7 replies to this topic

[brjim@ptd.net]

Hello, First of all if anyone from Roxio is reading this, I am disappointed with your product. It is slow and unpredictable. I must say when it comes to burning, I am happy, it works great. However, the stuff before the burning is frustrating. I have had trouble with transitions to the point that I don't even bother using Roxio for them anymore. My latest problem is encoding. I believe my computer is quite capable of handling this Roxio Creator Suite 8. (my computer specs are below). Enough said, moving on.

Sorry for the length of this message, but every other reply I have seen, the "helpers" want details.

I am DJ working with Music Videos. Making compilation discs to play - putting good videos together. I use the #1 DVD Ripper to pull the videos from the DVDs. These are the settings that I use in the ripper:
Video Format: SCVD (MPEG 2)
Frame Rate: 29.97
Audio Quality: Normal
Audio Track: ??? AC3 2 Channels
Dolby Surround is checked
Aspect is Full (16/9 or 4/3 input)
Default Volume: 3.0

Roxio likes these MPEG2s and I can make a DVD with no menu using the "Fit To Disc" and rendering using the "Hardware" setting as opposed to the "Software". Ran the graphics test and "Hardware" gets selected.
I can get about 20 to 21 videos on 1 disc. I even make chapters for each video. I then make the ISO file and then burn it to disc. Good to go.... Looks great,  plays great... NO COMPLAINTS.

Okay still with me. Now the tricky part. Some of the audio in some of the videos is lousy or low. Using Pinncale Studio 9 I have been able to delete the Audio from the Video and actually insert the MP3 file that almost matches the video. Then I work on the video and  line it up with the MP3 audio track. Now I can burn it to a disc and it plays great. I even made a compilation disc in Pinnacle and it plays great as well. No problem encoding it and no problem burning it. HOWEVER, Pinncale does not let you make a DVD with NO MENU and has far as I can tell I cannot make an .ISO file either. That brings me back to Roxio & MY DVD.

What I also did in Pinnacle was save each video as an MPEG. These are the Pinncale Settings:
Video: DVD Compatible, 720 x 480, 6000 Kbits/sec, Audio: MPEG, Stereo, 48kHz, 224 kbits/sec

NOW, I start a new project in MY DVD 8. Go into edit movie. Import the videos I "fixed" in Pinnacle. Get them all in place, make the chapters, save the project. On to the encoding....
Locks up at 4%. Man, was I pissed.

Came in here. Read through the forums. Tried all the suggestions. Unhecked the "Fit To Disc". Used the "Best" setting. Even removed 1 or 2 videos to take up less space (more on that subject below)

FINALLY, after hours of frustration, I changed the "Hardware" to "Software". NOW the encoding worked! I was able to save the ISO file and burn the disc. Hard to tell until I get it on the big system the club, but I am not sure about the actual quality of the audio. Video looks good.

SO, why can I make a DVD using the "Hardware" setting on MPEG2 Videos that I did not edit in Pinnacle and then have it lock up on me on the ones I did edit in Pinnacle and have to use the "Software" setting?

Also the 'thermometer' at the bottom that tells you how much room you have used is WAY OFF. It said I had 25 MB free but when I went to burn the disc it was more like 800 MB FREE. Man, was I pissed again... I could have gotten one or two more videos on the disc.

I tell you, if I could make a DVD with no menus and ISO files in Pinnacle Studio 9, I would not even be here.
Pinncale does not lock up at all. The preview screen is great. Lots of wonderful transitions that DON'T JERK when you make slide shows. It also will run using less specifications than Roxio.

Folks at Roxio: You got the right idea. Just make it work right. I am a Nero user who came to Roxio based on a recommendatio from a friend. I use Nero and Pinnacle. They don't lock up on me and cause me the frustration I am feeling right now. Thanks for your time and help!

Here's my computer specs: (I used the Belarc Advisor)
Operarting System:
Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 (build 2600)
(with all the updates - computer is set for automatic updates)

Processor:
2.67 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4
16 kilobyte primary memory cache
1024 kilobyte secondary memory cache

Main Circuit Board:
Board: ASUSTeK Computer INC. P5LD2-VM Rev 1.xx
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. 0301 09/28/2005

Drives:
563.59 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
254.94 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

SONY CD-RW CRX230EE [CD-ROM drive]
SONY DVD RW DW-Q30A [CD-ROM drive]
3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]
Oxford 911G IEEE 1394 SBP2 Device [Hard drive] (120.00 GB) -- drive 4
Oxford 911G IEEE 1394 SBP2 Device [Hard drive] (120.03 GB) -- drive 2
Oxford 911G IEEE 1394 SBP2 Device [Hard drive] (123.52 GB) -- drive 3
ST3120827AS [Hard drive] (120.03 GB) -- drive 1
WDC WD800JD-00LSA0 [Hard drive] (80.02 GB) -- drive 0

Local Drive Volumes:
c: (NTFS on drive 0) 80.02 GB 60.05 GB free
d: (NTFS on drive 1) 120.02 GB 39.06 GB free
x: (NTFS on drive 4) 120.00 GB 39.33 GB free
y: (NTFS on drive 3) 123.52 GB 76.15 GB free
z: (NTFS on drive 2) 120.03 GB

