Once I have set the split points in a video, is it possible to save the clips without encoding them completely? I am at a loss.

Whenever you output in 4.0 XPress, your video will be re-encoded. So yes, if you want to split them, you'll have to re-encode them.

Ok, thank you, I ended up finding a method with Cut Assistant & AsfBin while using VirtualDub to find the key frames.

I edited high def video (880 X 496 with max bitrate of 15,000 kbps) in womble and it saves as a VOB file of 1,048,574 KB.
I have a Blue-ray template set up in TMP and with no files in it the project size is 1436 out of a max size of 22867 MB for the 25 GB blu-ray disk.
When I import this VOB file into TMP the program says the VOB file is not supported but I ignore this and it brings the file in so it can be edited. The project size is now 3798 rather than approximately 2436 that I would think it should be if TMP reads the file size as 1048MB. What happens is approximately 11GB of data in womble becomes about 30 GB of data in TMP- too big to fit on a 25GB disk without re-encoding (which I don't want to do). Any ideas why the file size is changing so much and any suggestions to avoid this? I do not get this file size issue when using standard def VOB files from womble into TMP.

Since your video is 880 x 496, it might be increasing the resolution to a blu-ray compliant resolution, which might be why the file size is increasing. Check your track settings after you import the file and see what it says.

Clip properties are:
880 X 496 25 fps 15000 kb/s.
Track properties are:
1280 X 720 bitrate 18,000 kb/s.
So how do I change that?

If I use standard size DVD files but the blu ray format to take advantage of the 25 GB disk size I don't have this file size issue.

That's because DVD resolution is lower than your video and DVD compliant files are also Blu-ray compliant so Authoring Works won't change the resolution or bitrate.
If you don't care about losing some detail, you can just change the track settings to a lower resolution (720 x 480) and also tweak the bitrate settings if you need to.

If I don't want to change the resolution, will changing the bitrate to 10,000 kb/s (from 18,000 in the track setting) make a noticeable change in the output appearance?

Yes, just lowering the bitrate will help make your file size smaller but it's hard to say how it will affect your video quality; it's just trial and error. Try adjusting the bitrate until the file size is small enough to fit on the disc first.

I've been getting errors when trying to burn projects.
The disk starts to burn then about 10% into the burn an error message pops up and says "A command error occurred. [command = 2A]. [Sense:ASC:ASCQ:=03:02:00] (00000b4c"

What does this mean and how can I get my burns to work correctly. I've tried with different disks and it happens to all of them. Currently trying to burn on TDK DVD-RW.

Cheers,

Maxy

maxy, this sounds more like a problem with Windows and/or your (drive) hardware.
For Windows: Be sure to close all other apps, including background apps, before you burn a disc. I would try rebooting your machine and, then, before you run TMPGEnc, do a Ctrl-Alt-Del and check Windows Running Tasks to see what else is loading/running in the background. Close any apps that you don't need (if in doubt, let it run) and then try burning the disc again. Presuming the problem isn't with the drive itself (always a possibility!), freeing-up Windows resources (by closing non-essential programs & background tasks) may do the trick.
For the drive: If you have another burning app (e.g., Nero, EasyCD, etc.), try burning a disc with this. If it also fails, then you've got a bad drive and you'll need to replace it. DVD drives are pretty cheap these days. Unless you have a favourite, I'd recommend an NEC or Sony, both of which are good, reliable drives that you can likely pick up for <$50 (often <$30 in generic kit form).
I hope this helps.

Having difficulty with converting .avi files to .mpg-1. The converted files playback wioth low audio level even though the audio filter settings (volume) was set higher, up to 200 percent. Any suggestions?

I have a movie in AVI format which is missing the last few seconds of the film. I found another complete copy of this movie but the color isn't as good as the first. Can I use the Batch Authoring Tool to join the two movies together at that end point. If this is possible, would the splice be seamless or would there be a noticeable break or freeze frame?

