MyDVD and VCDs

gogiants wrote on 7/19/2004, 4:10 PM
I'd like to create VCDs using the movies I've made in MovieStudio. But, I'm having trouble using MyDVD to do this...

I have MyDVD installed since that was bundled. But, when I try to start MyDVD directly from a program group (as opposed to starting it from some menu choice within MovieStudio), I get a mysterious dialog box with an exclamation point, an OK button, but NO TEXT whatsoever. Not very helpful. Then I get a "Unable to initialize the ASPI manager" error. From there, the buttons to burn a VCD within MyDVD are grayed out. I am able to create VCD's that work fine in my DVD player when using ULead DVD MovieFactory and when using VCDEasy, so it doesn't seem to be a CD burner problem.

My questions:

1) Am I accessing MyDVD incorrectly by trying to start it directly from a program group? Is there some "sanctioned" way to start it within Movie Studio?

2) Am I silly for even wanting to use MyDVD? I just want to create simple VCDs. Should I just spring for a package that one of you would recommend is good for VCD/SVCD creation?

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 7/20/2004, 5:07 AM
Why not use the VCD creation ability built into Movie Studio?

Make Movie / Burn it to a Video CD (VCD)

No need to use any other software.
SonySCS wrote on 7/20/2004, 8:03 AM
Chienworks suggestion is the best.

But just in case...the Sonic site suggests trying
1. Updating your ASPI package: " it's strongly recommended to update to a recent ASPI layer which is 4.7."
2. If you are using a Pioneer A03/A04, make sure DMA is on. Instructions are below for this as well. (see their site)
3. Your burner is set to "master" and not "slave".

Nosing around the Sonic site may be useful. Try Sonic's MyDVD knowledge base
http://support.sonic.com/kb/default.asp?type=desktop&product=mydvd
and search on ASPI.

I hope this helps,

Suzan
gogiants wrote on 7/20/2004, 9:52 AM
The big drawback to this is that I'd get one big long movie on the VCD, right? I have a series of 3-10 minute videos that I'd like to put on one VCD, and then have a menu screen that allows me to jump to the one I want.

Test VCDs with VCDEasy and the Ulead stuff show that my DVD player can handle this, but I'd like to avoid paying $30-$50 more if I can. Even not having chapter points I can live with, since I hear this is a limitation of MyDVD.
SonySCS wrote on 7/20/2004, 2:57 PM

Right.
I'm afraid it looks as if you should look into the ASPI problem. Also search on "gray" in Sonic's MyDVD knowledge base. Are you sure the files conform to MyDVD's VCD specifications?

Suzan