Memory Modules:
1016 Megabytes Installed Memory
Slot 'DIMM0' has 512 MB (serial number SerNum0)
Slot 'DIMM1' is Empty
Slot 'DIMM2' has 512 MB
Slot 'DIMM3' is Empty

Controllers:
Standard floppy disk controller
Intel® 82801GB Serial ATA Storage Controllers - 27C0
Intel® 82801GB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 27DF
Primary IDE Channel [Controller] (2x)
Secondary IDE Channel [Controller] (2x)

Display:
Intel® 82945G Express Chipset Family
[Display adapter] (2x)
Default Monitor (3x)

Multimedia:
Creative SB Audigy 2 (WDM)
Realtek High Definition Audio

Bus Adapters:
ITE IT8212 ATA RAID Controller
Intel® 82801GB USB Universal Host Controller - 27C8
Intel® 82801GB USB Universal Host Controller - 27C9
Intel® 82801GB USB Universal Host Controller - 27CA
Intel® 82801GB USB Universal Host Controller - 27CB

I hope this is enough details for someone to assist me.
Bronco Jim

[ggrussell]

Display:
Intel® 82945G Express Chipset Family

Sorry this chipset does NOT fully support the 3D functions in DirectX. You should have Videowave/MyDVD set to software ALL the time.  Why did it work the first time? Because it probably wasn't using those functions. What did it freeze the second time? Because it probably tried to use those functions. Videowave and MyDVD really need a good video card.

Videowave and MyDVD do NOT support Dolby surround sound.  I've never tried using 5.1 files, but I do know the software will only output AC3 2 channel.

As for the remaining space, that is VERY difficult to estimate.  Even people complained with Pinnacle Studio 7,8 & 9 with that.  To be 'accurate', the program would have to literally read through the file. How much any one frame can be compressed depends on the frames before and after that frame.  How much motion will also affect the amount of compression. It appears that Roxio has errored on the conservative side.  Better to have more left over  than to render the entire project only to find there isn't enough space.

Quote

Pinncale does not lock up at all.

Then you are one of the lucky ones.  Pinnacle lost me as customer years ago.  After buying Studio 7, 8 & 9, I wasn't about to dump more money with V10. From what I've read on the net, V10 isn't that much better.

Edited by ggrussell, 26 July 2006 - 08:32 AM.

[cdanteek]

Quote

Display:
Intel® 82945G Express Chipset Family

Sorry this chipset does NOT fully support the 3D functions in DirectX.

What would be the source for that statement?
Surely not Asus or Intel!
With the PCI Express* x16 port available.  Allowing upgrades to higher performance 3D graphics cards if required.  


cdanteek

[ggrussell]

The Intel 82945G is a video chipset that is integrated on the motherboard. I've seen enough posts here complaining about that chipset and I don't see any another Display adapter listed in his post.

See Intel's website for KNOWN ISSUES for this graphics chipset

If the OP has an available PCI Express slot, then I would highly recommend that he upgrade.

Edited by ggrussell, 26 July 2006 - 11:22 AM.

[cdanteek]

Quote

The Intel 82945G is a video chipset that is integrated on the motherboard. I've seen enough posts here complaining about that chipset and I don't see any another Display adapter listed in his post.

His Northbridge chipset is a Intel 945G! Same family as your Northbridge chipset,  that's in your (HP Pavillion M7480N Dual Core P4 3Ghz)  a Intel 945P Northbridge chipset!

His Onboard Video Chipset Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 or 950 might be in question.

I would agree is not top notch video. Adding a PCI Express x16 good video card should cure his woe's.

To say his, ( Sorry this chipset does NOT fully support the 3D functions in DirectX )

His Intel 945G Northbridge chipset is more than adequate for this software and any 3D functions in DirectX 9C.

Wouldn't you agree?

cdanteek

[ggrussell]

Quote

Display:
Intel® 82945G Express Chipset Family
[Display adapter] (2x)
Default Monitor (3x)

I wasn't looking at the other chipsets. Just the display which does not fully support 3D functions. See my link to Intel Website for KNOWN issues with this video chipset.

My HP M7480N DOES NOT have integrated video chipset.

Edited by ggrussell, 26 July 2006 - 01:25 PM.

[cdanteek]

Quote

My HP M7480N DOES NOT have integrated video chipset.

Maybe we should blame the (I used the Belarc Advisor)!

I know I can read in your signing!

His Onboard Video Chipset Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 or 950
is the problem!

Do you have any problems with 3D functions and support for DirectX 9C?

And don't you have, a Intel 945P Northbridge chipset?

cdanteek

[ggrussell]

I'm confused. What does the northbridge have to do with DirectX and 3D functions? The northbridge interfaces the PCIe with the CPU and system memory, but I don't think it has any 'processing' ability.

When I meant my mobo doesn't have integrated video, I mean it really does not have the chip at all.  There is no DB15 on the back of the computer. Not like I just turned it off in the BIOS. It really isn't there at all.  My HP came with a PCIe nVidia 7300LE with 64MB with Turbocache which used another 64MB of system memory.  I took that card out and purchased a $149 video card (with rebates it was less).  

No, I have no problems that I know.  Videowave and MyDVD render video just fine on my machine.