PP CS3 export to DVD problems

[Jeff Pulera]

Hi Bob,

If Encore crashed out on you and the .m2v and .wav files are different durations, then obviously there are Adobe issues since the file lengths should match.

Have you updated CS3 to the latest 3.2 version? Also check Encore for updates. “Export to Encore” should be a quick, simple way to make a DVD, but if it’s not working for you,and you have access to another DVD authoring program, try File > Export > Adobe Media Encoder instead. This will create the “assets”, meaning the audio/video files needed by the authoring program.

Choose MPEG-2 DVD as the Export type and choose an encoding preset compatible with your video, such as NTSC Medium Quality. You can then customize the settings. 2-Pass VBR is likely standard, just change to CBR 7.0 for your 30-minute program. Shouldn’t take but an hour or less to encode depending on your hardware, never anything like 48 hours (assuming red bar areas of timeline are already rendered to green)!

Leave the “drop frame” settings alone, this only refers to “drop frame timecode” which is standard, does not mean you are dropping any frames of video, which is a common misconception.

If you wish to use a DVD tool other than Encore and it does NOT accept .m2v files, then go to the Media Encoder’s Multiplexer tab, and change from “None” to “DVD”, which will multiplex the audio and video into a single “mpeg” file compatible with other DVD authoring programs.

If the authoring software supports it, it is better to use the .m2v and .wav files. Why? The .wav file is uncompressed audio, and the DVD program can encode that directly to Dolby AC-3 (if supported) and the video file does NOT have to be re-encoded, it is an efficient way to work and retain quality.

If you Import an .mpeg file into DVD program (audio and video muxed) and then wish to use Dolby AC-3, the audio had already compressed to MPEG, now it must be seperated from the muxed video stream, re-compressed to AC-3, AND the video will get re-encoded as well. Just not an efficient workflow.

I hope you are able to follow the workflow and reasoning. Let me know if you have any questions

Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers

[Bob Bowers]

Jeff,

Thanks for your rapid response and for the info.

The CS3 Suite was updated to 3.2 a few weeks ago, including Encore. Still it crashes. I have no idea why.

I’ve tried all your suggestions yet export is still painfully slow. I even rendered the first three segments—about six minutes—then exported only the work area to see if it would speed things up. No difference in export speed, just 15 minutes of wasted time. Good thing I’m retired.

My 55 min. project consists of numerous still photos, many effects and animations, plus videos. Music and narration are start to finish. Would that make a difference?

My OS is Windows XP Media Center Edition Service Pack 2 (build 2600). I have a 2.80 gigahertz Intel Pentium D processor. I disconnect from the Internet while exporting so no auto-updates interfere.

I’ll try multiplex and wait the 48 hours. My only working authoring prog is Nero Vision Elements. It will accept .m2v but not .wav. If the quality of either audio or video is unacceptable I’ll have to buy a new authoring program. Is there one that you’d care to recommend?

Thanks again for your advice.

[George Socka]

crashed = a bad clip somewhere. Which one is another matter. Usually a very long filename and path for that clip.

encoding – if straight export to Encore does not work, export mpeg2 DVD which will export the m2v and wav, then start a new project in Encore and import them BOTH TOGETHER as a timeline.

The more layers, the more transitions, the more effects, the more time it will take. Twice as long as real time for 5 layers is not bad at all.

You cant play an avi file created by premiere with windows media player on a windows computer that has Premiere on it? That is seemingly an anomaly. How do you know the length of the m2v if you cant play it? If you rename m2v to mpg them WMP should play it because ether codec will have been installed by Premiere.

George Socka
BeachDigital
http://www.beachdigital.com

[Bob Bowers]

George,

Thanks for the response. Perhaps I didn’t make myself clear: I cannot open Encore. It loads then crashes. I’ve uninstalled/reinstalled three times, still no change.

However, my export problem is finally solved. Yesterday I managed to export everything by breaking it down into smaller segments. I used the Adobe Media Encoder to export only the work area(s) as .mpg.

There was a problem that may have caused the export crash. While maximizing the timeline to the fullest to make certain of the beginning and end of each work area, I discovered a three-frame blank space between two sequences. Adobe, like nature, abhors a vacuum.

The slow export was due to my own stupidity. I’d set the Reduce Video Noise Filter to 50% and forgot about it. When I deselected it, the export was almost in real time. As it turns out, I didn’t even need the filter. Audio and video at quality #4 are perfect! Now if I can just get Nero to burn it I’m home free.

Thanks again to you and to Jeff Pulera for your excellent suggestions.