Does the A3 have any firmware updates out yet that might help?
That would be the other thing to check out. Many here had issues with the A2 but after a few updates and setting media to physical book type most, including me, can now play our disks.

Hi Dartman, thanks for your reply. I did update the firmware of the A3 (1.3/1.1) and I tried doing that again, but it says that it already has the latest firmware.

FWIW, I have better results using DVD-R than using DVD+R with the book type set to "Physical book type"

Do you have an A3?

I recently got a A2 on the blowout sales they were having. Most folks seems to have good results with minus, since I set booktype on mine to native either seems to work fine but I've been doing a lot of minus because one of my settops only burns minus. If you can find any disks that claim to be made in Japan they probably are TY and might do better for you, usually excellent quality results with those. Older Sony cake boxes had a good chance of being ty if you have any places that don't sell media out quickly. The Newer Sony stuff can be just about anything though lately.

Well, I just returned from Best Buy and Circuit City to try my discs out on their setups. I brought 3 discs with me, and all 3 discs behaved identically in their respective players:

disc 1) Womble MPEG Video Wizard DVD converted Program Stream with AC3 audio, MF6 to ISO, ImgBurn @ 16x
disc 2) VideoRedo converted Program Stream with 384k MP2 audio, MF6 to ISO, ImgBurn @ 4x
disc 3) Womble MPEG2VCR converted Program Stream with 384k MP2 audio, MF6 to ISO, ImgBurn @ 8x

Best Buy only had an A30 hooked up - it had the same issues as my A3 although not as severe. It had problems with the footage between 11:15 & 12:45 on the 3 different discs that I brought in, and it had problems at the beginning of the disc on initial spin-up. If I started playback over by hitting skip backwards button, it played flawlessly until the 11 minute problem described before. The choppiness/stuttering was definitely not as bad as my A3 for some reason. Perhaps a more powerful internal engine than the A3 since the A30 can output up to 1080p?

Circuit City only had an A20 hooked up - it had no problems at all with any of my 3 discs in the 11-13 minute range that the A3 & A30 seem to have. It did, however, have a problem at the very beginning of the disc with stuttering on initial spin-up. This was easily solved by hitting play/pause twice or by hitting the skip backwards and starting the disc over.

It's starting to look like their might be a problem with the new generation of Toshiba players, but I know I need a bigger sample size of players before I can definitively say that....

Is there anyone with an A3/A30/A35 that has successfully burned HDV to a -R with no stuttering issues anywhere on the disc? If so, please share your secrets :confused:

I'm working with the mkv issue, so far I've used shade's method of AlltoAVI, QuEnc and HDPatch to get a file that MF6 will take. It looks like it is still re-encoding, though.

Anyone know what a good mpeg2 bitrate would be at 1280x720 to get about an hour and a half to an hour and 45 minutes of footage on one DL DVD?

I can live with re-encoding mkvs, but is the above method the best way? Has anyone found something smoother or more automated? I'm going to keep playing around with some other conversion programs to see if I can come up with something.

have you compared the +r vs -r format.
I'm struggling with getting the hde1 to play pal 50hz input but I've noticed that once converted to ntsc my hd e1 plays +r format much better than the minus.

Well, I just returned from Best Buy and Circuit City to try my discs out on their setups. I brought 3 discs with me, and all 3 discs behaved identically in their respective players:

disc 1) Womble MPEG Video Wizard DVD converted Program Stream with AC3 audio, MF6 to ISO, ImgBurn @ 16x
disc 2) VideoRedo converted Program Stream with 384k MP2 audio, MF6 to ISO, ImgBurn @ 4x
disc 3) Womble MPEG2VCR converted Program Stream with 384k MP2 audio, MF6 to ISO, ImgBurn @ 8x

Best Buy only had an A30 hooked up - it had the same issues as my A3 although not as severe. It had problems with the footage between 11:15 & 12:45 on the 3 different discs that I brought in, and it had problems at the beginning of the disc on initial spin-up. If I started playback over by hitting skip backwards button, it played flawlessly until the 11 minute problem described before. The choppiness/stuttering was definitely not as bad as my A3 for some reason. Perhaps a more powerful internal engine than the A3 since the A30 can output up to 1080p?

Circuit City only had an A20 hooked up - it had no problems at all with any of my 3 discs in the 11-13 minute range that the A3 & A30 seem to have. It did, however, have a problem at the very beginning of the disc with stuttering on initial spin-up. This was easily solved by hitting play/pause twice or by hitting the skip backwards and starting the disc over.

It's starting to look like their might be a problem with the new generation of Toshiba players, but I know I need a bigger sample size of players before I can definitively say that....

Is there anyone with an A3/A30/A35 that has successfully burned HDV to a -R with no stuttering issues anywhere on the disc? If so, please share your secrets :confused:



Hi!

if you read the previous pages you'll see that the only method to make stutter free discs is to:

-create HD-DVD folders in ULMF6+ (NO ISO)
-then in Nero 7.x (or 8) start with new DVD (UDF)- Xbox compatiblity mode - no multisession - and Phisical disc type for booktype- then just drag and drop (to burn) only the hd-dvd folder, not the advance something one.

After that, you get a stutter free HD-DVD playable in all Toshiba generations players (check previous pages that talk about the importance of booktype).

Bye.

I've been using moviefactory 6 plus now and burning directly to disk with it and they work just as well for me as making the folders then burning with Nero, so for many that works and saves a step. It sounds like the a3 is a bit pickier about disks then the earlier units. Now I'm glad I ordered mine through Circuit City and didn't get upgraded to a A3.

Not sure if the A3 is similar to the A35 for homebrews, but after the v1.3 firmware update, all my homebrew HD DVDs play fine on the A35. Before the firmware update, I had lip synch & stutter issues even w/physical disc booktype setting.

I've searched for an answer to an issue I'm having with MF6 Plus, but haven't seen any mention of it. I read the first two pages of this thread and then discovered MF6 was out, so I started reading at page 51 (right about where people start discussing MF6).

I'm using the trial until I can determine whether it's possible to fix my problem.

Running under XP (MCE 2005), using clips from FOXHD (720P) captured from my Comcast PVR through Firewire. I've cut out commercials using VideoRedo, first using QuickStream fix. The files import easily into MF6.

I can create an HDDVD with no menus or chapters just fine. The problem is when I add chapters. Any chapters up to the halfway point in the clip are fine. If I place even one chapter after the halfway point, when MF6 goes to create the DVD, it always ends with "unspecified errors", right after the muxing stage.

I can burn to disc (DVD-R is what I've tried so far), but the disc won't be recognized by my A3.

If I remove the chapters after the halfway point and try again, it completes OK. I've tried two different files.

Has this been mentioned already?

Update: This morning I tried the same clip, but using a version AFTER VideoRedos Quick Stream fix but without cutting out any commercials (so, an un-edited file). I added chapter stops all the way through (inc. past the halfway point). MF6 was able to create a HDVDV folder without errors. So somehow the files VideoRedo creates after editing are flawed in some way. I suspect the files from my PVR are flawed and VideoRedo somehow adds to the problem after editing them.

Hi!

if you read the previous pages you'll see that the only method to make stutter free discs is to:

-create HD-DVD folders in ULMF6+ (NO ISO)
-then in Nero 7.x (or 8) start with new DVD (UDF)- Xbox compatiblity mode - no multisession - and Phisical disc type for booktype- then just drag and drop (to burn) only the hd-dvd folder, not the advance something one.

After that, you get a stutter free HD-DVD playable in all Toshiba generations players (check previous pages that talk about the importance of booktype).

Bye.

Hi king conan. I have burned the HVDVD_TS folder to DVD-R discs using Nero 7 with UDF/Xbox compatibility mode in the past. My A3 treats it no differently compared to burning an ISO image with ImgBurn. I believe the ISO image output by ULMF6+ is an "Xbox" compatible image because ImgBurn sees the ISO as a UDF 2.5 disc type. Can anyone confirm/deny this?

Book type doesn't matter for me since I am using DVD-Rs and not +Rs. However, I have burned +Rs with the book type set to "physical disk type" and it produces the same result.

I need to find an A35 and see how my discs play in that player I guess, because 25 Mbps CBR HDV just don't play stutter-free in the A3/A30.

Not sure if the A3 is similar to the A35 for homebrews, but after the v1.3 firmware update, all my homebrew HD DVDs play fine on the A35. Before the firmware update, I had lip synch & stutter issues even w/physical disc booktype setting.

Hi Brajesh, I have updated the firmware to v1.3 on my A3, but I still have stuttering issues. Have you burned homebrew discs to DVD-R successfully or just DVD+R with physical disc book type setting?

Also, the video that plays fine on your A35, what is the bit rate of the video? You wouldn't happen to be playing 25 Mbps CBR HDV on your A35 would you? :D

I've used both -R & +R discs (SL & DL) w/physical disc booktype setting in Nero 7 (& now 8) w/success. My hi-def files range from 10mbps to 18mbps, and yes, I also have 25mbps CBR files from my Sony HDV camcorder. No problems w/playback on my A35. Had the A2 until recently & my 150+ homebrews played fine on it. Haven't tried them all on the A35, but like I said, after the 1.3 firmware, whatever I've played has had no stuttering or lip synch issues.

I use MPEG2VCR mostly, but also VideoRedo, to convert TS files to MPG, then simply used Ulead DVDMF6+ to author HD DVDs, either directly to disc, or first to hard drive, then to disc via Nero. Both methods work fine.

Hello all.

I have the CANON HV10. I dl'ed the Ulead VS 11 demo and it doesnt recognize my camera.

Movie Maker on the other hand that came with Vista seems to capture video from the camera perfectly... I think.


Has anyone either:

- Made ULEAD work with the HV10?

- Made Movie Maker work with the process outlined to create and HD-DVD?

The Gizzard.
Don't use Ulead or Movie Maker to get the footage off your HV-10. Use CapDVHS. Do a google search, download it and install. It is freeware. Once the footage is on your computer HDD, load the footage into VideoRedo or Womble to convert your HDV footage to an MPEG2 Program Stream. Once the file has been converted to MPEG2 PS, load into Ulead to create your HD-DVD folders and burn with Nero 7.

Trust me, I own the HV-10/20 and using CapDVHS is much better and faster to get the footage off your camera.

Update: This morning I tried the same clip, but using a version AFTER VideoRedos Quick Stream fix but without cutting out any commercials (so, an un-edited file). I added chapter stops all the way through (inc. past the halfway point). MF6 was able to create a HDVDV folder without errors. So somehow the files VideoRedo creates after editing are flawed in some way. I suspect the files from my PVR are flawed and VideoRedo somehow adds to the problem after editing them.


Update: Still looking for an answer to this issue.

I've only been working on this for a few days (just got my A3 last week).

Most of my files are 720P (LOst, 24, Prison Break). Tried an episode of Heroes (1080i) this morning - and no issues with either placing chapters or displaying the program length. So I guess the issue is with 720P stuff.

I saw mentioned back in this thread (around pages 50-54) that MF can't accept 720P files. I don't know if they were talking about ver.5 or 6, but 6 imports the files fine (asside from the issues I'm having). I believe the poster said they wouldn't even import into MF. But I have successfully authored and burned Lost using MF6.

After more investigation, I've discovered that my files (all transfered from a Moto 6416 cablebox using capdvhs) are reported by the properties tab in VideoRedo correctly, i.e. frame size, fps, bitrate, no. of frames, etc. For example, a one hour program shows a total of about 300000 frames.

And when playing these files in VideoRedo, the time indicator is correct. But after converting to an mpeg file and importing into MF6, the displayed timing is wrong. The same clips show a total length longer than what is true.

I guess the next thing to do is find that post and try the work around suggested. Maybe if MF thinks the 720P files are 1080i it will work.:(

On another note: is there any software that can shrink an HVDVD folder? I hate to use an expensive Verb DL when the folder size is like 4.6 gigs. Or should I just set VideoRedo to use a lower bitrate when outputting the new file?

Found the post mentioned in my last post. He was talking about HDPatch, which I guess a lot of you are familiar with. So I tried that.

However, first I must mention that I found a post on another site that said HDPatch is only necessary with MF5, and that the 720P issues were fixed in MF6. This seems to not be true, at least with my files.

Anyway, after patching a file of Lost (720P), MF6 correctly shows the program length. However, it is now unable to display video, making accurate chapter placement impossible! I used auto chapters to place chapter marks, thus placing chapters past the problematic halfway point, and MF successfully created an HVDVD folder!

Also, the directions for using HDPatch say to post-patch the first file in the HVDVD folder. I want to use MF6 to burn the folder to disc so I can avoid having to buy Nero. But if I use MF to create a folder on my HDD so I can post-patch, how do I then get MF to burn that folder?

There is a separate burning utility included in the MF download, but I don't know how to use it correctly to burn the HVDVD folder. In that burning program, does anyone know whether to use "DVD" or "HDDVD" under "New project"? I'll try it tonight but I'm just wondering if anyone has used it already.

Update (if anyone cares): Using Uleads "Burn Now" program, I simply selected "DVD" rather than "HDDVD" (which had asked for an HDDVD disc). Used a DVD+RW and it played fine in my A3.

The above issue still stands however.

I got excited this morning when I found an email from Ulead tech support informing me that a new patch was ready that addressed the problem I've been writing about. I downloaded and installed it, but it didn't fix my issue. In fact, when I read the readme, the resolved issues for the patch had to do with installation problems, not chapter placement problems. It was like the tech hadn't even read my email.

After more work I've noticed a few more things about how MF6 Plus sees my files. A one hour program like Lost shows one hour in the timeline of VideoRedo and other programs that can read it. But in MF6, it shows the program length as TWO hours. I can see why putting chapter stops past the halfway point causes an error: MF6 must be trying to place chapters after the program ends!

I guess I'm the only one with this issue since no one has piped in. Has ANYONE been able to create an HDDVD of Lost, Prison Break, or 24, with chapter stops, using MF6 Plus??? I'd like to know if the issue is with MF6 or something with my system.

leebo,

I use the standard method described in the first post to record Heroes OTA, edit with VideoRedo, use HDPatch to make the first frame read 15mbps, create HD DVD folders with MF5 and burn UDF Xbox compatible with Nero 7 on DVD+R with physical disc book type. I never have a problem.

Of I edit out the "previously on" intro, the Heroes opening logo and cut after "to be continued," the resulting file is about 40 minutes long and fits on a single-layer disc. At that length, I never saw the need for chapter stops, but to each his own.

Also, I've never had any problems with 720p shows from Fox or ABC. They work fine using the same process.

leebo,

I have had the same problem as you with chapter marks and the time lines of the files. I have only made one disk that worked right when I tried chapter marks, and I don't know what I did different on that disk. For the most part I have just given up trying to put chapter marks on my disks.

leebo,

... I never saw the need for chapter stops, but to each his own.

Also, I've never had any problems with 720p shows from Fox or ABC. They work fine using the same process.

Thank you for at least replying.

But as I mentioned, I don't have any problem making HDDVD discs from 720P source files w/o chapters either. the problem is trying to insert chapter stops past the halfway point in these files, and placing the chapters accurately.
I've determined this is due to MF6's inability to correctly read the program length in a 720P file. It doubles the length, i.e. 1 hour reads as 2 hours.

