Software cannot find my Chapters

[MrDill]

I first made my video using VideoStudio X3. I had all the Chapters marked out and named. The software that Corel supplied with it for burning DVD`s did not seem able to find the chapters I had entered. It did seem to find them once for another video I made?

So, being that Corel bragged up the new X4 version as having integrated DVD burning software I paid my money and upgraded. Now that I have X4 I still cannot find the chapters that I have already marked and named. What is going on here. Why does it give the option of Auto Add Chapters, when it is not able to find any of them?

Should I be using different software? Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

[Ron P.]

Welcome to the forums,

It should be able to find the chapter marks you set in the editor, but the chapter names will not be there. You will have to rename them. To have the burn module locate and use them, click on the Auto Add Chapters, then you need to select Insert Scenes as chapters. It will see the chapter marks as scenes, and mark them.

This has been one of the bugs that has been ongoing for several versions. I don't know why they have not been able to fix this, or have been ignoring it.

[Radioman62]

To have the burn module locate and use them, click on the Auto Add Chapters, then you need to select Insert Scenes as chapters. It will see the chapter marks as scenes, and mark them.

That doesn't work. It doesn't find any scene changes if you choose an allready made mpeg2 file, as all experienced users suggests is the way to work with VS. As when your workflow is to first do your movieclips and then add them for burning a DVD.

EDIT: OK, IT can be done if you take that readymade mpeg2 and put it on the timeline again and do "slpit by scene" and then go to the burn DVD via Share tab.

But if you don't have any project loaded on the timeline and goes directly to Share there is the option "Create Disc" and inside you are able to tick in "auto scene detection" and THAT one doesn't work. It cant find any scenes.

[MrDill]

It does show up top that it is a .VSP file, which is strange because it was already saved as a mpg.

That said, it cannot detect the chapters that I have already made.

I suppose I have to redo them all in the DVD burning module.

[Ron P.]

Yes you're correct... They used to work at least as I described. I just ran a few tests.

1. Using an old MPEG-2 video file that I created quite some time ago, with chapter cues just for testing this.
2. Created a new project, placed chapter cues in project
3. Rendered project in #2 to MPEG-2 video file

• Using #1, in the burn module of VS X4, no chapters detected.
• Using project #2 in VS X4 burn module, chapters were detected.
• Using #3, in VS X4 burn module, no chapters detected.
• Using #1, in burn module for VS X2, chapters were detected.
• Using #1 in DVD MF7 Pro, chapters were detected.
• Using #3 in VS X2 and DVD MF7 Pro chapters were detected

On my WinXP machine it would allow the Insert scenes function, but would not detect the chapter cues. I then copied the video file, #3, to my laptop running Vista. I discovered different results in VS X4, where the Insert Scenes as Chapters option was not made available. Now here's the real weird one, I then started a new project, inserted the video file (#3), and created new chapter cues. Next I jumped into the burn module using the project file (Share>Create Disc). Selected the Auto add chapters, and without selecting anything else, all the chapters were there..

Something has broke this in VS X4, it used to work while in beta-testing. I've sent an email to the project managers for VS X4 and filed a support claim through Corel's website.

Edited
I checked further, and VS X2 on my Vista machine has the same behavior as VS X4. It does not detect the chapters, and the Insert Scene as Chapters is not available. So I wonder if this also has to do with the OS.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Ron

I have also run a few tests.

First I have to say I do not use Chapter Points, my videos are not that complicated.
Recent wedding video was rendered as 4 separate mpeg2 files, all added to the burner module produced a Main Menu with 4 links. Besides the Navigation Controls do not affect the chapter points.

Chapter Points.

1 / They are only preserved if you create/add them in a project (VSP), then Share Create Disc.

2 / None of the chapter point names are preserved

3 / If you import/insert the VSP to the burner module Share Create Disc-Add VSP the chapter points do not show, even though you can open the project in the editing timeline and see them.

4 / The Scene Detection works for VSP’s but only if the project contains individual clips.
Add a single Mpeg2 clip to the edit timeline, Share Create Disc, No Scene Detection
Edit the project, simply cut the Mpeg2 into sections - Share Create Disc-now Scene Detection is available.

