DVD burning is a nightmare

[kaygreenhaw]

Okay, My video is ready (except for menu problems, but that's another post). At the bottom of the output page it says it is 7.8 gb. I put in a double layer DVD blank. set for slowest burn setting, create both to disc and disc image. It burns to 99% then gives me 5:00 Unspecified error. Get this. Now at the bottom of the page it says the video is 4.78gb. So I burn it to a regular DVD. Worked fine. I go try it out and need to fix a few things...stupid colon. Anyway, next time I go to burn same thing. I put the regular DVD in and it won't even attempt to burn. Put the double layer 8.5 in and it goes merrily along, then crashed at 99% AGAIN. And again down below it is now magically small enough to fit on a regular DVD.

I have burned from the .iso of the "big" file to no avail. However, I haven't tried it after I make one on the regular DVD.

I just don't get it. How big is my project?
I'd much rather use the regular DVD-cheaper...but am I loosing something when I do it? Looks the same?

[Ken Berry]

I am assuming that after finishing editing your project, you go immediately to Share and choose the DVD disc option. Can you confirm that this is what you do?

If so, when the burning module opens, your project file (*.vsp) will already be in the burning timeline. I suspect that the large size file reading is because the project size takes account of all the original video etc in the project. As you may know, even though you cut down files when you place them in the editing timeline, the original files, at full length, remain behind the scenes.

Now, one way to get out of the problem you find yourself in is in fact the preferred workflow of a number of us old hands here. When you finish editing, go to Share, but first choose MPEG-2 instead of DVD. The default properties shown for that are in fact the standard properties for a DVD-compatible mpeg-2 that will fit on a single layer DVD if it is one hour or less long. (These will include 720 x 480 or 576 depending on whether you are in the NTSC or PAL systems, frame rate of 60/50i, bitrate of 8000 kbps and Dolby audio.)

In fact the Dolby audio means you could probably fit a 70 minute project in using those properties. So if your project is 70 minutes or less long, simply accept those properties and press START. If it is a bit longer, then you will need to adjust the bitrate downwards a bit. A 90 minute project would require a bitrate of 6000 kbps, but a 2 hour project would require 4000 kbps. However, the end quality drops off as you lower the bitrate, and the latter would be no better than a VHS video tape.

But anyway, produce your DVD-compatible mpeg-2. That will not only give you an accurate reading of how big it is, but it will also allow you to play it back to make sure everything is OK before you burn it to disc.

Once satisfied that it is fine, got to Start > DVD. When the burning module opens, an important step here is to remove the vsp project file from the burning timeline. It might look like a video, but it is NOT. Once the timeline is empty, go to the Add Media button in the top left of the burning screen and navigate to where your DVD-compatible mpeg-2 is stored, and add that to your timeline. Then go on to build your menu and then to the final burning page. Here you can of course burn an actual disc, but you might want to avoid making yet another coaster by first burning an ISO. You can play this in a freeware player like VLC which can play ISOs, to make sure everything is OK. If it is, then you can use the plug-in which comes with VS to burn the ISO to an actual disc, or another program like Nero or the freeware ImgBurn which can also burn ISOs to disc.

Hopefully by following this workflow you will produce a usable DVD each and every time.

[kaygreenhaw]

Thank you Ken for the reply.
I did my editing in Camtasia. Rendered each selection (16+review) as separate mp4 files h.256. They look great. Other years I've used MovieFactory to build the DVD but was having the same issue there so I bought VideoStudio. I didn't expect the whole editing suite. So, I never put anything on the timeline of the Editing part. I just brought in the sections into the "Share" thing. So, should I go back to Camtasia and re-render these as mpeg2 (can do a batch) or should I move them to the timeline in VideoStudio? I was unclear on how to do my main menu from one long video.

[kaygreenhaw]

Ken. I have a mpeg2 movie now of my whole project. Tell me how I can get my menus to work. If I put in chapters for each of the 16 selections I can do no sub menus. As I see it only two layers of menus are allowed. Main and subs. I would also like to have a splash screen "first clip as introductory video". Maybe I DO have to go back to Camtasia and export as Mpeg2...???

[lata]

Hi
To burn a DVD any program will convert the original video files to Mpeg2, it is this format that is burnt to disc.
We recommend rendering / converting our projects / video to Mpeg2 prior to burning the disc.
This will avoid any extra rendering when using Video Studio, a process called Convert Title.

DVD Menus
Video Studio is limited in what it creates, for each Video / Title added to the burner timeline a link / thumbnail is created on the main menu page.
For each Title added Chapter points can be added.

I think you have two options…….
Option one
Render your video to individual Mpeg2, you will have 16 + video clips, aka titles
Add those to the burner timeline will create a Main menu containing a link for each video clip / Title.

Option two
Render the videos to a single Mpeg2
Add that to the burner module shows one link on the main menu
Chapter points can be added to this video, (First window for add chapter points) I assume again 16+

The Title or Chapter menus are limited to I think 8 links per page so you would have to create 2 or 3 menu pages.
However there are some free templates available provided by forum members, some text menus containing 20 links, that may be an option. viewtopic.php?f=48&t=60117

How you proceed really depends on the video content and how you wish to play the video.
If you wish to select say video 5, play that and return to menu to play say video 8, then option one
Option two will play chapter 5 and all others to the end of disc.

The navigation controls via the settings / options cogwheel , lower left can be used to set our preferences for Titles, these do not affect Chapters.

Play “First Clip As Introductory Video”
Create a short Mpeg2, add to timeline as first clip, tick the box.

Hopefully this has not caused to much confusion.

[kaygreenhaw]

Thank you everyone for the responses. Lots of very smart and experienced people on this Web Board.
I couldn't believe, or wouldn't believe that it could be hardware. I have 3 DVD burners in my machine and one external USB. Tried 'em all. BUT, in desperation, and since this was my first attempt at burning double layered discs, I visited Best Buy and bought an LG that specifically said it would burn the DL discs. And guess what? It did.

I took out the motion and the sound on menus to get me out of the red. In the yellow, but worked once. Of course, my editor came back with changes. Never say final.

Thanks again,
K

[canuck]

k,

how long in time is you whole project? I never use DL DVD since they cause too much trouble. I would rather split up the project over 2 DVDs if the project is longer then 70 minutes

[kaygreenhaw]

I agree!!! Publisher is the one wanting one one disc. Less packaging and labeling. However, if I'd been paid by the hour ...
To answer your question, it was just under 2 hours.

[lata]

Hi

When burning a DVD disc we need Mpeg2, the audio stream can be LPMC or Digital Dolby
If you use LPMC then you will get approx. 60 minutes to a disc at full quality
If you use Digital Dolby then 70 – 75 minutes is possible, Digital Dolby using a lower data rate.

We do recommend converting the project to Mpeg2, share Mpeg2 will use DD

If you decide to burn the project to DVD then LPCM could be used.
However If you set your Project Properties to DVD then Digital Dolby will be used, the burner module will reflect your Project Properties and use Digital Dolby allowing up to 75 minutes.

I guess it’s a matter of avoiding LPCM audio.