Cyberlink PowerProducer HD-DVD

nedski wrote on 9/22/2007, 11:41 AM

Since Sony is making all of us loyal users wait for an HD-DVD/Blu-Ray version of DVD Architect, I'm forced to try other low-cost solutions. I can't afford anything more than $100. :-(

Has anybody used Cyberlinks PowerProducer to make HD-DVD's? I've had a very frustrating time time trying to get this software to make a high definition disc.

I want to make HD-DVD's using regular DVD's as Cyberlink advertises, but so far it hasn't happened. I don't see any of the DVD menus and the only time I even saw any video, the aspect ratio was wrong and it was jumpy and had visual artifacts.

I would like to know the detailed steps for creating a complaint video file using my (and everybody's) favorite video editor, Sony Vegas versions 7 or 8. What options, of the very few that are there, do you use to make a HD-DVD in Power Producer? I've tried them all!

I have a Microsoft 360 HD-DVD drive and I'm using Cyberlink's PowerDVD Ultra to watch commercially made HD-DVD's, thus proving my PC setup meets all the needed requirements.

PLEASE.... save us all time by describing exactly how you successfully used this software combination. Replies like "It works for me" or "I haven't tried it, but it should work" or "I use XYZ video editor and XYZ authoring software instead of what you have asked about" are pretty useless. We loyal Vegas users just need this interim solution until Sony gives us what they know we need. :-)

Thanks to all,
Nedski

Comments

MPM wrote on 9/22/2007, 12:04 PM

Don't know that I'd use anything Cyberlink for authoring. There's some reviews here:
http://www.burnworld.com/software/dvdburning/dvdauthoring.htm
but the only thing I've seen recommended around here is this:
http://www.roxio.com/enu/products/dvdit/dvdit.html

Laurence wrote on 9/22/2007, 12:20 PM

I believe what you're looking for is http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=us-Ulead/UleadProcessLayout&lc=en&ppg=CorelCorp/Trials/Login&pid=1173965701146&cid=1175714226471Ulead Movie Factory Plus[/link]. It will make perfect 3x DVDs (which is the correct term for HD DVD format burned onto a regular DVD-R disc). You can get 20 minutes on a single layer disc and 40 minutes on a dual layer disc.

Lest this turn into yet another HD DVD vs Bluray battle, MF+ is also scheduled to add Blur-ray compatible AVCHD support in October. This is the Blu-ray equivalent of 3x DVD: a Blu-ray compatible HD disc burned onto a regular DVD-R. AVCHD discs use AVCHD compression which will give you 30 minutes of HD on a single layer and 60 minutes on a dual layer at approximately the same quality.

The Ulead program is less than a hundred dollars and is really quite good. If it actually does end up doing as good a job with the AVCHD format as it does with the 3x format, it may end up being the HD writer of choice for many of us in both camps.

blink3times wrote on 9/22/2007, 12:25 PM

You can also use Ulead Video Studio 11 or Pinnacle Studio11.1

I have made in the area of 100 HD DVD's now on double layer dvd's and have not had any problems at all. One hint though... use only good quality disks (I use Verbatim DL printables)

apit34356 wrote on 9/22/2007, 5:03 PM

Blink, no slamming, you have stated that you have burned 200+ 3X DVD, maybe a listing of the best to least work flows methods would be helpful for anyone thinking of using 3X DVD. Not all work flows methods work for anyone, but with a few choices, their chances of finding one is better.

blink3times wrote on 9/22/2007, 5:37 PM

, maybe a listing of the best to least work flows methods would be helpful for anyone thinking of using 3X DVD.

Not a problem.

Here's my workflow anyway:

Capture and edit with Vegas and I export to file as1080/60i M2V/WAV (pinnacle likes this best). My bitrate will either be 19000 (for 50 minutes on the disk) or 25000 (for 40 minutes on the disk). What ever you do though, make sure that your export is FINISHED so Pinnacle's smart render system kicks in to it's maximum.

My WAV will go on to Adobe Audition2 were some mixing, cutting, and such is done and the end result is 3 WAV files exported to file for DD5.1 sound (front, rear, center)

The M2V and WAV files are then imported to Pinnacle and placed on the timeline. The 3 WAV files are placed on the 3 provided tracks and the DD5.1 system is activated, and the speaker positioning/fading is adjusted. Appropriate menus/chapters are added (sometimes I go without menus at all.... depends on the disk) and from there it's just a matter of burning the disk. If your output is much the same as you input file then the Pinnacle smart render system will not do any actual rendering... a 50 minute time line takes about 10 to 15 minutes to render, (as compared to about 2 hours without smart render)

I have tried a lot of different disks and have found there to be a bit of a failure rate involved. However I have done maybe 85 or so disks with verbatim DL inkjet printables with a 0% failure rate so far.