Placing a chapter stop past the halfway point effectively puts it past the real program end. MF6 then quits with an "unspecified error".

I tried using HDPatch to change only the frame rate of the file (from 59.97 to 29.97) hoping it would fool MF6 but it still showed the files as being twice as long. So I guess MF6 doesn't calculate program length by reading the frame rate.

Looks like I'll just have to author w/o chapters until Ulead decides to fix this problem.
:mad:

Hi everyone, sorry if I may have posted this in the HD-A3 only thread earlier. This seems like a better place to ask:

Hey guys, I'm having a little trouble with a 2 minute video I need to loop. I think I may not be burning it at the optimum size/biterate for the HD-A3, because it will loop a few times, and the player crashes!

What would you recommend I burn HD media onto a DVD-R as, spec wise?
I am currently burning it at:

2 minute video file
1280x720p60
15mb/s @ Constant Bit Rate
29.97 fps

I'm using DVD Studio Pro 4.1.2 on a mac, and Tayo-Yuden DVD-Rs. Signal is being output to via HDMI to 1080i Toshiba 42HL167 HDTV.

I can burn at pretty much any frame rate/size/data rate, so just let me know what might be a standard. The loop needs to go on for at least 8 hrs.

Thanks for any input!!!

Well, I never heard back from Ulead.

But I came up with a workaround, in case anyone out there wants to author 720P broadcast stuff with chapters, using MF6 Plus. But it's a pain in the a.

After doing a quickstream fix in VideoRedo, I import the new mpeg back into VideoRedo (but any program that can correctly play a 720P HD file should work).

Then I write down the exact times where I want to put a chapter stop. In MF6 I scroll to those points and insert my chapter stops (even though the displayed video is wrong). Those chapter stops never extend beyond the halfway point in the video, so MF6 completes the project w/o errors.

The disc plays fine in my A3 and the chapters are exactly where I wanted them.

To me thats a lot of work just because Ulead doesn't seem to think 720P files are important. I've got to think about whether I want to spend $80 for this.

Anyone have experience with Nero, what are they up to? 8? How does it handle 720P stuff?

I'm having a little trouble with a 2 minute video I need to loop. I think I may not be burning it at the optimum size/biterate for the HD-A3, because it will loop a few times, and the player crashes!

Did you used Compressor preset 720p for HD DVD to render your video?
Did you used DVDSP to program the loop?
Did you used DVDSP to burn your HD DVD at low speed (2.4x)?
If you answered all yes to those questions, the only problem that I see is that your media becomes too hot in the reader (laser concentrating on a tiny space on the media)
You should put your 2 min movie at least 50 times in your DVDSP timeline and then programming a loop at the end of the timeline.
Hope it helps.
Excuse my bad English writing.

Well, I never heard back from Ulead.

But I came up with a workaround
I can't check right now, but I think Videoredo can set chapter marks and export to a file, if MF6+ can import the file then your process will be a lot easier. First, I don't know if MF6+ can import chapter files and second, I don't know if the Videoredo chapter file is in the right format for MF6+, but is worth a try.

Alright I'm going to bet that this has been answerd in this 2000 plus thread, but I'm using MF5 and I can't figure out how to get the music that I put in the backround of the menu's to play constantly and not restart everytime the cursor is moved to select another chapter.

I saw that feature of VideoRedo. It exports chapter stops as a text file. But MF6 can't import them from what I can see.

Got a response from Ulead (Corel):
"We do offer support for troubleshooting errors that are not related to Warranty support. Warranty support covers installation issues and issues that happen immediately after installation. Any error or problem troubleshooting after the program has been working correctly for a period of time would fall under our Priority support program. Priority options can be reviewed at the link below.

Additionally, our Newsgroups and Knowledge base are two great features included in our priority support program. You'll find the Newsgroups can be a great place to ask questions about problems that you have encountered with the software. The Corel Knowledge Base includes articles for resolving problems and learning to use certain program features. I've included links below to the Newsgroups and Knowledge Base page as well.

Customers requiring non-Warranty support for troubleshooting problems may wish to purchase Priority Support. By purchasing support incident packs, you can take advantage of our discounted multiple incident pricing structure. Of course, you also have the option of purchasing single Priority Support incidents as well."

Big help, huh? So I take that as an official "MF6 cant process 720P files from broadcast TV". I'm sure they could come up with a patch if enough customers complained. But judging from the posts here, I guess few people are working with those files.

Did you used Compressor preset 720p for HD DVD to render your video?
Did you used DVDSP to program the loop?
Did you used DVDSP to burn your HD DVD at low speed (2.4x)?
If you answered all yes to those questions, the only problem that I see is that your media becomes too hot in the reader (laser concentrating on a tiny space on the media)
You should put your 2 min movie at least 50 times in your DVDSP timeline and then programming a loop at the end of the timeline.
Hope it helps.
Excuse my bad English writing.

Hi! Thanks for the response, i really appreciate it!!!

Yes, to everything except the low speed. I'm not sure what speed I burned it at exactly, but I will double check that. I think the media becoming too hot could definitely do it, that sounds reasonable. I will try putting the 2 min movie a bunch of times on the timeline to see what happens!

Any advice on bitrate? I'm using 15mb/s at a constant bitrate to be "safe". Can I go higher?

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Any advice on bitrate? I'm using 15mb/s at a constant bitrate to be "safe". Can I go higher?

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My HDV tapes are 25mb/s cbr

I've gone near 30mbps VBR w/o issues with a few Japanese HD broadcast programs.

If I'm following all of the instructions for burning stutter-free discs (DVD+R DL with Nero 8) and still getting stutter with the 360 drive, is it possible my booktype is getting changed somewhere?

I've got a Lite-On LH-20A1H, and I've set the booktype with the BookType 135 utility to "Normal." In Nero I used Xbox compat mode, change the booktype via the recorder menu to "physical" and burn it the HD-DVD folder. In the log it says the Booktype was set to "DVD+R DL." Is this bad?

Video stutters randomly when played back on the 360. It also does this with DVD-R SL discs, so could it be a problem with my encode? I'm using Tivo files into VideoRedo, applying the GOP fix so it loads fine in MovieFactory, HDPatching the bitrate lower for compatibility in MF, and making the folders in MF6+.

Anybody see a glaring error with my workflow?

EDIT: I've compared a file that worked with all my files that do not work. The file that worked had Upper-field first, while all of the files that don't are Lower-field first. I wonder if this is it, and where it is getting introduced. If I just switch the field dominance in MF6, will that work? Or will the "don't convert compliant files" checked box override that. Can you set field dominance in VideoRedo?

EDIT 2: Reversing the field order with a difference program didn't help. There is slight interlacing issues in similar spots when I play the source files back on my computer, but the playback is smooth (it just shows the fast moving parts interlacing). The 360 drive just mangles it, though. Is there something obvious I'm missing? Thanks in advance for any help, I've made like 30 coasters in the last 5 hours and am looking for a new approach.

HD REC

If anyone have any technical details on the new 'HD REC' specification, please post it here.

I'm very interested in the possibilities/limitations on which MPEG-4 (AVC & VC-1) features are honored, and how strict aspects and resolutions are.

Not sure if this has been discussed, but I authored a few discs with Ulead's $20 HD plug-in using HD DVD Advanced & inserted a pop-up chapter menu. It's pretty cool & works like the professional pop-up menu Warner & others use. When you hit 'Top Menu', you get the chapter menu w/a background menu, but while playing the program/movie, pressing 'Menu' brings up the same pop-up menu w/o the background for chapter access while the program/movie is still playing.

I authored my first HD-DVD today.

I have an HV10 and Ulead VideoStudio 11 and I've downloaded all of the updates. I wrote HD-DVD to a DVD-R disk and it mostly worked.

I get some stuttering early in the footage. The original footage on the computer is smooth.

I tried writing another disk at a slow 2x speed and the stuttering seems to be the same.

-Dave

Not sure if this has been discussed, but I authored a few discs with Ulead's $20 HD plug-in using HD DVD Advanced & inserted a pop-up chapter menu. It's pretty cool & works like the professional pop-up menu Warner & others use. When you hit 'Top Menu', you get the chapter menu w/a background menu, but while playing the program/movie, pressing 'Menu' brings up the same pop-up menu w/o the background for chapter access while the program/movie is still playing.

Now that's cool. Enough motivation to get the plug-in, thanks.

Alright I'm going to bet that this has been answerd in this 2000 plus thread, but I'm using MF5 and I can't figure out how to get the music that I put in the backround of the menu's to play constantly and not restart everytime the cursor is moved to select another chapter.

Same question here...

I don't think you can. Ulead's regular menus are also slow, whether it's for HD DVD or standard DVD; it's a pain moving the cursor from item to item. See my post above about using a pop-up style menu, but you need the $20 HD plug-in. It allows you to set your own background image & music, but I haven't tried that. I purposely try to keep menus as simple as possible for faster navigation.

I authored my first HD-DVD today.

I have an HV10 and Ulead VideoStudio 11 and I've downloaded all of the updates. I wrote HD-DVD to a DVD-R disk and it mostly worked.

I get some stuttering early in the footage. The original footage on the computer is smooth.

I tried writing another disk at a slow 2x speed and the stuttering seems to be the same.

-Dave

Hey Dave, which Toshiba player do you have? I have an A3 and I have similar issues with HDV converted to play on my A3.

FWIW, I have found that my problems go away when compressing the video down to 19 Mbps instead of using the full 25 Mbps CBR from the HDV stream. I haven't really done a comparison between 19 Mbps & 25 Mbps to see if I can tell a difference, but my gut feeling is that the difference will be quite small.

I have no problems with single layer discs at 19 Mbps, but I still have issues with dual layer discs (Verbatim DVD+R DL @ 2.4x) with 19 Mbps.....

Has anyone managed to convert their HDV to VC-1 and author a 3xDVD with it using Ulead MF6+ ?

I'm now convinced the stuttering on my discs authored for 360 is from the interlacing in the source files. When I play them back on computer, I see obvious combing in the spots that skip, but it plays smooth. The 360 and PS3 both stutter, though.

Is there something I can do to salvage the source files? Run them through them with Quickstream fix or MPEG2Repair or something?

[QUOTE=x2stew;12457875]Hey Dave, which Toshiba player do you have? I have an A3 and I have similar issues with HDV converted to play on my A3.

I have the XBOX 360 HD-DVD player. I'm pretty much a noob and haven't tried compressing or anything ahead of time. I'm using Ulead VideoStudio and I'm not very familiar with its capabilities yet.

Thanks,
Dave

I can't find the original thread, so sorry about making a new thread, but here goes: The original thread on burning 3x DVDs (Regular DVDs with HD DVD file structure that play as HD in an HD DVD player) talks about using a program that only accepts a very specific codec when importing files, some variant of MPEG. I spent an entire weekend with mencoder trying to figure out how to possibly convert some of my HD home movies and such (encoded into .mkv to save space) in order to make it importable by the program that will make an HD DVD file structure (that one uses Nero to later burn). Are there any other programs as of late that will accept more files? I can turn the .mkv into an .avi, but making it into .mpeg or .mp4 will drop the sound, which is unacceptable. I have succeeded in burning Elephant's Dream, an open source HD movie, but with video only.

So have any easier ways come along? Thanks in advance.

I found a program called super that seems to convert my .mkv into mpeg2 files. For some reason, mf6+ wants to re-encode, but it still cuts out some steps. check it out.

I can't however seem to get it to let me set the bit rate higher than 9600k

Has anyone managed to convert their HDV to VC-1 and author a 3xDVD with it using Ulead MF6+ ?

I am not aware of a vc-1 encoder that is affordable.

That being said, there is no way aat this time to burn a 3xdvd with anything other than mpeg2

Okay I was wrong. Iplyed around wiht the header and found out that it had some goofy setting of like 10237926 bytes, so I changed it to 15000 and set it to 59.97fps (720p)

MF6+ took a bit to load it up, but then it told me that it needed to change the settings to match the file type, and whola! NO RE-ENCODE!!!

I am not aware of a vc-1 encoder that is affordable.

Windows Media Encoder... free :-) (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=112634)

This Microsoft encoder supports nearly every scenario imaginable: offline encoding, live capture & encode, streaming over networks, washing your dishes... It's all there. To encode to WVC1, simply create a Custom Session, go to Properties, Compression tab, hit Edit - and select "WMV9 Advanced Profile" from the video codec list. WME9 also supports command-line encoding via the WMCmd.vbs script (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=111385).


That being said, there is no way aat this time to burn a 3xdvd with anything other than mpeg2

HD REC has just been finalised... so I expect prosumer software is not very far away :-)

Windows Media Encoder... free :-) (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=112634)

This Microsoft encoder supports nearly every scenario imaginable: offline encoding, live capture & encode, streaming over networks, washing your dishes... It's all there. To encode to WVC1, simply create a Custom Session, go to Properties, Compression tab, hit Edit - and select "WMV9 Advanced Profile" from the video codec list. WME9 also supports command-line encoding via the WMCmd.vbs script (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=111385).



HD REC has just been finalised... so I expect prosumer software is not very far away :-)

Don't some computer manufacturers have HD DVD burners as options already? And I heard of an external HD DVD burner coming out soon. Anybody have any more news on this?

Don't some computer manufacturers have HD DVD burners as options already? And I heard of an external HD DVD burner coming out soon. Anybody have any more news on this?

HD REC is a specification that governs how the MPEG-4 video codec types (VC-1 and AVC) can be used for HD DVD-9 authoring... it has nothing to do with HD DVD burners per se.

We are talking about software that will author your $1.00 DVD-9 discs using implementations of VC-1 and AVC - e.g. WMV9 Advanced Profile is an implementation of VC-1, and H.264 is an implementation of AVC. Which will be slightly less expensive than using blank HD DVD-15 discs - and also probably a lot faster to burn!

I too have been authoring HDV onto HD-DVD, but I use Pinnacle DVD studio. I get jitter/stutter in both audio and video on my Toshiba HD-A35 when I use the default bitrate of 25Mbps. When I set the bitrate to 20Mbps, the stutter goes away on all media including DVD+R DL.

I believe the reason for this is Toshiba has capped the decoding bitrate of their players to 20Mbps. They do this, I have heard, so people cannot make HD-DVD on par with the studios to deter illegal copying, etc. This is a bummer in my view beacuse I'd like to transfer all my home movies over to HD-DVD in the highest quality. I have done a little blind study myself with 2 identical discs, one at 25Mbps and one at 20Mbps and I can tell the difference in picture quality, although it is small.
It would be great if someone could come up with some modified firmware to remove the 20Mbps cap. I don't think this would be illegal, although would probably void the warranty.
As a note, I have created HD-DVD encoded with H.264 and anything above 20Mbps stutters as well.

...
As a note, I have created HD-DVD encoded with H.264 and anything above 20Mbps stutters as well.

What prosumer applications let you author using H.264?

And 20Mbps VC-1 would be better in quality than 40Mbps MPEG-2, so I doubt anyone here would be complaining about that restriction!

All of my Panasonic 1920 x 1080 recordings are in 13Mbps AVC - so it definitely wont affect me.

