I've used TMPGENC Authoring Works for several years now and have thoroughly enjoyed the software.

I've hit a brick wall, unfortunately, when trying to take high def video from my Samsung HMX-H205 camcorder and import it into Authoring Works 5 to subsequently put a bunch of video files together to create a BluRay disc.

My camcorder saves the movie files as .MP4 files. Everything I've found seems to point to the Authoring Works 5 software not wanting to "play nice" with the .MP4 files.

I've tried converting these MP4 files to several different other formats, and just as with the MP4 files, everything seems to work fine until I get ready to create the appropriate folder/file structure within Authoring Works 5 to later burn to a BluRay disc.

No matter what type of file I'm dealing with (either the original MP4 file or other file types I convert the movie files to), Authoring Works proceeds to begin re-encoding the files and tells me it'll take approx. 118 hours to re-encode all 22 gigabytes of files.

There's no way I'm waiting 118 hours to create files to be placed on a single BluRay disc.

Can anyone provide me with any specific info. on what the issue is with the MP4 file type and exactly how I can convert the MP4 video files to a "DVD compliant" video file that I can simply put into TMPGENC Authoring Works 5 to where Authoring Works 5 will like the files as they are and won't begin trying to re-encode all of them?

A little confused here and very frustrated and just want to simply arrive at a lesser time-intensive process to ultimately get my movies with some easily-navigated menus onto BluRay.

Thanks.

Can you post the details of your source file? Use MediaInfo to get video specs and post it here.

Just looking at the specs of that camcorder, it sounds like the video should be Blu-ray compliant already.

Does the Smart Rendering icon (a blue "SR") on top of the thumbnails in the EDIT Stage?

Did you select an NTSC or PAL Blu-ray output format?

You mention DVD compliant; do you intend the final output to be SD and not HD?

Here's the info. via MediaInfo that you requested. More info. follows the MediaInfo text, too.


General
Complete name : C:\Users\Brad\Desktop\BluRay\06_2011\Florida Trip\Day 3 - Ft Myers Beach\HDV_0416.MP4
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : JVT
Codec ID : avc1
File size : 116 MiB
Duration : 56s 704ms
Overall bit rate : 17.2 Mbps
Writing library : SEC
@sec : UNG

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : Main@L4.2
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 4 frames
Format settings, GOP : M=3, N=15
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 56s 690ms
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 17.0 Mbps
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Variable
Frame rate : 59.940 fps
Minimum frame rate : 59.920 fps
Maximum frame rate : 59.960 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Interlaced
Scan order : Top Field First
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.137
Stream size : 115 MiB (99%)
Title : HMX200
Language : English

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile : LC
Codec ID : 40
Duration : 56s 704ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 128 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 886 KiB (1%)
Title : HMX200
Language : English

I get "FR" text instead of the "SR" text you mentioned.

I selected NTSC BluRay.

I intend the final output to be burned to BluRay. All of my various video files (above and beyond the single file I've posted MediaInfo text for here) total about 22 GB in size.

Thanks for any help / info. at all that you can provide.

Thanks for the info.

I think it's the profile and level setting of Main@L4.2 that is the problem. According to official Blu-ray video specifications, level 4.2 is not compliant with the Blu-ray format. It needs to be High@L4.1 (or lower) or Main@L4.1 (or lower).

See this white paper for the official specs (Page 14):
http://www.blu-raydisc.com/assets/Downloadablefile/BD-ROM-AV-WhitePaper_110712.pdf

tkrave:

Many thanks for the info.

tkrave:

Silly question I guess. How do I take the existing video that comes straight from my camcorder and "adjust" or convert it to the specifications you mentioned?

Well, TAW5 is converting it to the correct level when it's outputting, so that's one way to do it.

Any solution will involve a complete re-encode, so you might be stuck there. The level can affect many characteristics of the video.

The manual for that camcorder mentions Normal, Fine and Super Fine quality levels for HD recording. What quality level is it currently set at? Try Normal setting and see if it uses a lower level in MediaInfo.

TKRAVE:

Thanks for the additional recommendations. I'll try to adjust that "super fine" setting to either "fine" or "normal" for a short test clip this eve. and I'll then look at the characteristics of the video using MediaInfo to see if anything's majorly different.

Thanks again.

