[patrick_vid]

Hi,

I am new to Roxio stuff so here goes ...

I purchased easy creater suite 8 to compiment MCE 2005 partly to convert DVR-MS files to DVD-video so I can watch them on a portable player / separate DVD etc, as the internal sonic encoders package was flaky, even with roll up 2 update. Here is a summary of my problems. I ams running 8.05 version, with the DVR-MS hotfix.

I am reasonably PC savvy but am struggling with the package.

1. Is there anyway round the 1024x768 requirement? It makes trying to read anytihng on a TV screen a nightmare.

2. Using videowave to output a video file, I want to set a bit rate comparable to DVR-MS file, typically 4Mbs. I make the changes in the custom settings dialogue boxes, ( I want to set to DVD_video, pal, ~4Mbs) , but having confirmed this the next dialogue up ignores this and resets it to 9MBs.

3. What is a typical time to burn (or rather at least create the image before the burn) of a 4.7 GB DVD? ( say 3GHz chip, 512MB ram) I am having the freezing problems smguth3 and will try the hotfix, though it appears to not be directly related.

4. Is there an FAQ with all hot fixes listed?

5. The media browser / database that is installed hogs resource. I have seen a post on how to nobble it and so will do.

6. How does the software select which codec to use. Using the MS XP dvd decoder check tool, it shows me what is on the system, and that I can select a preferred codec. I believe this is used by MCE. What does roxio do?

7. Is there any "10 foot" interface. I know sonic used to have one and followin the sonic / roxio merger I had hoped that it would make its way in to easy creatersuite 8. Not that I have found.


I have had the software a week now and have not been able to burn a single DVD. I will struggle on a bit longer.

PC specs, xp 2600+, 512MB, 2 x seagates 160GB IDE, MCE 2005, rollup 2 + all updates, 2x Nova-Ts, 400W psu,

[ggrussell]

1. No way around the resolution requirement. Are you saying you are using your TV as a monitor? Doesn't the MCE machine also have a place for a regular monitor? Can't say that I've seen a MCE machine hooked up ONLY to a TV.

2. The lowest bitrate in MyDVD8 is 4.5Mbps.
3. Render time can vary depending on what you have done while editing. More edits=more time. On my desktop below if I do NO edits, a typical render is 3X to 4X the length of the video. I only use DV AVI so everything gets rendered.
4. Haven't seen one. Maybe someone else knows about the FAQ
5. The correct way is to launch Media Manager under tools I think and turn those off.
6. Codecs are another mess created by Microsoft. It seems like each application installs their own which they use. I have 3 other video editors that also installed their own MPEG2 codecs. On my machine, I'm getting much better video quality from MyDVD8 than others are reporting so appears it might be using another codec. I've been trying to get an answer to this myself. How does MyDVD or Videowave select a codec?
7. Have no idea what a '10 foot' interface is. LOL

This post has been edited by ggrussell: 14 January 2006 - 07:58 AM

[patrick_vid]

Thanks for the reply.

I seem to be sorted:

A full uninstall
then selected preferred DVD decoders to be windvd6 that I already had on my machine for MCE,
followed by a partial reinstall, i.e. only the bits of EMC 8.05 I really needed. No extra hot fixes added.

This seemed to work ...

I managed to create an iso at 4.5Mbs of a full DVD-video of recorded Tv files, having previously converted them from DVR-MS to Mpgs with videowave.

It took about 4hrs in the end.

PC specs, xp 2600+, 512MB, 2 x seagates 160GB IDE, MCE 2005, rollup 2 + all updates, 2x Nova-Ts, 400W psu, GA7n400p2 mobo, fx5200, 66.93 driver

[ggrussell]

Glad to hear things are better.

[tenndevil]

If you used the Decoder check tool it is made for MCE, not necessarily XP itself.
If you did run it you will find that only one sonic decoder is compatible with MCE


as well you'll notice none of them are WM10 compliant, so it kinda makes it a crap shoot.

This post has been edited by tenndevil: 16 January 2006 - 07:41 PM

[ggrussell]

Also note that is states DECODER which would not affect rendering in MyDVD or Videowave. That would ENCODING.

[tenndevil]

No joke, you just missed the point entirely, so no biggie, just show me which Roxio/Sonic encoder is compatible? there aren't any of them that are as reported by MCE 2005.

Looking at whats hilighted wasn't the point, the point was all the red x's that show none of the encoders or decoders built by Roxio / Sonic are compatible with WM10 let alone MCE 2005, with the exception of the decoder that you seem to notice.

and so there won't be any confusion, here's the rest of the pic.



MCE 2005 wasn not specifically built for monitor's only, as a matter of fact my MCE box has never been connected to a monitor at all, luckily my television has a DVI input, so never had any need for a monitor.


MCE is very specific in it's requirements both software and hardware, it's better to look for supported software at the main page.

I've been using an application that converts dvr-ms files (2 hour movies) in less than 15 minutes to dvd compliant video.

This post has been edited by tenndevil: 16 January 2006 - 10:17 PM

[patrick_vid]

I get exactly the same slection of red crosses, other than for sonic cinemaster and for windvd6 that is fully compatible with MP10 & MCE. Considering it is meant to be the one stop shop for all media needs, I agree that it is very poor to be non-compatible. Also it seems crazy to not have an interface for MCE especially as the sonic encoders was the build in burner package, and they used to sell an upgraded version of it.

My original problems have not however been fully solved. Burned the iso I created. It contained 3 movies that were all fine for audio / video sync in the preview, on the burned disc the third movie was out of sync ..... So the preview does not match the final result .. nice...

I next tried reinstalling the DVRMS hot fix, tried creating another iso and it stopped after about 3 hours! The program hadn't locked as I could cancel it, but in the task manager, it was not using any of the CPU.

WIth regard to the tv / monitor thing the half a dozen people I know with MCE. no one has a monitor hooked up to it, only a TV.

I am always interested to find an application to do the conversion, but having shelved out money on this package and so far come up with failure, I am loathed to buy any more .....

[ggrussell]

And just because Microsoft's applications say that it isn't compatible certainly doesn't mean that it isn't. This is similiar to what Microsoft does with 'signed' drivers. Companies have to to PAY to get certified. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Microsoft doesn't charge to get codec listed in this application, too. As far as I'm concerned, it's not a big deal. WMP10 still runs and plays files doesn't it? Whether or not Roxio's codecs have a green check will not affect WMP10 or MCE in any way. They will just default to the codec installed by Windows MCE which would probably be best.