I've used MF3 to create DVD's with avi's from a camera I have. These normally take a couple of hours or so to create. However for Xmas I got a pentax option mx camera which takes movies in mpeg4 (.mov) format. I tried to create a disc over the weekend includiing 25 minutes of these clips, and it took my system (Athlon 1800 with 1.25 gb RAM) 26 HOURS to create the disc!
Most of this time was 'converting video'.....is it more difficult to convert Mpeg4 files than avi files to put onto a DVD???
Many thanks for any help
Vince
MF3 - Over a day to convert mpeg4 (mov files) - Normal?
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hizannes
Re: MF3 - Over a day to convert mpeg4 (mov files) - Normal?
Hi,vinceul wrote:I've used MF3 to create DVD's with avi's from a camera I have. These normally take a couple of hours or so to create. However for Xmas I got a pentax option mx camera which takes movies in mpeg4 (.mov) format. I tried to create a disc over the weekend includiing 25 minutes of these clips, and it took my system (Athlon 1800 with 1.25 gb RAM) 26 HOURS to create the disc!
Most of this time was 'converting video'.....is it more difficult to convert Mpeg4 files than avi files to put onto a DVD???
Many thanks for any help
Vince
I would suggest doing the conversion to MPEG-2 (DVD format) in another program such as TMPGEnc and see if there is a difference. It could be that MF3 uses an inefficient method of doing this particular conversion, not sure.
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outoftime
I have had the same problem converting mpeg2 files to dvd. One file was 7.8gb and took about 3 hours (Which was good). The other file was 6.2gb and took over 18 hours. I do not know that there was any other difference in the two files or the settings for conversion. Also, on the second converted file there was a (very small) delay between the video and audio.
Both of the original files had come from digitized vhs tapes, and the settings were the same.
Both of the original files had come from digitized vhs tapes, and the settings were the same.
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vinceul
Not sure if I should be saying this here, but I'm going to give Premiere Elements from Ad*be a shot, to see if its any more efficient. A shame, as I like the Ulead software, but 24 hours for a 30 minute disc is just too long in my opinion!
A shame, as with avi's from my Fuji 603M camera, MF3 seems fine, and takes 2 to 3 hours for the same length of disc....
A shame, as with avi's from my Fuji 603M camera, MF3 seems fine, and takes 2 to 3 hours for the same length of disc....
One thing to be aware of with Premiere Elements. It has a simple version of Encore included for DVD authoring. When authoring the DVD, if necessary, it will reencode the video to "DVD compliant." According to one review I read, it will interpret a lot of MPEGs as being non-compliant and will reencode it again.
Also, for conversion of non-MPEG files to MPEG2, try this program. Reasonably priced and depending on quality settings and speed of your machine, faster than real time encoding. Free trial available but it will watermark output. Seems to work very well.
http://www.mediostream.com/products/ind ... mmpeg.html
Once you encode to MPEG, you can check "Do not convert compliant..." in DMF and that should speed up your process considerably.
Also, for conversion of non-MPEG files to MPEG2, try this program. Reasonably priced and depending on quality settings and speed of your machine, faster than real time encoding. Free trial available but it will watermark output. Seems to work very well.
http://www.mediostream.com/products/ind ... mmpeg.html
Once you encode to MPEG, you can check "Do not convert compliant..." in DMF and that should speed up your process considerably.
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vinceul
Thanks for the tip there!
The files I'm trying to burn onto DVD's are avi's and MP4's (.mov) from my two digital camera....so I guess any software would have to re-encode these into some kind of DVd format.
I take you point though.....do you mean that ANY MPEG (e.g. the sill sort of video a friend might send you via email) can be interpreted in MF3 as 'compliant, and then burnt without the need for re-encoding?
If so, I take your point, maybe a fast MPEG encoder is worthwhile getting, then MF3 can simply 'drop' them onto the disc as they are 'compliant' whereas Premiere Elements will STILL have to re-encode?
Many thanks again
Vince
The files I'm trying to burn onto DVD's are avi's and MP4's (.mov) from my two digital camera....so I guess any software would have to re-encode these into some kind of DVd format.
