Windows XP SP2
DVDMF version SE 3.0.0.3
Physical ram -- 1gb
Processor Athlon XP 2800+
DVD Burner DL 16x Mad Dog
HDD for file creation 120gb axtor DMA activated, rotn speed 7200 rpm
(Separate HDD used for applications & system).
Here is the source file and task history:
Primary File source: Hauppauge WinTV PVR mpg file.
Program recorded for DVD Standard play, duration 3h 15 min.
Guess you can say I went for broke on this first try ....
Originally hoped to burn these to true DVD-9 DL media.
However, lack of availability of such media forced me to work-around of setting output to files (Audio_TS, Video_TS) for the full disk.
I intend to pipe the resulting .VOBs through DVDShrink so they can then fit on the more widely available DVD-5 media.
Prior to placement in ULead DVD MovieFactory used a trial version of Womble mpeg video wizard to cut out commercials. (It seems handier than the nanoPEG editor and is candidly closer to what I need for file cuts/condensation/splitting than the interface in multi-split mode under DVDMF).
Opted to split each program interval into separate mpg files using Wombles mpeg video wizard.
Resulting feed used by DVDMF consisted of 36 separate mpeg files.
Elected to have custom background in user menu, elected to have motion menu option active. Like I said -- go for broke..
Result -- the authoring of all the files / file structure / menus took 10 hours + to perform. Frankly -- I'm impressed that DVDMF didn't go into the fetal posiiton on me!
However, 10+ hours is really too long.
How can this be done quicker?
A -- Use a DVD Extended Play output option for WinTV generated .mpg files? Used input files had pixel size 720 x 480 (3/4), 29.97 fps, bit rate 8000 kbps (variable), show up as mpeg-2 in mpeg video wizard. Audio has bit rate of 384 kbps, sample rate of 48.0 khz.
B -- Would it have helped to split the original files into larger chunks (conversely merge the 36 used .mpg files into say four groups of 9 files each)?
C -- Use DVDMF built in chapter settings to get my user menu split points instead of specifying these through start - stop points of the used 36 .mpg files?
D -- motion menus - how much extra overhead does this take? I ask because in my (periodic) examinations of the work progress I note it took several of the 10+ hours just to get through menu generation activities. After that was done the actual file gneration took a total of 2.5 hours.
E -- Other options I have not listed but will speed up work flow rate.