DVD Architect will not Launch (Start)

Georgia Don wrote on 8/9/2009, 7:38 AM

Hi all,

I have Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 9.0 which also has with it:
DVD Architect Studio 4.5
Sound Forge Audio Studio 9.0
Cinescore Studio 1.0

When I originally installed everything Vegas Movie Studio would not launch. Reading this forum I discovered that someone else had the problem and got the latest download update which addressed this problem. Seeing all of the other updates for my programs mentioned above, I downloaded and installed them as well.

After the Movie Studio Update, it started right up and I was able to do anything I wanted, however, when I tried to "Make a Movie" and selected DVD for an output all went well until the Disc Image "mpg" and "AC3" file completed and I clicked on "Send to DVD Architect" button. I had a little busy hour glass tumble a couple of times then nothing else happened. I looked in "Task Manager" but did not see any file that looked like it may be DVD-A. At least I didn't see anything stand out.

I tried launching DVD-A from it's icon also with no result. At this point I have to say that I don't remember trying to start this program before I got the update for Movie Studio or not. I do remember trying to figure out how to enter my serial numbers and may have done just that with DVD-A, I just can't remember.

So, I checked the forum and finding nothing with exactly my problem, I uninstalled the updated DVD-A 4.5d, and re-downloaded 4.5d.

At this point I tried to "Make a Movie" again, but without having reinstalled DVD-A. Of course I was told that I needed to install DVD-A before I could use this feature. So Movie Studio knows if DVD-A is installed or not. I reinstalled and tried again. I was again able to make my movie and it rendered the mpg and ac3 file again and again when the render was through I clicked to send the files to DVD-A and again nothing seems to have happened.

I am running XP-Pro with Service Pack 3. I have AVG virus protection, but have also tried disabling it while working this problem. I am running on an Intel 2.87GHz PIII Socket 478 with 2GB memory on an Abit IS7-V2 Motherboard using the AGP8 slot and a Radeon 9250 graphics card. Now before you laugh at my old stuff, it serves this poor old retired man well and it's what he can afford. :)

A note: I also have NERO Vision and related software on my system. At one time I had ROXIO stuff which seemed to be mostly unusable and long ago uninstalled, though someone may know of possible remaining artifacts which could interfear with DVD-A.

Thanks for any and all help regarding this.

Don

Comments

Steve Grisetti wrote on 8/9/2009, 11:43 AM

You're running a Pentium 3? That's a pretty old processor -- so likely this computer is at least 5 or 6 years old.

Vegas and DVD Architect are relatively efficient programs, so you may still be able to run them. But do you have adequate free, defragmented hard drive space? (Depending on what you're using for source video, you could need between 40 and 100 gigabytes of free, defragmented space.)

It's also possible that the computer needs a registry tune-up, operating system update and temp file cleaning.

How much free space is on your C drive and what type of camcorder did your video come from?

Georgia Don wrote on 8/9/2009, 1:43 PM

"You're running a Pentium 3? That's a pretty old processor -- so likely this computer is at least 5 or 6 years old."

Yep, that's what it is. I built it about 5 years ago. It has and does serve me well. It's what I can afford at this time and I have no problem waiting 3 hours to process 1 hour video 1920X1080 ) HD down to a 720x480 mpg. The fact is, I am quite impressed at the stability of the Movie Studio. Unlike other programs I have used in the past, it has not crashed once.

I have three hard disk drives each with a minimum of 50Gb free. I defrag typically twice a week.

"It's also possible that the computer needs a registry tune-up, operating system update and temp file cleaning."

As it happens, I run AVG and had an auto-update issue with it and through the process of making certain that nothing was interfering with it, I was guided through several file cleansing sessions including malware searches, CCleaner, Belarc Advisor, and others. I have fair amount of certainty that my system and registry is pretty clean, considering the hundreds of programs that have been through this machine. That is not to say it is absolutely 100% right.

I keep current with all of my XP updates and security updates.

The camcorder is a Panasonic HDC-SD20 which records in full HD at 1920x1080 AVCHD. The files are in m2ts format. Before purchasing Vegas Movie Studio Platinum, I wrote SONY after I saw that my machine exceeds the minimum requirements published by SONY, and asked them if VMS would work with Panasonic m2ts files. They said that it likely would, but to try the trial version first. I did, and I was quite happy to be able to load up and edit my files without problem. Now, some of you hot shots out there surely can preview your clips at full speed, but believe me, I am a happy camper as compared to what I had in the past.

