Questions
and Answers
Helpful Hints
Q: How can I record 6 hours of video onto a DVD?
A: Use DVD Movie Factory software
DVD Movie Factory is flexible in being able to control file size.
Start new project (choose DVD).
Click on the check marked box on the bottom left of the screen.
Go to 'Change MPEG settings'
Make sure the 'do not convert MPEG compliant file' is unchecked.
Select 'CIF,352x240,1500kbps,6 hrs per DVD' or *customize
* customize
choose resolution under 'Frame size'
compression -- here you can choose a specific bit rate.
MPEG1 audio is much smaller than LPCM audio but the quality is
less and has less compatibility with stand alone DVD players.
Q: How can I put 6 VCDs onto one DVD?
A: In DVD Movie Factory ,you can input 5-6 VCDs on DVD disc .
Please try the following steps:
1.Please select DVD as a new project. Then click "Next".
2.Please go to Project Setting (Press Alt+J) , click "Change MPEG Settings" and select "CIF,352x240,1500kbps,6 hrs per DVD " and don't check "Do not convert compliant MPEG
file". Then, click OK.
3.Please click "Add video" to input .dat files .(We suggest you copy .dat file from VCD disc to hard disk first. )
4.Next ,you could select menu template then go to next step to burn.
Q: I just
plugged in my DV camcorder and started capturing, but some
frames were dropped. What am I doing wrong?
A:
The recommended system features for MPEG transcoding when
capturing video to your computer are:
1.
Intel Pentium III 933 MHz or higher
2.
256MB RAM or higher
3.
High-speed hard drive (7200rpm)
4.
Enough free hard disk space to store temporary system files
5.
An
IEEE 1394 (Firewire) or other capture device.
Capturing
full-motion video is a hard job for a computer. You need to make
sure that your system is operating at its best. First check the
following:
-
Make sure
your system meets the Minimum System Requirements.
-
Make sure
you have enough free space on your hard disk.
-
There may
be too many applications running simultaneously with DVD
MovieFactory 2. It's better to close all background
applications before capturing. Disconnect from the internet,
press Ctrl+Alt+Del or open Task Manager and shut down virus
checkers, media players, and other non-essential software
running in the background.
-
The hard
disk may need to be defragmented. You can run "Disk
Defragmenter" from Start: Programs: Accessories: System Tools,
or use a third-party defragmenting tool.
-
In Display
Properties: Screensaver, disable screensavers which can kick
in and disrupt the video flow during capture.
In Display
Properties: Screensaver, select Power Settings and change the
settings so that your computer does not shut down the monitor or
power down hard drives before at least 1 hour.
Q:
What's the deal with "Region Encoding" on some DVDs that I rent
or buy - can the DVDs that I create be played on players around
the world?
A: Yes, they
can. For copyright protection, movie studios place geographical
restrictions on DVDs. However, the DVDs, VCDs and SVCDs that you
create do not have these same restrictions, so you can safely
send your video made in America to Grandma in England.
Q: What is the difference
between Windows AVI and DV-AVI formats?
A: For video editing purposes in PowerDirector, producing a file in DV-AVI
will allow you to write back this file to your DV camcorder.
A basic AVI file (or Windows AVI) usually consists of one video stream and
one audio stream. On the other hand, native DV format (as stored on your
DV camcorder) will interleave audio and video into a single stream.
Generally, Windows AVI files are larger in size than DV-AVI files, because
they are stored in raw format, without compression. Quality-wise, it is
difficult to say which is better, when using the same source material for
both.
For more information on this topic, you may wish to consult the Microsoft
web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/tech/stream/vidcap/dvavi.asp
Q: How do I make DiVX files?
A: In order to create DiVX files, you need to download and install the
DiVX codec. You can find this in the DiVX Player package, freely available
at DiVX Web Site.
Once the DiVX codec is installed:
- Edit your movie using PowerDirector
- Go to Production mode
- In Step 1, select "Video for General Purposes", and then choose "AVI".
Click on the "Next" button.
- In Step 2, select "AVI Video", and choose "Windows". Select a quality
profile. Then, click on the "Settings" button.
- Another window will appear. The first setting, labeled "Compression
Codec", is by default on "No Compressor". Choose the codec with the name
DiVX in it.
If you wish to customize the DiVX settings, click on "Codec Settings"
button on the same page. After customizing your settings, click on "OK".
Click on "OK". You should still be in Step 2. Click on the "Next" button
to continue the production process.
Video Formats
Video Formats: What should I use?
Many of us out there have heard of DVDs before -- but what are
miniDVDs, VCDs, or SVCDs? The reason that you may want to
consider these other strange formats is because the costs of DVD
burning hardware and DVD-R/RW discs themselves are still rather
high.
These alternative
formats provide a good economical solution for distributing your
movies on CD-R/RW discs that can be played on computers and many
home stand-alone DVD players.
For a complete
guide on the advantages, required settings and playback options
of each format, please refer to the tables below.
DVD - 'Digital Versatile Disc'
DVD is DVD-Video
recorded on a DVD-R or DVD-RW disc, which contains superior
quality video (MPEG-2) and audio. Typically, a DVD can hold more
than one hour of video.