I take you point though.....do you mean that ANY MPEG (e.g. the sill sort of video a friend might send you via email) can be interpreted in MF3 as 'compliant, and then burnt without the need for re-encoding?
If so, I take your point, maybe a fast MPEG encoder is worthwhile getting, then MF3 can simply 'drop' them onto the disc as they are 'compliant' whereas Premiere Elements will STILL have to re-encode?
Many thanks again
Vince
The files I'm trying to burn onto DVD's are avi's and MP4's (.mov) from my two digital camera....so I guess any software would have to re-encode these into some kind of DVd format.
-Yes, using your current files (AVI or MOV), anything would have to reencode to become compliant MPEGs for DVD so that part would be a wash between Elements and DMF3. Be aware though that comparing DMF with Premiere Elements is a little like comparing apples and oranges. Elements is primarily an editor with some some DVD authoring capabilties. DMF3 is a DVD authoring program with a little bit of editing capabilities. Perhaps a better comparison would be VideoStudio which is primarily an editor with some authoring capabilities.
I take you point though.....do you mean that ANY MPEG (e.g. the sill sort of video a friend might send you via email) can be interpreted in MF3 as 'compliant, and then burnt without the need for re-encoding?
-Yes, provided it is a DVD compliant MPEG. I try to capture MPEGs in a DVD compliant format so the authoring goes very quickly for me. I can author a DVD in 20-30 minutes and burn in 15 minutes. That's because I did the work up-front to create a DVD compatible capture profile. You unfortunately don't have that luxury with your current capture format.
If so, I take your point, maybe a fast MPEG encoder is worthwhile getting, then MF3 can simply 'drop' them onto the disc as they are 'compliant' whereas Premiere Elements will STILL have to re-encode?
- Yes that is correct. For example the one I had mentioned seems to work well. For $40, what is your time worth. If you can strike a compromise between speed and quality, how much time will it save you. Its a free trial so you could play with it. It will watermark the output file but for test purposes to see if its worth, that sounds reasonable. Then make sure it imports smoothly into DMF. Test render to a DVD folder on your hard drive and see if its worth it.
-Yes, using your current files (AVI or MOV), anything would have to reencode to become compliant MPEGs for DVD so that part would be a wash between Elements and DMF3. Be aware though that comparing DMF with Premiere Elements is a little like comparing apples and oranges. Elements is primarily an editor with some some DVD authoring capabilties. DMF3 is a DVD authoring program with a little bit of editing capabilities. Perhaps a better comparison would be VideoStudio which is primarily an editor with some authoring capabilities.
I take you point though.....do you mean that ANY MPEG (e.g. the sill sort of video a friend might send you via email) can be interpreted in MF3 as 'compliant, and then burnt without the need for re-encoding?
-Yes, provided it is a DVD compliant MPEG. I try to capture MPEGs in a DVD compliant format so the authoring goes very quickly for me. I can author a DVD in 20-30 minutes and burn in 15 minutes. That's because I did the work up-front to create a DVD compatible capture profile. You unfortunately don't have that luxury with your current capture format.
If so, I take your point, maybe a fast MPEG encoder is worthwhile getting, then MF3 can simply 'drop' them onto the disc as they are 'compliant' whereas Premiere Elements will STILL have to re-encode?
- Yes that is correct. For example the one I had mentioned seems to work well. For $40, what is your time worth. If you can strike a compromise between speed and quality, how much time will it save you. Its a free trial so you could play with it. It will watermark the output file but for test purposes to see if its worth, that sounds reasonable. Then make sure it imports smoothly into DMF. Test render to a DVD folder on your hard drive and see if its worth it.
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vinceul
Thanks again for all the really useful tips.
I downloaded the XtreamMPEG software, and it converted 30 mins of .movs in about 40 mins - very good!
I pulled those into my MF3 project, and joined them to make one long clip of 30mins. Unfortunately during the disc creation (which looked like it was going to take about 30 mins!!!), it kept crashing saying a chapters "frames exceeded the total number"....whatever that means! I then joined the MPEGs together in a video joiner program, but MF3 crashed when trying to import this file (possibly because it was 1.5 gig??).