Someday a machine upgrade is inevitable I know, but agin this is what I have now, and unless it says somewhere that a Celeron 2.87GHz CPU will not open DVD-A, then something else is amiss.

I'm open to suggestions.

Thanks for the response,

Don

Lou van Wijhe wrote on 8/9/2009, 2:02 PM

Don,

It can take quite some time for DVDA to open these files, especially on a slower system, and all the time it looks as if nothing is happening. Try to send your files to DVDA again and go take a cup of coffee. Maybe a longer wait helps.

Lou

Georgia Don wrote on 8/9/2009, 2:21 PM

Hi Lou,

I just tried to open DVDA through it's program icon exe file, left and put a chicken on the rotisserie, came back and I see no indication of anything looking like DVDA on my taskbar.

What by the way is considered now as a respectable processor? I thought 2.87 was kinda fast considering that my first ever computer was a Timex followed by a c-64. LOL

Don

Steve Grisetti wrote on 8/9/2009, 4:45 PM

For working with AVCHD, most people are using quad core processors and 4 gigs of RAM. It's a very highly compressed, very intensive video format, and it can choke the life out of lesser systems. Even many dual core processors.

I would expect some activity though.

Are you saying you're editing AVCHD in Vegas and then exporting a standard MPEG2 for your DVD Architect files? I sure wouldn't recommend staying in AVCHD throughout the entire workflow.

Georgia Don wrote on 8/9/2009, 8:18 PM

Quad core. Nice indeed. Some day some how.

"I would expect some activity though. "

That's what I would think. I have watched processes sorted by CPU demand via Task Manager (sorting High to Low) and nothing pops up new. So it seems to me that my puny little processor isn't being taxed anymore than when it sits idle.

Yes, I have taken my m2ts clips and put them together on a project creating transitions and text inserts and the like just doing some converting and stitching so to speak. Then "make a movie" and typically have saved straight to hard disk. Just the last couple of days I have been trying to expand my knowledge of the program and try to burn direct to DVD disc. This is how I discovered it did not launch DVDA.

Don

Georgia Don wrote on 8/11/2009, 8:01 AM

Not to sound ungrateful for the responses so far... but does anyone have a clue as to why or what I should look for that may be interfering with DVDA from launching?

It is clear that my machine is considered slow, but slow I can deal with, not even trying to launch I can not. I have other ways of making a DVD, but I'd kinda like to have what I bought work.

Thanks for your consideration of this issue.

Don

Steve Grisetti wrote on 8/11/2009, 9:22 AM

You still haven't told us if you're working with an MPEG exported from Vegas as your source file for DVD Architect. That should resolve (or at least diffuse) your issues. (I would not recommend loading an AVCHD file into DVD Architect with your rig, Georgia.)

Georgia Don wrote on 8/11/2009, 11:16 AM

First off Steve, thank you so much for not giving up on me. I sincerely do appreciate your help and interest in my problem. I apologize for not having given enough information for diagnosis. So here is what I just did:

New Project For purposes of testing:
Processing a short full HD 1920x1080i video clip to DVD attempt:

General
Name: 00000.MTS
Folder: D:\Video Camera In\D'og\Day 1 and 2
Type: MPEG-2 Transport Stream
Size: 48.36 MB (49,520,640 bytes)
Created: Saturday, August 08, 2009, 8:25:14 AM
Modified: Thursday, August 06, 2009, 12:26:20 PM
Accessed: Tuesday, August 11, 2009, 12:26:05 PM
Attributes: Archive

Streams
Video: 00:00:41.542, 29.970 fps interlaced, 1920x1080x12, AVC
Audio 1: 00:00:41.542, 48,000 Hz, 5.1 Surround (stereo downmix), Dolby AC-3
Audio 2: 00:00:41.542, 48,000 Hz, 5.1 Surround, Dolby AC-3

ACID information
ACID chunk: no
Stretch chunk: no
Stretch list: no
Stretch info2: no
Beat markers: no
Detected beats: no

Other metadata
Regions/markers: no
Command markers: no

Media manager
Media tags: no

Plug-In
Name: m2tsplug.dll
Folder: C:\Program Files\Sony\Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 9.0\FileIO Plug-Ins\m2tsplug
Format: Sony M2TS
Version: Version 1.0 (Build 1419)
Company: Sony Creative Software Inc.