Tkrave:

Okay... I adjusted what you suggested down from "super fine" to "fine" and then "normal", recorded a short clip, evaluated the characteristics of the clip using MediaInfo, and the "Main@L4.2" characteristic is still there.

Sucks...

Not sure what to do now. Just seems nuts that I've got a high def camcorder that supposedly puts out movies in a format that I would think TMPGENC Authoring Works 5 could easily import and run with without having to do lengthy re-encoding, but that just continues to not be the case. I know the audio format of AAC is apparently a problem spot, too, with TAW5 from what I've read online in a few other areas.

Any other suggestions?

I'm going to contact the manufacturer of the camcorder to explain this in short as well and see if there's a firmware update available for the camera that will subsequently resolve some of my file format issues or if I'm just stuck.

Thanks again.

The video simply isn't Blu-ray compliant; that's not TAW5's fault. TAW5 is doing what it needs to do to make it compliant. It's unreasonable to put the blame on TAW5 in this case.

It's quite telling that Samsung's product description doesn't mention Blu-ray/AVCHD compatibility; if it were able to make a compliant video, you can bet they'd use that as feature for marketing the camcorder.

tkrave:

My fault... didn't mean to complain so much. Just frustrated that I seem to be having to jump through 100 hoops just to get lots of video I've recorded and archived to an external hard drive over the past 2 years to a BluRay disc.

I've found several programs using www.videohelp.com that will take a video of a higher level than "Main@L4.1" and change the level to anything I want, which in this case from our conversations, seems to be no higher than "Main@L4.1".

The audio format is still AAC though, so I'm now looking into a utility that will convert that AAC audio format to whatever audio format that TAW5 is o.k. with and can hopefully handle just fine without having to further re-encode my video files.

Any suggestions there as far as a preferred audio format that TAW5 deals with just fine, as well as any free audio conversion tools that should do the audio file format conversion for me?

Thanks again so much for your assistance.

AAC is also not Blu-ray compliant, so again, it's not whether TAW5 likes it, it's whether it's Blu-ray compliant or not. Dolby Digital/AC3 is probably the best choice. The only BD compliant audio format that TAW5 can't smart render is DTS.

Does TAW5 not import the AAC audio correctly? If there are no problems, you can let TAW5 convert it to Dolby Digital.

You can also use TAW5's demultiplexer to separate the audio and video streams into separate files. That way, you can use another program to alter the video file and let TAW5 or some other program re-encode the audio.

Changing the level setting in the header might work, as long as the actual video data conforms to level 4.1 or lower. If it exceeds it, you will probably have to do a full re-encode.

After installing VMW5, no videos installed on my system with a .WMV format will play in MS Media Player. Audio plays, video will not display.
I have Win7 64bit, 6 gig RAM. I have latest Radeon video drivers installed, I have run MS Fix tools on Media Player, but stil no luck. .WMV play fine inside VMW for editing - but not the output. -Files generated on my system in .wmv format, work fine on other PC's.

That's weird. I can play wmv files fine, I can even play the same file at the same time in both windows media player and TVMW5. I'm also on Win7 64-bit.

I'm testing out the MW 5 trial version in the hopes of using this product for blu-ray production. I'm editing an mts file that's ~103 minutes long. The audio stops at about 100 minutes, however. Is this a trial version limitation, or does this also happen with the official version? If the latter, how can I deal with it?

Thanks.

I don't think it's a trial limitation. Does the audio stay in sync or does it stop abruptly at the 100 minute mark?

It stops abruptly.

I think I've solved the problem. The source project lacked an audio lock near the 100-minute mark. I added the lock and re-encoded the file to H264 for import into TEMPGEnc. All the audio is there now.

Oddly, I originally produced a DVD edition of the project using Mac software (iDVD and Roxio Toast) and there was no problem. So, I guess TEMPGEnc, or at least the trial version, is sensitive to audio locks.

I'm on the AW 5 trial version, but hopefully can get an answer here. I'm editing a blu-ray project that's about 104 minutes long. The audio ends at about 100 minutes although the video continues and the original .ts file has the sound.

Is this a common problem? How is it dealt with?

Thanks.

Is it possible to have full importation SUP/IFO support in both Video Mastering Works and Authoring works. Noticed that WTV and TS DVB subtitles do not correctly display in certain situations i.e. wrong placement and colors. Correct handling of DVB subtitles can be achieved using ProjectX demux function.