I then used the same 1.5 gig file in Premiere Elements, and it burnt a disc in 2 hours...obviously re-encoding the mpegs, rather than using them 'natively' as MF3 was trying to do.
Out of curiosity, I dragged the original .mov files into a premiere elements project...encoding time went up to 19 hours!!!
So basically It looks like I'll have to use Premiere Elements, as it seems to be able to handle the converted/joined mpeg file, whereas MF3 couldn't.
If MF3 was more reliable in handling the converted mpeg files, I'd definitely still use it (would certainly be quicker), but it seems to have problems with these converted files for some reason (first the number of frames, then it just locked up 'not responding' when I tried using the joined 1.5 gig mpeg).....I don't know if there's a more reliable way of converting that won't cause problems?
Many thanks for all the help, its very much appreciated.
I downloaded the XtreamMPEG software, and it converted 30 mins of .movs in about 40 mins - very good!
I pulled those into my MF3 project, and joined them to make one long clip of 30mins. Unfortunately during the disc creation (which looked like it was going to take about 30 mins!!!), it kept crashing saying a chapters "frames exceeded the total number"....whatever that means! I then joined the MPEGs together in a video joiner program, but MF3 crashed when trying to import this file (possibly because it was 1.5 gig??).
I then used the same 1.5 gig file in Premiere Elements, and it burnt a disc in 2 hours...obviously re-encoding the mpegs, rather than using them 'natively' as MF3 was trying to do.
Out of curiosity, I dragged the original .mov files into a premiere elements project...encoding time went up to 19 hours!!!
So basically It looks like I'll have to use Premiere Elements, as it seems to be able to handle the converted/joined mpeg file, whereas MF3 couldn't.
If MF3 was more reliable in handling the converted mpeg files, I'd definitely still use it (would certainly be quicker), but it seems to have problems with these converted files for some reason (first the number of frames, then it just locked up 'not responding' when I tried using the joined 1.5 gig mpeg).....I don't know if there's a more reliable way of converting that won't cause problems?
Many thanks for all the help, its very much appreciated.
I downloaded the XtreamMPEG software, and it converted 30 mins of .movs in about 40 mins - very good!
- That's not bad. Depending on quality settings and machine spedd ypou might be able to improve it.
I pulled those into my MF3 project, and joined them to make one long clip of 30mins. Unfortunately during the disc creation (which looked like it was going to take about 30 mins!!!), it kept crashing saying a chapters "frames exceeded the total number"....whatever that means! I then joined the MPEGs together in a video joiner program, but MF3 crashed when trying to import this file (possibly because it was 1.5 gig??).
- The "Some chapter frames exceed..." is annoying. To get rid of the error, you could try removing chapter points one-by-one from the end to see which is the offending Item, then add the others back. Also you could try this product. It will join the files in a few minutes and it also got rid of the error for me. Also got rid of audio OOS problem of DMF created DVDs for me. Check the "Output for Movie Factory" in the options dialog box. Be sure to request a trial key for full functionality. http://www.drdsystems.com/VideoReDo/
I then used the same 1.5 gig file in Premiere Elements, and it burnt a disc in 2 hours...obviously re-encoding the mpegs, rather than using them 'natively' as MF3 was trying to do.
- Not bad but the time is still a little annoying.
Out of curiosity, I dragged the original .mov files into a premiere elements project...encoding time went up to 19 hours!!!
- Wow!!! I guess by having a MPEG, it was able to take a few shortcuts.
So basically It looks like I'll have to use Premiere Elements, as it seems to be able to handle the converted/joined mpeg file, whereas MF3 couldn't.
- You have to go with the winner.
If MF3 was more reliable in handling the converted mpeg files, I'd definitely still use it (would certainly be quicker), but it seems to have problems with these converted files for some reason (first the number of frames, then it just locked up 'not responding' when I tried using the joined 1.5 gig mpeg).....I don't know if there's a more reliable way of converting that won't cause problems?
- Certainly you try the Xtream and VideoReDo combination.