Batch Authoring won't do the trick; that's for outputting complete projects, not scenes.

You'd want to just add the two clips to the same track. I'm not sure how seamless it will be; I'll try and do some tests to see if I notice any break.

Just did a quick test and the results were seamless; I couldn't tell where the cut was.

I'm using your program to try to convert AVCHD files to Quick Time Avid Codec DNxHD 145.

I found a posting that you could do that but can't seem to find that file on the "convert to" selection??????

I'm guessing you'd select QuickTime in the Format stage and then click on the "Settings..." button under the video codec section. From there, you can select your codec.

http://i40.tinypic.com/246pg1w.png

Your encoding software is excellent but I'm very disappointed in a very glaring omission. No capability to add a logo/watermark to the video? This is absolutely essential for many content producers who might want to use your product... without this capability the software is useless to us.

So there is a whole group of people that are using another product such as Videocharge. It's a shame because your encoder is much better, but again lacking this crucial feature. If you want to increase the appeal of your software and gain more customers, you really need to make a logo/watermark filter available ASAP.

Thank you.

i believe you can actually use avisynth scripting for logo watermark , whilst encoding with xpress

Hey Vince,

as mentioned, you can use AviSynth for this. Just read this thread:
http://www.videohelp.com/forum/archive/watermarks-in-avisynth-t154665.html

I can easily clip a segment, but the cut button deletes the scene. How do I save the sequence?

I was successful using split, then I split it again until I had the segment isolated, but there must be an easier way to save a segment.

If you don't want to delete anything, then yes, use the split function instead of the cut button.

The trick to using the split function is to use the split button instead of the "set start/end frame" buttons. Make sure your whole video is selected (all thumbnails are blue, then use the split button to set your start and end frames of the section you want to isolate. This will highlight that section in yellow.

When you click the "OK" button to leave the clip editor, it will give you the option to register the yellow or blue (or both) as separate clips.

When you output your file, make sure you select to save each clip as a separate file.

Thanks, I didn't realize I could split it in more than one place at a time.

I'm getting frozen frames (at the same point each time I view them) in some .mp4 files when viewed in TMPGEnc's Simulation screen or on the finished DVDs produced with TMPGEnc. However, the same .mp4 files view fine (w/o freezes) when viewed via a stand alone viewer like VLC Media Player.

Is this a known issue with TMPGEnc and/or is there something I can do to stop the frozen frames from occurring in TMPGEnc?
TIA.

It may be a decoder issue or a framerate issue. Being able to play it in VLC doesn't necessarily mean it will play the same in Authoring Works 4 since VLC has its own decoders.

Try use Gspot or some other program to determine the video's properties, then make sure the clip properties in Authoring Works 4 matches up with them.

You can also try to make Authoring Works use a different file reader. For mp4 video it will use the MP4 file reader by default, but if you disable it, it can use other file readers like QuickTime.
To do this, go to the Options menu-->Preferences-->Input Format List-->File Input Plug-in. You will see a list of file readers. It basically starts from the top, so if you disable MP4, it will use the next compatible file reader.

I'm not sure if that will help, but it's worth a shot.

tkrave, I think you're probably onto something there, but, so far, neither change has made any difference.

I tried raising, and then lowering, the framerate, but that didn't make any difference (the default framerate of the .mp4s is 29.97 - I tried raising to 60fps and then lowering to 15).

Then, after unchecking some of the codecs listed at the top of the File Plug-In screen, I tried playing some of the problem .mp4 files again, but they're still freezing/hanging at the same points.

To be clear, the video doesn't stop, it just sort of hangs (the picture freezes) while the soundtrack and frame counter continue as normal. After about 2 seconds, the picture will pick up at the proper point in the video (having skipped the previous 2 seconds) and continue normally until the next set of frames that hang/freeze.

Do changes in the Preference settings affect .mp4 files that are already imported into TMPGEnc or only those that I import after making the change? (I tried importing another .mp4 after making the change with the same results, so I'm guessing the change is retroactive.)

