How do I fix the 4minute 42sec problem?

p_l wrote on 11/25/2002, 12:24 AM

ANDREMIKE,
If your files play OK in WMP, I think the problems lies with Ulead DMF.

http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=238864&highlight=ulead+limit#238864

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Others, besides you, have reported the problem on Ulead's forum. Here are a couple of threads on the topic.

http://news.ulead.com:8080/~Webutilities/read?25156,73

The Ulead Forum is one of the most arcane to navigate, so I've copied the posts here:

Topic: only part of the video in the toolbox (1 of 3), Read 88 times
Conf: DVD MovieFactory
Date: Friday, September 27, 2002 12:38 PM

I have the following problem: I made a .AVI file with Premiere of about 17 minutes. I can view this file completely with Media Player. But in the toolbox of movie Factory only 4 minutes are shown.
Has anybody an explanation?

> I have the same problem, all files with the avi extension get chopped to 4min 41sec length.
Anyone solved this?

> Ulead only says it must be your hardware. I use a different computer with the program installed on it and have no problem. It must be a codec that is crapping it out. I use my main computer to capture, edit, and render to a completed AVI file. I send it over the network to any of my other 3 computers and I have no problem except an extra step in the process. I am using Adobe Premiere with a Pinnacle Pro One capture card if that helps.

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

Topic: Few minutes (1 of 2), Read 79 times
Conf: DVD MovieFactory
Date: Friday, November 01, 2002 07:21 AM

I have learned by trial and error that you can only import an avi created by a Ulead program. I can only get 4 Minutes loaded when i use an avi created by Studio 8 or Premier 6.0. I think this is not a bug but a marketing tool by Ulead in order to get you to buy ALL there Video Tools. Hope this helps others to decide what Video program to use.

Topic: Few minutes (2 of 2), Read 82 times
Conf: DVD MovieFactory
From: Gena Gauthier gena@ulead.com
Date: Friday, November 01, 2002 10:13 AM

Hello,

Ulead DVD MovieFactory will work with any other video editing software. It also captures video itself, and is a great standalone product. However, since I am not technical support I cannot tell you how to utilize files. You would be best served by viewing the FAQs and contacting our technical support team at (310) 896-6391. They would be happy to help you resolve your problem.

Thanks,
Gena
Ulead

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

So, ANDREMIKE, what can we try? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Uninstall, then reinstall DMF. I read somewhere that the full version doesn't like to be installed over the trial version.

and/or

2. Try rendering in VF WITH "Strictly conform to AVI2 specification" CHECKED, and try to open that in DMF.

or

3. Run your AVI through that free Canopus DV file Converter:

http://www.canopus.com/US/products/DV_file_converter/pm_dv_file_converter.asp

It's lossless and quick, and you might get lucky.

or

4. Render as MPEG either in VF or TMPGEnc, and open that in DMF.

or

5. Call Ulead. :(

Oh, and you don't have any part of DMF on a non-NTFS partition, do you?

I wish I could just come out with a magic bullet for you, but at least you'll have a few avenues to explore here. I hope one of them works out for you. :)

ANDREMIKE wrote on 11/25/2002, 7:48 AM

I did re-install ULEAD's product... However I didn't unistall it first.. Maybe I will try that.

I can produce in VF in the MPEG format and then bring it to DMF and it works fine.. The reason I want to do it in .avi so ULEAD can make it into MPEG2. I've done this once before I wish I knew what happened....

Is there any difference in ULEAD's MPEG2 and VF MPEG2 that it would be worth for me to spend the extra money? ( How much is VF MPEG2?)

ralphied wrote on 11/27/2002, 11:45 PM

Buy TMPEGEnc to encode MPEG-2 files. It's the best $48 you'll spend.

Klavisha wrote on 11/28/2002, 3:24 PM

This problem has come up before. The fix: From the menu bar go to Options--> Preferences, then under the General tab UNCLICK "Strictly conform to AVI2 specification." It is the last item in the list. You may have to close VF, then reopen it to set that preference. To read an explanation of what is going on here, do a search using '42' and/or 'OpenDML' as your search item. I hope this will work for you.

Klavisha wrote on 11/28/2002, 9:49 PM

Oops, I apologize - didn't notice that you said you had already reset all the VF defaults!

ANDREMIKE wrote on 1/28/2003, 9:30 PM

DOes anyone have any other ideas???? Before I spring the 30.00 buck for the MPEG2 from VF

the_ripper wrote on 1/29/2003, 12:43 AM

I am doing this as we speak. We addressed this last year. I think the "canopus converter" does the trick. search these VF forums for "canopus converter ULEAD" ....you will find my old posts on this. I am doing it now so I can render DVD, something VF cant do. I will say though, the ULEAD svcd proved to be inferior to the $30 SF version. The 4' clips looked great in dvd, i was pissed when I realized they were all 4min clips though. should have known when it only took 40 mins or so to do the whole movie, 8 hrs is more like it. the_ripper

ANDREMIKE wrote on 1/29/2003, 8:34 AM

What really bugs me is that I had this working once before...