I got the same problem with the DVB Subtitle as well, when try to render the TS file to any format, the subtitle will display on the left middle, instead of bottom. Any Solution or could fix that please? Thanks

I just upgraded from TMPGEnc Authoring Works 4, to 5, verson 5.0.8.26 to be exact.

I tried opening an MKV file I have, it fails. The MKV has a V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC video stream, a DTS audio stream, and a UTF8 subtitle track. No matter what I do, it will not open it. I uninstalled FFDshow and the Haali splitter, it opened it but there's no audio imported.

Any ideas?

Probably has to do with the DTS audio stream since that's not natively supported.

Check this previous reply from a user named Persen for a possible solution:

>I was already using Haali Media Splitter and FFDSHOW for another video software and for better decoding of .ts files, but found out that using them for decoding in TAW-5, i also had gotten DTS support.

>Preferences => Input/output format list => File input plug-in
Here i removed every marker, EXCEPT from the one in DirectShow file reader.

>Now when ever i open a MKV file in TAW-5, my Haali Media Splitter and FFDSHOW loads and makes it possible for TAW-5 to decode DTS audio.

>So, just install Haali Media Splitter plus FFDSHOW and change the decoding in TAW-5 and you get DTS decoding.
>Note: Output is not done in DTS though, this is done as Dolby Digital.

Adding to this, there is a slight chance you might get asked how you wish to open the file, there you just choose to Open 'as is'.

I unchecked all the filters in the File Input Plug-in section, except for DirectShow File Reader, it still hangs. The only way for it to import an MKV is to uninstall FFDshow & Haali, but then I don't get audio.

Just tried it again, literally a fresh install of Windows. Installed Windows, drivers, FFDshow x86, Haali Matroska Splitter, then finally TAW5. Rebooted, ran TAW5, went to File Input Plug-in and disabled everything except DirectShow File Reader, restarted TAW5, chose the MKV and it hung again with the wait mouse pointer. I'm going to ask for a refund, V4 worked fine using this procedure.

Here's an odd scenario, when FFDshow & Haali is installed and using TAW4, if all the TAW4 plug-ins are disabled *it* will hang too when loading an MKV. If I enable those plug-ins it'll load the MKV fine. No matter what I do, I can't get an MKV to load into TAW5 successfully, video and audio, even with FFDshow & Haali installed.

One thing that can be an ussue, is that the MKV has not been created propperly. I have on a few occations run in to poorly created MKV's on the web, who at first seemed to be OK when playing them on my computer with a media player, but showed problems when trying to open them in video editors or just trying to stream them with my WD TV Live.

These files i was forced to recode with HDConvertToX to fix the coding problems that the original creator of the MKV file had created with his software, who obviously has bugs.
It was the only software who could fix them because of the way that software works with extracting both video and audio to individual files and then use those to create a brand new propperly encoded video file.

I found the cause for an MKV video to lock-up when importing it, it's the Nvidia graphics driver at fault.

My setup is Window's 7 x64, ffdshow x86, Haali Matroska splitter and TAW5. Consistently I would import an MKV and it would lock-up. After re-installing Window's a few times, I discovered it worked when I hadn't installed any graphics driver from Nvidia (for my GeForce 520 card).

I installed "GeForce 301.42 - WHQL", the latest driver as of this post, then TAW5 would freeze. When I rolled back to driver "GeForce 296.10 Driver - WHQL", it worked fine and no longer locked-up.

I don't know what the root cause is, whether it's something Nvidia is doing, or if TAW5 is to blame, but rolling back to an earlier graphics driver "fixes" it.

Hope this helps someone else.

I use this software mainly to move videos between PC and DVD-RAM in either direction. I download videos in various formats to burn onto DVD-RAM, but as I do this only rarely I keep forgetting the exact procedure. I know I have to
(1) use the Editor to read in the video,
(2) convert it into some other format, and then
(3) use the VRCopy output option to add the converted file into an existing/empty DVD-RAM.

What I can never remember properly is the second stsge - conversion. Can anyone enlighten me?

TME2 is not a video converter. Your input video must be compliant with the output format.

Hi, there is already a publication schedule for authoring works 5 german version ? The English version was published on 13/03/2012. That's now been 10 weeks ago ...

I have installed the NVidia 301.42 drivers. On using TMPGEnc Authoring Works 4, I get an error code of 0x80070057 when trying to edit the file. I cannot progress from that point.