I too have been authoring HDV onto HD-DVD, but I use Pinnacle DVD studio. I get jitter/stutter in both audio and video on my Toshiba HD-A35 when I use the default bitrate of 25Mbps. When I set the bitrate to 20Mbps, the stutter goes away on all media including DVD+R DL.

I believe the reason for this is Toshiba has capped the decoding bitrate of their players to 20Mbps. They do this, I have heard, so people cannot make HD-DVD on par with the studios to deter illegal copying, etc. This is a bummer in my view beacuse I'd like to transfer all my home movies over to HD-DVD in the highest quality. I have done a little blind study myself with 2 identical discs, one at 25Mbps and one at 20Mbps and I can tell the difference in picture quality, although it is small.
It would be great if someone could come up with some modified firmware to remove the 20Mbps cap. I don't think this would be illegal, although would probably void the warranty.
As a note, I have created HD-DVD encoded with H.264 and anything above 20Mbps stutters as well.

I have no idea of where you were told taht, but it is FALSE.

I make Mpeg2 at 25Mbps all the time. Plays flawlessly. They are direct caps from my HV10.

I too have been authoring HDV onto HD-DVD, but I use Pinnacle DVD studio. I get jitter/stutter in both audio and video on my Toshiba HD-A35 when I use the default bitrate of 25Mbps. When I set the bitrate to 20Mbps, the stutter goes away on all media including DVD+R DL.

As a note, I have created HD-DVD encoded with H.264 and anything above 20Mbps stutters as well.

How did you create and author H264 stuff that would play on HD-DVD?

I would really like to re-encode some of my mpeg2 so it would fit on a DVD9 and play as a HD-DVD.

Thanks

Mike T

Can anyone point me to some raw HD footage available on the web? I am trying to have a demo disc for my Realtor to use to demo the theater while selling the house.

I have read through alot of posts, but I do not have the hardware to capture HD footage to make my own. I am looking for some trailers or anything along those lines that can give about 30 minute loop of cool stuff.

I am just trying to avoid buying an HD-DVD to leave behind with the Realtor. It maybe the easier route though.

Feel free to PM me any links you may know of.

Thanks in advance

How did you create and author H264 stuff that would play on HD-DVD?

I would really like to re-encode some of my mpeg2 so it would fit on a DVD9 and play as a HD-DVD.

Thanks

Mike T

Yeah - like all of those 200-odd Blu-ray MPEG-2 titles :-)

I have no idea of where you were told taht, but it is FALSE.

I make Mpeg2 at 25Mbps all the time. Plays flawlessly. They are direct caps from my HV10.

nakedeye, what player do you have? clockworkman has an A35, and I have an A3 and we have problems with 25 Mbps CBR straight from HDV. I also took multiple discs to Best Buy and had problems with their demo A30. The same discs, however, had no problems at Circuit City on their demo A20.... I think Toshiba has screwed us on the 3rd generation of players...

I've been playing around with bitrates, and I have problems with 24 Mbps CBR also, but I have no problems with 19 Mbps CBR, or 18 Mbps VBR avg (24 Mbps max). I'm using the MainConcept MPEG2 encoder within Vegas, for what its worth.

One other interesting thing I've found in the last few days is that the latest version of Nero Vision does support authoring MPEG4 AVC HD-DVD. It will even convert our MPEG2 HDV transport stream files to MPEG4 AVC. It is, however, very buggy and doesn't seem to like anything (i.e. crashes) that I render out of Vegas. But it will accept the raw untouched "just captured" m2t files.... The biggest problem I have with the Nero Vision MPEG4 encoder is you can't constrain the VBR max bitrate, and it doesn't support CBR. My ~1 hour project @ 15Mbps VBR was estimated to be ~7GB, but the HDDVD_TS folder that Nero Vision created was 11GB - way too big to fit on a DVD+R DL. Hopefully Nero will fix these issues and then we'll have an affordable MPEG4 HD-DVD authoring tool.

I've got an HD-A1. I guess I should have clarified!

I stay away from Nero, I use Ulead.

I've got an HD-A1. I guess I should have clarified!

I stay away from Nero, I use Ulead.
By your first response to my post, I was predicting that you had this player. This explains why you have no problems playing any bitrate. The A1 is a 1st generation (older) unit that was produced before the new bitrate caps. Some A2's will work as well although I wouldn't update to the newest firmware. My HD-A35 is Gen3, and I believe suffers from these restrictions.

I think I'll hit up ebay for some HD-A1 listings.

You won't be disappointed. built like a tank, and the audio dac's blow away some high end processors

Ok, I did a little more testing trying to figure out this skipping deal on my HD-A35 with homemade 25Mbps (from HDV) HD-DVD's.

Here are the results.

media(Verbatim)..........bitrate...................result
DVD-R.......................25Mbps..............no skipping!
DVDRW......................25Mbps..............skipping
DVD+R DL...................25Mbps..............skipping
DVD+R DL (booktype.....25Mbps..............skipping
set to DVD-R)
All media....................20Mbps.............no skipping!

What this data means other than a bunch of $'s in the trash can , I do not know.:confused:

I think you made a typo. You can't to my knowledge set the book type to DVD-R.

Also what DL discs are you using? Have you done a scan of the disc after it is burnt? Most people only go with the Verb's MIS. I have strangly had good luck with some el cheapo Rico's, but I think it's just a good batch.

Ok, I did a little more testing trying to figure out this skipping deal on my HD-A35 with homemade 25Mbps (from HDV) HD-DVD's.

Here are the results.

media(Verbatim)..........bitrate...................result
DVD-R.......................25Mbps..............no skipping!
DVDRW......................25Mbps..............skipping
DVD+R DL...................25Mbps..............skipping
DVD+R DL (booktype.....25Mbps..............skipping
set to DVD-R)
All media....................20Mbps.............no skipping!

What this data means other than a bunch of $'s in the trash can , I do not know.:confused:

clockworkman, are you using 20 Mbps VBR avg or 20 Mbps CBR? Also, are you letting Ulead re-encode 25 Mbps HDV to 20 Mbps or are you doing it before you import into MF6+? If you're doing it before MF6+, what encoder are you using? I'm just curious what you've found produces the best quality and least degradation of the original HDV.

I think you made a typo. You can't to my knowledge set the book type to DVD-R.

Thanks...I can see how you might think that but my post was correct. I was able to set the booktype of the DVD+R DL to DVD-R. I was attempting to get the A35 to "see" the disc as a DVD-R DL, because the DVD-R worked without skipping. As a side note, the booktype of DVD-R and DVD-R DL are identical.

Thanks...I can see how you might think that but my post was correct. I was able to set the booktype of the DVD+R DL to DVD-R. I was attempting to get the A35 to "see" the disc as a DVD-R DL, because the DVD-R worked without skipping. As a side note, the booktype of DVD-R and DVD-R DL are identical.

Okay then, have you tried both booktypes of DVD+R DL and DVD-Rom?

clockworkman, are you using 20 Mbps VBR avg or 20 Mbps CBR? Also, are you letting Ulead re-encode 25 Mbps HDV to 20 Mbps or are you doing it before you import into MF6+? If you're doing it before MF6+, what encoder are you using? I'm just curious what you've found produces the best quality and least degradation of the original HDV.

I use Pinnacle DVD Studio and there is an option to change the bitrate by 1Mbps increments. So, naturally, I burned a disc at 24 Mbps, 23 Mbps, 22 Mbps, 21 Mbps, and 20 Mbps. I stopped at 20 becuase it played fine. I'm not sure if it's CBR or VBR, but the encoding is very fast.

I did sort of a blind study by having my wife randomly insert the 20Mbps and 25Mbps HD-DVDs in the HD-A35. The result; I can tell the difference in quality but it is pretty small.

I am seeing quite a few posts on different sites of people with their Toshiba A30's, A3's, and A35's confused as to why they get skipping on homemade HD-DVD's. I orginally though it might by the media or my method or my burner but too many people has the same issue. I have tried to contact Toshiba but no word yet.

I did download the Ulead DVD Movie Factory trial. Only did one test so far. Under settings I chose HD-1920 (VBR 25Mbps) then changed the res to 1440x1080. I am confused as to why it defaults to "Lower Field first" in the field type. Isn't HDV upper field? Anyway, that disc skipped too.

I was able to set the booktype of the DVD+R DL to DVD-R.
Clockworkman...
Don't know if you've tried this yet... so I'll repost:
I use: VideoRedo TV Suite (current update version) to create the HD Mpeg file, Ulead Movie Factory 5.3xx to author the disk image, Nero Burning ROM 7 to burn, SAMSUNG SH-S203B DVD Burner, play on Toshiba HD-A2.

Always had stutter problems with Verbatim DVD+R discs until setting the booktype to "Physical Disc". Last night I burned a 7GB 1080i movie to a Verbatim 8.5 GB DVD+R DL (locked the burn @ 2.4X) and it ran perfectly on my HD-A2. It's the first time I didn't have any stutter problems with 1080i content on a +R disc.
The only thing I did differently from my past attempts was to set the booktype to "Physical Disc". :D

Since setting the booktype to "Physical Disc", every disc I've burned so far has played back perfectly- bitrate was 18Mbps- which did skip when the booktype was set at anything other than "Physical Disc".
Hope this helps!

Just an FYI here is what I use

HDV footage taken into my PC Via IEEE1394
Convert M2T files to MPEG via VideoRedo
Use HDPatch to change BitRate header below 18000
MF6+ (used to use 5+) takes in the MPEG as 1440X1080i 25Mbs CBR
Burn with Nero7 (Disc type set to physical)
Whola!

Plays in my 2.4 HD-A1 NP

Alright...

I have successfully turned my MKV file DIRECTLY into a compliant MPEG2 with 25Mbs VBR

I have every freaking codec on the planet installed, but most inportantly i have CCP taken from here (i had to just ignore the whole commie thing) http://www.cccp-project.net/
After that I was able to make a simple AVIsynth script by just pointing it to my file eg. DirectShowSource("C:\Documents and Settings\Jaret\My Documents\Downloads\Shrek.mkv",fps=23.9850141631509,audio=true)

After That I used QuEnc to load the script and set the paramaters and WHOLA

It spit out a compliant MPEG2 File that MF6+ (also 5+) can just pop in!

Alright...

I have successfully turned my MKV file DIRECTLY into a compliant MPEG2 with 25Mbs VBR

I have every freaking codec on the planet installed, but most inportantly i have CCP taken from here (i had to just ignore the whole commie thing) http://www.cccp-project.net/
After that I was able to make a simple AVIsynth script by just pointing it to my file eg. DirectShowSource("C:\Documents and Settings\Jaret\My Documents\Downloads\Shrek.mkv",fps=23.9850141631509,audio=true)

After That I used QuEnc to load the script and set the paramaters and WHOLA

It spit out a compliant MPEG2 File that MF6+ (also 5+) can just pop in!


Nakedeye,

Would you mind detailing your steps, I'd like to try this as well.
Thanks

EDIT: Ooops, got it to work after restarting once commie thing was installed. Thanks for the info!

Thanks

Make sure that you set the header with videoredo to some sort of compliant HD spec, then set the EVO file back before you burn!

It should only take about 1-2 minutes to make the HD DVD files sets

What do you think about this information?

engadgethd.com/2007/12/20/nero-8-update-brings-blu-ray-authoring-mini-hd-dvd-support

Not really understand whether mini HD-DVD is the same as HD-REC?
What kind of compression it implies?

clockworkman, are you using 20 Mbps VBR avg or 20 Mbps CBR? Also, are you letting Ulead re-encode 25 Mbps HDV to 20 Mbps or are you doing it before you import into MF6+? If you're doing it before MF6+, what encoder are you using? I'm just curious what you've found produces the best quality and least degradation of the original HDV.
hi all again,
just noticed comments about the mf6 triggers for a re encode.
What are the minimum OR maximum bitrate settings to prevent MF6 to reencode albeit the "not convert compliant files" may be already selected.
No one would wish to reencode with files already compliant.
Thanks.

A friend of mine has problems getting homebrew HD content to work with +R DL disks on his EP-30 (EU version of the A-30). DVD-R and DVD-RW works perfectly fine, but +R DL gives the 'This disk of no DVD format' message. He tried everything: changing booktype, adding VIDEO_TS, empty, with dummy file and even with small DVD content, but nothing works.
Are there any more people with this problem or anybody found a work-around?

A friend of mine has problems getting homebrew HD content to work with +R DL disks on his EP-30 (EU version of the A-30). DVD-R and DVD-RW works perfectly fine, but +R DL gives the 'This disk of no DVD format' message. He tried everything: changing booktype, adding VIDEO_TS, empty, with dummy file and even with small DVD content, but nothing works.
Are there any more people with this problem or anybody found a work-around?


Have him post here. too hard to figure out third party

hi all again,
just noticed comments about the mf6 triggers for a re encode.
What are the minimum OR maximum bitrate settings to prevent MF6 to reencode albeit the "not convert compliant files" may be already selected.
No one would wish to reencode with files already compliant.
Thanks.


I set my header to 1920X1080 (or 1440X1080) with the frame rate of 29.97(1080i)

I set bit rate to 18000.

Of course this is just the first header with hd patch


Remember to edit your EVO file before burn!

Alright...

I have successfully turned my MKV file DIRECTLY into a compliant MPEG2 with 25Mbs VBR

I have every freaking codec on the planet installed, but most inportantly i have CCP taken from here (i had to just ignore the whole commie thing) http://www.cccp-project.net/
After that I was able to make a simple AVIsynth script by just pointing it to my file eg. DirectShowSource("C:\Documents and Settings\Jaret\My Documents\Downloads\Shrek.mkv",fps=23.9850141631509,audio=true)

After That I used QuEnc to load the script and set the paramaters and WHOLA

It spit out a compliant MPEG2 File that MF6+ (also 5+) can just pop in!

Yes. Please can you outline the steps in detail please? I really don't want to read back through this whole thread! Looking at your example I think we're probably trying to work with the same "movie", shrek the halls?

I tried using SUPER but the max bitrate is very low obviously. Personally I don't give a rat's patootie about bitrate if it looks good, but more is better... Right? :D

Have him post here. too hard to figure out third party

The 1st stage is just to look for other people that either have the same problem or not with the 3rd gen Toshiba players. Depending on that we can see how to proceed.

Just an FYI here is what I use

HDV footage taken into my PC Via IEEE1394
Convert M2T files to MPEG via VideoRedo
Use HDPatch to change BitRate header below 18000
MF6+ (used to use 5+) takes in the MPEG as 1440X1080i 25Mbs CBR
Burn with Nero7 (Disc type set to physical)
Whola!

Plays in my 2.4 HD-A1 NP

nakedeye, I use the exact same workflow as you with the exception that I use Wombles MPEG Video Wizard DVD to convert the audio to DD 5.1 Bitstream. The audio really pops when converted to DD 5.1. I then send the finished MPEG 2 PRogram stream to Ulead 6+ then nero.

Anybody knows if there is any program that can encode/author a 24P instead of 30P/60i

also any that can import 5.1 PCM track ?

