Please help with creating chapters in Vegas Architect and joining MPEG files

kvdangster wrote on 5/1/2003, 7:43 AM
Hello all,

I am redoing our wedding video and when I am getting ready to put them onto the DVD with chapters, I am running into the following problems and I need help with.

1. I had four separated mpeg files for the Wedding Introduction, the Church Ceremony, the Reception and the Highlights. All these files had no chapter points inserted when I rendered them. How can I create a menu-based DVD in Vegas Architect to:

Have Chapter 1 starts at the beginning of the Wedding Introduction, Chapter 2 starts at the beginning of the Church Ceremony, and then followed by another 8 chapters evenly spaced during the Church Ceremony to the end of this segment. Then Chapter 11 starts at the beginning of the Reception and also with another 8 chapters evenly spaced till the end of the Reception. Finally, Chapter 21 is the Highlights. If there is a way to do so, will the DVD play continuously from the very beginning to the end on any DVD player?

2. I was trying the other alternate way by joining all these 4 mpeg files using the MPEG Joiner Program before I import into Architect and insert chapter points from there but I encountered the following problems:

A. The total time for the combined 4 mpeg files should 2 hours but after the joining process, it only showed 1 hour but however, the whole movie was there. What caused this?
B. When I inserted this joined mpeg file into Architect, some part of the movie could not be found on the timeline although when preview the file, it was there ??? For instance, I had a part on the movie where I showed the shot of our wedding invitation; at about the third minute into the movie, but when I clicked onto the third minute mark on the timeline, it showed me another part of the movie??? Has anyone encountered this problem? It is really strange

3. The other way I was thinking of doing is to start a new project, then insert all these 4 mpeg files, and create chapter points then re-render. If I do this, which seems to be the easiest way, will I loose any quality?

I would really appreciate any help I can get from you guys. I only have four days left to finish this project up to surprise my wife on our anniversary. Please, if you could, contact me directly at kvdangster@yahoo.com with any suggestions, tips or tricks.


Thank you so very much.

Kevin

Comments

jetdv wrote on 5/1/2003, 8:51 AM
First, to play from beginning to end - straight through - you need ONE MPEG file and not four. With four, one segment will play and you will be returned to the menu. So first combine them into ONE file.

Second, once combined, add it to DVDA and double-click the menu icon for the video. On this screen, you can add as many chapter points as desired whereever you desire. You can then add addition menu items and point them to which-ever chapter points you desire.

So, yes, you can have one menu option that plays from beginning to end and additional menu options that will play starting at specific chapter points. BUT, you must provide a SINGLE file.