Hammer65 wrote on 9/22/2007, 5:59 PM

So Blink you render using MainConcept MPEG2 type. Which template? HDV 1080? When I use that I get a m2t.

blink3times wrote on 9/22/2007, 6:11 PM

So Blink you render using MainConcept MPEG2 type. Which template? HDV 1080? When I use that I get a m2t.

If you use the 1080/60i template and then go into customize.. under the SYSTEM tab you will see a check box for "Save as separate elementary streams" This will get you a M2V/MPA.

I will use the generated M2V, scrap the MPA, and simply export a separate WAV

megabit wrote on 9/22/2007, 7:05 PM

OK guys, so this is how burn HD contents on a regular DVD, using regular DVD burner. Now, my question is: how do you play it back? An internal/external player, or Xbox?

blink3times wrote on 9/22/2007, 7:16 PM

You can playback on the Xbox or any HD DVD player.

Nero has also created a plugin for their Showtime player in Nero ultra 7 so you can playback on the computer... but it's a bit buggy.

I have the Toshiba A1 player and it works great.

nedski wrote on 9/22/2007, 7:40 PM

So Laurence, I'm trying Ulead as you suggested.

You have used this software I assume.

I'm not having much success, though it seems more hopeful than the Cyberlink software. I guess since no one answered my original question about Cyberlink Power Producer, no one has even tried it.

Could you please give detailed information on what Vegas rendering options you use and if there are any options in the Ulead software that help?

Nedski

4eyes wrote on 9/22/2007, 8:48 PM

If you have a XBox360 can't this device play the .m2t files directly?
I'm pretty sure the Xbox360 can playback highdef video files as data no?

If the .m2t files don't showup in the xbox360 listing add mpg to the m2t extension.
Ex: MyVideo.m2t.mpg
I know it will play hd-wmv video.

Hammer65 wrote on 9/22/2007, 9:03 PM

Thanks a ton. I've been testing with Ulead MF and video studio and it was always converts the video (m2t). I'm feeding it .m2v files now and it seems to take those without conversion if the project specs match the video clip. However, when I add audio of any type it seems to want to convert the video again. It's very frustrating, reminds me of the early days of DVD. So Pinacle 11 is working for you consistently? No conversion of the video and no problems with audio that's exported as a wave?

blink3times wrote on 9/23/2007, 3:38 AM

Yup... If you feed Pinnacle a m2v/wav, it will smart render every time.... no conversions.

You can also try to feed Video Studio (or MF) a MPG and see what happens (I don't know... I don't use Ulead) To create a mpg just go to the same system menu (the one with the elementary streams check box) and you will see a selection for TRANSPORT stream, or PROGRAM stream. If you change the setting to PROGRAM stream, then Vegas will export a MPG instead of M2T

JohnnyRoy wrote on 9/23/2007, 9:59 AM

> To create a mpg just go to the same system menu (the one with the elementary streams check box) and you will see a selection for TRANSPORT stream, or PROGRAM stream.

That option is grayed out when I go to the System page. How did you ungray it?

~jr

Laurence wrote on 9/23/2007, 10:16 AM

You can strip the transport info off an m2t clip and save the clip as an mpeg2 clip using Womble Mpeg VCR from Womble.com as well. When you do this it doesn't actually rerender the clip so you don't lose a generation and it is very fast.

I haven't tried the Cyberlink programs for authoring but I really like their DVD playback software which I have used for years.

blink3times wrote on 9/23/2007, 10:20 AM

If it's grayed out then you most likely have your OUTPUT TYPE set wrong. When you go into custom, click on your video tab.... at the top you will see OUTPUT TYPE. In the 1080/60i template it will default on HDV... you need to change this to MPEG2. This will ungray your system setting. Take note though that your bitrate will automatically change so you will have to set it back again.

I've never actually done a MPG... so let me know how it turns out!

JohnnyRoy wrote on 9/23/2007, 11:45 AM

> it will default on HDV... you need to change this to MPEG2

Yup changing it to MPEG2 allows you to make a program stream. Thanks!

> You can strip the transport info off an m2t clip and save the clip as an mpeg2 clip using Womble Mpeg VCR from Womble.com as well.

Actually there is no need to do this any more. If you download Ulead DVD MovieFactory 6 Patch 2 (Release Date: 2007/8/30) it now accepts m2t files. I just made an HD DVD to test it and it worked great. Raw m2t file from my Z1U with no re-encoding.

The patch also adds a nice menu that sets up your project automatically. Just select HD DVD and you're good to go. It will check the disc you have in the drive and set the size for you. Very cool.

~jr

Laurence wrote on 9/25/2007, 9:31 AM

If ULead would get to the point where you could author a project once and then output either a HD DVD compatible 3x DVD or a Blu-ray compatible AVCHD disc from the same authoring files, It would be about perfect.