-------------------------------------
Attempted procedure:

Click Project
Select "Make Movie"
When asked "What do you want to do with your movie?" I select "Burn it to a DVD, Blu-ray Disc, or CD"
Clicked Next
When asked "Select the type of disc to burn:" I selected "DVD"
Clicked "Next"
When confronted with the "Render Settings" page, I set my Video file path: C:\Documents and Settings\Don\My Documents\Vegas Movie Studio PE 9.0 Projects\D'og_Day00001and00002\Disc Images\D'og_Day00001.mpg
Set audio path to: C:\Documents and Settings\Don\My Documents\Vegas Movie Studio PE 9.0 Projects\D'og_Day00001and00002\Disc Images\D'og_Day00001.ac3
Check Box Settings:
[ ] Render loop region only {ghosted out}
[ ] Stretch video to fill output frame size (do not letterbox)
[ ] Save project as path reference
[X] Save project markers in media file
[X] Use widescreen DVD format

Clicked "NEXT"

Rendering of D'og_Day00001.mpg begins.
Elapsed time: 00:03:49 {so a little less than 1 min process time per second of video}

From the "Make Movie - Completed" Window, I saw my Video File completed Path, my audio file completed path, And my "Send to DVD Architect Studio" button. Above all of that I am told to "Click the 'Send to DVD Architect Studio' button to launch DVD Architect Studio with your rendered Movie"

I clicked the button at 1:05 PM Eastern time, I had a busy cursor for 2 seconds, then I waited........
At 1:11 PM Eastern I decided that was long enough for something to happen, so I clicked the "Finish" Button at 1:12 PM. The "Make Movie" widow left, Vegas Movie Studio came to front, and I waited...
By 1:25 PM, I figured nothing was going to happen, so I began a new project starting with the newly rendered mpg file as my source and try the process all over again with the condensed results below:

I couldn't load the rendered AC3 file into the project media audio, but when I converted the AC3 audio file into an MP3, it loaded into my project just fine. That's something for me to learn about at another time... (Maybe because this new project is stereo and not 5.1?) Anyway, testing with the rendered file D'og_Day00001.mpg, and the converted file D'og_Day00001.mp3:

----------------------

New Project For purposes of testing:
Processing a short 720x480 mpg video clip with mp3 audio track to DVD attempt:

General
Name: D'og_Day00001.mpg
Folder: C:\Documents and Settings\Don\My Documents\Vegas Movie Studio PE 9.0 Projects\D'og_Day00001and00002\Disc Images
Type: MainConcept MPEG-2
Size: 37.75 MB (38,660,096 bytes)
Created: Tuesday, August 11, 2009, 12:54:12 PM
Modified: Tuesday, August 11, 2009, 12:59:31 PM
Accessed: Tuesday, August 11, 2009, 12:59:31 PM
Attributes: Archive

Streams
Video: 00:00:50.751, 29.970 fps interlaced, 720x480x32, MPEG-2

Summary
Title: D'og_Day00001and00002

ACID information
ACID chunk: no
Stretch chunk: no
Stretch list: no
Stretch info2: no
Beat markers: no
Detected beats: no

Other metadata
Regions/markers: no
Command markers: no

Media manager
Media tags: no

Plug-In
Name: mcplug.dll
Folder: C:\Program Files\Sony\Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 9.0\FileIO Plug-Ins\mcplug
Format: MainConcept MPEG-2
Version: Version 2.0 (Build 5631)
Company: Sony Creative Software Inc.

and

General
Name: D'og_Day00001.mp3
Folder: C:\Documents and Settings\Don\My Documents\Vegas Movie Studio PE 9.0 Projects\D'og_Day00001and00002\Disc Images
Type: MP3 Audio
Size: 1.19 MB (1,218,368 bytes)
Created: Tuesday, August 11, 2009, 1:38:52 PM
Modified: Tuesday, August 11, 2009, 1:38:58 PM
Accessed: Tuesday, August 11, 2009, 1:38:58 PM
Attributes: Archive

Streams
Audio: 00:00:50.760, 192 Kbps, 48,000 Hz, Stereo, MPEG Layer-3

Summary
Title: D'og_Day00001
Genre: Blues

ACID information
ACID chunk: no
Stretch chunk: no
Stretch list: no
Stretch info2: no
Beat markers: no
Detected beats: no

Other metadata
Regions/markers: no
Command markers: no

Media manager
Media tags: no

Plug-In
Name: mp3plug2.dll
Folder: C:\Program Files\Sony\Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 9.0\FileIO Plug-Ins\mp3plug2
Format: MP3 Audio
Version: Version 3.0 (Build 5591)
Company: Sony Creative Software Inc.