From what I have seen the creation of the Chapter Points does not work correctly.

As far as I can see you are best to create the chapter points after doing Share Create Disc.

If you have used the edit timeline to set chapter points simply take a note of their positions from the CP Manager, then add the times in the burner module.

[Ron P.]

Thanks Trevor for also running some tests. This is another one of those things that has been around forever, Corel is aware of it, but for unknown reasons choose not to do anything about it. As stated in my previous post, I did email the VS project managers, and at least got an acknowledgement from Jan. I doubt they will try to fix it.

For chapter cues in VS, simply put, they have not, do not, and will not work properly. Don't worry about setting them in the editor, do it in the burn module where it counts. That's what I do when I feel the need for chapters.

[Ron P.]

Ron Petersen,
Thank you for contacting Corel Customer Support.
I tested this issue on our Win XP PC and on our Win 7 Demo PC and I cannot duplicate this issue.
The chapter cues I created in the Timeline Panel are visible when I go to Create Disc >> DVD >> Add/Edit Chapter.
Have you been able to reproduce this on your computer?
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any further questions.

Regards,
Ivan
Corel Customer Support Services

The above reply was received this morning. I replied that the issue is with DVD MPEG-2 video files created from the project, the chapter cues are not recognized by VS X4's burn module. That other programs such as DVD MF7 Pro and VS X2 do recognize them, so they are not stripped away when the project
is rendered to DVD MPEG-2.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Ron

Just to clarify…are you saying that If

1 / I create a project and add chapter points
2 / I render the project to a compliant video file Mpeg2
3 / I open a new project, Share Create Disc-DVD
4 / I add the Mpeg2 (created in 2 above) to the burner module

When using X2 or DVD MF7 Pro the chapter points are intact other than their names.

I do not have MF7Pro, just program that came with X3, but I can run a test using Video Studio 12 (X2)

I must say though that I have never noticed that chapter points are preserved when rendering the project to a video file.

[Ron P.]

That's exactly what I'm saying Trevor. I've done tests yesterday using a new video file, and one that I created some time ago just for testing this. I no longer have any VS versions older than VS X2 installed, or I would have marched right on back. I tested this in DVD MF7 Pro, and DVD MF6 Plus. The only one that I found that would not recognize them was the bundled version of DVD MF4 DC, that comes with MSP 8.

I also noted that there is a marked difference in windows operating systems. It seems that VS X2 on my Vista machine wants to do just like X4, and not allow me access to the Insert Scenes... option, which is used to find the chapter cues.

At first when inserting the video file into VS X2 and both DVD MF programs on my WinXP machine, I thought they were not accurately locating the chapter cues. However after comparing to the project files where the cues were placed, I found they did use those cues. So the flag, mark whatever you want to call it, is remaining in the DVD MPEG-2 files, it's just that VS X4 will not recognize and use them.

[Ron P.]

Ok, this is (as usual) turning into one of those unexplainable behaviors. I've just done some more testing.

On my Vista machine

• In VS X2, created a project, inserted a few video files, which for the sake of speed in rendering, used MPEG-2 that were recorded on my Canon FS-300
• Place Chapter cues at the start of each separate clip, and some in the middle.
• Saved the project, then jumped straight into the burn module (Share>Create Disc)
• Selected Add/Edit Chapters, Auto add chapters. The Insert Scenes as chapters is available
• Selected Insert Scenes... and VS recognized the chapter cues and marked them properly
• Removed all chapters, closed the burn module.
• Rendered my project to a DVD MPEG-2 video file, using Same as first clip, then closed the project using File>New Project
• In the new project, went to Share>Create Disc. In the burn module, inserted the newly rendered video file.
• Add/Edit chapters, Auto add chapters, and the Insert Scenes as chapters is available and was used.
• My chapter cues were recognized marked.

Now this caused a question, why was the Insert Scenes as chapters available now, when it wasn't before. The only difference was the video file I used this time was from VS on the same Vista machine. The test I ran before, I used the video file created on my other computer which is WinXP. So I needed to find out if this is something the operating system has an affect on. I copied the video file I had just created to my WinXP machine.

