VS 9 Can't Burn

[Inga]

I have been using VS 7 - many bugs but I own it. I am in mid project and thought I would be clever and try to upgrade to VS 9. Am using the trial version which is LOADS better, but here it the rub. I build the menu, then go to the next stage and it all crashes before I can burn a DVD. Is this deliberate because I am using the free one?

[Ken Berry]

No it is not some trick with the trial version. It should work. But you need to give us more information. How far into your project had you gone in VS 7? Did you actually produce a DVD-compatible mpeg-2 file in VS 7 and were trying to burn that in VS 9. Or did you just open the VS 7 project in VS 9 and proceed from there? Did you complete your editing and then go to Share > Create Video File > DVD, and then, when that file was produced, did you go to Share > Create Disc? Or did you from the project direct to the Create Disc stage? What were the properties of the project and/or the DVD compatible mpeg-2? And have you tried burning a disc image ISO file or Video_TS video file instead of burning a disc, and then burning either of them on some other program e.g. Nero?

[Inga]

I never got as far as the burning stage on VS7. I had movie clips and some transitions strung together. I loaded VS 9 and continued to work on it addinf more clips, text and transitions.

To burn my DVD I followed the instructions posted on htis discussion board. I got as far as step 12 where one would normally select recording speed etc and that is where the whole thing locks down and can't even be closed. I have to physically turn off the computer.

I don't understand some of the other questions (I am not very technical)

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi
Ok, I think we need a little more information.

After you completed the editing:-

From Share did you go through the Create Video File stage
If you did then you created a single file of your project, saved to your hard drive.
A thumbnail of this file was placed in the video library.
Right click the thumbnail, select properties, what are they?

Trevor

[Inga]

I used the instructions posted in this discussion board called "announcement" It is thefirst posting.

It says Caution never create a DVD with anything in the timeline and don't use "share" so I created a new project and names it burn project.

I followed the instructions (please look at them under BURN DVD Phase) and made it to numebr 12.

WHe I hit properties on the "burn project" thumbnail it says it is a VS9 project and is 64kb create yeaterday. What should I be looking for?

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Inga

Its good that you are following the recommended procedure but I feel there is a little confusion.

I think you are adding a ‘project’ to the burner module when you should be adding a ‘Video File’.
(this is an easy mistake to make as adding a project can be done by selecting Add Video)

To check:-
In the burner module click the thumbnail to select (the clip gets a blue border)
Right click the thumbnail and select ‘media clip properties’
A window pops up.

This window shows the video properties.

In the top box called file name, what do you see.
If the name is to long to view all, click the name then use your keyboard arrow keys to scroll right.

Is the file extension *.VSP or *.MPG


Trevor

[Inga]

Hi Trevor,
Ok, so I went and started again and selected add video project. Then I right clicked on the blue framed clip and the following information came up:


The file name is:
C:\Documents and Settings\Inga and Denzil.INGA-82JHJOMBNJ\Desktop\halloween clips\Halloween5.VSP

The clip information is:

NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
MPEG files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Upper Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 3999 kbps)
Audio data rate: 224 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo


Does this tell you anything?

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Inga

The video you added to the burner window should have been a Mpeg file not a Vsp file (*.mpg)

When you Share Create Video File you should have made an Mpeg file of your edited timeline.

This file is used to burn a Dvd.

Read the recomended procedure again.

Read my Guides to Mpeg and Avi from the link below.

You should :-

1 / Capture
2 / Edit
3 / share create video file
4 / start a new project
5 / share create disc
6 / add video (using the file made in 3 above)
& / make sure your video properties and your burner properties are the same.

Trevor

[Inga]

Hi Trevor,
Ok I have everything in front of me, and have just run through it again. I can't get past number four on your list.

I am sorry to be so dense, but I am really having trouble with the steps you just sent me. I have right now project (as per my last post) that resides on my hard drive with the extension .vsp. If I understand what you are saying, I need to turn that into an mpg. file in order for it to burn properly. That is the step I don't know how to do. The guiede on your website assumes it is already an mpeg file so it is not making sense.

In your 7 step list, do I start with my project open in the timeline when I click on "share" and creat e new project?

You are being very patient and I appreciate it. I know there is some basic logic I am not understanding, but I will get there stick with me.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Inga
After you have finished all the editing you need to convert the project into a Mpeg 2 file.

With your completed project in the timeline go to Share --Create Video File

Here you will be presented with some template options,
As you are working with Mpeg files you should be able to select ‘Same as Project Settings’

The settings you gave earlier looked ok except the bit rate at 3999 seemed a little low.
I would expect 8000 for up to a one hour video.
So you could select Ntsc-dvd

You can now view the settings in the properties window .
Select a location on your hard drive to save the file.

Create Video File is called rendering and will take some time.

Once the file has been created start a new project, Share create disc, add video file, using the file you just made.

Does that make sense.

1 / Capture
2 / Edit ( you are here, finished editing)
3 / share create video file
4 / start a new project
5 / share create disc
6 / add video (using the file made in 3 above)
7 / make sure your video properties and your burner properties are the same.
8 / Make menus and chapters
9 / burn disc

Trevor

[Ken Berry]

And when we say 'start a new project', we just mean click on File > New Project, and nothing more than that. You don't have to give the new project a name or anything. The aim is only to clear the timeline of your OLD project. Think of it as being like turning off Video Studio altogether and then switching it on again. You then have nothing open and a totally empty timeline.

Anyway, once you have a clear timeline, you can forget about your project file (VSP). You can open the burning module by clicking Share > Create disc. Once that module has opened, you select 'Add Video' and you point your mouse at the place you stored the DVD-compatible mpeg-2 file you produced earlier. Once that file (and any other mpeg-2 files you want to add to your DVD) appears in the line down towards the bottom of the burning screen, you can move on to create your menu, chapters and burn. Make sure, though, you first click on the little Options cogwheel icon in the bottom left of the burning screen and check the box beside "Do not convert compliant mpeg files'.

[Inga]

Hi Guys,
I did everything as stated, it rendered (which is a process I have never done before) for once everything that was on the list was going well. I went to the final step "Create Disc" screen where the first line is "Disc volume label" and for the tenth time, it totally crashed my computer. I can never access that screen. The second it pops up, it locks up the whole computer.

[Ken Berry]

Can you explain a bit more about where 'Disc volume label' appears when you click on Share > Creat Disc?

[Inga]

Certainly my fine Aussie friend,

After I complete the making of menus (step 8 of Trevor's last list) , I click on "Next" in the sequence towards being able to burn. As soon as I have made the menus, chapters (only one chapter actually) and go to proceed from that screen, it goes to the next one, and freezes. The frozen screen looks like it would be where I would select copy speed and my burner path and all that.

[Ken Berry]

My next question is a cautious one: have you applied the update patch available for VS9? I say it is a cautious question because a couple of weeks back, I was the cautious one on this Board suggesting that if it ain't broke, don't fix it -- in other words, if your program is working fine as it is, don't simply apply the patch because it is there. But in your case, it appears as if the burning module is actually 'broke', so indeed you may need to fix it! Bonne chance, mon amie canadienne! (There, I've respected official Canadian government policy and given you a bilingual response, even if you don't hear much Québecois out in BC!!)

Edit: sorry -- ignore my suggestion. I have just re-read your first post and see you are using the trial version. Don't think the patches will work with that.