DVD Video Parameter Settings
Frame Size:
720x480 (NTSC) or 720x576 (PAL)
Frame Rate:
29.97 frames/second (NTSC) or 25 frames/second (PAL)
Video Data
Rate: 4~8 Mbps CBR or VBR (Constant/Variable Bit Rate)
Audio
Settings: Stereo, 48 kHz and 192~384 kbps MPEG audio
DVD Playback Options:
Stand-alone
DVD players
Computer DVD
drives with playback software
miniDVD - 'mini Digital Versatile Disc'
miniDVD is
DVD-Video recorded on a CD-R or CD-RW disc. Typically, a miniDVD
can hold about 18 minutes of video encoded at 4 Mbps.
miniDVD Video Parameters Settings*
Frame Size:
720x480 (NTSC) or 720x576 (PAL)
Frame Rate:
29.97frames/second (NTSC) or 25 frames/second (PAL)
Video Data
Rate: 4~8 Mbps CBR or VBR (Constant/Variable Bit Rate)
Audio
Settings: Stereo, 48 kHz and 192~384 kbps MPEG audio
miniDVD Playback Options:
A very limited
number of stand-alone DVD Players with CD-R or CD-RW playback
capabilities (See DVD player manufacturer for compatibility)
Computer
DVD/CD-ROM drives with playback software
*NOTE:
These settings are the same as the DVD settings.
VCD - 'Video Compact Disc'
A CD-ROM disc
that contains video and audio. Typically, a VCD can hold about
74 minutes (650MB) of video and stereo-quality audio. The video
and audio are stored in MPEG-1 format and follow certain
standards (White Book). VCD video quality is roughly the same as
VHS video.
VCD Video Parameters Settings
Frame Size:
352x240 (NTSC) or 352x288 (PAL)
Frame Rate:
29.97 frames/second (NTSC) or 25 frames/second (PAL)
Video Data
Rate: 1152 kbps
Audio
Settings: Stereo, 44.1kHz and 224kbps audio bit rate
VCD Playback Options:
Almost all
stand-alone VCD or DVD Players with CD-R or CD-RW playback
capabilities (See DVD player manufacturer for compatibility)
Computer
DVD/CD-ROM drives with playback software
SVCD - 'Super Video Compact Disc'
A CD-ROM disc
that contains high quality video and audio. Typically, a SVCD
can hold about 35~45 minutes (650MB) of video and stereo-quality
audio (depends on the data rate used for encoding). The video
and audio are stored in MPEG-2 format, much like a DVD. SVCD
video has better quality than VHS video.
SVCD Video Parameter Settings
Frame Size:
480x480 (NTSC) or 480x576 (PAL)
Frame Rate:
29.97 frames/second (NTSC) or 25 frames/second (PAL)
Video Data
Rate: Variable bit rate up to 2600 kbps
Audio
Settings: 32~384 kbps MPEG-1 Layer 2 audio bit rate
NOTE: The
maximum audio and video combined data rate cannot exceed
2750kbps.
SVCD Playback Options:
Some
stand-alone DVD Players with CD-R or CD-RW playback
capabilities (See DVD player manufacturer for compatibility)
Computer
DVD/CD-ROM drives with playback software
Product Series: DVD
Movie Creator
Q1: I have video, but I don't have any
sound.
A1: Make sure an audio cable
(the included Y-cable with RCA audio) is plugged from the source (VCR)
into the 1/8" audio on the capture card. (see card diagram)
Q2: During preview I can hear sound but
during recorded playback, there is no sound.
A2: Make sure the audio patch cable is
connected from capture card to sound input. (the sound input is
located on the sound card or motherboard (if on board sound). The 1/8" sound input is usually denoted
by an up arrow pointing into 3 curved lines. Also make sure in the windows Volume Control
panel, line-in is NOT muted.
Q3: I have DVD Movie Creator Analog &
Digital. I can record video with the second analog video input but when I
try to use other software the RCA video doesn't display.
A3: The new driver will fix this issue. You
must first uninstall the old driver first. To uninstall the driver go to
Control Panel > System > Device Manager > open (+) the section
sound, video... remove these files; bt878 and the two Fotocom
drivers. Download the new driver from the New Drivers section.
http://www.cestuff.com/drivers/drivers.htm.
Reboot the system to install the new driver.
Q4: I have Power Director Pro. I
installed the software but the program won't run.
A4: There is a conflict with Media Player 9.
There is a patch for this. The version of the software we bundle is PD2.5
DE, which supports MPEG2. Click the link to download.
http://www.gocyberlink.com/english/download/upgrade/PDP25_patch0919.asp
Q5: I have DVD Movie Creator w/TV, but I
can't get the remote to work.
A5: Make sure the receiver (small cable with
clear dome) is plugged into the capture card and that the dome is in line
of sight of the remote.
A5 con't: If you verified A5 but it still
doesn't work. This is because of a software conflict with your system. The
new driver will fix this issue. You must first uninstall the old driver
first. To uninstall the driver go to Control Panel > System > Device
Manager > open (+) the section sound, video... remove these
files; Philips and the two Fotocom drivers. Download the new driver
from the New Drivers section.
http://www.cestuff.com/drivers/drivers.htm.
Reboot the system to install the new driver. Make sure to first uninstall
the old driver (Fotocom & Philips 7130 or 7133 chipset).
Q6: I am using Power Director Disc Wizard to
burn my video to disc but the file won't fit.
A6: Power Director uses a PCM audio format.
While providing excellent sound and compatibility, this format is less
compressed and will add additional size to your A/V file.
If this doesn't answer your question, please
contact us. techsupport@cestuff.com
Tech Support offered most days and nights
(including weekends and holidays).
