Playback stutters / glitches from DVD WS2

[duncan_a_thomas]

Hello.

I have a second problem with DVD WS2.

I have created a 5 title project and am trying to produce a DVD-R with the following properties:

a. 16:9 format (except for the menu, doesn't seem possible there)
b. .AVI format source files, exported from Liquid Edition Pro 5.5
c. Bit-rate with 8000 K/s
d. Constant bit-rate
e. MPEG audio (I've also tried Digital Dolby audio)
f. Two-pass encode

My PC's a pre-assembled P4, 3.2 GHz, 1 Gb RAM, Win XP Pro SP1.

The problem is evident watching the DVD folder files in PowerDVD off the harddrive.

In two of the titles (one is 3:30 long, the other about 16:00) about 30 secs from the end the video completely slows down, hanging on individual frames for 3-4 secs, while the audio continues.

The other three titles are fine.

The problem also does not appear when I playback a DVD created with these settings on my Xbox DVD player. (I've had this discrepancy for DVDs created with Pinnacle Studio 9 on my old PC, strangely).

From scanning the support board it seems I might try the following:

a. Re-create the two problematic source .AVI files, as they may be corrupt. This is quite easy to do and I will try this tonight. (Incidentally, the source .AVIs play fine and don't have the glitches 30 secs before the end, when viewed in Windows Media Player).

b. Reduce the bit-rate (perhaps it's too high? any lower and I've had lip-synch problems in the past).

c. Try a different audio setting (perhaps PCM?).

d. Turn off 2-pass encoding.

Please, any help would be very appreciated.

At present I'm very disillusioned with DVD WS2. I like the interface, but it's got the kind of glitches (menus, encoding) that I expect in much cheaper software.

Best regards - Duncan (UK)

[Devil]

It's a bad workman....

Several points.

You don't specify what type of AVI file you are using or from what kind of source. This is essential for anyone to be able to help you.

However, your problem is almost certainly a combination of your efforts to be more royalist than the king. In the first place, there is absolutely no point in two-pass encoding when using constant bit rate. Secondly, a bitrate of 8000 kbit/s is too high for reliable use. Drop it to 6000 kbit/s CBR: viewed on a TV at normal viewing distance, it is very unlikely you will see any difference. Thirdly, encode audio with DD AC-3 2/0 at 192 kbit/s. Fourthly, what does a burnt DVD look like played on a set-top player on a TV? This is what counts, not an iffy PowerDVD on a computer that is not really designed to handle a TV signal coming from a HDD which is possibly very fragmented. Fifthly, make sure you have all the updates installed.

I can assure you that few have the kind of problems that you are experiencing, so that I seriously suggest that you may wish to consider using the software differently.

[duncan_a_thomas]

Thanks for these tips - they are very helpful. I will try a re-burn with the new settings.

I will try and get some details about the .AVI files. I think they would be 'native format' - but that may not be helpful. I'll bring up the file properties tonight.

Before putting my project out for duplication I am most likely going to get a reasonably-priced ordinary retail DVD player as I think it's clear that my test-beds are not particularly stable or representative (i.e. PC DVD playing software and Xbox DVD function).

Thanks again for such a quick response.
Best wishes - Duncan

[DVDDoug]

...the two problematic source .AVI files, as they may be corrupt.

I suspect this is the case. The corruption may be too slight to show-up when played back... but it may thoroughly confuse the MPEG encoder.

And, when something happens in the middle of a "file" for no apparent reason, it's usually corruption.

[duncan_a_thomas]

Many thanks for the replies - these are much appreciated.

Last night I tried a few things.

I turned off two-pass, set the bit-rate to 6000kb/s and adjusted the audio settings as suggested.

This got rid of the big glitch, but still left a small glitch in the problematic titles.

I then set the bit-rate to 6500kb/s and everything is fine. All titles, to the best of my knowledge, look fine. Strange. :)

I'll be testing it more thoroughly on a proper stand-alone DVD unit connected to a TV next weekend (27/28th Aug) and will report back.

In the meantime, I now have ANOTHER problem, which is that I patched the software to the latest patch (2.232) as recommended by an email I got back from Ulead Tech Support...

...and now I can't burn DVDs from DVD WS2. When I try I get 'Unspecified Error. Error Code: 80040422'. So I'll be contacting Tech Support again.

Nice.

Thanks again and best wishes - Duncan
---

P.S. The source .AVI files produced by Liquid Edition Pro 5.5 have the following settings:

Width 720 pixels
Height 576 pixels
--
Audio:
Bit-rate 1536 kbps
Audio sample size 16-bit
Audio format PCM
--
Video:
Frame-rate 25 frames/second
Data rate 956 kbps
Video sample size 24-bit
Video compression dvsd

Don't know if I can find out more about them, and if this info is helpful to working out the source(s) of my problems with the encoding etc.
---

[adam.n]

In the meantime, I now have ANOTHER problem, which is that I patched the software to the latest patch (2.232) as recommended by an email I got back from Ulead Tech Support...

...and now I can't burn DVDs from DVD WS2. When I try I get 'Unspecified Error. Error Code: 80040422'. So I'll be contacting Tech Support again.


I have the same problem, did you find out what was causing it?

Adam

[Devil]

Try http://www.ulead.com/tech/general/burning_engine.htm

Also make sure your burner has the latest firmware installed.

[htchien]

Or try http://www.ulead.com/tech/general/burning_patch.htm

H.T.