Woo Hoo! I got one 100% perfect finally after 4 attempts. Source file was an MKV. First 2 were encoded to mpg using SUPER. One of which the Audio was out of sync badly and the other one there was left and center audio channels and nothing else, grr...

Next I tried nakedeye's procedure above using avisynth and QuEnc to encode. I was able to encode a 25Mb/s file but again the audio channels were screwed up. Ie center was coming out the right channel, no center at all etc. I also realized that 25Mb/s was totally un-necessary for an HDTV rip and all that it accomplished was to take 3 hours to encode 21 minutes of video on my computer.

So I did some reading on avisynth and it turns out mpeg audio AC3 has different channel ordering than other formats AC3 encoding. *shrug* After further head scratching and reading, I came up with the following script:

video=DirectShowSource("C:\movie.mkv",fps=23.9850141631509,audio=false)
audio=DirectShowSource("C:\movie.mkv",video=false,audio=true)
surround=GetChannel(audio,1,3,2,5,6,4)
AudioDub(video, surround)

I encoded this one at 15Mb/s with 2 pass-encoding using QuEnc, ran it through HD Patch, Movie Factory 5, patched the EVO files, and then burned with nero 7. Remember to check the advanced settings in QuEnc to select AC3 audio as it defaults to MP2!!

It worked! Audio and video in perfect sync along with the channels being setup exactly right! Woo Hoo!

A couple notes...

1. I suggest doing a trial encode with a super low bitrate to test your audio.
2. Encoding at a bitrate higher than the source does nothing expect take more time to cross code. You can use SUPER to determine the bitrate of the source file.

As a follow up Keith, I would say that your problems were caused by your set up. Not trying to knock it, but from what I've gathered, we were working with the same source. On my set up, I never had any audio issues, nor did it take any longer than 30 minutes to encode at 25 Mbps.

I'm going to bet that part of it is your cpu. I have an AMD 4400+ X2. 2 Gb Ram

Other than that, it may be some codec issues involved.

Good job on that script though!

Oh yeah no doubt there in the computer setup area.. I'm working with some old stuff...

Athlon XP 2800+ 512 MB ram..

It's long passed time to upgrade... Only thing standing in my way is HD DVD! Been spending too much money on movies and such to build a new machine. :D

Are there any programs on the market (regardless of price) that would allow me to take a h264 or a vc1 encode and make it into a HD DVD without further converting? Lets say I have a blu ray disc that I want to make into a HD DVD and I just want to take the video and one audio choice and make it into a HD DVD

Are there any programs on the market (regardless of price) that would allow me to take a h264 or a vc1 encode and make it into a HD DVD without further converting? Lets say I have a blu ray disc that I want to make into a HD DVD and I just want to take the video and one audio choice and make it into a HD DVD

Allegedly Nero Vision 8 has the capability to do AVC (H.264).

Can anyone else confirm this?


But since VC-1 is currently more efficient than the free AVC encoders out there I would prefer software where I can use VC-1 artifacts.

Other than Scenarist, is there a way to do this yet - can Nero Vision import VC-1 clips (without needing to transcode them)?

Allegedly Nero Vision 8 has the capability to do AVC (H.264).

Can anyone else confirm this?


But since VC-1 is currently more efficient than the free AVC encoders out there I would prefer software where I can use VC-1 artifacts.

Other than Scenarist, is there a way to do this yet - can Nero Vision import VC-1 clips (without needing to transcode them)?

it encodes to to h264 i though, but it wont except an already made h264.

it encodes to to h264 i though, but it wont except an already made h264.

OK, so is the Nero h.264 encoder up to scratch? I.e. is it better than x264?

(note: it's known as h.264 not h264 :-p)

OK, so is the Nero h.264 encoder up to scratch? I.e. is it better than x264?

(note: it's known as h.264 not h264 :-p)

If I call it h264 do you know what I mean? I honestly have no clue how good the nero encoder is. I didn't try it out as I am looking for a way to take a h264 stream I already have and make a hd dvd out of it with out re encoding

Woo Hoo! I got one 100% perfect finally after 4 attempts. Source file was an MKV. First 2 were encoded to mpg using SUPER. One of which the Audio was out of sync badly and the other one there was left and center audio channels and nothing else, grr...

Next I tried nakedeye's procedure above using avisynth and QuEnc to encode. I was able to encode a 25Mb/s file but again the audio channels were screwed up. Ie center was coming out the right channel, no center at all etc. I also realized that 25Mb/s was totally un-necessary for an HDTV rip and all that it accomplished was to take 3 hours to encode 21 minutes of video on my computer.

So I did some reading on avisynth and it turns out mpeg audio AC3 has different channel ordering than other formats AC3 encoding. *shrug* After further head scratching and reading, I came up with the following script:

video=DirectShowSource("C:\movie.mkv",fps=23.9850141631509,audio=false)
audio=DirectShowSource("C:\movie.mkv",video=false,audio=true)
surround=GetChannel(audio,1,3,2,5,6,4)
AudioDub(video, surround)

I encoded this one at 15Mb/s with 2 pass-encoding using QuEnc, ran it through HD Patch, Movie Factory 5, patched the EVO files, and then burned with nero 7. Remember to check the advanced settings in QuEnc to select AC3 audio as it defaults to MP2!!

It worked! Audio and video in perfect sync along with the channels being setup exactly right! Woo Hoo!

A couple notes...

1. I suggest doing a trial encode with a super low bitrate to test your audio.
2. Encoding at a bitrate higher than the source does nothing expect take more time to cross code. You can use SUPER to determine the bitrate of the source file.

just trying your script here and i'm getting this error
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/vanboozin/Image1.jpg
???

you have a codec issue i bet

Wouldn't be easier to use hcenc to encode the video and leave the audio untouched. Just mux the video togeather with with the audio that is how I would do it.

...just a follow up to my previous post. A finally got an HDV to HD-DVD 25Mbps to work without skipping. Turns out I had to use a DVD-R DL rather than a DVD+R DL. So for anyone with a 3rd Generation Toshiba HD-DVD player (a3, a30, a35) here is what works WITHOUT SKIPPING.

HDV @ or below 20Mbps -------> DVD-R, DVD+RW, DVD-RW, DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL

Native HDV (25Mbps) --------> DVD-R, DVD-R DL

I have tried many different types of media & booktypes. Please note that Generation 1&2 Toshiba HD-DVD players (a1, a2, a20, ax1, etc.) work fine with 25Mbps HDV even on DVD+R DL media. Seems us 3rd Gen owners are getting screwed;) I contacted Toshiba on the issue and they responded by saying none of their HD-DVD players are guaranteed to work with +media.

A friend of mine has problems getting homebrew HD content to work with +R DL disks on his EP-30 (EU version of the A-30). DVD-R and DVD-RW works perfectly fine, but +R DL gives the 'This disk of no DVD format' message. He tried everything: changing booktype, adding VIDEO_TS, empty, with dummy file and even with small DVD content, but nothing works.
Are there any more people with this problem or anybody found a work-around?

In the meantime I have also an EP-30 and after some testing I found that it won't play any HD content from any + disk, I tested +RW and +R DL and +R DL with booktype changed to -ROM. However, the same content plays happily from -R disks. There surely must be more people with this problem ???

<edit>I forgot to mention, my disks are in Advanced Content mode</edit>

I have made my first HD dvd using footage from an HV20 camcorder. Plays beautifully! I also have found the HD dvd cases.

I had to modify a regular dvd cover to print and put in there. Anyone found ready made, INKJET printable HD dvd covers online? (You haven't TRUELY authored an HD dvd unless you have also made a professional looking cover, right?) I can only find laser HD dvd covers........

I have made my first HD dvd using footage from an HV20 camcorder. Plays beautifully! I also have found the HD dvd cases.

I had to modify a regular dvd cover to print and put in there. Anyone found ready made, INKJET printable HD dvd covers online? (You haven't TRUELY authored an HD dvd unless you have also made a professional looking cover, right?) I can only find laser HD dvd covers........

Can you list everything you did to have success?

I have an HV20 and I've done nothing but make coasters... about 20 of them. I am building a new computer just to ease the burden on the hardware and hope it is the answer. My old burner may be the reason, a 5 year old i/o magic PoS.

My Nero 6 retail does not offer UDF 2.5 as an option for burning, only 2.0 and 2.1. Does anyone have a solution for this?

My Nero 6 retail does not offer UDF 2.5 as an option for burning, only 2.0 and 2.1. Does anyone have a solution for this?
I believe you can use Xbox compatibility as a UDF setting and will be OK... that is what I use.

I have upgraded my video card, dvd recorder and added 1.5 gigabytes of ram to an xp media center pc. I am using pinnacle 11 ultimate ONLY. I was amazed that I could make an HD dvd so easily without having to resort to using several different software programs for seperate tasks.

Initially, I had one of my settings wrong and I ended up with a window boxed 16 by 9 image. I switched to 1080 60i, I believe, and my next attempt was perfect.

I have not tried doing anything in cinema mode- the alledged 24p option on the camera. I don't know how well pinnacle would handle it and am so happy with what I have seen thus far, am not inclined to play with it right away.

What do you guys recommend for splitting mpeg2 files that are too big for a single dual layer?

What do you guys recommend for splitting mpeg2 files that are too big for a single dual layer?

tsspiltter

I just recorded TS streams off of my DVR. What would be the easiest method to convert it so I can burn it onto DVD-R DL? About how much 1080p video can be on a DL DVD? How about 720p?

What do you guys recommend for splitting mpeg2 files that are too big for a single dual layer?

VideoRedo works great for that. You can pick a logical place to split, in the fade between scenes, for example. Also terrific for removing commercials from OTA HD recordings.

I followed the guide sofar and succeeded creating a DVD with HD-DVD content. Windows Vista recognises the DVD as an HD-DVD.

My HD-DVD Player (Toshiba EP-30) reads the disc, the device's display shows "HD DVD" but a second or so afterwards the "This Disc is not DVD Format" error message appears. It's the European version of the player, sold in Germany. I have the current firmware installed, which is v1.3

I have used all recommended setting and the DVD+R Discs I used ran fine with the player if "normal" DVD content is used. Does anyone else suffer this problem or know how to solve it?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Did it burn as DVD ROM or DVD+R? Bitsetting can make a difference. Also some brands of media work well and others not so well. Do you have access to another player? A friend's or one in a store for a quick test?

Thanks for the quick answer. I tried both book types: "DVD-ROM" und "Physical Disc Drive". The brand of media should work fine, as regular DVD play well with them.
Unfortunately, I don't have access to any other HD-DVD equipment.
BTW: Can you recommend a software HD-DVD player which can playback HD-DVDs burnt to regular DVDs?

Thanks for the quick answer. I tried both book types: "DVD-ROM" und "Physical Disc Drive". The brand of media should work fine, as regular DVD play well with them.
Unfortunately, I don't have access to any other HD-DVD equipment.
BTW: Can you recommend a software HD-DVD player which can playback HD-DVDs burnt to regular DVDs?

Cyberlink Power DVD Ultra. But beyond the software, you'll need a stout PC, an HD DVD drive, (most use the Xbox 360 add-on,) and either an HDCP compliant video card and display or a copy of AnyDVD HD.

@slingsh0t99
I posted this problem already 3 times, but nobody cared to respond. I have tried everything, and nothing works, so forget about using + media for HD content with the ep-30. However, - media should work fine.

It looks like Nero 8 has finally added HD-DVD authoring with AVC support (latest update). I've only done a few very minimal tests, but the Mini HD-DVD option in Nero Vision allows you to author for DVD-5/9 and gives the choice of using MPEG4 (AVC). High quality transcoding will probably take a long time, but I did a short test using AVC transcoding and the disc played on my HD-A2. I'll probably do more testing over the next few days and post my results here. This is pretty big news folks...

It looks like Nero 8 has finally added HD-DVD authoring with AVC support (latest update). I've only done a few very minimal tests, but the Mini HD-DVD option in Nero Vision allows you to author for DVD-5/9 and gives the choice of using MPEG4 (AVC). High quality transcoding will probably take a long time, but I did a short test using AVC transcoding and the disc played on my HD-A2. I'll probably do more testing over the next few days and post my results here. This is pretty big news folks...


I agree it would be big news, but I don't belive you can take your h.264 files and not have nero re-encode it. I think it will always use it's own AVC encoder even if it is compliant

I agree it would be big news, but I don't belive you can take your h.264 files and not have nero re-encode it. I think it will always use it's own AVC encoder even if it is compliant
I was wondering about that - anyone tried yet?

I was wondering about that - anyone tried yet?

I have. It reencodes everything. :(

I have. It reencodes everything. :(
Well, at the very least we have a new tool to author AVC HD-DVD on DVD5/9. I'm not sure how good the Nero encoder is, but there is at least a little flexibility in the configuration (one/two pass, custom bitrate, etc.).

It looks like Nero 8 has finally added HD-DVD authoring with AVC support (latest update).
Is this a feature of the 'Nero Blu-ray HD DVD Video Plug-in' or of Nero 8 Ultra? I want to try before I buy, but the Plug-in doesn't allow that.

Is this a feature of the 'Nero Blu-ray HD DVD Video Plug-in' or of Nero 8 Ultra? I want to try before I buy, but the Plug-in doesn't allow that.
I believe it's a combination of both, and therefore not available for "try before you buy". I already had the Plug-in, but I'm using the trial version of Nero 8.

I have a title thats H264. If I demux it with EVOdemux, Vision will not open the video stream, but if I just remux it, Vision will use it. I still have to use a separate AC3 audio file for it though.

I have a title thats H264. If I demux it with EVOdemux, Vision will not open the video stream, but if I just remux it, Vision will use it. I still have to use a separate AC3 audio file for it though.
Does Vision re-encode (transcode), or is the processing in Vision very quick?

Does Vision re-encode (transcode), or is the processing in Vision very quick?
Nero always re-encodes everything, and is very slow.

I've a 67 minutes clip that is 8 GB. I've using the highest available quality settings and two passes. Nero says it needs 34 hours to transcode the file.

Also, it crashes after 10 minutes.
Edit:
Actually, what I was talking about was for creating AVCHD files. I'm retrying with creating a HD DVD folder, using only 1 pass, and lowering the quality to Standard (15000000 bps). It now says it will take 6 hours to transcode. It will be interesting to see if this actually works.

I'm using a 2.67 GHz Core2 CPU with 3 GB of Ram, btw.

Update: This also crashes after about 10 minutes with a memory error.

I've a 67 minutes clip that is 8 GB. I've using the highest available quality settings and two passes. Nero says it needs 34 hours to transcode the file.

Also, it crashes after 10 minutes.
Edit:
Actually, what I was talking about was for creating AVCHD files. I'm retrying with creating a HD DVD folder, using only 1 pass, and lowering the quality to Standard (15000000 bps). It now says it will take 6 hours to transcode. It will be interesting to see if this actually works.

I'm using a 2.67 GHz Core2 CPU with 3 GB of Ram, btw.

Update: This also crashes after about 10 minutes with a memory error.

Hi all,

Tried Nero mini HD-DVD in AVCHD format.

