exporting chapters to DVDA for BluRay

john-beale wrote on 12/12/2010, 11:25 PM

I've been using Vegas + DVDA for making DVDs for some years, but only recently got a BluRay burner, and now want to make a high-def disc that looks just like the DVD (except in higher resolution of course!). Same menu, same chapters, etc.

When I make my DVDs, the chapter markers from Vegas show up in DVDA when I import the MPEG2 source, without any other action. However, when I export a MainConcept AVC/AAC 1920x1080i60 file from Vegas, DVDA does not show chapter points after importing the mp4. I do see a filename.mp4 and filename.mp4.sfk in the directory (the .sfk file I presume has the chapter points?) When I click "load markers" in the DVDA timeline, nothing happens. When I add markers manually, they work in the preview, but when I click "save markers" in the timeline, I get "The media file type you are trying to save markers to does not support it."

Is there any automated way to transfer my chapter points from Vegas to DVDA, so I don't have to manually find, point and click the timeline spot in DVDA?

Note: I am using Vegas 9.0e and DVDA 5.0

EDIT: Whoops, I guess .sfl is the chapter marker, and .sfk is the audio preview. Anyway, can I use .sfl to import chapter markers for blu-ray with .mp4 assets, and if so how?

Comments

Lou van Wijhe wrote on 12/13/2010, 3:43 AM

John,

I found the following posting about chapter markers in AVC files. Maybe this clarifies at least something.

Lou

john-beale wrote on 12/13/2010, 9:03 AM

Thank you for that link. Looks like the same or similar problem exists with Vegas 10, according to user alanfitch: http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=741313&Replies=1

I have to say I'm surprised by this. Chapter marks not available for AVC encoding, which is the only real choice for HD delivery of projects of any length, and it's still not fixed? Are people not using Vegas for making bluray discs?

Lou van Wijhe wrote on 12/13/2010, 10:36 AM

You can certainly use chapters markers for AVC encoding but there are two things that apparently are not possible (yet?):

1) You cannot automatically transfer them from Vegas, like we used to do for DVD projects.

2) You cannot save markers in the AVC media file. However, marker positions you entered manually do get saved with the DVDA project file and can be used for creating scene selection menus.

Lou