On uninstalling the 301.42 drivers and going back to the 296.10 drivers, all is well again with no errors at all.

It seems then that the 301.42 drivers are at fault in this situation. Is opinion too? Do you have any advice, fixes etc to offer?

Thank you for reading this question.
Regards,
Steve

I have the same error, but only with the 301.42 driver.
The only solution is to rollback to 296.10.

It is impossible to edit a file with the new driver.

I contacted NVidia, sent them the logs. They replied that it wasn't going to be fixed yet, but hopefully in a future driver update. Until then, I'll use 296.10.

After editing some MPEG files, I get an error message of
"this window size is not supported in the selected level".

What setting do I need to change?

David

I bought and install the software Mastering Works 5 only to realise it does not work and warning that it cannot find TImageDataSplash_enDataModule and shortly another pop up says MPEG Stream (%s)|%s).

kindly assist or i required an refund, afterall it is not a 20 software, i paid 99 bucks for it.

Thanks

Carol

FYI, this is not an official support forum. We're just a bunch of users like you.

You should use their official support form if you need an official response:
http://tmpgenc.pegasys-inc.com/en/support/support.html

You might want to try running the installer again and choosing the "Repair" option. You can also try reinstalling it altogether.

I have exactly the same problem. Please let me know if you find a solution - I've tried reinstalling, repairing, downloading again and still no success :-(

From a series of trials, details following, it appears that if the project files require a full encode, taking the project size to DL media/ more than 25gb in size, the project codes but is impossible to then burn.

Projects/ the codes were.

First project.
6 x 1080p DTS converted to lpcm, full encode, project size 47Gb.
Crashes ImgBurn/ Nero. Used TDK and Sony discs

Second project
First three files from project 1, project size 23GB
Burns with no problems.

Third project.
Second three files from project 1, project size 23.5GB
Burns with no problems.

Fourth Project.
Random selection of three files from project 1, project size 23GB
Burns with no problems.

Fifth Project.
Ripped Blu Ray.
No recode required, project size 45GB
Burns with no problems.

I found some tests about the brands you are using. Tests how ever are done more than a year ago and is about their BD25 discs.

http://blog.consumerpla.net/2011/02/blu-ray-media-sony-disks-review.html
In this test they mention that Sony began outsourcing their media to low quality manufacturers and that you have to read the MID to make sure that they actually are 100% Sony produced.
For safety reasons because of this, i do not reccomend using their media any more, since there can be duds between them.

http://blog.consumerpla.net/2011/02/blu-ray-media-tdk-disks-review.html
Test do sound promissing, but who knows if TDK not has done the same as Sony now, with outsourcing the production to a low quality manufacturer.
Lots of the old brands are no longer being produced by them selves, but by low quality manufacturers.

What i use: Verbatim
I have always used media from them, both CD, DVD and BD and have never had problems with their media. All my Blu-ray projects has also been burned well, but i have how ever never gone as high as 47GB, only about 45GB.

The disc used were all genuine, have learnt from past, bad, experiences ALWAYS to use good discs.

Really am reach the end of any sensible routes as they are, about the only things it could be now is either;

1) a problem with my burner, but it's still running/ burning fine other projects
or
2) the joys of a windows issue which my specific set up.

Think I might try the system rebuild first, while being a pain, doesn't cost much to do. If that doesn't help, I'll have to look at a new burner and see if that resolves the issue.

What is bugging me is that Author V4, still works fine, bar the fact that I can only get 4 parts on a disc rather than the possible 6 with Author V5????

If it turns out to the the burner it self who causes problems, then try to look at what Plextor is offering.
I am using their old PX-B940SA, the worlds first 12x BD burner. Expensive burner back when it was released, but it has never caused me problems.

Just an update to let you know I have I solved this problem!

After the rebuild and then a huge amount of reading, I have found that there is a possible (To keep me on the right side of microsoft!) problem with Windows 7 64 Bit, ONLY if you attempt to burn DL media.

It seems that if you have the right set of drives, you can not burn DL media, but can happily burn SL media. Here is the fun bit, this appears to vary from PC build to PC build and so the driver set on the specific build. So you can have two PCs which are exactly the same, bar say their audio card/ video card/ HD controllers etc. One will work and the other not!

I rebuild my system using Window 7 32 Bit and is running fine.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions and help :)