DVDAS Menu Problem - HELP!

Bushwhackr wrote on 5/13/2005, 9:43 AM

First, let me apologize for the length of this post! I am at my wit’s end with DVD Architect Studio (DVDAS), and I am hoping that one of you kind souls can lend me a hand or share some insight.

I am trying to combine two VHS tapes into one and put them onto two DVDs with menus. I captured the videos fine, and used Movie Studio 4.0 to combine them into one 2 hour and 15 minute avi file.

Next I used DVDAS 2.0 to make the first DVD. I set the start point at the beginning, the end point at about 1 hour, added chapters, added a scene selection menu, compiled and burned (on a DVD-R). Success! The DVD goes in the TV, starts with the menu, I can select scenes, I can page through the DVD chapter by chapter, and when each chapter is finished, it just continues into the next one. Perfect!

I now try for DVD #2. Load the avi, set the start point at about 1 hour and the end point at the end, delete all the previous chapters, add new chapters, add a scene selection menu, compile and – whoops – I have to reduce the data rate a bit to fit all the video on, so I “optimize” by reducing from 8 MB/sec to 6.7 MB/sec. Now everything fits, so I compile and burn. Problems!

The DVD #2 starts off with the menus just fine. I can cycle through them perfectly, but when I try to select a chapter, the video just starts playing at the beginning of chapter 1. Nor can I page through the chapters one-by-one, the player won’t let me do it.

Is it the reduction in data rate, or am I doing something wrong with the menus? I should add that when I preview the DVD, everything works perfectly!! I have gone through this process three times with the exact same result.

Many thanks in advance for any and all replies!

Mike

Comments

Iacobus wrote on 5/14/2005, 12:14 PM

It sounds like that regardless of where you start, DVDAS is trying to burn the whole shebang. Split the current project into two (via Vegas Movie Studio) and then bring the second half into DVDAS as usual.

Iacobus
------- RodelWorks - Original Music for the Unafraid Buy Instant ACID by JohnnyRoy and mD! mD at ACIDplanet

Bushwhackr wrote on 5/14/2005, 2:02 PM

That's kinda what I thought,too. However, it doesn't start playing from the beginning of the movie, but from the In Point, which is about 1 hour into the movie. The In Point is also the beginning of Chapter 1. So no matter what chapter I select, it starts playing from the beginning of chapter 1.

As a last resort, I will try doing what you suggested - create an avi with just the back half and have another go.

Thanks for the reply!

Mike

gogiants wrote on 5/15/2005, 7:51 AM

You should be able to do the "split" within Vegas Movie Studio without having to start a new project there. Just split the AVI, push it a bit down the timeline so there's space between the two chunks, and then add your markers to that new segment of video. You can then maintain the markers you've set up on the first segment.

Now render out a "new" AVI file by double-clicking on your new chunk of AVI (it should select the entire clip) and make sure you choose "render loop region only" and "save markers". You should then be able to import the resultant AVI into DVDAS and go crazy from there.

Jose M. Estrada wrote on 5/15/2005, 7:57 AM

Gogiants , just, out of curiosity , if You are going to make a DVD why to save the file as an AVI? Is not suppose to be MPEG2?

gogiants wrote on 5/15/2005, 8:25 AM

I said AVI without thinking, but now that I do think about it:

The one reason you'd want to save it to AVI in this case is that Movie Studio doesn't let you control the bitrate of the MPEG2 file that you create. DVDAS will let you control it, namely by using the "optimize" feature mentioned earlier in this thread.

Jose M. Estrada wrote on 5/15/2005, 8:48 AM

Gogiants!! Yes, You are right, never think that.

Iacobus wrote on 5/16/2005, 10:37 AM

You should be able to do the "split" within Vegas Movie Studio without having to start a new project there. Just split the AVI, push it a bit down the timeline so there's space between the two chunks, and then add your markers to that new segment of video. You can then maintain the markers you've set up on the first segment.

Errr...you'd think that after working with ACID Pro for so long, I would remember that. :oD

Iacobus
------- RodelWorks - Original Music for the Unafraid Buy Instant ACID by JohnnyRoy and mD! mD at ACIDplanet

Bushwhackr wrote on 5/16/2005, 10:50 AM

Gogiants,

You were exactly right! I created a new avi in Vegas with just the second hour and chapter markers, then started DVDAS, added the buttons, and all is working! It was a good thing that it was an avi also, since DVDAS had to change the data rate from 8000 to 6700 in order to get it all to fit.

Thanks to all for the replies!

Mike