Mixed material, 3 minute slide show, 30 second RAW uncompressed 1920x1080p video, 20 minutes HDV2 from Canon XH-A1 all with AC3 audio.
It took 6h 20m to disc out. Result: Video rate 1.8 to 28k, stutters on both PC and A1 player. All high frequency data gone. This format might be right for AVCHD camcorder owners since they may be able to edit and author in native format.

Witek.

Hi all,

Tried Nero mini HD-DVD in AVCHD format.

Mixed material, 3 minute slide show, 30 second RAW uncompressed 1920x1080p video, 20 minutes HDV2 from Canon XH-A1 all with AC3 audio.
It took 6h 20m to disc out. Result: Video rate 1.8 to 28k, stutters on both PC and A1 player. All high frequency data gone. This format might be right for AVCHD camcorder owners since they may be able to edit and author in native format.

Witek.

This is distressing. I ordered Nero specifically for this task. It arrives tomorrow. I am very interested to know if there are any work arounds. I'm recording some of the bowl games and would really like to archive them on DVD.

so i have an mkv file, any advice on how to get it to a mpeg2 file?

so i have an mkv file, any advice on how to get it to a mpeg2 file?

hcenc (free) or procoder (payware)

This is distressing. I ordered Nero specifically for this task. It arrives tomorrow. I am very interested to know if there are any work arounds. I'm recording some of the bowl games and would really like to archive them on DVD.

This is not Nero's fault. Slow encoding and loss of high frequency is a problem with AVCHD codec. I get same results with DMF6+ and their implementation of AVCHD. On a positive note Nero Vision offers some advanced menu editing. They do not offer presets or templates that would take advantage of intelligent encoding (no encoding at all) with compliant material.

Witek.

I am going to try out Nero for some footage from my vacation. I have the Sony HDR-SR5 and I used FCE to edit. I converted it into a quicktime movie and 25 minutes turned into 17 gigs! Hopefully it will compress enough to fit onto a sl dvd. Didn't know it was such a pain to author avc hd. Hopefully it will be ready for prime time soon!

I am going to try out Nero for some footage from my vacation. I have the Sony HDR-SR5 and I used FCE to edit. I converted it into a quicktime movie and 25 minutes turned into 17 gigs! Hopefully it will compress enough to fit onto a sl dvd. Didn't know it was such a pain to author avc hd. Hopefully it will be ready for prime time soon!


I think you would be better with DVD Studio Pro (http://www.amazon.com/Apple-DVD-Studio-Pro-Mac/dp/B0009319M6******pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1199285956&sr=1-3) then Nero.

The latest Toshiba Laptop Cosmio G40 is equiped with Toshiba DVD Movie Writer software which is reported to support HD DVD REC option. Did somebody try this software? Or it is working only with Toshiba HD DVD drives? It would be nice to hear the owners of Cosmio G40 on this issue.

I believe it's a combination of both, and therefore not available for "try before you buy". I already had the Plug-in, but I'm using the trial version of Nero 8.

I just recieved Nero 8. I haven't had much time to play with it but it does offer AVCHD. Is this the same thing has a mini HD DVD or do I still need the plug-in?

Is it possible to capture High Definition video from a Blu Ray player onto your computer, then burn it as a HD DVD file onto media?

Thus converting Blu Ray to HD DVD?????

Is it possible to capture High Definition video from a Blu Ray player onto your computer, then burn it as a HD DVD file onto media?

Thus converting Blu Ray to HD DVD?????
Short answer is yes. Long answer is that you have to "rip" the BD disc with something like AnyDVD-HD, then the fun begins. You need huge amounts of disc space, lots of software and lots of time. The resulting HD-DVD will likely have DD only and picture quality can be decent. There's currently no way to burn a HD-DVD though, only BD. You can reduce the resolution and try to burn a HD-DVD+R, results are mixed.

I have Nero 8, I haven't purchased the HD DVD plugin yet but it appears that minimum resolution is 1020x1400.

I have multiple programs recorded at 720P. Not only would I prefer to record in the original resolution, I would even like the option to drop the frame rate to 30 or 24 to shrink the file.

Is this posible, affordable, reasonable?

Is this worthy of it's own thread? I really have a hard time keeping up with these long threads.

I have Nero 8, I haven't purchased the HD DVD plugin yet but it appears that minimum resolution is 1020x1400.

I have multiple programs recorded at 720P. Not only would I prefer to record in the original resolution, I would even like the option to drop the frame rate to 30 or 24 to shrink the file.

Is this posible, affordable, reasonable?

Is this worthy of it's own thread? I really have a hard time keeping up with these long threads.
For an HD-DVD disc, the options are 1920x1080 and 1440x1080. Nero will re-encode anyhow, so no need to use 720. If your files are MPEG2, Nero might handle them well enough. I haven't tried the Nero MPEG4AVC encoder yet, but that might produce good results as well.

Hi!

I have already tried burning HD-DVD projects to regular DVD+R discs, but when I playback these discs on my HD-DVD player, the video and the audio stutter. I believe this is because I used DVD+R discs and not DVD-R discs, am I correct?

Also, I would like to know if there would be any problems if I burnt to DVD+R DL discs.

Thank you!!

Hi!

I have already tried burning HD-DVD projects to regular DVD+R discs, but when I playback these discs on my HD-DVD player, the video and the audio stutter. I believe this is because I used DVD+R discs and not DVD-R discs, am I correct?

Also, I would like to know if there would be any problems if I burnt to DVD+R DL discs.

Thank you!!

This has been covered numerous times. You have to make sure the book type setting when you burn is "Physical Disc Type", not "DVD-ROM" as Nero (and other burners) so often default to.

It's possible your burner does not allow changing the book type bit setting.

Also, some people with A3's still experience stuttering.

Chris

I have Nero 8, I haven't purchased the HD DVD plugin yet but it appears that minimum resolution is 1020x1400.

I have multiple programs recorded at 720P. Not only would I prefer to record in the original resolution, I would even like the option to drop the frame rate to 30 or 24 to shrink the file.

Is this posible, affordable, reasonable?

Is this worthy of it's own thread? I really have a hard time keeping up with these long threads.

If you use HDPatch and ULead like the guide describes, you keep the video untouched and just "trick" ulead into thinking the video is 1080i. Works perfectly. I've authored several 720P HD-DVDs.

Chris

If you use HDPatch and ULead like the guide describes, you keep the video untouched and just "trick" ulead into thinking the video is 1080i. Works perfectly. I've authored several 720P HD-DVDs.

Chris


I actually want to change my capture from MPEG2 to MPEG4 to save space. I also don't want to uprez to 1080 for the same reason.

I'm backing up recorded 720P television. 2 hours is about 15 GB before editing commercials. Removing the commercials will get me close to DVD DL without reencoding but not quite.

I'm afraid that from what I am reading it looks like what I need is not available right now. I really want one program that will do everything I want with minimal hassle.

I actually want to change my capture from MPEG2 to MPEG4 to save space. I also don't want to uprez to 1080 for the same reason.

I'm backing up recorded 720P television. 2 hours is about 15 GB before editing commercials. Removing the commercials will get me close to DVD DL without reencoding but not quite.

I'm afraid that from what I am reading it looks like what I need is not available right now. I really want one program that will do everything I want with minimal hassle.

Just so you know, the "tricking" into 1080i doesn't change the video at all. It just changes mpg header so ULead doesn't attempt to re-encode the video.

I personally don't like re-encoding. Takes a long time and there is the potential for video quality loss. The thing I love about this hd-dvd authoring process is that it leaves the original MPG2 file video/audio untouched.

Chris

I finally converted one of my 720p recordings to 3x DVD using Nero.

Converting from MPEG2 to MPEG 4 did not save any appreciable space I assume this is because I was forced to increase resolution by the software.

I was really hoping to get about 80 minutes onto one DL disc.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

With current events, I am seriously thinking about getting rid of the HD DVD player, hooking a small computer to the TV using it as a DVR and just backing up what I want to keep as a plain DIVX.

Of course, if Toshiba would give me HD DIVX playback, I would probably leave my computer where it is and replace one other DVD player with an A3.

I finally converted one of my 720p recordings to 3x DVD using Nero.

Converting from MPEG2 to MPEG 4 did not save any appreciable space I assume this is because I was forced to increase resolution by the software.
That, plus the fact that Nero forces the same bitrate for MPEG2 and MPEG4.

Ulead doesn't even offer MPEG4. That leaves Pinnacle, which I haven't tried yet, but I'm guessing it's MPEG2 also.

I tried the hdpatch trick and imported the 720P recording into Ulead VideStudio 11 plus and it still wanted to recode the video. I downloaded the trial for Ulead MovieStudio plus version 6 and imported a video recorded in 720p and did not do anything with HDPatch and Ulead MovieFactory did not recode the video. I burned the file to DVD-R using the program and it played fine on my toshiba A30.

If I buy Movifactory 6 plus, do I still need to purchase the HD pack plugin?

I have a question regarding NEro 8 and the new update that allows making miniHD DVD's. I recorded the movie The Goonies off of HDNET Movies on Dish and it's about 6.20 gigs. When put it into my miniHD DVD project, it makes it into almost 12gigs! I thought it should remain the same, thus being able to fit it on a dual layer. This also happens for AVCHD project to make playable on my PS3. Is this normal? Thanks.

I have a question regarding NEro 8 and the new update that allows making miniHD DVD's. I recorded the movie The Goonies off of HDNET Movies on Dish and it's about 6.20 gigs. When put it into my miniHD DVD project, it makes it into almost 12gigs! I thought it should remain the same, thus being able to fit it on a dual layer. This also happens for AVCHD project to make playable on my PS3. Is this normal? Thanks.

I've been having the same issue with my HD copy of Star Wars. Apparently, Nero 8 forces you to re-encode the video and it limits the average bit rate to 15000kbps. In order to fit a 2 hour movie onto a dual layer DVD the average bit rate would need to be about 8000kbps (a little more, perhaps, but you need to leave room for the audio, too).

Dang it.

I've been having the same issue with my HD copy of Star Wars. Apparently, Nero 8 forces you to re-encode the video and it limits the average bit rate to 15000kbps. In order to fit a 2 hour movie onto a dual layer DVD the average bit rate would need to be about 8000kbps (a little more, perhaps, but you need to leave room for the audio, too).

Dang it.

You can take it down to 1440x1080 by using the "long play" or custom setting. But the results will be a disappointment. If you want to take HD content down that far, it's maybe better to create a standard DVD-video at 720x480p with a high bitrate. 1080 just will not look good at 8Mb. If you doubt this, turn on some Dish or DirecTV and watch one of the MPEG2 channels. :eek:

BTW, AFAIK, the Nero setting is for max bitrate, not average. If you force MPEG4, there's an additional setting for quality.

You can take it down to 1440x1080 by using the "long play" or custom setting. But the results will be a disappointment. If you want to take HD content down that far, it's maybe better to create a standard DVD-video at 720x480p with a high bitrate. 1080 just will not look good at 8Mb. If you doubt this, turn on some Dish or DirecTV and watch one of the MPEG2 channels. :eek:

BTW, AFAIK, the Nero setting is for max bitrate, not average. If you force MPEG4, there's an additional setting for quality.

h264 at 8 Mbps will look great. Mpeg2 at 8Mbps will look horrible.

h264 at 8 Mbps will look great. Mpeg2 at 8Mbps will look horrible.

I think you mean it could look great. Even at 15K max, the output from Nero does not look "great". It looks OK if you start with 25k material. But does Nero use 264? It's flagged as "MPEG4AVC". Nero uses the same bitrate settings for MPG2 and MPG4.

Hopefully there will be an update so you can lower the bitrate on an MPEG4 encode to fit to disk. Why is there even an option to fit to diskwhen it doesn't do what it says?

Hopefully there will be an update so you can lower the bitrate on an MPEG4 encode to fit to disk. Why is there even an option to fit to diskwhen it doesn't do what it says?

Totally. Such an update would be much appreciated indeed.

As for Star Wars at 8Mbps -- no, it's certainly not optimal, but given that the original file was a 7.5GB .wmv, it's not like I'm compressing it beyond what's happened to it already. I've done a few tests with other programs outputting to both AVC and VC-1. They don't look any worse than the source, but I've had a heck of a time when it comes to actually putting them on a disc.

Incidentally, the ASF2VC1 program pretty much rocks. I've been pretty successful at using TMPGEnc to encode .wmv files, then split out the VC-1 with ASF2VC1. The major problem I've run into there, though, is that apparently the "max bitrate" function when encoding .wmv with TMPGEnc doesn't work. I'll set the max to something like 24Mbps and still wind up with bitrate spikes over 40Mbps. *sigh* . . .

Hopefully there will be an update so you can lower the bitrate on an MPEG4 encode to fit to disk. Why is there even an option to fit to diskwhen it doesn't do what it says?

Don't hold your breath. NeroVision has never been anything but a very entry-level tool. Best hope comes with new offerings from other software.

Don't hold your breath. NeroVision has never been anything but a very entry-level tool. Best hope comes with new offerings from other software.

Funny how NeroVision does not have "Save_As" option but has quite advanced menu flow editing options that DMF+ or Pinnacle Studio does not have.:)

Witek.

I have a question regarding NEro 8 and the new update that allows making miniHD DVD's. I recorded the movie The Goonies off of HDNET Movies on Dish and it's about 6.20 gigs. When put it into my miniHD DVD project, it makes it into almost 12gigs! I thought it should remain the same, thus being able to fit it on a dual layer. This also happens for AVCHD project to make playable on my PS3. Is this normal? Thanks.


Why are you trying to re-encode this mpeg2 recording. Just author it into a HD-DVD and it will fit on a DL disk, I do this all the time from HDnet, guess it is one advantage to the terribly low bit rates that Dish is using, they all will usually fit on a DL DVD disk.

Mike T

Why are you trying to re-encode this mpeg2 recording. Just author it into a HD-DVD and it will fit on a DL disk, I do this all the time from HDnet, guess it is one advantage to the terribly low bit rates that Dish is using, they all will usually fit on a DL DVD disk.

Mike T

How do you do that? Do you use the technique that's on the firts page of this thread? That is exactly what I want to do, any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Hey guys sorry about my first post being a newbie one and me not looking hard enough. This topic is 80 pages though so yeah.

Anyways i got all the software to make these HD DVDs on DVD disk.

I have a problem though. I have a mkv file.
What do I need to do about converting that into a HD DVD?

Also can these use VC1/X264 or Mpeg4? The guide leads me to believe everyone is converting high resolution mpeg 2.

How do you do that? Do you use the technique that's on the firts page of this thread? That is exactly what I want to do, any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Yes, I use Movie Factory 6 and make a HD-DVD folder, then use Nero 7 to burn using X-Box compatably mode and have book type set to physical disk and they play great on my HD-A1 and A2. I use DVD+R and DVD+R-DL to make the HD-DVD disks. I also edit with Video Redo and use it to convert the transposrt stream to mpg that MF 6 needs. I sometimes have 720P files and use HDPatch to make it work in MF.

Mike T

Thanks a lot! I will try it out! Can you do the same to make a Blu-ray compatible disc on a regular DVD+R/DVD+R-DL? I also have a PS3 and would like to make both types. Thanks.

Thanks a lot! I will try it out! Can you do the same to make a Blu-ray compatible disc on a regular DVD+R/DVD+R-DL? I also have a PS3 and would like to make both types. Thanks.


