DVD & Bluray Burn issues in MEP 2015

rjkowalski wrote on 8/20/2015, 11:16 AM

I have three issues in MEP 2015 that I didn't have in MEP 2013. I just emailed this to Tech Support and will post any response I receive in case others experience the same issues.
Burning: After completing my multi-cam edit and entering Burn mode, I could burn a working DVD. However, I haven't been able to create a working Dual Layer DVD or Bluray. I need one or the other done by Sunday for a High Def presentation (it's a 2.5 hour 1080i performance).
Bluray disk: It seems to create the bluray fine, but the simple one button menu to play doesn't function once burned so there's no way to play it.
Dual Layer DVD: The burner recognizes that I've inserted a dual layer DVD but scales the DVD file size to 4481MB versus the 8152 available on the DVD. It’s trying to compress it to a single layer size despite knowing a dual layer disk is inserted. I went into the encoder settings and increased the bit rate to about 7000MB. When I burned direct to disk, it still created a 4481 size disk on the dual layer disk. I then encoded it to a folder and the folder size was 7000 mb so I tried to burn the dual layer DVD using ImgBurn but received an error that said "Unable to find any cells that could be used for the layer break". When I tried to burn it anyways, it still only used half the disk space and the quality was again poor.

Editing issues: I've been very frustrated with MEP 2015 since I "upgraded" from MEP 2013 last year. I've had nothing but problems that I never had. For example, I use the cursor keys for precise multi-cam editing but using the reverse direction cursor is so stuttery it’s unusable. The multi-cam 4 window view can be increased but the individual camera views can’t be increased large enough to view them well even on a larger monitor. It’s almost better to only edit two camera views at a time (so why then just not use MEP 2013?).
I've loved MEP ever since I switched a few years ago but I'm close to throwing in the towel because I've wasted so much time (and created so many coasters) over the last year with various issues in MEP 2015. I even spent the money to upgrade my computer MOB & CPU solely because MEP 2015 had more performance issues than MEP 2013.

Comments

rjkowalski wrote on 9/4/2015, 11:44 AM

I've been dealing with Magix support for the last year on the problems in MEP 2015. I've specifically been dealing with the inability to burn a dual layer DVD and bluray from a 2 hour + multicam edit. Erratic settings in the burn menu, failures to burn, menus that don't work on standalone players, etc. No problem with a single layer DVD but absolutely no luck burning a DL DVD or a bluray. No problem in MEP 2013 so I suspect something is seriously flawed in the burn module of MEP 2015. I've asked Tech Support 3 times to "try to replicate the issue by setting MEP 2015 to all default settings except Main Concept encoder and try to burn a bluray and dual layer DVD with 2 hours of 1080i footage and a simple stock menu to see if you have the same issues?" They constantly come back (after waiting days) with just another suggestion for me to try. I just sent them another email asking why they cannot test the software as I ask. If it works for them, perhaps my install is corrupted.

If anyone out there has been successful burning a dual layer DVD and/or bluray of a 2 hour + multicam edit created in MEP 2015, please let me know. Thanks!

johnebaker wrote on 9/4/2015, 5:59 PM

. . . . I need one or the other . . . . High Def presentation (it's a 2.5 hour 1080i performance). . . . .

On DL DVD you will only get approx 1 hour of video in HD format and approx 3hr 45 to 4 hrs as DVD, ie 720 x 480 or 720 x 576

I have test rendered / burned a 3 hr 25 min movie on to a DL disc with no problems.

I would suggest your export the entire movie a 1920 x 1080 Magix video (MXV) files, by setting a range - 45 to 60 mins depending on a convenient break point - and then exporting that range.

Start a new project and import the MXV files in order and then try burning to DL disc.

HTH

John EB

rjkowalski wrote on 9/4/2015, 6:37 PM

Thanks for the response John. Did you create the DVD/bluray menu structure for your 3 hour movie within MEP 2015? The problems I've had are within that Burn module. Here are a couple examples;

1. It recognizes a Dual Layer DVD is inserted in the writer but sets the encoding to only use half the disk (ie, it doesn't properly adjust the bit rate to maximize use of available disk space). When I try to manually adjust the bitrate, the disk won't write properly (an error that disk image is not proper for dual layer burn).

2. For bluray, the menus work fine in the MEP 2015 preview but not in the final disk on bluray players.

Thanks again. Over the years, I've tried other editing software but love the work flow of MEP best. I've been trying everything this last year to iron out the MEP 2015 bugs (including new mobo and CPU because it doesn't deal with AVCHD as well as MEP 2013 did) but it's no good if I can't get a suitable bluray or dual layer DVD burnt.

Rick

johnebaker wrote on 9/5/2015, 3:59 AM

Hi Rick

. . . . Did you create the DVD/bluray menu structure for your 3 hour movie within MEP 2015? . . . .

Yes - everything was done in MEP 2015. The only difference is that I did not use Multi cam editting - I find it quicker to edit multiple camera video 'manually'.

. . . . I've tried other editing software but love the work flow of MEP best . . . .

Likewise - I have been using MEP since version 11 which came out way back.

Try the exporting as I suggested in my previous post - the problem may be a glitch in the rendering stages, without see an error log it is difficult to pin down the problem.

HTH

John EB

emmrecs wrote on 9/5/2015, 6:17 AM

Rick, just a different possible solution for you.

