Trouble loading markers

dxdy wrote on 12/23/2015, 1:15 PM
I am using DVDA Pro 5.2. I like to use TMPGENC to encode my MPG2 files. I render the audio AC3 via the Vegas Pro 13 Dolby template (saving markers), and then frameserve to TMPGENC to make the mv2 video stream.

I had hoped that DVDA Pro would pick up the markers from the ac3 file, but no joy. I have tried the "load markers" icon, it doesn't load the markers.

I think the markers are in the .sfk files. Is there a way to force creation of the .sfk separately from a Vegas internal video render?

Thank you in advance.

Comments

PeterDuke wrote on 12/23/2015, 6:17 PM
The .sfk are the audio peak files for displaying the audio in Vegas.

The .sfl files contain the markers. Have a look at one with a text editor. You will also see the name of the file to which it is paired. Don't rename the main or .sfl files and do keep them in the same folder.
Steve Grisetti wrote on 12/24/2015, 7:48 AM
Running the video through TMPGENC might also be messing up the markers metadata.

Why not just send an optimized video and audio file directly from Vegas to DVD Architect? (which format you send depends on whether you're making a DVD or a BluRay.)
dxdy wrote on 12/24/2015, 6:57 PM
I like the TMPGENC output better than Main Concept. Not a huge difference, but some.

However, in a project with many markers (30 or so), the hassle isn't worth it and I just use MC to preserve the markers.

I just wish the DVDA could ingest the markers made during the AC3 render.

PeterDuke wrote on 12/25/2015, 2:18 AM
Yes, I wondered about the AC3 markers. When and where are they used?
dxdy wrote on 1/9/2016, 8:48 AM
Problem solved!

Using Gary James' excellent (and free) Time Line Tools, you can generate a .sfl file for a .m2v file. Here is what I do to get markers into DVDA when rendering the video outside Vegas.

1. Render the .ac3 file.
2. Create your video-only file. I Frameserve to TMPGENC Mastering Works.
3. Go back to Vegas and open Time Line Tools
4. Select the Markers tab
5. Make sure Mode is set to Markers, and Format is set to Frame Number
6. In lower left corner, check Export to DVDA .SFL File
7. Select the markers you want to export
8. Click on Export Selected Markers and Regions
9. When prompted for the filename to use, navigate to the file you rendered in step 2, double click it.

Done. TLT has created a .sfl file with the proper embedded file name. When you drag the .m2v file into DVDA, the markers will come with it.

Thanks to TLT's Gary James for including this feature in his very useful Vegas Pro extension.
Former user wrote on 1/9/2016, 10:05 AM
Good to know. thanks for posting your success.
Arthur.S wrote on 1/9/2016, 12:14 PM
You can also change "include markers = FALSE" to TRUE for the audio in the internal prefs. ;-)