I don't do any blu-ray stuff yet. You might try the blu-ray sites on this forum and also the forums of doom9.net site.

Mike T

...I have a mkv file. ...
Also can these use VC1/X264 or Mpeg4? ...
The guide leads me to believe everyone is converting high resolution mpeg 2.
...

Yes, this technique is for MPEG 2. You're going to have to recode your mkv file. Search this thread (I seem to recall someting in the last 4 or 5 pages) and other threads for mkv and you'll see a discussion of extracting the video from a mkv container and turning it into a MPEG file. I've never done it, but it looks time consuming.

We've just got a relatively new Nero 8 that may provide some help creating MP4 files, but it doesn't seem to work yet.

Also can these use VC1/X264 or Mpeg4? The guide leads me to believe everyone is converting high resolution mpeg 2.

1. VC-1 (WMV) and H.264 (AVC) are both implementations of the MPEG-4 standard.

2. Currently only Nero 8 with the new plugin lets you encode in AVC - it re-encodes whatever source video content that you give it.

3. MPEG-4 is up to 2.2 times more efficient than MPEG-2 - well Microsoft's free VC-1 encoder (Windows Media Encoder 9) is - the free x264 AVC encoder is not quite as efficient yet (about 10% less efficient). So for example an 18Gb MPEG-2 Blu-ray disc would lose no quality when converted to an 8Gb VC-1 HD DVD 9 disc.


Given that some people have reported problems with the Nero 8 AVC encoder (difficulties producing exact output file sizes, and in setting bit rates) and the fact that VC-1 is more efficient - I would recommend simply converting your entire HD content to raw VC-1 compliant files.

Then these can later easily be converted to Blu-ray 9 or HD DVD 9 discs when the appropriate software is released.

A few questions if I may...

I capture HDV from a Canon HV20 with HDVsplit. The resulting file (.m2t) is 1440x1080i. I convert the m2t file into mpg with VideoRedo Plus. The file is still 1440x1080i. Are the files everyone here is burning to disc 1920 or 1440 horizontal resolution? If it is 1920, where in the process is the video being re-encoded to 1920 from 1440? I have burned some HD DVD to -R media but it has all been 1080x1920 final resolution, being converted by Ulead VideoStudio 11 Plus. Is everyone skipping any re-encode after the file edit in VideoRedo? It takes my computer about 2 hrs to encode and burn one HD DVD from a file with little to no editing.

Would it be a much quicker process to capture then burn HD DVD in Uleads VS 11 Plus without doing any editing?

Sorry if it's been mentioned before, but here are a couple of tips for improving bit-rate in DVD-9's (ie. DVD+R DL's):

1) Use CBR (constant bit rate) instead of VBR (variable). Seems to reduce stuttering on the Toshiba A2 at least. If you don't believe it, try it yourself. At these high rates of compression, VBR won't reduce disk space and extra processing is involved to 'unpack' the variable data.

2) Because the innermost tracks of a DVD are of smaller circumference, they contain less data and therefore support a lower bit-rate. Avoid using them if possible by adding "filler" material at the start (and if necessary, the end) of the program material.

For example, I had an hour long project which was originally stutter-free only at 11.5Mbps. By adding 7 minutes of color-bars at the start, I was able to increase the bit-rate to 14Mbps without stutter. Of course on replay, you skip the "filler" by making button 1 on the menu point to chapter 2 (just after the filler). Remember when a DVD-9 gets to the outside of the disk, it works its way back in again, which means that the bit-rate will then start to decrease again. Luckily, at 14Mbps an hour-long video stops just in time.

Sorry if it's been mentioned before, but here are a couple of tips for improving bit-rate in DVD-9's (ie. DVD+R DL's):

1) Use CBR (constant bit rate) instead of VBR (variable). Seems to reduce stuttering on the Toshiba A2 at least. If you don't believe it, try it yourself. At these high rates of compression, VBR won't reduce disk space and extra processing is involved to 'unpack' the variable data.

2) Because the innermost tracks of a DVD are of smaller circumference, they contain less data and therefore support a lower bit-rate. Avoid using them if possible by adding "filler" material at the start (and if necessary, the end) of the program material.

For example, I had an hour long project which was originally stutter-free only at 11.5Mbps. By adding 7 minutes of color-bars at the start, I was able to increase the bit-rate to 14Mbps without stutter. Of course on replay, you skip the "filler" by making button 1 on the menu point to chapter 2 (just after the filler). Remember when a DVD-9 gets to the outside of the disk, it works its way back in again, which means that the bit-rate will then start to decrease again. Luckily, at 14Mbps an hour-long video stops just in time.

Have you tried setting the book type of the burn to "Physical Disc Type" rather than "DVD-ROM" in Nero? This removes all stuttering for me...no need to change bit rates or add filler. I have over 50 homemade discs and have ZERO stutter once I made sure the booktype was correct.

Chris

Something doesn't smell right. I'm using nero with the HD DVD plug in. I am converting MPEG 2 720p to AVC 1080x1440. The files are no smaller. I know that I'm forced to increase pixels by Nero but I expected to get a little better compression.

I've set the bit rate as low as it will go. I hoped to get about 40 minutes of video on a single layer DVD and about 80 on a dual layer.

Am I being unrealistic?

Am I missing something?

Am I wasting my time backing up TV to HD DVD format? (rhetorical, not looking for an answer)

I'm thinking of getting a miniformat computer to connect to my TV and forgetting the whole thing for awhile. The DVR software on the computer works better than I expected and the HD video looks great on a 22" monitor.

For some reason, most of the shows I record are on Fox or ABC which are 720p. I'm thinking it may make more sense to compress and store on a large hard drive rather than making discs.

I have about three hundred dollars invested in HD DVD player and software, I would like some encouragement to continue using them.

Sorry, that currently found this thread, and read the last posting on this thread and then started reading from page 1 and of course this is a large thread, so thought if someone is up to date on all of the ins and outs of HD-DVD would have a basic knowledge on how to explain it in a sort of a nutshell, if possible and let me know what is required to copy the HD-DVD.

Thanks

Sorry if it's been mentioned before, but here are a couple of tips for improving bit-rate in DVD-9's (ie. DVD+R DL's):

1) Use CBR (constant bit rate) instead of VBR (variable). Seems to reduce stuttering on the Toshiba A2 at least. If you don't believe it, try it yourself. At these high rates of compression, VBR won't reduce disk space and extra processing is involved to 'unpack' the variable data.

2) Because the innermost tracks of a DVD are of smaller circumference, they contain less data and therefore support a lower bit-rate. Avoid using them if possible by adding "filler" material at the start (and if necessary, the end) of the program material.

For example, I had an hour long project which was originally stutter-free only at 11.5Mbps. By adding 7 minutes of color-bars at the start, I was able to increase the bit-rate to 14Mbps without stutter. Of course on replay, you skip the "filler" by making button 1 on the menu point to chapter 2 (just after the filler). Remember when a DVD-9 gets to the outside of the disk, it works its way back in again, which means that the bit-rate will then start to decrease again. Luckily, at 14Mbps an hour-long video stops just in time.

1) Agreed.

2)Innermost tracks contain same amount of data but bandwidth is smaller because linear speed is smaller.

3) Thats when NeroVision comes in. With their advanced menu editing you can put filler and never know it is there.

Witek.

Can Xbox 360 PLAY HDDVD burned into DVD-R without add-on HDDVD drive?

Sorry, that currently found this thread, and read the last posting on this thread and then started reading from page 1 and of course this is a large thread, so thought if someone is up to date on all of the ins and outs of copying HD-DVD would have a basic knowledge on how to explain it in a sort of a nutshell, if possible and let me know what is required to copy the HD-DVD.

Thanks

Copy talk not allowed on this forum. Try Doom9, but that's a tough nutshell to crack.

Can Xbox 360 PLAY HDDVD burned into DVD-R without add-on HDDVD drive?

No. You need the add-on to play HD DVD no matter what kind of disc it's on.

Something doesn't smell right. I'm using nero with the HD DVD plug in. I am converting MPEG 2 720p to AVC 1080x1440. The files are no smaller. I know that I'm forced to increase pixels by Nero but I expected to get a little better compression.

I've set the bit rate as low as it will go. I hoped to get about 40 minutes of video on a single layer DVD and about 80 on a dual layer.

Am I being unrealistic?

Am I missing something?

Am I wasting my time backing up TV to HD DVD format? (rhetorical, not looking for an answer)

I'm thinking of getting a miniformat computer to connect to my TV and forgetting the whole thing for awhile. The DVR software on the computer works better than I expected and the HD video looks great on a 22" monitor.

For some reason, most of the shows I record are on Fox or ABC which are 720p. I'm thinking it may make more sense to compress and store on a large hard drive rather than making discs.

I have about three hundred dollars invested in HD DVD player and software, I would like some encouragement to continue using them.

If you are starting with mpeg2 files, you do not need to convert them to make an HD-DVD disk. It appears difficult to make any HD-DVD from any source that is not mpeg2.

I make 720P mpeg2 HD-DVD's all the time and they play fine on my HD-A2. I use HD-patch to fool DVD Movie Factory to make the HD-DVD and then patch the first EVO file in the HD-DVD folder created by DVD MF back to 720P with HD-Patch as described at the beginning of this thread. I then burn with Nero 7 just as described in this thread and use physical disk type in the book type settings of Nero. Files are from OTA and cable and are 720P and 1080i, I never re-encode and it takes Movie Factory about 10 minutes to make the HD-DVD folders.

Mike T

Something doesn't smell right. I'm using nero with the HD DVD plug in. I am converting MPEG 2 720p to AVC 1080x1440. ...
I hoped to get about 40 minutes of video on a single layer DVD and about 80 on a dual layer.

For some reason, most of the shows I record are on Fox or ABC which are 720p. ...

I have about three hundred dollars invested in HD DVD player and software, I would like some encouragement to continue using them.
...

As mtallent pointed out, using Nero is your main mistake. Use the technique described in the beginning of the thread (VideoReDo to cut unwanted sections, HDPatch if needed, and Movie Factory 5 or greater to create HD DVD folders, Nero 6 or greater to write them to a disk) and you'll achieve your goal.

1 hour long Fox and ABC shows generally will almost always fit on a single layered DVD after you remove the unwanted bits.

I love my HD DVD player (HD -A1) and think it was one of my better purchases. SD DVDs and commercial HD DVDs all look fantastic on it. I just watched the SD version of 3:10 to Yuma last night and the upscaled video was fantastic. Homemade HD DVDs are more of a problem for me, but not because of the player. The source material (broadcast HDTV) generally is so poor that I am always slightly disappointed - in the broadcasts I watch live and in the ones that I timeshift via my HD DVD player. It makes no sense to me, but a quality SD DVD looks better than most HDTV broadcasts.

No. You need the add-on to play HD DVD no matter what kind of disc it's on.

So, there is no way we can play the HDDVD_TS burned into a DVD-R with barebone XBOX 360? Anyone know how to circumvent the add-on HD DVD drive and play it directly?

1 hour long Fox and ABC shows generally will almost always fit on a single layered DVD after you remove the unwanted bits.


Can you be specific as to the file size burned to disc and the running time of the file? I assume you are using a 4.7GB single layer media.

Have you tried setting the book type of the burn to "Physical Disc Type" rather than "DVD-ROM" in Nero? This removes all stuttering for me...no need to change bit rates or add filler. I have over 50 homemade discs and have ZERO stutter once I made sure the booktype was correct.

Chris

^+1

Have you tried setting the book type of the burn to "Physical Disc Type" rather than "DVD-ROM" in Nero? This removes all stuttering for me...no need to change bit rates or add filler. I have over 50 homemade discs and have ZERO stutter once I made sure the booktype was correct.

Chris
This exact method cured the stuttering on my HD-A2 also. Just set the book type to "Physical Disk" and burn a few DVD for a test ride :D:D

Can you be specific as to the file size burned to disc and the running time of the file? I assume you are using a 4.7GB single layer media.
I can fit a entire Journeyman episode (1080i) on a 4.7GB single layer DVD if I cut out the sixty second "last week on Journeyman" opening recap and the end credits.
The Disc is 97% full after burning.

Have you tried setting the book type of the burn to "Physical Disc Type" rather than "DVD-ROM" in Nero? This removes all stuttering for me...no need to change bit rates or add filler. I have over 50 homemade discs and have ZERO stutter once I made sure the booktype was correct.

Chris

Yes, it has been pointed out for more than a year now:

Burn HD DVD 9 discs as Physical Disc Type (e.g. DVD+R, not DVD-ROM).

This is different to what you would do for (SD) DVD 9 +R DL discs - they should always be burnt as 'DVD-ROM' for video.

As mtallent pointed out, using Nero is your main mistake. Use the technique described in the beginning of the thread (VideoReDo to cut unwanted sections, HDPatch if needed, and Movie Factory 5 or greater to create HD DVD folders, Nero 6 or greater to write them to a disk) and you'll achieve your goal.


That is what I was afraid of. I'm not wanting to buy and track down a bunch of different programs. My life is too complicated as it is. I bought the Nero because it looked like it would do every thing I wanted.

I guess I'll check back from time to time to see if anybody creates a single program to do the whole project. Honestly, my eyes cross every time somebody lists the steps and talks about how easy it is.

I would love for toshiba to open the USB port and allow be to play my MPEG files directly from a hard drive. Life would be good. Hint to Toshiba.

Good luck with getting Toshiba to do anything...
I've been trying for 18months to get committment from Toshiba when my hde1 will play hd 3x pal 25fps.50hz sourced movie's.
They do not even say IF they are going to update the firmware now after the v27 24 frame rate firmware came out last month.
People wishing the 25fps PAL hd source to play on toshibas... please unite and send off your disallusionment to them !
Can you imagine us people in PAL land with a PAL hd player and it can't play PAL hd sourced files thru MF6 (or any other hd authoring for that matter !)

So, there is no way we can play the HDDVD_TS burned into a DVD-R with barebone XBOX 360? Anyone know how to circumvent the add-on HD DVD drive and play it directly?

Every time you ask the same question, you'll get the same answer. No.

Why would anyone buy the add-on if the stock 360 could play HD DVD? You have differences with the hardware, firmware and player software that make it impossible.

You can theoretically demux the evo files and transcode them to something else, but that's a sophisticated process that can't be done by the average user with off-the-shelf software. Again, if you want info on copying discs or burning downloads, this is the wrong forum to ask.

This thread is mostly about authoring and burning HD DVDs on single and dual layer DVD-/+R from content that is in, or can be converted to, mpeg2. That means broadcast HDTV recorded off the air or video from an HD camcorder.

But no matter whether you make the HD DVD or buy it, you need an HD DVD player or drive to play it. A standard DVD player or drive won't do the job.

Every time you ask the same question, you'll get the same answer. No.

Why would anyone buy the add-on if the stock 360 could play HD DVD? You have differences with the hardware, firmware and player software that make it impossible.

You can theoretically demux the evo files and transcode them to something else, but that's a sophisticated process that can't be done by the average user with off-the-shelf software. Again, if you want info on copying discs or burning downloads, this is the wrong forum to ask.

