Replacement files

rkl122 wrote on 4/15/2014, 4:51 PM
Another 101 question if I may. Since I'm learning DVDA (studio), I've spent a lot of time developing my first menu. It includes cmd buttons linked to markers. Now I realize I'd like to add a sharpness filter to the MS(12 platinum) project, and re-render. I'd like to be able to simply substitute the new rendering for the old. The markers will remain in the same positions.

The DVDA help file says:

"DVD Architect Studio will notify you if media in your project is offline. You can choose to search for the missing media, specify a replacement file, or ignore missing media and leave it offline.

If you search for missing media or specify a replacement file, your project will be updated to use the new file."

I'm wondering if that actually works the way I hope. IOW, after I have the new rendering, can i simply delete the original rendering from the DVDA project (or from disc altogether?), indicate the new one as the replacement, and have the menu function just as it does now (proper references to markers, etc.)?

I realize I can also export my designed menu as a theme. What would be the difference between going that route and doing the above?

Thx for any advice, -Ron

Comments

musicvid10 wrote on 4/15/2014, 5:29 PM
Don't search, specify a replacement fie.
It works.
rkl122 wrote on 4/15/2014, 6:14 PM
I have found other threads that recommend that. Thx for confirming and for quick reply. -Ron

For future searchers, the simplest way to do it seems to be: double click the media file in the project overview. Then in the media properties window, the replacement functionality is under the Track Media tab. I've also read that if the replacement should be a different length than the original (not my case), you have to adjust the endpoint manually in the timeline.

Since I'll use the same MS12 custom template to re-render the video, I assume there won't be loss of sync with the original audio render, even though the mpg and ac3 files may have different names.
videoITguy wrote on 4/15/2014, 6:19 PM
If you are counting all to be so easy, be careful about what you are doing. If you are creating markers in VegasPro for import be careful, because the stem name and the marker category associated have to be exactly agree. And so forth for audio sync.

Best to write your replacement files into a sub-directory separate from where you had set-up the original import - or expect all he77 to break loose!
rkl122 wrote on 4/16/2014, 6:56 PM
Thx VITG. Turns out I re-rendered only the mpg (to a different stem name), followed the plan outlined above, and it worked. No loss of sync. There was no need to re-render the audio. I subsequently deleted the original mpg and its metafile. I did then have to re-adjust the thumbnail links in my menu buttons.

For future novice searchers (like me), videoITguy refers to the metadata files that accompany the renderings. You get one for the mpg, two for the AC3, at least when there are markers present in the SMS project (my situation). Even though DVDA automatically imports the AC3 when you import the mpg at the start of a project (provided their stems (names) are identical), you can still independently load them separately into the project (as outlined above). And that can be done even when the stem of the mpg is different from that of the AC3. So if the video has been re-rendered without changing the markers, the re-rendered file can be substituted for the original in the DVDA project without losing sync to the original audio. As VITG says, though, proceed carefully.
musicvid10 wrote on 4/16/2014, 7:41 PM
Another gotcha when changing horses in midstream. If you've already prepared the DVD folders once on your computer, don't accept the offer to overwrite the folder the second time around. Every time you prepare a new "version" of your movie, you should do so in a new folder with a new name.