71 Chapters On A Dvd

[psueric]

This is an off-topic discussion of a previous thread...

http://forums.support.roxio.com/topic/60369-trouble-with-creating-avchd-disc/

The discussion was based on the fact that the DVD that I was creating had 71 chapters, I was using the Chapter mark function in Video Wave, and those chapter marks could be converted to chapter tags in MyDVD. (but when I created a BluRay disc using this method, the Audio/Video was out of SYNC) The proposed solution was to use videowave to export my entire production to a single 2h45m video file, and use that as the source for MyDVD.

The proposed solution worked, but as a side effect, I had to re-create all the chapter markings within MyDVD, because the ones that I created in VideoWave were lost then I exported the file as a single video file.

 

The off topic discussion was about "71 chapters is too many to have on a DVD."

 

Here's the logic behind the DVD with 71 Chapters.

I'm a parent of 2 elementary school children, who are participating in a talent show at their school. The School PTO has requested that I record the entire performance, and produce DVD's for other parents to purchase...this serves as a Fundraiser for the PTO, as well as a nice way for parents to get a copy of their children's performance in the talent show...without everyone having their own camcorder.

At the show, the PTO offered DVD's and BluRay Discs available for "pre-order" at a cost of $5 for DVD and $10 for BluRay.

The performance included 120 children in 71 individual acts. The Pre-order for DVD's was an extreme success, with 85 DVD's and 12 BluRay's ordered.

 

 

Now that I've got the Raw footage recorded, I just need to produce the DVD's and BluRays...

 

I used a Canon Vixia HF S200, which shoots 1080p at 30FPS (25mbps), and creates MTS files.

After the show, I drag all the MTS files to Videowave timeline, and begin editing...

I cut out all of the dead time, add a cool Animoto title slideshow, which contains still-pics and video clips from the evening...

Now I'm ready to create the chapters.

I should note that I use canon's 3second pre-record, so when I press the record button, the camera captures the three seconds before I pressed the button, and continues recording.

I wait for the MC to start... "our next act will be John Smith, playing the piano..." I press the record button just after she starts talking. I stop recording after the act is over.

To create the DVD, I simply add the Video clips to Videowave, and create a chapter point at the start of every video clip.

So each act gets their own chapter on the DVD. (Note that an act can have anywhere from one to many students)

 

I modify the "Talent show Program" to add the DVD chapter numbers next to their associated performance. I include a mini-print-out of the program in the inside cover of the DVD case.

 

I also go through the program, and pull out each kid's name, and the act (or acts) in which they performed.

I sort this list alphabetically, and print the Alphabetized list on the back cover of the DVD Case.

 

So the parents (or kids) can use the program to see which child is in which chapter,

or they can use the back cover to see the info in this format

 

Abby Micheals Chapter 02

Brenda Smith Chapter 07

Candice Johnson Chapter 10

Derik Jones Chapter 22

Eric Anderson Chapter 6, 12

Frank Rizo Chapter 18

Greg Parkins Chapter 71

Zoe Clark Chapter 10

 

 

I want to express a special thanks to Jim Harden, who has taken an interest in this topic, and is the main reason for this separate thread...

While I am very happy with the DVD's and BluRays turned out from this performance, I certainly realize that I don't know everything about the topic, and I'm very willing to take advice and learn from others who have more expertise than I...

 

Thanks again.

Eric

[Jim_Hardin]

This is one of the few cases I have seen that justify that great of a number of chapters

 

Of course if you could maintain sync this wouldn’t be a problem… But we all know that every video editor has sync problems at one time or another

 

Since you have to create ONE big file from VideoWave in order to overcome the sync issues you need another way to produce chapters easily.

 

I think if it were my project, I would try some variations???

 

As it is now, you go from 71 handy clips to one big unyielding clip How about taking 7 clips and combining them?

 

This way you are dealing with 10, files of 7 combined clips and the last one thrown in at the end…

 

Burn it and see if it maintains sync!

 

But there still isn’t any way to add chapters or markers that will be completely painless You can make a notation of the Times before you start but that is about it…

[bimicher]

If you burned the 2:45 production to a standard 4.7GB DVD you will of course have all sorts of problems.

A standard 4.7GB DVD can only hold 60 minutes of video at best quality (HQ setting in myDVD). Any longer and the video has to be compressed. To get a 2:45 video on a DVD (if at all possible) you have to use the "Fit-to-disc" setting which will give you the worst quality possible.

 

Are you creating a chapter menu for each of the 71 chapters? Is each of the 71 chapter a separate video clip? How does someone get to chapter 60?

[psueric]

This is one of the few cases I have seen that justify that great of a number of chapters

 

Of course if you could maintain sync this wouldn’t be a problem… But we all know that every video editor has sync problems at one time or another

 

Since you have to create ONE big file from VideoWave in order to overcome the sync issues you need another way to produce chapters easily.