This thread is mostly about authoring and burning HD DVDs on single and dual layer DVD-/+R from content that is in, or can be converted to, mpeg2. That means broadcast HDTV recorded off the air or video from an HD camcorder.

But no matter whether you make the HD DVD or buy it, you need an HD DVD player or drive to play it. A standard DVD player or drive won't do the job.
I think he is not asking to play HD DVD media on the Xbox360 without the addon, I think he is asking if possible to play DVD media with HD content without the addon. I can play HD DVD content on DVD media on my PC that only has a DVD-ROM player, so why is not possible with Xbox360?
- it is because the xbox360 detects the HD DVD drive and activate some special software?
- it is because the addon includes software for the xbox360 that can only be installed/enabled by connecting the addon?
- UDF 2.5? I can create UDF 1.2 HD DVD content on DVD media that can be played on the PC and my A2
- other reason? anyone know?

I read this question many times and the answer is always, NO, but why not.

I think he is not asking to play HD DVD media on the Xbox360 without the addon, I think he is asking if possible to play DVD media with HD content without the addon. I can play HD DVD content on DVD media on my PC that only has a DVD-ROM player, so why is not possible with Xbox360?
- it is because the xbox360 detects the HD DVD drive and activate some special software?
- it is because the addon includes software for the xbox360 that can only be installed/enabled by connecting the addon?
- UDF 2.5? I can create UDF 1.2 HD DVD content on DVD media that can be played on the PC and my A2
- other reason? anyone know?

I read this question many times and the answer is always, NO, but why not.

The dvd drive is just that a dvd drive. Your computer can read it because it can see data and the software on your pc can play the hd files.

bato, you can encode the hd video to windows media video hd, the XBOX 360 can play those files well.

So has anyone found a way to add mpeg4(h.264) ts files in order to make HD DVD 5/9's ? A lot of stuff I record are in mpeg4 from Dish, I can make blu-ray's but want to do HD DVD's as well. Thanks.

I think he is not asking to play HD DVD media on the Xbox360 without the addon, I think he is asking if possible to play DVD media with HD content without the addon.

Read PaulNg's question again. He specifically asked if he could burn an HDDVD_TS folder to DVD+R and play it back on an Xbox DVD drive. The answer is still no.

Your question was different, Largo answered that. The Xbox can play HD media in the proper format. It can't play HD DVDs without the add-on.

I stream HDTV recorded on my Media Center PC over a wireless connection to the Xbox 360. Works great, but those are mpeg2.

Good luck with getting Toshiba to do anything...
I've been trying for 18months to get committment from Toshiba when my hde1 will play hd 3x pal 25fps.50hz sourced movie's.
They do not even say IF they are going to update the firmware now after the v27 24 frame rate firmware came out last month.
People wishing the 25fps PAL hd source to play on toshibas... please unite and send off your disallusionment to them !
Can you imagine us people in PAL land with a PAL hd player and it can't play PAL hd sourced files thru MF6 (or any other hd authoring for that matter !)

Toshiba Europe = idiots.
Because many owners of HDV, AVCHD camcorders is potential
buyers of HDDVD players...:(

The HD DVD media add-on of the xbox contain hardwares parts (like memory) that are not in the XBOX.

To read "HD DVD" content on dvd-r or hd dvd, you need the add-on.

So, is the agreement here still that the Mac shtuff should be mixed into this thread?

The reason I ask is because I find it difficult to navigate through all the Windows-specific posts.

I have upgraded my video card, dvd recorder and added 1.5 gigabytes of ram to an xp media center pc. I am using pinnacle 11 ultimate ONLY. I was amazed that I could make an HD dvd so easily without having to resort to using several different software programs for seperate tasks.

Initially, I had one of my settings wrong and I ended up with a window boxed 16 by 9 image. I switched to 1080 60i, I believe, and my next attempt was perfect.

I have not tried doing anything in cinema mode- the alledged 24p option on the camera. I don't know how well pinnacle would handle it and am so happy with what I have seen thus far, am not inclined to play with it right away.
Judy Y
I have Studio 11 Ultimate and cannot get my video crisp and clear when I record to hd-dvd. I have a Sony HDR-HC3 camcorder, 1080i, HDV. I capture into Studio 11, edit and make movie. I also have Premiere Pro 1.5.1, Premiere Elements 4. I take many video's of my kids and their sports, just want to put on dvd and watch in hd-dvd high def on our big screen tv.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Judy Y
I have Studio 11 Ultimate and cannot get my video crisp and clear when I record to hd-dvd. I have a Sony HDR-HC3 camcorder, 1080i, HDV. I capture into Studio 11, edit and make movie. I also have Premiere Pro 1.5.1, Premiere Elements 4. I take many video's of my kids and their sports, just want to put on dvd and watch in hd-dvd high def on our big screen tv.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
If you follow the instructions on the first page you should be able to create HDDVD on a DVD+/-R disk that shows the same image quality as the one directly connected to your HDTV from HC3.

Can someone confirm the only way to get rid off the stutter of HDV material (at 25mbps) on A2/A3 is to use DVD-R?
Because I used the process on the first page by setting UDF to XBox compatible, and it still stutters in A3. I'd rather not to switch to all -Rs for future authoring if there is another way to garanttee smooth playing on A2/A3s.

Can someone confirm the only way to get rid off the stutter of HDV material (at 25mbps) on A2/A3 is to use DVD-R?
Because I used the process on the first page by setting UDF to XBox compatible, and it still stutters in A3. I'd rather not to switch to all -Rs for future authoring if there is another way to garanttee smooth playing on A2/A3s.

A3 will stutter at 25Mbps with DVD+R and DVD+R DL. You will need DVD-R or DVD-R DL at that bitrate. If you want to use DVD+R or DVD+R DL lower the bitrate to 20Mbps or below.

There is a ton of confusion on this but trust me I've tested every combination. Most of the confusion has come from A1 owners, who assumed that success on their Generation 1 player means success on the A2, A3, A35 etc.

A3 will stutter at 25Mbps with DVD+R and DVD+R DL. You will need DVD-R or DVD-R DL at that bitrate. If you want to use DVD+R or DVD+R DL lower the bitrate to 20Mbps or below.

There is a ton of confusion on this but trust me I've tested every combination. Most of the confusion has come from A1 owners, who assumed that success on their Generation 1 player means success on the A2, A3, A35 etc.

I have to interject, because this has been covered (and I thought solved) a LONG time ago.

When burning to DVD+R or +R DL, you MUST set the book type bitsetting in Nero to "Physical Disc Type", not "DVD-ROM". This *should* eliminate all stuttering issues. You should not have to lower the bitrate of the video.

Please try this...again, the book type must be set to "Physical Disc Type" for +R media.

Chris

Chris, where do you set the "Physical Disk Type" in Nero?

As long as the instructions on the first page are not updated people will encounter this problem by following the steps. And they will come back to this topic again and again with their A2, A3 and etc.

...

When burning to DVD+R or +R DL, you MUST set the book type bitsetting in Nero to "Physical Disc Type", not "DVD-ROM". This *should* eliminate all stuttering issues. You should not have to lower the bitrate of the video.

Please try this...again, the book type must be set to "Physical Disc Type" for +R media.

Chris

Remember also, ONLY do this for HD DVD 9 material - for all standard (SD) DVD-9 video you must set it back to 'DVD-ROM'.

Chris, where do you set the "Physical Disk Type" in Nero?

In Nero, go to Recorder->Choose Recorder. The click the 'Options>>' button. That's where the book type settings are.

Note that some burners do not allow you to change the book type for a burned disc. If that's the case, you must use a different burner.

As long as the instructions on the first page are not updated people will encounter this problem by following the steps. And they will come back to this topic again and again with their A2, A3 and etc.

The instructions on the first page do mention this, under "Special Warning" #5.

Chris

After some testing I have to agree with Clockworkman that following the instructions on the first page burning 25mbps HDV on DVD+Rs with "Physical Disk Type" did little to eliminate the stutter on A3.
Now it seems that the only sure way to get rid off the problem is to go with -Rs.

After some testing I have to agree with Clockworkman that following the instructions on the first page burning 25mbps HDV on DVD+Rs with "Physical Disk Type" did little to eliminate the stutter on A3.
Now it seems that the only sure way to get rid off the problem is to go with -Rs.

It doesn't seem to make any difference when I play my discs on an A1, either; I pretty much get stuttering no matter what.

A1 is not known to have such issues, unless its in the vidoe file itself.
Have you run the video file thru VideoRedo before you author it into HDDVD?

Nope -- haven't done that. That's just for MPEG2 files, though, correct?

After some testing I have to agree with Clockworkman that following the instructions on the first page burning 25mbps HDV on DVD+Rs with "Physical Disk Type" did little to eliminate the stutter on A3.
Now it seems that the only sure way to get rid off the problem is to go with -Rs.

Unfortunately for me, going to -Rs on the A2 is virtual surefire (but minor) stutter in the opening 10-20 seconds, followed by generally smooth playback thereafter. On my A2, +R with booktype = "physical disk type" is the solution that eliminates all stutter entirely. On my A1, everything always plays without stutter, very media friendly, digests everything.

For the A3, this will be disappointing if a -R is what it likes, because the A2 doesn't like, and vice versa.

I'd like to test the A3 with one of my +R burns if possible. The last time I did that at BB, the manager told me it's against store policy to allow customers to play their own disks. Then there's the matter of finding a store with an A3 hooked up and playing.

Tom, I have gone to several BBs on many occasions for testing the disks, never had any BB guy expressed any kind of disaproval. In fact most marveled at the HD videos on a home made disk.
I think you can only find A3 in BBs, as A2s were cleared out at $99 last year.
It seems that only A1 is the sure bet for smooth play for all kinds of homemade disks as long as you scrub the errors out of the video file with VRD.

Thanks GodobeHD. I own both the A2 and A1, also the PS3. I have no problems with personal playback, but it would be nice if every time Toshiba comes out with a new model, I don't have to run out and buy one to test it for compatibility with disks I want to distribute. Nor would I even need to if Tosh would maintain consistent compatibility with media types from generation to generation. But it's good to know you haven't had any problem with BB. I'll try a different store next tiime on the hope they have a more relaxed policy.

...It seems that only A1 is the sure bet for smooth play for all kinds of homemade disks as long as you scrub the errors out of the video file with VRD. ...
I've been getting lots of freeze-ups lately with my A1. I swear they started after I updated from the 2.0 Firmware. But perhaps that is't the problem. Is there anything special needed to "scrub out the errors with VRD"? I use it to create the MPG files that I then use as input for MF5. Is there anything else I need to do?

Ok, There is something seriously wrong with Nero.

I have a MPEG2 file that is 1080i broad cast, size is less than 12 gigabytes. MPEG4 should be around twice as efficient right?

Well with Nero converting to MPEG4 HD DVD, the size jumps to over 13 gigabytes and this is reducing resolution to 1080x1440.

I know everybody says don't use Nero but I paid good money for it and it advertises this functionality. Has anyone been able to convert their video to MPEG4 and put in into a working HD DVD disc?

If nobody here has experience doing this, is there a more appropriate forum?

Ok, There is something seriously wrong with Nero.

I have a MPEG2 file that is 1080i broad cast, size is less than 12 gigabytes. MPEG4 should be around twice as efficient right?

Well with Nero converting to MPEG4 HD DVD, the size jumps to over 13 gigabytes and this is reducing resolution to 1080x1440.

I know everybody says don't use Nero but I paid good money for it and it advertises this functionality. Has anyone been able to convert their video to MPEG4 and put in into a working HD DVD disc?

If nobody here has experience doing this, is there a more appropriate forum?

It has to do with the bitrate that it is encoding to mpeg4 at. Your 1080i is probably around 14mbps, and it encodes to mpeg4 at the same bitrate so you wont notice any size differance.

It has to do with the bitrate that it is encoding to mpeg4 at. Your 1080i is probably around 14mbps, and it encodes to mpeg4 at the same bitrate so you wont notice any size differance.
I believe from my testing that the smallest bitrate Nero will do is 15mbps, so it will slightly increase the file size...

Ok, There is something seriously wrong with Nero.

I have a MPEG2 file that is 1080i broad cast, size is less than 12 gigabytes. MPEG4 should be around twice as efficient right?

Well with Nero converting to MPEG4 HD DVD, the size jumps to over 13 gigabytes and this is reducing resolution to 1080x1440.

I know everybody says don't use Nero but I paid good money for it and it advertises this functionality. Has anyone been able to convert their video to MPEG4 and put in into a working HD DVD disc?

If nobody here has experience doing this, is there a more appropriate forum?


I haven't tried this yet, but something that occurred to me is the following:

- Use Nero to build an AVCHD disc, saving the files to your hard drive. With AVCHD, the average bitrate can be set to 12Mbps, rather than 15.
- Create a Mini-HD DVD with Nero using the "Import Files from an AVCHD disc" feature.

Like I said, I haven't tried that, but I'm wondering if it would force a re-encode of the AVCHD disc files. If not, you ought to be able to save a little bit of space . . .

I believe from my testing that the smallest bitrate Nero will do is 15mbps, so it will slightly increase the file size...
Unfortunately, I've uninstalled Nero, but while I was testing I thought I'd come across a way to enter custom bitrates. It was in one of the "advanced" menus for compression configuration. Sorry I can't remember the details, but I'm pretty sure it's there somewhere.

I haven't tried this yet, but something that occurred to me is the following:

- Use Nero to build an AVCHD disc, saving the files to your hard drive. With AVCHD, the average bitrate can be set to 12Mbps, rather than 15.
- Create a Mini-HD DVD with Nero using the "Import Files from an AVCHD disc" feature.

Like I said, I haven't tried that, but I'm wondering if it would force a re-encode of the AVCHD disc files. If not, you ought to be able to save a little bit of space . . .

The only way to get custom bitrates and resolutions from Nero is to use the "export" function and make your settings there, saving the project as MPEG2, Nero digital MPEG4, MPEG4/AVC or AVC. Any of those options have their own sets of custom settings. Encode times can be quite long.

I haven't tried this yet, but something that occurred to me is the following:

- Use Nero to build an AVCHD disc, saving the files to your hard drive. With AVCHD, the average bitrate can be set to 12Mbps, rather than 15.
- Create a Mini-HD DVD with Nero using the "Import Files from an AVCHD disc" feature.

Like I said, I haven't tried that, but I'm wondering if it would force a re-encode of the AVCHD disc files. If not, you ought to be able to save a little bit of space . . .

When burning a mini-HD DVD with Nero, I cannot set bit rate below 15 Mbs. This is rediculous, that is higher than the bit rate of the original MPEG2 stream.

There is no reason for this. To get similar quality, I sould be able to set the bit rate below 10 when converting to MPEG 4.

If anybody knows a work around please let me know. I've emailed Nero but I haven't received a response.

I have a computer working as a DVR in my office and would love to watch the video in my living room using my A3.

The only way to get custom bitrates and resolutions from Nero is to use the "export" function and make your settings there, saving the project as MPEG2, Nero digital MPEG4, MPEG4/AVC or AVC. Any of those options have their own sets of custom settings. Encode times can be quite long.

