[DaveLM]

Just starting to use EMC 2009 and my first easy test is not going well. I have a small project with two m2ts video files (428 MB & 848 MB). I'm using the AVCHD on DVD with menus option. After EMC converts my two m2ts files (from my Canon Vixia HF100 camcorder) into mp4 (hopefully, they are still HD), I tried to burn direct to disc and later I tried to create an ISO. Either way I get the following error: Project_BuildToDevice() AuthorScript call failed. Error while Writing Format

What makes this more frustrating is that it takes 8 hours to get to this failure point. And this is just 15 minutes worth of video!! What happens when I want to do a big project?! My system meets their specs (see below), but are the specs not accurate for this purpose?

Roxio support has suggested that I try updating the PX Engine. That didn't change anything.

They also suggested I try updating my DVD burner's firmware. What good is that going to do? Never during the 8 hours of encoding the video is the DVD accessed. And if I'm burning to an ISO file, the DVD is not relevant either.

My system info: Dell Dimension 8400, XP Home SP3, P4 3.6GHz, 2.25 GB RAM, 300+ GB free HD, NVidia GeForce 8500GT w/ 1GB, EMC 2009 Standard SP3 (Build 111B10E ENU)

Thanks,
DaveLM

[Jim_Hardin]

Hi Dave. I have a query out but after doing a review on that error I concluded that we don't have a concrete answer for that error...

I tend to think it results from problems with the base source files but even that is not conclusive!

There are a couple other gurus that will be along as the day passes and hopefully will lend their council to this.

I am curious – 8 hours it too long for a 15 minutes project. About 3 hours would be about right for your PC. You sure about those numbers?

Please don't list file size, as it is a totally useless form of measure.

[ggrussell]

8hrs sound excessive even for that P4. The C2009 SP3 update added smart rendering of AVCHD. If you upload a short 10sec clip to YouSendIt, we would be glad to test it on our machines. I don't know anyone with AVCHD camcorder.

[DaveLM]

Gary,
Following your suggestion, I used VideoWave and took one of the video clips and made a 10-second clip from it. I used that short video file in a new AVCHD on DVD project. When I burned that to an ISO file it worked (that is I didn't get the error message, but I haven't tested the ISO). Thanks for the offer to try it on your side.

Currently, Roxio Support has suggested that I update my DirectX drivers and DVD burner firmware (again!). I've updated DirectX and I'm giving my original DVD project another try. I'll know in another 8 hours if that's the trick.

I have a second, newer PC that I may install CR2009 on and see if I get better/different results. Particularly considering the 8 hours to do such a small project on my main system.

On a side note, all of the converting, decoding and encoding that is taken place in the process from my HD camcorder to the final DVD makes me nervous about quality. Do you know if the higher end products work directly with m2ts files and avoid all of this processor intensive converting, decoding and encoding that is needed with EMC2009?

Thanks,
-Dave

[ggrussell]

I don't have a Bluray player so all my HDV recording is down converted to standard DVD anyway. I have done some test AVCHD on standard DVD. Yes, some quality is lost, but mainly because of the difference in MPEG 2 vs MPEG4 compression. I'm still not convinced that MPEG 4 gives 'same or better' image as MPEG 2 with higher compression. But that's just me.

As for C2009 converting to 'editable' format, I saw zero difference between the files before or after the conversion, but then my files may not need as much conversion as AVC files. The Canon HV20 m2t files are already MPEG 2.

Don't know for sure. I also own Sony Vegas Studio 9, but even they are having lots of issues with AVCHD and the DVD authoring app included doesn't burn Bluray at all.

If you are going to search for another application, the best place to start would be those forums if they have one. Would also give you a good idea what problems/issues those apps are also having.

This post has been edited by ggrussell: 28 March 2009 - 06:42 AM

[DaveLM]

Thanks for your help, but it looks to be a lost cause for me.

I installed on the second system with the same results. What disturbed me is that the newer system was not that much faster. It took about 6-7 hours to come to the same error for the same 15 minutes of video. This system is a Dell Dimension E510, XP Pro SP3, Pentium D 2.8Ghz (2-core), 4GB RAM, 40+GB free HD, ATI Radeon X600 w/ 256MB. I expected better.

On the main system I tried to vary the video files being used. All attempts resulted in the same error. I tried one video file at a time. I used VideoWave on each file to create new files and use those in a new project. Same results.

I also updated my DirectX drivers as per Roxio support, but that didn't help either. They seem to just be throwing ideas at me instead of really trying to help. I think I got much better help here on the BBS than there.

Again, thanks, but I guess EMC2009 is just not really ready for AVCHD on DVD. Fortunately for me I purchased directly from Roxio and I'm still in the 30-day window for refund.

-Dave

[sknis]

There are several of us that would dispute that last blanket statement. I have a Canon HV30 that also does HD mpg2 files. I have made AVCHD discs with no problems.

You may want to modify your statement slightly that Roxio seems to have problems with m2ts video files

[ggrussell]

I haven't had any issues with CAnon HV20 files. As pointed out in the other 'choppy video' thread, apparently AVCHD camcorder manufacturers have different ways of creating files and are not all compatible. I think we have come to the conclusion Creator 2009 is not compatible with the Canon AVCHD camcorders. So if you can tell us which camcorder you have, perhaps we can get a list going. Thanks

[DaveLM]

My camcorder is a Canon Vixia HF100. I shot the video at the highest resolution/quality setting in the camera which resulted in a 1920x1080 m2ts file.

[sknis]

My camcorder is a Canon Vixia HF100. I shot the video at the highest resolution/quality setting in the camera which resulted in a 1920x1080 m2ts file.

Dave, I'm now getting the same error. I was able to make an AVCHD disc in the past but now with a new set of file from my Canon HV 30 DV camcorder I can't seem to get it done. I'm going to keep trying different things until one works repeatedly.

My 30 minute video is taking about 12 hours to encode.

Look on your computer have you found any BDMV folders with that video in it?

[DaveLM]

I did find a BDMV folder in the My Documents\My Videos folder, that was the only one found on the system. In My Documents\My Videos\BDMV\DB\BDMV\STREAM I found a video file called "00000.m2ts". It has a smaller file size than the m2ts file that came from my camcorder.

When I used the Pixela SE software that came with the Canon camcorder, I was able to open this video file and I see that it is the first 2:20 of my 3:38 video clip. The 2nd video clip that was part of this project was not found in this BDMV folder.

Another interesting note about this video file is that, according to the Pixela SE utility, it had different numbers from the original video clip. The original clip had a frame rate of: 29.97 fps, the BDMV was 24.00 fps. The original had a video bitrate of 16.0 Mbps, the BDMV was 18.0 Mbps.

Not sure what all that means, but the playback of the new video is smaller on screen using the Pixela SE player and more jumpy. But playback on my system of the m2ts video files with Pixela SE player has been jumpy more often than not.

-Dave

[ggrussell]

The difference in framerate could possibly explain the jumpy video. My Canon HV20 has the 24fps option and when I tried that, it was a nightmare. I won't use that again.