I did spring the $30.00 for VF MPEG2 decoder last night.. I just hope I use it... The real downside to MPEG2 is I can only put 15 minutes of video on a CD. Where as I can put an 1hour with MPEG1. Is there anything you can do to tweak the MPEG1 quality? Someone had said before to increase the bitrate??...

If I ever get a DVD burner will I be able to use the MPEG2 to create DVD's or do I need something else?

the_ripper wrote on 1/29/2003, 9:23 AM

hmmm, I do Mpeg 2's all the time....They are 38 mins on a 700 meg CD? They are the SF SVCD template. I start with a 8 gig or so avi file, and compress to mpeg2 SVCD. You end up with about 650 megs of a movie. still annoying to have 4 disks for a movie..BTW, I fixed the conversion. The canopus works fine. I needed to convert to a Microsoft AVI2. this ends the 1 gig limit. Now it opens fine in ULEAD. The converter is FREE. I think PL posted the url somewhere on an old post. Takes awile to convert, but works, and I believe is lossless. the_ripper

ANDREMIKE wrote on 1/29/2003, 6:46 PM

What are your settings? SF VF said a 15 minute video was estimated to be about 600mB..

p_l wrote on 1/29/2003, 10:49 PM

Guys, a couple of useful links: First, the Canopus DV File Converter. Choose Microsoft DV (AVI 2) as your Target Format. Second, ANDREMIKE, the_ripper is referring to the SVCD format. It's MPEG 2, but at with a smaller frame size (usually 480x480) and slower bitrate than DVD MPEG 2, but it is compatible with more standalone DVD players than DVD on a CD (miniDVD). Check for your player's SVCD compatibility here.

Hope this helps!

ANDREMIKE wrote on 1/30/2003, 6:00 AM

I was creating a MPEG@ with the DVD template...

I created a SVCD at MPEG2 (480X480).. I'll let you know how big it is.. VF sais its 850mB.. I hope their wrong and I can fit it on a 700mB CD..

Oh, and my player can play SVCD....

the_ripper wrote on 1/30/2003, 9:37 AM

Here is a sample of my SVCD Mpeg2 stats: (they work OK, better than ULEAD in my opinion) no where as crisp as DVD though.....

480x480
29.97 fps
video 1 stream
field order- lower 1st
pixel aspect ration- 1.333
audio 44100
alpha none

ANDREMIKE wrote on 1/30/2003, 9:54 PM

I was finally able to create a MPEG2 output with VF.... I created all the menu's with Ulead and burned the SVCD and put it in my DVD player and there were no menu's. The SVCD just played from the beginning.. What happened to my menu's?

Grazie wrote on 1/31/2003, 1:48 AM

Ermmmm . . I'm up for being "shouted" down here . . and my experience with video "platter" burning hasn't got very much beyond the "oooh I can do this .. if I want to!" stage - but me ol' mucker! . . . I really don't think SVCDs have clickable meuns and chapters?! - I believe . . I was only able to do this when I produced a pseudo DVD - called a sDVD or was it an xDVD - yeah? - . . . . p_l where are you?! Am I wrong or am I wrong?

Feeling stupid . . trying to be helpful . .

Grazie

IanG wrote on 1/31/2003, 2:22 AM

If your DVD player's a Sony you may find that's your problem. Sony's stance seems to be that, while SVCDs may play, they're not supported. If the menus don't work, tough!

Have a look through the forums (fora, if you prefer) on VCDHELP and you'll find this is a common problem. There are some suggestions, but I haven't seen anyone confirming they work.

Ian G.

Grazie wrote on 1/31/2003, 4:21 AM

Sooooo . .. Ian, was I correct?

Grazie

IanG wrote on 1/31/2003, 5:13 AM

That's a definite maybe! You can produce menus for SVCDs but, like VCDs, you navigate by selecting a chapter number rather than using direction keys and then selecting.

Cheers

Ian G.

p_l wrote on 1/31/2003, 4:18 PM

IanG's right; you navigate through VCD and SVCD menus using the number keys. On some DVD players, you also have to hit Enter after the number key(s). As well, on many DVD player models, you can also use Previous and Next.

ANDREMIKE, what model DVD player do you have? As many have suggested, check its compatibility at vcdhelp.com

ANDREMIKE wrote on 1/31/2003, 6:27 PM

I can play menu's on VCD's just not on SVCD's.