DVDA 5 - Video length shorter than Vegas timeline

craftech wrote on 7/31/2009, 5:18 AM
I just noticed this.

I was inserting markers in DVDA 5 manually (using the Time positions of the markers from Vegas Pro 8) and noticed that as I went along they were starting to be off from where they should be.

So I checked the length of the Mpeg 2 file in DVDA to that of Vegas and they were different 01:10:29;27 in Vegas and 01:10:25:20 in DVDA 5.

Then I looked at two other projects I had completed recently and I found the same thing.

I checked a project I did last year with DVDA 1.0 and this was not the case.

So I thought maybe it was because I used Procoder 3 to create the Mpeg 2 file.
It wasn't. I tried it with the Vegas Main Concept render saving the markers in the file then imported it into DVDA 5. The markers were in the correct starting position for where they were supposed to be, but the times didn't match the Vegas timeline positions because the length of the video was shorter than the length in Vegas.

Anyone know why?

Thanks,

John

Comments

bsuratt wrote on 7/31/2009, 5:31 AM
I have experienced something similar in that I created a DVDA5 project and inserted some videos. I later lengthened one video and assumed DVDA5 would automatically adjust. It did not. DVD would stop playing at the original length. I had to delete the instance of that video and re-insert it in order for DVDA5 to recompute the length. DVDA5 needs a menu item to force recalculation of element lengths.
Former user wrote on 7/31/2009, 6:07 AM
Looks like Drop Frame TC vs. Non-Drop frame.

Your ruler in Vegas is set up for Drop Frame TC, but DVDA is displaying Non-Drop. See if there is a setting in DVDA for Time Code Drop or Non-Drop.


Right Click on the Time Ruler in DVDA and set it to drop frame. I think your times will line up.

Dave T2
craftech wrote on 7/31/2009, 7:57 AM
Looks like Drop Frame TC vs. Non-Drop frame.
----------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks Dave,

It appears that is exactly the problem, however it appears that one cannot change the Timecode method in DVDA. Right click does nothing. Manual doesn't tell you how to do it. Holding the shift key down while pressing Options does not bring up an internal setting in DVDA 5 as it does in Vegas Pro 8.

The only reason I know that is the problem is that when I change the timecode method in Vegas to Non-Drop the length of the project in Vegas will then change to match that of DVDA.

Since Drop Code is the default in Vegas Pro 8 and Non-Drop is the default in DVDA 5 (that cannot be changed) this would appear to be an issue unless there is a good reason for it that I cannot understand. As I said, it caused a problem when trying to locate markers in DVDA by transferring the time over from Vegas to locate them.

John
Jay Gladwell wrote on 7/31/2009, 8:05 AM

Read this: To Drop Or Not To Drop

craftech wrote on 7/31/2009, 8:14 AM
Thanks Jay,

That was an interesting read. Still not sure why Sony didn't allow it to be changed in DVDA 5. I am not sure when they made the change because I went from DVDA 1 (where they apparently used Drop Code to DVDA 4.5 (5) where they are using Non-Drop code.

Another problem I noticed is that if you render from Vegas 8 using the DVDA template and save the markers, they automatically load fine into DVDA 5, but many of them end up NOT on I-Frames and you have to nudge them a little to get them onto I-Frames.

John
Former user wrote on 7/31/2009, 8:29 AM
I can change it in DVDA 3 and 4. When I right click I get

SMPTE
SAMPLES
TIME
SECONDS
TIME and FRAMES
ABsolute FRAMES

and some others. I think you want TIME AND FRAMES. SMPTE appears to be NON-DROP.
rs170a wrote on 7/31/2009, 8:31 AM
...but many of them end up NOT on I-Frames and you have to nudge them a little...

John, I'm glad to hear you say that as I've had the exact same issues and thought I'd been doing something wrong.

Mike
plasmavideo wrote on 7/31/2009, 8:47 AM
There's a knowledgebase article with an explanation.

Do a search using the term "markers" and it will be one of the first in the list.

Sorry - I'm dense and don't know how to post a direct link and the manual URL is too long to place here.

Tom
rs170a wrote on 7/31/2009, 10:53 AM
There's a knowledgebase article with an explanation.

Tom, thanks very much for the tip.
It's Answer ID 1111 and is called Chapter markers don't properly line up.
For those of you who don't want to follow the link, here it is.

Subject:

When I render my Vegas project into video file with "Save project markers in media file” option checked, and then insert this video file into my DVD Architect project, these markers are not in the right places. What's going on?

Answer

DVD Architect is displaying time in SMPTE Non-Drop (29.97 fps, Video), so you have two options:

1. In Vegas, go to File > Properties
2. Click on the Ruler tab
3. Set "Ruler time format" to "SMPTE Non-Drop (29.97 fps, Video)"

Time in Vegas will now match time in DVD Architect, adjust the markers to the correct locations and render the project.

Or...

1. In Vegas, drag the rendered file from the Explorer window to the Trimmer window
2. In the Trimmer window, edit the Markers as desired
3. In the Trimmer window's toolbar, click the Save Markers and Regions button
4. In DVD Architect, load the project
5. In the Project Overview window, double-click the video
6. In the Timeline window's toolbar, click the load markers button

Mike
craftech wrote on 7/31/2009, 11:34 AM
can change it in DVDA 3 and 4. When I right click I get
===========================
Dave,

I have DVDA1.0 and DVDA 5.0 on two computers. There is nothing when I right click on the timecode display. Nothing comes up.

If they had it in DVDA 3 and 4 why did they remove it from DVDA 5?

Never mind, I see it now. You were right clicking on the ruler above the timeline and not on the timecode display.

Thanks.

John

EDIT: Mike.....maybe Sony should add this to that KB article you linked and quoted as a third option.