-------------------------

Clicked Project
Select "Make Movie"
Select "Burn it to a DVD, Blu-ray Disc, or CD"
Clicked Next
Selected "DVD" burn
Clicked "Next"
Video file path: C:\Documents and Settings\Don\My Documents\Vegas Movie Studio PE 9.0 Projects\MPGtoDVDTest01\Disc Images\MPGtoDVDTest01.mpg
Set audio path to: C:\Documents and Settings\Don\My Documents\Vegas Movie Studio PE 9.0 Projects\MPGtoDVDTest01\Disc Images\MPGtoDVDTest01.ac3
Check Box Settings:
[ ] Render loop region only {ghosted out}
[ ] Stretch video to fill output frame size (do not letterbox)
[ ] Save project as path reference
[X] Save project markers in media file
[X] Use widescreen DVD format

Clicked "NEXT"

Rendering of D'og_Day00001.mpg begins.
Elapsed time: 00:00:17 {fast enough for me}

Click the 'Send to DVD Architect Studio' button to launch DVD Architect Studio at 1:55 PM Eastern...

At 2:02 PM Eastern I decided that was long enough for something to happen, so I clicked the "Finish" Button at 2:02 PM. The "Make Movie" widow left, Vegas Movie Studio came to front, and I waited...
By 2:09 PM, I figured nothing was going to happen.

-----------------------

Just an FYI. Other than through the camera itself, I do not at this time have any other equipment which uses 1920x1080i display. This is my first video camera since an old Panasonic standard VHS camera. When shopping for a camera I wanted SD storage plus Full HD in the hopes of someday having upgrades in all of my media sources. I knew going into this that it would take some doing to dumb down original Full HD video clips into a standard DVD or even wmv,avi or other pc friendly video. This way, I can have some cake now, and later when I have better equipment, I can break out the archived Full HD icing and eat it too.
So to speak.

Thanks again,

Don

Steve Grisetti wrote on 8/11/2009, 2:20 PM

Sorry, Don. But you kind of lost me.

Are you saying you were successful or not?

And have you used Vegas yet to convert the AVCHD file to a standard video MPEG2?

Georgia Don wrote on 8/11/2009, 4:52 PM

Steve,

What I am saying is that I used (in answer to your earlier question) Full HD video source in the form of an m2ts file in Movie Studio, followed what I believe to be the proper procedure(s), tried to send the short clip to DVDA with no success.

Then I used a 720x480 mpg file source file and followed the same procedure as above, again with no success.

In other words, it seems that no matter what file type I use, DVDA does not even try to open.

I didn't mean to overwhelm you with too much information earlier, but I thought you were asking me for more detailed information on the file type I was working with, so I thought that I would show step by step exactly what I did in order to get a clip to the DVDA program.

Thanks,

Don

Steve Grisetti wrote on 8/12/2009, 5:32 AM

Sorry, Georgia. If your DVD Architect can't even process a standard-definition MPEG (which, technically, requires no recompression), I am stumped.

Georgia Don wrote on 8/12/2009, 2:51 PM

That's Ok Steve. I do really appreciate your efforts.

I guess the next step it Tech Support at Sony.

Thanks so much,

Don

Unless anyone else any any ideas???

banquo wrote on 9/4/2009, 5:44 PM

Georgia Don, when I posted this problem six months ago I got the same suggestions: is your system fast enough, are you waiting long enough for it to open, could be file fragmentation, antivirus interference… I’m willing to bet your problem is the same file permissions issue that’s stymied many of us. See this thread for the solution:

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=640955&Replies=22

You probably need to “Run as Administrator” DVD-A. This isn’t your fault; it’s Sony’s, and it’s continuing to claim victims. Good luck, and post your results.