I would like to setup my menus with the following layout.

Top menu has play and chapter buttons/links.

Then a page of the different chapters linked to the chapter button.

I do not wish to have to select track then goto chapters.

Thanks for your assistance.

So you only want two pages: the top menu and a page showing all the chapter thumbnails?

Just construct your DVD so it only has one track (put all your clips into one track).

Next, you have two choices:
1) Create the menu with top and track menus, select the appropriate layout and it should work as you want it to.

2) Or, select the "Create a Title page in the Track menu" option in the Menu Wizard. Then when choosing the DVD menu structure setting, select "Track menu only".

Of course, all your clips will play one after the other since they are in the same track, but if you don't want to select tracks, then this is your only option.

I am having a problem with the batch conversion.
It often tells me that the clip name is duplicate without specifying what the duplicate is.
All source files have unique file names.
From what I've realized, it tried to name the output files based on the clip name but not on the original filename.
Version 3 did not do that, it would output the same filename as the source file.

How can I correct this?

Thanks

I'm not sure how that's happening if all of your source files have unique names since 4.0 Xpress will put the original file name in the new file name.

You might be getting the error if your output folder is the same as your input folder (where the source files are located) and the format extensions are the same.

In any case, you can change the naming settings when you are dealing with multiple video output so that they are named from the original file name.

Click on the Options button and select "preferences..."
In the preferences window, select "Output folder/file settings."
There should be radio buttons and options on how files will be named when there is multiple file output.
Select the last option (Clip name.Extension) to keep the names the same as the original.

That is exactly what I have: clipname.extension

Output is saved in a different folder.

What happens is that TMPGEnc somehow uses some internal tag (sort of like id3 tag for mp3 files) which is the output filename based on.

For example, I have 2 video segments: video1.mpg and video2.mpg

I want to batch encode them into 2 separate avi files.
Somehow both of them are given a tag "Video".

TMPGEnc will recognize both files as having the same name which is "Video".
In version 3 the same scenario will give me 2 files - video1.avi and video2.avi
TMPGEnc 4 will try to create video.avi, and hence, will give me the duplicate clip error.
If I have just a couple of files, I right click on the source and select clip name. There I change it.
But if I have many files, that becomes an unnecessary nuisance, especially because version 3 with exactly the same settings gives the correct output.

The only reason I don't want to stay with 3 because 4 provides superb quality and does not require confirming every single file added to the batch.

Well, mine works exactly as you describe how TMPGEnc 3.0 XPress works.

For example, I input 3 similar clips: dnd01.mpg, dnd02.mpg, dnd03.mpg.
I don't have to change anything; no renaming of the clip name since it's already the same as the source file name.
And when I output, they become dnd01.avi, dnd02.avi, dnd03.avi.

So when you add your files, the clip names are automatically renamed to "video" and that's why you have to change the clip name?

What version of 4.0 XPress are you using?

Yes, that's exactly what is happening.
Unless a tag does not exist, it will use it as the output filename, for some reason.

So, for example the file "Video of my family on a picnic.mpg" does not mean my output will be "Video of my family on a picnic.avi".
I am using 4.5.1.254.


This bugs the hell out of me as I am sometimes forced to use 3.0 because I can not figure out what video it does not like.

Man, that's pretty bizarre. I've been trying to recreate your situation, but I can't. Not really sure what you can do. Maybe try reinstalling it?

I had even formatted Windows in a hope that would fix it.

I can tell you how you can recreate a problem.

Get any WMV file, for example, open it with Winamp, then go into file info and change the tag.

Then try to add it into TMPGENC.Your output file should bear the same name as the tag you've created.

I am a TMPGEnc Xpress 3 user and recently I am considering to upgrade to version 4 as it provides MP4 encoding support.

I have some footage recorded by HDV (1440x1080) and I want to use TMPGEnc Xpress to convert them to MP4 format, and play them by XBOX,. However, I found that the aspect ratio in TMPGEnc Xpress cannot be set to Pixel 1.3333 (16:9). If I set it to 16:9 display in source and 16:9 display in encoding, the encoded MP4 file will be displayed as 4:3 by my XBOX 360 which connect to my 4:3 TV at 640x480 resolution by VGA cable.

I tried other tools like Sony Vegas. It can set Pixel aspect ratio 1.3333 and has no problem to display 16:9 video in the same situation. I understand that it may be the problem of the player. However, the quality of TMPGEnc is very good, and I really want to have pixel aspect ratio 1.3333 to be implemented into TMPGEnc. Grateful if you would add this request to your enhancement list.

You should set it to 4:3 display at the encoding stage since your display is 4:3, then it will appear correctly.

My video is 16:9 video of pixel aspect ratio 1.3333. The video sketches to whole screen (people are taller) if I select 4:3 display at the encoding stage. It is the same if I select 16:9. If the pixel aspect ratio 1.333 can be set, the player will know how to handle it and the video can be displayed correctly leaving black bar at the top and at the bottom. It may be the problem of player but a minor enhancement in TMPGEnc Xpress can help a lot.