 

I think if it were my project, I would try some variations???

 

As it is now, you go from 71 handy clips to one big unyielding clip How about taking 7 clips and combining them?

 

This way you are dealing with 10, files of 7 combined clips and the last one thrown in at the end…

 

Burn it and see if it maintains sync!

 

But there still isn’t any way to add chapters or markers that will be completely painless You can make a notation of the Times before you start but that is about it…

 

I actually made a spreadsheet of the 71 timepoints in my original production, and used that to add the chapter breaks in MyDVD. It wasn't aweful, but I would love to eliminate that step in the future.

 

I've been reading, and it seems possible that the 2011 version could correct the problem. I may consider upgrading...

I also noticed that after I converted my 71 files into 1 large file, the MyDVD rendering showed me the NVidia CUDA splash screen. This was different than when I was rendering the MTS files. In the first case, I saw the preview of the production instead.

I'm wondering if the different rendering caused the difference in the Sync. If so, I could convert each of the 71 individual files from MTS to mp4, and create my production in VW, adding chapters and all...then sent to MyDVD and convert the chapter marks in MyDVD.

Is there a Roxio tool that would easily allow me to batch convert 71 MTS files to MP4?

[psueric]

If you burned the 2:45 production to a standard 4.7GB DVD you will of course have all sorts of problems.

A standard 4.7GB DVD can only hold 60 minutes of video at best quality (HQ setting in myDVD). Any longer and the video has to be compressed. To get a 2:45 video on a DVD (if at all possible) you have to use the "Fit-to-disc" setting which will give you the worst quality possible.

 

Are you creating a chapter menu for each of the 71 chapters? Is each of the 71 chapter a separate video clip? How does someone get to chapter 60?

I did burn the 2h45m production to a standard DVD, and the video quality was terrible...but the feedback that I received from parents...was that they absolutely loved it...I guess the ones that really care about the quality of the video requested the BluRay discs, which look amazing. Unfortunately, they're almost a week delayed, becuase I've been trying to work out my Audio Sync Problems.

 

Getting to chapter 60 means pressing the "Next" button on your remote 60 times. Some DVD players will Repeat the "Next" button if you press and hold...but others don't...

 

But thanks for all your help getting it straightened out with me.

[Jim_Hardin]

Yes there are 2 programs in Suite that allow you to batch convert… Video Copy and Convert as well as Drag and Drop Convert.

 

If you feed either of them 71 files they will convert and store 71 files, with the original name, at a location of your choice…

 

One way or another you are going to spend Render Time, THAT is a given

 

Most DVD Players will have a Search button, after which you can punch in the Chapter Number and press enter… Very few users are even aware of how to do that…

 

You might want to set your Canon to FXP for recording. The slightly lower bitrate increases compatibility and may help with sync.

 

For planning, this is about what to expect from media:

 

DVD Capacity

4.7Gb:

HQ = 1:06

SP = 1:37

LP = 2:22

 

8.5 Gb:

HQ = 2:00

SP = 2:57

LP = 4:19

ELP = 5:35

 

 

DVD AVCHD Capacity:

AVCHD on a 4.7 DVD (thanks to ggrussell)

• HQ 00:40:24 @ 1920 X 1080P = 40 min
  
• SP 00:50:16 @ 1920 X 1080I = 46 min
  
• LP 1:00:00 @ 1440 X 1080I = 54 min
  
• EP 1:24:31 1280 X 720P = 1:14 min

 

AVCHD on 8.5 DVD

• HQ 1:13
  
• SP 1:24
  
• LP 1:39
  
• EP 2:15

 

Blu-ray 25 GB Capacity:

• HQ 3:29
  
• SP 4:00
  
• LP 4:43
  
• EP 6:24

Blu-ray 50 GB Capacity:

• HQ 6:59
  
• SP 8:02
  
• LP 9:27
  
• EP 12:50

Personally, for DVD’s, I prefer to stay at HQ setting and adjust the bitrate downward to fit on more time

 

I would never go below 6 mbps but make some test burns and get a few people to try them out.

[psueric]

thanks very much for your assistance. I'll try a few tests with the lower bit rate, and see if it helps with the sync problems.

I'm also ready to upgrade to Roxio 2011...maybe that will make a difference.

 

I'm dissapointed, that I didn't receive any response to the Trouble ticket which I submitted to Roxio's website on Sunday.

 

My experience with this user group has been excellent, and I can't immagine that the Roxio folks will improve upon the experience...but I'm dissapointed that they haven't even responded...

 

What is your experience in dealing with Rox Tec Support?

[Jim_Hardin]

I think 2011 handles things a little better, less problems overall…

 

I have not used Tech Support since Version 3… I rely on my fellow users here