different way.
To properly load a dvd-ram disk I needed the Data-Add program installed
along with the resident drivers (don't know which resident driver is being used for this, will find out).
Still cannot access the playlist created on a dvd-vr disk from a desktop
recorder. This is necessary at least on my system to import large 4+ gig files.

I can access the playlists by using the "Edit Dvd-VR" module. In that module
I can access the playlists and extract them but had one slight problem with
that.
Also in the "Edit DVD-VR" module the jog slider bar for reversing the video
(jog bar located directly under the jog wheel) makes the video go forward
and not reverse. It's working the same as the fast-forward direction.
The jog-bar works properly in the regular dvd-video module.

MD

[GeorgeC]

MD - Nice to see some constructive development from this thread. It all started with a bagging of the product (which I don't resile from) but now we are heading towards some understanding of the issues. Maybe a summary of do's and don'ts can be written up at the conclusion? Also maybe the thread should be renamed to MF4 issues or the like?

I'm currently building my slideshows from scratch, including audio as 48kHz PCM (WAV) files.

George

[maddrummer3301]

George,

Right after installing MF4 there is a "Read-Me" file. I think it's located in the
MF4 directory along with the MF4 Instruction manual in PDF format.
It has many tips for running the program and also a troubleshooting
section.

After you make a slideshow instead of creating a dvd another option is
to export the slideshow using the new icons on the bottom left side of the
screen. You can customize the exporting format(s).
With the slideshow as a mpg2 video now on the harddrive as a file you can
then always load it as a video into any MF4 project and burn it as a video.
Don't have to re-create the slideshow again.
Nice feature.

MD

[Tobie MSP8]

Dear All

I am really sorry to hear about all the frustrating issues some of you have been having on DMF 4. Of course it is not acceptable to have so many installation difficulties. In Ulead's defence I can only say that we do do our best with testing, both in-house and through a dedicated team of beta testers, but it still is quite impossible to test every known configuration out there. The good news is that we do take serious note of problems that surface, and we are working on a patch as we speak. I can't promise an exact release date yet but it should be within a month.

Thank you all for your patience and continued support, particularly to those who give their time here to help others.

With kind regards

Tobie

[beullar]

Just a word of advice to all....if you have ANY Roxio product on your PC ..DELETE it. Otherwise MF 4 will NOT work properly and will consistently freeze when trying to burn a disc. I had Roxio Easy Media Creator 7.5 on my system and I had to choose between that and MF 4. Roxio lost and went to the laptop. After removal of Roxio, my MF 4 has worked almost flawlessly. This conflict does not exist between any other CD/DVD software that I use(Adobe, Nova, Magic, Sony or even Sonic)

Only other bug I have found so far is that MF 4 will not import a.VSP file made in VS 9.

beullar

[Tobie MSP8]

"
Only other bug I have found so far is that MF 4 will not import a.VSP file made in VS 9. "

Well, considering that MF 4 came out BEFORE UVS9 was launched, you can hardly call that bug, can you?


But the soon-to-be-released patch will indeed bring UVS9 support to DMF 4...

Regards

Tobie