I hope it is not a complicated job to add an option of pixel aspect ratio 1.333 (16:9) in source clip settings and in encoding format.

I am building a DVD with DVD Author 3 and am encountering the error message 'GOP length too big' for a certain clip. I don't understand the instructions as to what to do about this. It says to adjust the bitrate but I don't know to what figure.

>I am building a DVD with DVD Author 3 and am encountering the error message 'GOP length too big' for a certain clip. I don't understand the instructions as to what to do about this. It says to adjust the bitrate but I don't know to what figure.

I encountered that message when authoring a PAL dvd, just hit ok, and the dvd was created fine. I use the highest bitrates that can fit on a dvd.

Would it be possible to implement a black box background to subtitles as a new layout? It would a great help to hide burned-in subtitles or just subtitles that are scrolling up or down.

Using TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress
From the [format] tab, which output template should i use to convert avi to mpeg-2?
the mpeg-2 format will be played on my ReplayTV unit (DVR)

Hi, choose "DVD Standard MPEG File". Use a lower Bitrate (like 6000 or less).
Ludi

I am trying to create a menu system, where the first page has the choices "Play All" and "Episodes", and then ONE page with 5 episodes. No matter what I try, I always get 5 pages. Both pages will be text choices.

thank you,

MovieMaven

In the Menu stage, click on the "Launch the Menu Wizard" button.
Choose "Create a custom menu by choosing layout and items." Click "Next..."
Checkmark the box next to "Create a Title page in the Top menu." Click "Next..."
For your Top menu, select a layout with 5 choices (choose the one without thumbnails if you just want text).
Select your other layouts, buttons, etc. Click "Next..."
For the DVD menu structure, you can select "Top menu only." This will produce a menu with two pages only.
If you want chapter pages for each episode, then choose "Top and track menu."
When you're finished, you can edit the text to your liking.

That should be it!

hi! do i need a player that support divx-ultra so that srt subtitle can be display?
i have a player that indicate divx support, and sadly subtitle doesnt appear.

Yes, I believe you need a DivX Ultra certified player for subtitle support.

then what subtitle format i need for divx?

How to I add a batch list of clips. I have a load of mpeg2 files I want to author to dvd. I want to do them as all seperate dvds.

When I add them and go to output it tells me target size is too large which tells me the software is trying to merge all the clips together.

I just want to add the 25 mpeg2 videos and let the software author them into 25 separate standard dvds.

You have to create each DVD separately. So if you want 25 DVDs, you're going to have to make 25 DVD project files.

When you start a project, that is a single DVD. So if you put 25 clips into it, it will put them all on one DVD (if they can fit).

There's no batch tool, so you have to just create each DVD separately.

I love what this application can do (on trial). I need to know if it's possible to tweak the encoding settings on the PS3 panel. My Xbox360 can play back H.264, but need to tweak so it will play the version for PS3. TMPGENC Xpress 4 is able to do this, but I like that this program will automatically encode from a directory. Any assistance is appreciated.

You can tweak it to a certain extent.
You can prioritize encoding quality or encoding speed and you can select the output resolution and bitrate from a predetermined list. Resolutions include 320x240, 320x180, 640x480, 640x360, 720x480(4:3), 720x480(16:9), 720x576(4:3, max. 25fps), 720x576(16:9, max. 25fps), 1280x720, and 1920x1080. You can also set it to output at 24fps (this is "cinema mode") and you can adjust the audio quality (normal, high).

Hi
New to the program...bare with me...
I am trying to clean up and redo my High School video yearbook for a bunch of friends. I graduated in 1989 so the video is 20 years old. I have captured the whole thing to an avi file. Now would it be best to use tmpg to clean up the source as much as possible before I bring it into an editor to re-edit?

What filters should I use? Should I keep the output as an avi file for easier editing? Any and All suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks everyone!

It really depends on the condition of your video, so without seeing it, I can't say what filters you should use. You might want to take a look at Ghost Reduction, Color correction, and Video noise reduction to see if that helps. You can also play around with the sharpness filters, but I personally tend not to use them.

Be sure to click on the "Edit filter list" button to see all the available filters since they are not all visible by default.

Thanks for the response, i was wondering if maybe I could send you a quick snip of the video so you can recommend what filters to use?
Thanks!

Does anyone know what the cost would be to upgrade from "TMPGEnc DVD Source Creator 4" to "TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress"?

Before spending the extra money for "TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress", I would like to try "TMPGEnc DVD Source Creator 4" first. Unfortunately there is no trial version of "TMPGEnc DVD Source Creator 4".

You can't upgrade from DVD Source Creator 4 to 4.0 XPress. However, there is a user discount you would be eligible for which lowers the cost of 4.0 XPress to $79.95 (assuming you buy DVD Source Creator).

Why not just download the trial version of TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress? You'd be able to try out everything that DVD Source Creator does and then some.