On my Windows XP machine

• In VS X2, went to Share>Create Disc to open the burn module.
• Inserted the video file created on my Vista machine.
• Add/Edit Chapters, Auto add chapters.
• The Insert Scenes as chapters was not available. Closed VS X2.
• Launched DVD MF6 Plus, inserted the video file, Add/Edit chapters, Auto add chapters.
• Insert Scenes as chapters again was not available. Closed DVD MF6
• Launched DVD MF7 Pro, proceeded as above.
• Insert Scenes as chapters was not available
• Launched VS X2 again, inserted one of my earlier created video files.
• The Insert Scenes as chapters is available and marked the chapters.
• I repeated this in both DVD MF6 and DVD MF7, with the same results.

I took this one step further to see if the chapter cues in the DVD MPEG-2 video files could be seen by other programs. I used MEP 17 + for this. I found that the chapter cues are not, and the program would not even use them in marking scenes.

I guess questions remain, why when the video file is created on a different machine, the chapter cues are not recognized, and the Insert Scenes is not available? Why is the Insert Scenes available and the chapter cues are used when the video file remains on the same machine/OS?

Findings forwarded to Corel Support.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Ron

I think I misunderstood your approach, now i see the light.............

This is what I did……
X2
When I select Add/Edit Chapters I assumed the chapters would appear in the timeline.
If the file happens to be a VSP then yes the chapters show.
If the file is a Mpeg2 then no chapter points show.

Now that’s as far as I went, but reading your last post I see that you select the Auto Add Chapters
This opens a new window, the “insert scenes as chapters” is available and incredibly creates the chapter points. Yep that’s what I said.

Just to confirm:-
Using Windows XP with VS X2
New project- Share Create Disc - Add video files, added a Mpeg2 file, this was rendered earlier, cant remember which VS version but think X4 (would have to confirm this)
Selected Add/Edit Chapters
Select Auto Add Chapters
Inserted Scenes as Chapters is available-pressed OK
All chapter points show in timeline.

I will run these tests again with a clean set of files.

Note :- all my tests are using Windows XP

[MrDill]

I am running WIndows 7 64 bit.

I found that it would find the Chapters if I did not touch the edit/find chapters button at all.

That said, it does not pick up the titles I gave them though, and I have found no way to enter them from within the DVD burning module.

The chapters it did find will only show up when I hit the PLAY button on my DVD player, which is very annoying.

This is all unacceptable. At least I have a better understanding now of what kind of company Corel is, and will now go out of my way to avoid anything they offer.

The only reason I started with them, is because I have been using Paintshop Pro for years, and got a deal on the VideoStudio software.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

I have just tried using X3, I created a 10 minute project with chapters applied at 3 min intervals.
The project was rendered to a standard DVD Mpeg2 file.

Share Create Disc allows me to choose the DVD Movie Factory 7se.
I was able to add the video file and successfully insert chapters using the “Insert Scenes as Chapters” option.

Ron I then tried using a Mpeg2 file made with X4, the “Insert Scenes as Chapters” was greyed out.

Mr Dill
I assume you are using X3 and DVD Movie Factory7se.
I do not understand your reference to titles.

When we add a video file to the burner module a Main Menu is created (this is the Title Menu) containing one link.
For each additional video file added a title link is created.
Each Video/Title can have chapters applied (add / edit chapters option)
Navigating to the Next window will show the Main/Title Menu
The name showning under the preview screen as Main Menu, selecting the dropdown triangle will allow us to view/edit the Chapter Menu’s

Creating Chapter points, we have two options,

1 / Create the chapter points within the editing timelines.
2 / Create the chapter points during the authoring stage, in the burner module.

Well we know there are problems with the first option, and different versions of VS are giving different symptoms.
Creating the chapter points within the burner module afaik gives no problems.
The time taken to perform both tasks is about the same.

Certainly I create the menu and chapter points in the burner module.

[MrDill]

I am using X4

After you make a Chapter you can give it a name. That is what I call title. When it plays the DVD now it says they are all UNTITLED