There is also an encoder from Canopus on the consumer end. http://www.canopus.us/US/products/proco ... xpress.asp
They have a very good reputation. I have not personally tried their encoder.
Many thanks for all the help, its very much appreciated.
- You're welcome. Good luck. Let me know how you make out.
- That's not bad. Depending on quality settings and machine spedd ypou might be able to improve it.
I pulled those into my MF3 project, and joined them to make one long clip of 30mins. Unfortunately during the disc creation (which looked like it was going to take about 30 mins!!!), it kept crashing saying a chapters "frames exceeded the total number"....whatever that means! I then joined the MPEGs together in a video joiner program, but MF3 crashed when trying to import this file (possibly because it was 1.5 gig??).
- The "Some chapter frames exceed..." is annoying. To get rid of the error, you could try removing chapter points one-by-one from the end to see which is the offending Item, then add the others back. Also you could try this product. It will join the files in a few minutes and it also got rid of the error for me. Also got rid of audio OOS problem of DMF created DVDs for me. Check the "Output for Movie Factory" in the options dialog box. Be sure to request a trial key for full functionality. http://www.drdsystems.com/VideoReDo/
I then used the same 1.5 gig file in Premiere Elements, and it burnt a disc in 2 hours...obviously re-encoding the mpegs, rather than using them 'natively' as MF3 was trying to do.
- Not bad but the time is still a little annoying.
Out of curiosity, I dragged the original .mov files into a premiere elements project...encoding time went up to 19 hours!!!
- Wow!!! I guess by having a MPEG, it was able to take a few shortcuts.
So basically It looks like I'll have to use Premiere Elements, as it seems to be able to handle the converted/joined mpeg file, whereas MF3 couldn't.
- You have to go with the winner.
If MF3 was more reliable in handling the converted mpeg files, I'd definitely still use it (would certainly be quicker), but it seems to have problems with these converted files for some reason (first the number of frames, then it just locked up 'not responding' when I tried using the joined 1.5 gig mpeg).....I don't know if there's a more reliable way of converting that won't cause problems?
- Certainly you try the Xtream and VideoReDo combination.
There is also an encoder from Canopus on the consumer end. http://www.canopus.us/US/products/proco ... xpress.asp
They have a very good reputation. I have not personally tried their encoder.
Many thanks for all the help, its very much appreciated.
- You're welcome. Good luck. Let me know how you make out.
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vinceul
Thanks ever so much for the detailed reply to my problems. Its infuriating, because a 'simple' solution is so close - but yet so far!
I have managed to find a product called Movie Joiner (www.movietoolbox.com), which claims to join .mov files. If I can do this, I might be able to convert the whole thing to mpeg in XtreamMPEG, possible getting a 'cleaner' final file. I know there must have been some kind of problem with some of the mpegs I converted, as premiere elements crashed when I tried using them individually, but bizarrely, not when they were joined! MF3 had the frames problem with the individual Mpegs, and locked up trying to access the big 1.5gig combined file.
Maybe this was MF3's problem with my large mpeg, it was several smaller joined files, one of which my have had problems.
Anyway, its worth a try....I don't really edit my clips, so its not an issue that I'll just be pulling in a total file.
It would be great if I CAN get this to work, as from what I could see, MF3 will zip through a disc of compatible mpegs in about half an hour!
I have managed to find a product called Movie Joiner (www.movietoolbox.com), which claims to join .mov files. If I can do this, I might be able to convert the whole thing to mpeg in XtreamMPEG, possible getting a 'cleaner' final file. I know there must have been some kind of problem with some of the mpegs I converted, as premiere elements crashed when I tried using them individually, but bizarrely, not when they were joined! MF3 had the frames problem with the individual Mpegs, and locked up trying to access the big 1.5gig combined file.
Maybe this was MF3's problem with my large mpeg, it was several smaller joined files, one of which my have had problems.
Anyway, its worth a try....I don't really edit my clips, so its not an issue that I'll just be pulling in a total file.
It would be great if I CAN get this to work, as from what I could see, MF3 will zip through a disc of compatible mpegs in about half an hour!