DVD Glitches

[Elizabeth]

So often I feel like I don't really quite know what I'm doing. This is one of those times. ;)

I am using Movie Edit Pro 12 (Magix), and I will occasionally experience a hang up in a video on the final DVD that gets burned. To be specific, it's a DVD with several videos on it, and one random video might or might not end up with a glitch that causes the audio and video to freeze for a few seconds during playback.

I have tried going back to the original file and looking for an issue. I have tried converting my working files in Movie Edit into .mpgs and importing into another editing program, Pinnacle 10. This sometimes takes care of the problem; sometimes it does not. In that case, I have tried going back to the original file and reconverting it into a new .mpg or even an .avi.

The hang up always occurs in the same place, and it does not happen on a regular DVD player; it only occurs on the professional grade DVD player we have in the sound booth.

Any suggestions? Ideas? I'm even wondering at this point whether or not it's a DVD player issue vs. a video software issue.

Thanks for any input!

Elizabeth

[BillyChia]

Elizabeth,
What kind of computer are you using? (Processor, RAM, harddisk speed?)

I've had similar problems with video when I didn't have enough power work with video. Especially on laptops because the harddisk speeds maxes out at 4200rpms. You really want a desktop with at least a 7200rmp harddrive to work with video.

If the DVD works on other players it could be a problem with your booth player .

[dtpuga]

Eliz...

Billy is right, you want to have a 7200 RPM scratch disk for your video editing. Most laptops now max out at 5400 RPM internally. (As a side note, I frequently edit on my MacBook Pro in Final Cut with only my internal drive working as the scratch disk and the main app disk, it works fine except for slow rendering.) However, HDD speed shouldn't effect DVD burn playback. It can effect how fast the DVD burns but what gets on it should not be effected by the disk drive speed.

I have also had issues with DVDs only playing on certain players and have never really pegged the reason. Sometimes it is media type (DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, Dual Layer, etc.) but if that is the issue then most likely it would be all or nothing not a video to video on one DVD issue.

If you re experiencing the glitches in the same place everytime on the same video AND it only happens on certain players, we can deduce a few things at least. It IS something on the disk that is causing it, could be as simple as bad media, could be a RAM issue that makes the original writing have a hiccup. The Pro-grade DVD player is undoubtedly more sensitive and sometimes that can backfire on you.

I would try burning the same DVD again from the same computer and seeing if the glitch happens again, and if it happens in the same place. If it does, maybe reorder the media on the DVD and do it again. See if it happens in the same video or at the same time. (Maybe its a RAM issue and at 43 minutes into any DVD its going to do that, who knows.) See if you can make the same thing happen and start narrowing down the cause. Try different brands of DVD as well.

If you have tried different softwares then you can probably elimnate them as the cause. Just start narrowing down to the things that are in common with all the problem disks.

Let me know what you find, I'll see what I can dig up as well.

Travis

[Michael G]

Also we will see if we get a reply at the Magix support board.

http://support.magix.net/boards/magix/index.php?showtopic=32884

[Elizabeth]

Hey, guys. Thanks for the input. I'm sorry this dropped off my radar for a bit. I was in the midst of the big patriotic video project!

I wonder if it could be a media issue (using not so great DVDs). Reburning the DVD doesn't remove the glitch, and it does occur in the same place--usually.

Here's the deal. Now I'm starting to get more random issues. A video will glitch in the same spot several times in a row. I'll reburn the DVD. Same place, same glitch, several times. And then, no glitch.

:confused:

It makes me think it's the DVD player. But, somehow, that is tied into Magix Movie Edit, because I usually do not have the problem if I burn it in Pinnacle. (Sometimes I do, but usually that takes care of the problem.)

I use the sound booth computer, which is a desktop, IBM, etc. I could get the specifics if it would be helpful. (I don't have it off the top of my head.) At home, I use my desktop, not my laptop.


Elizabeth

[dtpuga]

Elizabeth,

I have two ideas. One may be something with a buffer issue of sorts and the other may be your muxed disk image.

The buffer issue could have your computer hiccuping sort of as it hits the point in the write process where the buffer or disk cache of sorts has maxed out and it begins to reload, or catch up. That is really a HUGE guess, but it kind of makes sense. I don't even have a good suggestion for a fix besides more RAM and resources to potentially help.

As for the muxing. The file that is created by your DVD software when it encodes may be what is glitching. A full quality video from your software will have audio and video in separate streams. DVDs play with audio and video together. The process of putting it together for the DVD is muxing. DVD software will almost always reuse any assets it can to save time, which could explain why when you burn again it continues to be a problem. I would try deleting the project assets and rebuilding it, or forcing, in some other way, the DVD software to re-encode everything.

I still don't know why the 'good equipment' has trouble playing some stuff that other equipment doesn't. Sometimes the more sensitive stuff can't ignore errors that another piece processes right though.

Hopefully the re-encoding thing will shed some light on the problem. I will dig around some. Have you visited www.creativecow.com (http://www.creativecow.com) yet? They have software specific forums with pros in that software moderate and offer helpful insight. You mak look there as well.

Travis

[Elizabeth]

Thanks for the help, guys.

Okay, so I'm seeing two main suggestions here. One is to try more RAM on the computer. I can definitely look into that, though our computer guys at church are less than cooperative about these kinds of things.

The second suggestion involves the muxing. (That is a new term to me!) Travis, how would I get my program to re-encode? I have actually come across that option before when I've changed a working file (video) in a larger project. When I go to burn it to DVD again, it will ask me if I want to encode or ??? (Gah! I can't remember now). I choose Encode All. Anyway, maybe I could choose the video with the glitch, go in and "change" something, and then it will ask me about encoding.

I'll also check out the website suggestion. Thanks again so much for the help and let me know if you have any more ideas.

Elizabeth

[dtpuga]

Yes, you are on the right track with the 'muxing.' What I would try first is simply deleting that video from the VDD project. Making sure then that the one on your computer plays correctly. After you verify that, put it back in the project and let it re-encode. In DVD Studio Pro, it creates a folder on my computer called VOB files and all the encoded video for the DVD is saved there, you may be able to track down that 'cache' and manually delete things to force the encoding process again.

Hope this helps,
Travis

[Elizabeth]

Okay, I can certainly give that a try. I've never thought of trying to track down the VOB file.

Magix uses .mvd files while working. As far as I can tell, these are working files that point to where the actual data is on my hard drive (such as the original .mpg that I took footage from or the .mp3 that I took the audio from, etc.) It's not like the .mvd file actually has all of that data in it exactly. (Does that sound right?)

When I build a DVD project, it uses those .mvd files to build the final product (which does become a VOB, I think). Sound right so far? So if I delete the glitched .mvd out of the video project, will it work to just reopen it later? Or do you think I should convert that .mvd to an .mpg, and then reopen it in Magix? It'll become an .mvd again.

I'm sorry to be so dense! Obviously, I'm figuring this all out as I go. And I really do appreciate all your help, but I do understand if you reach the point where you're like, "Eh, you're on your own." :D


Elizabeth