Once you've used the export function can you then re-import the file (say, a 8-10Mbps AVC file) back into your Mini-HD DVD project and not have Nero re-encode?

Can Nero handle 23,976 FPS? or is it only 29,97 alt 59,97?

I have asked this before, is there a free software program so that I can play the 4.7GB HD-DVDs I burned on my computer?
Unfortunately Video Lan will not do it. What is with ISO 2.5?
Gene

I have asked this before, is there a free software program so that I can play the 4.7GB HD-DVDs I burned on my computer?
Unfortunately Video Lan will not do it. What is with ISO 2.5?
Gene

If you used winrar to unpack the iso I think that you can just play the .evo's in a program like Media Player Classic. I can do that with Blu-ray's I copy to my hard drive

Once you've used the export function can you then re-import the file (say, a 8-10Mbps AVC file) back into your Mini-HD DVD project and not have Nero re-encode?

I don't think you can keep Nero from re-encoding.

If you used winrar to unpack the iso I think that you can just play the .evo's in a program like Media Player Classic. I can do that with Blu-ray's I copy to my hard drive
I don't get any sound when I do that. To get sound with Media Player Classic, you have to demux the EVO files (EVOdemux0627b7.exe) and then have Media Player Classic play the video and 'dub' the audio.

To my mind, this does not qualify as a 'free software program so that one can play the 4.7GB HD-DVDs'

I don't get any sound when I do that. To get sound with Media Player Classic, you have to demux the EVO files (EVOdemux0627b7.exe) and then have Media Player Classic play the video and 'dub' the audio.

To my mind, this does not qualify as a 'free software program so that one can play the 4.7GB HD-DVDs'

You just don't have the correct audio filters installed or being used then. I use ac3filter and I get audio just fine.

I can report that all of my mini-HD DVDs play perfectly in Samsung's new Duo player (Blu-ray/HD DVD).
They were created from material shot on the Canon HV20, edited in Vegas, authored with MF5, and burned with Nero. They are burned on DVD+R media.

Hey guys sorry about my first post being a newbie one and me not looking hard enough. This topic is 80 pages though so yeah.

Anyways i got all the software to make these HD DVDs on DVD disk.

I have a problem though. I have a mkv file.
What do I need to do about converting that into a HD DVD?

Also can these use VC1/X264 or Mpeg4? The guide leads me to believe everyone is converting high resolution mpeg 2.

There is a software called OJOsoft total video converter. It appears to let you convert an mkv file to an mpeg2 at different supported resolution (1280x720 etc). I have yet to try it, but it looks promising.

There is a software called OJOsoft total video converter. It appears to let you convert an mkv file to an mpeg2 at different supported resolution (1280x720 etc). I have yet to try it, but it looks promising.

if your converting to mpeg2 I would use hcenc, it is free and far better than anything else out there.

I can report that all of my mini-HD DVDs play perfectly in Samsung's new Duo player (Blu-ray/HD DVD).

Could you maybe try the disk from the top link in my signature? We've had reports that the Samsung dual-format player wouldn't play either the HD DVD or AVCHD. There is certainly the possability that the Samsung is rejecting the encode we're using from HCenc because we originally ran into that issue with the XA2, but otherwise I can't come up with another reason for the discrepancy in reports.

EDIT: I suppose one other difference is that I was using popup menus from the HD pack

Has anyone tried this yet using a Mac?

Wow, thanks, guys!

With this thread, I have been able to make many successful backups of my discs.
As well, I have had great success converting TV shows I recorded to be playable on my A2.

No issues at all following the instructions.

The only problem I have is, I think, beyond the scope of this thread.

I have a PS3 in the bedroom, and an A2 in the living room. The PS3 will not leave the bedroom until the kids get a little older. (3 and 1.5)
They'll destroy it. :) (of course, what else would kids do? lol)

I have been trying to take my bluray discs and convert them to mini-hd-dvd. (using an internal bluray drive on my pc as a reader)
This way the kids can watch their disney movies in the living room.

I have had great success with this, but only in the 1080i domain.
I have been trying to do it in 720p, but to no avail. None of the listed programs give that option.
1080i requires the use of multiple discs, even mutliple dl's, depending on the length of the movie.
720p would allow me to fit a movie onto a single DL.
Unfortunately, my children are to young to understand the concept of multiple discs, and when a movie stops abruptly in the midddle, one of 2 things happens:
1. They get extremely upset, thinking they did something wrong to make the movie stop, and start crying.
or
2. If by some chance one of us is not in the room, (bathroom, etc..) they try messing with the A2, to see if they can figure out why it stopped.
(and I mean physically, like the 3 yr old will open the tv stand's door, pick it up and shake it)

Being able to fit a movie on a single disc would be very helpful for my own piece of mind.

We do not put a movie in for them very often, so when we do, it really is a special treat for them. It would be much easier on one disc.

Any ideas?
(i've searched extensively, and can not find a solution, unfortunately)

Or- I could just buy another bluray player for the living room, but really don't want to shell out the cash, just for disney movies.

Is there another software (hopefully freeware) that can create the HD-DVD folder other than Movie Factory? Or will any DVD authoring s/w that can make a folder do or does it have to be special capability for HD-DVD folder?

Can I just run the HDTVtoMPEG2 software and convert the .ts to .mpg and just copy that over to disc?

I have been trying to do it in 720p, but to no avail. None of the listed programs give that option.
You need to reencode your movie with other software to 720p, then see if the latest moviefactory work with it without trying to encode the file again to 1080, if this happen you can use HDpatch from first post to patch the 720p file prior to import then patch it back.
Is there another software (hopefully freeware) that can create the HD-DVD folder other than Movie Factory? Or will any DVD authoring s/w that can make a folder do or does it have to be special capability for HD-DVD folder?

Can I just run the HDTVtoMPEG2 software and convert the .ts to .mpg and just copy that over to disc?
AFAIK there is no freeware software that do this, the files are not in the same format as normal DVD so you need the special software to create the disc.

Hey guys....just decided to give Movie Facotry and HD DVD making a shot. I downloaded the free trial of Movie Factory 6 plus...and there is no option to make an HD DVD disk or folder? It did a nice regular dvd from an HD Mpeg file...but what am I missing?

Did I download the wrong file?

AH...I think I need the HD pack plug in.......correct?
Thanks!

Tom

Hey guys....just decided to give Movie Facotry and HD DVD making a shot. I downloaded the free trial of Movie Factory 6 plus...and there is no option to make an HD DVD disk or folder? It did a nice regular dvd from an HD Mpeg file...but what am I missing?

Did I download the wrong file?

AH...I think I need the HD pack plug in.......correct?
Thanks!

Tom

You should be able to burn HD DVD disk or folder without HD pack plug in. Lower left hand corner of the screen, choose HD DVD 25g.

Newbie here, can someone explain: seems that MF6 has DVD burning built-in. Why can't this be used to burn? Has anyone been successful w/any other burning app?

Looking for everything possible to justify my purchase of MF6+, and don't want to use BurningROM if possible.

@Laserfan, I use MF6+ to create an ISO file and ImgBurn to burn it.

Thanks bato, I use ImgBurn too!!! :)

If anyone knows a better (legal) deal than $67.99 for MF6+ pls let me know--I'll be ordering later today.

Hey guys....j I downloaded the free trial of Movie Factory 6 plus...and there is no option to make an HD DVD disk or folder?
Tom

Tom-
Down in the lower left there is a button/combo box that lets you select HD DVD. It is currently defaults to create a DVD 4.7G. Click on the down arrow and select HD DVD ->HD Standard 15G.

Tom-
Down in the lower left there is a button/combo box that lets you select HD DVD. It is currently defaults to create a DVD 4.7G. Click on the down arrow and select HD DVD ->HD Standard 15G.

Found it! Thanks!

Tom

Does anything (other than Scenarist) support importing compliant VC-1 and AVC video streams? I.e. does not re-encode them.

Surely there must be a pro-sumer tool out there by now?

Thanks bato, I use ImgBurn too!!! :)

If anyone knows a better (legal) deal than $67.99 for MF6+ pls let me know--I'll be ordering later today.


MovieFactory 5 will still do the trick and you can still buy that version for about $30 off Amazon and it is about $40 cheaper than buying the latest version MovieFactory 6 Plus for $79.

Has anyone here made authored hd-dvds on dual layer/single layer media and had it play fine in the hd-a30?

I tried to get one of my authored discs to work in the local Best Buy and it seemed to studder on playback. I'm hoping it was just an issue with the instore demo unit. I did upgrade firmware to 1.3 and it still happened. The A35 played back smooth, so I bought that player.

They also play fine on my a2 player.

I just went and picked up an a30 tonight for $149 with 9 movies. Too hard to pass up the deal at Best Buy.

I'm just hoping this player will properly play the authored movies. Yes I have made these with the physical disc type setting and xbox compatibility mode on.

I pick up my player this weekend so any feedback before then would be appreciated.

MovieFactory 5 will still do the trickReally? Even MF6 doesn't seem to do HD, only MF6+. OK I suppose they could have changed this going from 5 to 6. Thanks for the tip; I haven't decided yet... :confused:

Folks,

Another question about MF6+. If you buy the full version...do you get more menu templates and audio files? Can you make your own menu templates buy resizing a photo? DO Mp3's work in the menus?

Thanks for any help!

Tom

Okay...I purchased the activation code...but still no menu templates except for the basic one.

?? The blurbs claims that there are various different types of menu backgrounds...but I can't find them anywhere??

Any clues??

Thanks!

Tom

Really? Even MF6 doesn't seem to do HD, only MF6+. OK I suppose they could have changed this going from 5 to 6. Thanks for the tip; I haven't decided yet... :confused:

The original instructions in this thread show Movie Factory 5 being used. Ulead probably created the 2 versions in MF 6 and MF 6+ in order to make more money. But according to this thread MF5 should work.

I ordered MF5 but it is still in transit and I have not received it yet.

The original instructions in this thread show Movie Factory 5 being used. Ulead probably created the 2 versions in MF 6 and MF 6+ in order to make more money. But according to this thread MF5 should work.

I ordered MF5 but it is still in transit and I have not received it yet.

Yes, MF5 works - I probably authored 100 disks that way. But in my experience MF6+ works a lot better and there is much less of a chance to create a coaster. I just upgraded and it was well worth the extra bucks.

...in my experience MF6+ works a lot better Thanks for your comment Hyrax. I'm gonna get MF6+. :)

I'd glanced at this thread in the past, but never actually tried to author my own HD-DVD. All I can say is Thank You!

I've finally got a way to archive recordings from my <cough> hacked HD DirecTivo without sacrificing quality or taking up space on my PC's hard drives.

Has anyone tried this yet using a Mac?I'd like to know too, but I suspect it may not be possible at this point. I recently got a new iMac. I can run Windows XP via Bootcamp, so that may be the way to go if I want to try this.

Anyone know of a decent WMV to MPEG converter I can use for this? I got a HD movie that I want to try, but it is in WMV format and I can't seem to find a converter that works halfway decently. All the ones I have found either put a water mark over the output, only let you convert 70% of the footage, or turned the 5.1 audio into stereo sound. Anyone have any tips for me?

Anyone know of a decent WMV to MPEG converter I can use for this? I got a HD movie that I want to try, but it is in WMV format and I can't seem to find a converter that works halfway decently. All the ones I have found either put a water mark over the output, only let you convert 70% of the footage, or turned the 5.1 audio into stereo sound. Anyone have any tips for me?

HCenc is a free mpeg encode but you have to know how to use avisynth to use it.

Has anyone tried this yet using a Mac?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13007278#post13007278

Does anything (other than Scenarist) support importing compliant VC-1 and AVC video streams? I.e. does not re-encode them.

Surely there must be a pro-sumer tool out there by now?

Netblender's DoStudioMX with Corel/Ulead multiplexor.

I'd like to know too, but I suspect it may not be possible at this point. I recently got a new iMac. I can run Windows XP via Bootcamp, so that may be the way to go if I want to try this.
Long-time Mac guy here... I've authored and burned a few home-brew HD discs with DVD Studio Pro and Compressor from video shot with HVR-A1U and HDR-FX1 cameras. The output looked excellent and played beautifully.

Now, from the little time I've spent using the VRD/MF5-6 process on a Windows box to burn a dozen or so movies extracted from my hacked DirecTV Tivo... I can say there just aren't any good Mac OS X-native tools to do all these things. No equivalent to VideoReDo, and no equivalent to MF5/6. The only thing I use the Mac for when I'm doing these 'rips' is using Toast to burn the disc images - because I don't have a decent burner in my Windows box.

So, at this point, I'd say use BootCamp and XP.

SC

Well, I found a MPG Converter online, and I converted the file, but the sound is lagging behind the video by about 10 seconds. Is there any way to fix this? I really don't want to go through another 14 hour Encode process if I can avoid it.

Well, I found a MPG Converter online, and I converted the file, but the sound is lagging behind the video by about 10 seconds. Is there any way to fix this? I really don't want to go through another 14 hour Encode process if I can avoid it.

did you try hcenc? it is perfect

Nope. I don't have the other program and I am not familiar with the Text commands for it.

Can I use the WMV file without converting it to MPEG?

Nope. I don't have the other program and I am not familiar with the Text commands for it.

Can I use the WMV file without converting it to MPEG?

No you can't.

Avisynth is very easy to use if you just look around.

Hi,
I'm a newbie here,

Step
I followed nakedeye thread to convert from mkv to HD-DVD
My file resolution is 1280 x 528 ,fps=23,976
i convert it from .mkv to .mpeg using Quenc
I run it Through HDpatch using 1920X1080 with 29.97 fps(first Header only)
,bitrate = 18000
I set my TV system in DVD Ulead MF6+ to NTSC
make a HD-dvd folder using DVD Ulead MF6+
then, convert .evo back to 1280X528, fps=23.976(first Header only)
and burn it through Nero 7 with DVD-UDF(XBOX compatible option)

Result
I attached picture that i got after playing in Toshiba HD-A3, using dvd-RW 4X
the audio seems to be working fine, i only have problem with the picture

Questions
anyone having the same problem?
am i missing something?
Is there any solutions to my problem?

thank you

@ar1chard, 1280 x 528 is not a valid resolution, I think that's the problem. I guess you need to reencode to 1280x720 and add black bars in top and bottom, maybe there are other options, I hope you can make it work.

I'm wondering How to add the black bar at the top and bottom of the screen?

No you can't.

Avisynth is very easy to use if you just look around.

Okay, I DLed the Avisynth and HCenc, but I keep getting an error message when I try to load the .avs file. I am using a modifed version of this script. (http://dvdguide.ennik.com/#zipfile)

It can not open the file.

This morning, I got some code to open the file and put that in the text file. It opened it successfully, and I hit encode. Well, it took about 5 hours and now it is making a second pass which supposedly will take another 4 hours.

Is there any way to just adjust the audio synch in my other MPG file?

This morning, I got some code to open the file and put that in the text file. It opened it successfully, and I hit encode. Well, it took about 5 hours and now it is making a second pass which supposedly will take another 4 hours.

Is there any way to just adjust the audio synch in my other MPG file?

demux them and use delaycut to adjust the audio delay