I don't have MEP 2015 (chiefly because my system is still 32 bit) but I have experienced problems burning D/L DVD in VPX5 (which is still my "go to" video editing software). I also do sometimes do multicam editing and export to DVD, though I don't think I've ever needed to export a multicam edit to D/L.

However, one failsafe (for me) routine I now always use for D/L is to export the video to an image (.iso) file and then use (the free) ImgBurn to create the D/L disc from the folder of video etc. files which VPX always creates prior to the actual .iso file. I often "sell" my work to paying customers and since starting to use ImgBurn for any D/L discs, none has been returned as unplayable by anyone, whatever the age of their DVD player!

I have to say, ImgBurn is NOT the easiest program to learn/use but I did find quite extensive guidance at the ImgBurn Support Forum on how to use it to successfully burn D/L., though the advice there does need updating to take account of the most recent version(s) and their slight differences.

HTH

Jeff

rjkowalski wrote on 9/5/2015, 12:45 PM

Jeff: I have tried using imgburn to burn my image. In fact, that's always my first routine so I have the image on a backup drive. For this exercise, I've tried an .iso burn, a folder burn, and direct to disk with no luck getting an operable disk. That's why I believe the problem is the menu folder structure that is created by MEP 2015. Moments ago I replaced my 2010 LG bluray writer with a brand new one. Although the other one worked for every other burn I've done, I figured it was time to get a newer one anyways. This will rule out a writer issue.

John: I will try your export technique if a burn still doesn't work.

Thanks guys,

Rick

rjkowalski wrote on 9/7/2015, 11:35 AM

I replaced my Bluray writer with a brand new LG writer a few days ago. It does recognize the dual layer disk right at the start & adept the bit rate better than it did with the old writer (although not optimal). However, when you click "encode to directory" it still gives the error "The project requires ca. 7039 MB of free disc space. The encoded file would not fit onto a disc. Do you want to automatically split the project into several parts?". There's no reason for this message since it previously showed the dual layer disc could handle the image. However, if you say "No", it tries to write the disc but fails half way through the process with a "Write Error". After numerous emails back & forth trying to get Magix Support to replicate my error, I've gotten no confirmation they were able to successfully write a dual layer disc. I've found no way to do it. I've given up on trying to get a dual layer DVD to burn.

With a few project setting adjustments, I was able to burn a bluray successfully. Instead, I've cut the project into "Act1" & "Act2" and burned two DVD disks.

Rick

rjkowalski wrote on 9/12/2015, 1:17 PM

SOLVED! I was able to get a Dual Layer DVD to burn!

I'm not exactly sure what the problem was because I tried so many different things. I'm not sure why the firmware update software didn't properly alert me to a burner update but I did that first. I don't know if it was the firmware, the fact that I had been using the "Standard NTSC DVD Widescreen" preset versus the "Standard NTSC DVD" preset, or I sometimes tried to adjust the bitrate to maximize quality (by default it only uses about 7039 of available 8152M).

Based on my experience, I passed on the following to Magix Tech Support;

1. Fix the program to select burning a dual layer DVD. You shouldn't have to insert a Dual Layer DVD into the writer prior to clicking the "Burn" button, especially because you may just want to encode to the hard drive. For now, you should provide an FAQ for burning a dual layer DVD saying the DVD must be inserted into the writer prior to selecting "Burn".
2. Better define when to select "Standard NTSC DVD Widescreen" preset versus the "Standard NTSC DVD" preset.
3. Fix the bug that even when you select everything properly and have a dual layer DVD in the burner, you still get a pop up that says "The project requires ca. 7039 MB of free disc space. The encoded files would not fit onto a disc. Do you want to automatically split the project into several project parts?" If you answer this question "OK", you get "Burning was aborted. Internal Error." If you click "Ignore", it properly burns a dual layer DVD.

johnebaker wrote on 9/12/2015, 2:00 PM

Please to here your problem has been solved - I suspect the burner firmware update was the fix that worked - see below re selecting Standard or Widescreen.

. . . . by default it only uses about 7039 of available 8152M . . . .

DVD DL media has a capacity.of 7.4 - 7.7GB for video - a small amount of space is taken up by control files for the player and the software must also leave space for defective sectors / blocks on the discs - so the setting you are getting is about right.

. . . . You shouldn't have to insert a Dual Layer DVD into the writer prior to clicking the "Burn" button, especially because you may just want to encode to the hard drive. . . .

A very good point which would be useful - the only issue I can see in burning a dual layer disc from the DVD files ( IFO, VOB ets) is that some burning software may not recognise the split point set by MEP and wants to change the point at which the disc changes layers.

The option would be ideal for creating a DL ISO image, independant burning software should not have a problem as the entire disc structure has been predetermined.

. . . . Better define when to select "Standard NTSC DVD Widescreen" preset versus the "Standard NTSC DVD" preset. . . . .

The only change here that would require clarifying is that Standard NTSC DVD refers to 4:3 aspect ratio video ( same goes for Standard PAL DVD ) - this often catches people out, particularly those who are new to video editting.

This should not affect the burning as it only sets a flag in one of the DVD data files for the DVD player that the image pixels are to be stretched horizontally to achieve the widescreen (16:9) display.

HTH

John EB

rjkowalski wrote on 9/13/2015, 11:06 PM

Thanks for the info John. It is curious that Tech Support specifically told me to use "Standard NTSC DVD" versus the widescreen one I had been using. Like you said, that probably wasn't the issue anyways.

I'm surprised that it might have been the firmware since the burner was manufactured in May.

Thanks as always for your assistance.

Rick