[Laura Kozikowski]

As I mentioned, I guess I got my vocab wrong. I was looking for something to both be able to rip from a DVD (into an Iso file), and also be able to burn both Iso and other media files onto a DVD.

For example:
I have a computer game for kids that I would like to be able to make an Iso copy of, to keep on the hard drive as well as burn to another disc. I also have media files (say family videos) that I would like to be able to burn to a DVD. No menus, no setup, no splicing, just here’s the 45 minute file, put it on the DVD, insert into a player, self start. That clear things up? Sorry for the confusion.

[Laura Kozikowski]

Well, I have Googled and tried a few but obviously I didn’t find what I was looking for, which is why I posted here. I understand I’m not getting top quality without top money, but surely there is a program you could recommend (even if it’s not up to your standards) for under $100. I must admit I’m still confused on the two different functions –perhaps I’m using the wrong vocabulary when I say ‘authoring’? I’m not looking for something like DVD-Architect that will put together an actual DVD, merely a program that will burn an Iso file (and hopefully media copies) directly to the DVD. Programs like Wondershare, DVD Copy, DVD Cloner, Magic DVD Ripper, Rip N’ Burn, Nero all seem to do both functions. Does that make things clearer?

[Laura Kozikowski]

Not quite sure I follow… Are you referring to splitting up my question within two forums? Surely you aren’t suggesting that there lacks software capable of doing both– And yes, I’m aware these are two different things, that’s why I added the “and” 🙂

Sorry if I’m confused here.

[Laura Kozikowski]

No change 🙁

Is there a way to see what codecs Vegas has associated with what formats? Then at least it could be determined if it’s an issue with Vegas recognizing it or with the codec itself not being found.

[Laura Kozikowski]

Vegas says…
Version 8 (Build 144) C.2007

[Laura Kozikowski]

Well I’ve used Youtube Downloader to grab some files off YouTube. They are .mp4 files. Gspot says:
mp42: MP4 v2 [ISO 14496-14]
– isom: MP4 Base Media v1 [IS0 14496-12:2003]
– avc1: MP4 Base w/ AVC ext [ISO 14496-12:2005]

Under audio codecs it lists:
mp4a: MPEG-4 AAC LC
Under video codecs it lists:
avc1

when I import/drag it into Vegas Pro 8.0, I’m left without the audio.

I’m a little new to the codecs, but I’m following everything said you said. Is there a way to change the association, if you will, so that Sony is aware it has the proper codec and tell it to look within the proper format? If that is the case, where I can find the codec I need and how do I go about changing Vegas?

If that isn’t possible, what would be the best way (and best format) to convert these files into. Everything that I have tried that Vegas allows, ends up with very very poor quality. Of course, I’d prefer to not have to convert at all, but whatever needs to be done.

Please let me know if you need any more information.

Thanks 🙂

[Laura Kozikowski]

Well I’ve got the menu and the highlighting down, seems the format in that sense is solid. My only issue now is that it seems to be ‘compressing’ (not sure if that’s the right word) one video file. It’s maybe a 5 minute clip and it plays for about 1 minute and then just cuts out and goes back to the menu. I rendered it exactly the same as the others in Vegas, and it shows as complete when you’re working in DVD-A. I guess I need some specific directions on how to separately render everything (as I did not do that with the other files). When I tell Vegas to render the file the menu that pops up asks me for the file name, and the type (options being ATRAC, AIFF, ac3, FLAC, m4, mpg, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MP3, OGG, mov, rm, wav, avc, mxf, pca, w64, avi, wav (Microsoft), wma, wmv. Under template the only choices I have are default (which says the audio is AAC and merely gives a frame rate for the video details) and two versions of Apple iPod videos.

I had been using the default and saving it as ‘main concept AVC/AAC (mp4)”. When it comes time to prep/burn it notifies me of the file size (around 8gb), throws up all the error messages about compressing the files. I hit the optimize button, cleared out the errors and it allows me to proceed to the next button.

And well, you know the result. So yes, I’m getting there, but not quite. Should I just re-render that one file in a different manner, or do you think it will simply choose another to play around with. I thought I had it since everything was perfect in DVD-A until I burned it.

Thanks 🙂

Btw, under the optimize menu it lists the video as MPEG-2 and the audio as AC-3. Under the video and audio tabs, everything is set to default and has ‘recompress’ as ‘required’. Let me know if you need anymore information.

[Laura Kozikowski]

Update:

I now have the complete video clips. Had to convert the longer one (9 minute) to something other than .avi. Still curious as to why, but so far so good. I believe the video was clipped before DVD-A compressed the file, so I think we can cross that problem off the list. Hopefully I’ll be done soon and reburn this and see what happens. Just wanted to update you so you didn’t waste time on that part of my collection of issues 😉

Thanks!

[Laura Kozikowski]

Well thank you very much!!

I scrapped it and started over and my navigation (and highlighting) now works fine (I guess inadvertently screwed it up last time), but I have a new question… during the prep process, DVD-A decided that it wanted to compress essentially all of my media files. The music files (background music for the menus) seemed untouched but half of the videos have been cut off –why is this? Is there a particular format that DVD-A gets along with/doesn’t get along with? Songs were fine to render with Vegas but DVD-A, not so much. They are .avi files, no longer than ten minutes maximum. What gives with that?

And thanks again! You have no idea how frustrated I was getting with the whole thing…

Oh, and one quick question on looping and top menu, if you don’t mind:
How do you make sure that at the end of a media piece, the DVD will automatically loop back to the menu from where you made your selection (a submenu, say)? I believe it’s automatic, but I know in the first version I had some issues, just wondering where the set up is for that. Also, I noticed in that first version that my ‘top menu’ commands were a little messed up. Is the idea just that if you have ‘Top Menu’ selected to ‘on’ for each ‘page’, it should return you to the main menu/your set start point? Or do you need to select each media piece/link/button and turn it ‘on’ or–?

Thank again, you’re a lifesaver!! I’ve yet to find the ‘Help’ on DVD-A helpful, nor can I find any tutorials that seem to be what I’m looking for. I really do appreciate your time 🙂

[Laura Kozikowski]

The actions are set up as they are on page one, with each button command set as a link, the destinations are the correct pages and the buttons that go to the submenus are set to the hold command. I did add the pages by using the insert menu. It seemed to do it automatically on that first page, but on pages 2 and 3, something must have been changed (I’m not aware if I did it).

Is there a chance that even though the preview shows the highlighting on the first page (main menu) and not on the other two pages (submenus), that it is in fact there and will show up on the DVD?

Just wanted to know what the steps were to get this to occur and if I had by chance missed one (though I thought it was automatic with the insert menu).

What do you think?