Gspot indicates the video codec is 'H.264/MPEG-4 AVC' (AVC1).
Does that provide any further hints as to the problem or how I can avert it in TMPGEnc?

Where did you get this video? Is it from the web?

You might also want to try activating the prefetch cache settings (in Preferences under Multithread settings). I'm not sure if that will help but it's worth a shot.

The .mp4s are from youtube. I'll give the prefetch idea a try this evening and report back. I'm pretty sure the problem's related to the video codec as you original suggested.
Thanks again.

Sadly, the Prefetch (while encoding) option had no effect.
But since the problem occurs during viewings in either TMPGEnc's Simulation or Editing screens, I don't think its an encoding problem anyway. I think you were right about there being some type of problem or mismatch between the .mp4 and the codec TMPGEnc is using to decode it.
Here is a link to one of the problem .mp4 files if you want to try it out on your system:
"Fast Driving Girls - Mercedes SLK - Bonnie Driving (First Video)"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=edCvtxSt9CU&

What are you using to download the video? Are you downloading it via YouTube or using some other program like Miro or Realplayer? If it is your own video, then you can download it via YouTube.

I used youtubedownloader to download the .mp4 files from youtube, but I can't really see how the downloader can be the problem since the files playback fine everywhere (i.e., VLC Media Player, Windows Media Player and Firefox) except in TMPGEnc.
A friend has a utility that converted the .mp4 file into an .wmv and the .wmv version works fine in TMPGEnc, so the problem's got to be, as you originally suggested, related to the video codec that's built into TMPGEnc. Unfortunately, I need to edit the videos and the converted .wmv versions change the frames contents, making it impossible to do the edits I wanted (or had with the .mp4 formats). So, ultimately, I'll need to figure out how to get them to play correct (in .mp4 format) in TMPGEnc. So if you have any other suggestions, I'm all ears...
And thanks again!

What version of Authoring Works 4 are you using? I just noticed that the latest update (version 4.0.9.37) lists some MP4 improvements in the revision history.

http://tmpgenc.pegasys-inc.com/en/download/taw4_rireki.html

Thanks, that's very interesting. Of the fixes listed, none address this specific issue, however, I'm running 4.07.32, so I'm probably missing some other fixes/improvements. I'll give it a try and report my results.

tkrave - SUCCESS (I think?)!!! I haven't actually upgraded my TMPGEnc yet, but I sent one of the .mp4 files to a friend of a friend who has 4.0.9.37 (who's familiar with the problem I've been having) and the same file played perfectly. So I'll just have to upgrade my version as you suggested.

Unfortunately, the upgrade didn't affect my other problem with Normalization not working (on any type of video files). If you (or anyone else) knows why the Normalizing feature doesn't work, or knows how to get it to work, please let me know.
Thanks again for the help!

After setting the Volume Normalization to 95% in the Audio Filter Settings screen and saving the project, there's no change in the volume levels. When I click the "Analyze for Preview" button, the screen updates and then shows a "Normalized at xxx%". However, when I either view the compilation via the Simulation button or burn it to a DVD, the volume levels of each of the individual .mp4 videos remain at their original (variable) levels.
Am I missing something?

Anyone have any thoughts on why the Normalize isn't working (with .mp4 files)?
TIA

I think what you are looking for is Volume Uniformization at Peak -3 DB.

I would like to see Tmpgence authoring works 4 next upgrade with other format to choose from such as (1.78, 1.85, 2.00), the 16:9 that already include make the movies look too narrow to enjoy, it left too much black at the top and bottom of my television.

Thank you.

Isn't 1.78:1 the same as 16:9?

Disc Writing tools recognizes BD drive but post processing in output doesn't????

anyone having similar problem?

thanks

also... the write disc image tool doesn't work - I can create an ISO, but I can't burn it in DVD Works - but burning with a basic burner software "power2go" works......

thanks in advance