DVD failure in menu

siegbrunn wrote on 6/3/2018, 10:44 AM

On Win10 64b up to date. MEP plus 2017 v. 16.0.4.119 (UDP3)

After the whole problem with the missing audio in mts files, I was relieved that everything (for me anyway) seemed to be working properly again. . . . . at least I thought so.
I am making a DVD of a concert presented by our theater group and have now done a THIRD mixdown (with changes which I will explain in a moment) and have another dud DVD.

1st mixdown and DVD burn: Full concert (no captions BTW on the principal of "keep it simple, stupid") In the menu I used my own graphic BG and re-ordered the Titleson each chapter page (no thumbnails, only title list) so the numbers would run consecutively in each of two columns and not zig-zag down the page (I have done this before successfully). The full DVD was 1:50 so I used a double-layer DVD.
RESULT
The film seemed to mix down and then burn OK, but it didn't work. An attempt with several DVD players (VLC, 5K, WMP) resulted in a moment's pause and then the player shut down.

2nd mixdown and DVD burn: Thought perhaps I had made the menu too complicated so chose a template with a simple column on each chapter page (no thumbnails, just title list). Did it again. Nope. Same result. I looked at the files on the DVD and in the Magix temp file (that Magix saves on the PC) and an attempt to open it direct from the file manager showed me an odd behavior of the Menu file: it didn't stay open - it just flashed by and closed immediately, going immediately to the first VOB file. At that point it would begin playing normally, (but without menu.) This result BTW was only possible over the file manager, the player alone couldn't do that.

3rd DVD burn: I tried converting this last DVD to an ISO and then burned that. Nope.

3rd mixdown and 4th DVD burn:
Decided to shorten the concert, so I cut out all moderation and managed to shorten it enough to go on one regular DVD. Simplified the menu and used a mostly white BG from Magix.
RESULT: Same. I can go in and play the thing just from the VOB files.

I hope I haven't overwhelmed all of you with info, it's just easier to try to make everything clear at the start, just to save time.

My conclusion is: There is a problem with Magix's menu creation. Is this something left over from the whole problem with audio? I find that hard to believe. But in any case, I have no idea how to proceed. Should I dump my current MEPplus2017 and lay out the €€ for a new one? (can't really afford it) Reinstall (again)?

At least I have a nice collection of disc coasters for the terrace this summer

Comments

wongck wrote on 6/8/2018, 12:37 AM

Not really knowing how to resolve your issue, but just sharing how I make DVD.

I been creating DVD of my holiday video with MEP since before 2010 but decided to use USB nowadays due to HD video. I do not use the burning capability of MEP but I use burn to folder that creates the individual files of a DVD. I then use media player to "play" from a folder and check the effects of the menu etc before really burning it to DVD.... at least I do not create coaster if I want to make changes.

For burning, I use the freeware CDBurnerXP that allows making a video DVD from folder.

terrypin wrote on 6/8/2018, 2:15 AM

Hi,

I never burn from MEP, which I’m afraid I've always found unreliable. When the message appears asking me to insert a disc, I click Cancel. Then I check that the DVD folder automatically rendered by MEP plays OK using VLC . Then I finally burn it with the versatile and reliable (and free) burner ImgBurn.

I’d suggest you do the same, at least to eliminate MEP’s burning as the cause of your problem.

If that fails then it will indeed reinforce the possibility that it’s MEP’s menu-building function at fault. Which from experience I’m inclined to suspect. So I’d suggest you next create the smallest possible (non-confidential) project that exhibits the problem. Then use File > Backup copy > Copy project and media into a folder, zip it up and upload it to a host site (I use Dropbox for instance) so that we can see what you mean and try to reproduce it. Productive dIscussion about menus otherwise often proves difficult.

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

browj2 wrote on 6/8/2018, 10:06 AM

Hi,

I encode first, check the files, and then in MEP go to File, Burn CD/DVD, Burn copy of an already created video disk. The first burn is to a rewritable DVD or BD (saves money). I check that. If good I start burning copies. Usually works fine.

You can try the same as the folder with the files is still on your computer.

For copies, once I have a successful DVD, I can use a different program to burn copies.

I have noticed that disks burned on my newer ASUS burner work fine on my 3 DVD players, but other people seem to have problems. So, if for distribution to others, I use my older HP burner in my desktop, except for BD, which it doesn't do.

John CB

siegbrunn wrote on 6/12/2018, 6:39 AM

@wongck
@terrypin
@browj2

Didn't check in for a couple of days, so I'm just catching up. Thank you for your answers. Now I will start working through them.

Just as a first reaction: I had already tried working from the folder in Magix Temp, burning to disc with another program, but the behavior was the same. (That is BTW the folder created by Magix as it mixed down and encoded.)
I don't understand where I can choose not to burn, just save to a folder. As I write I am attempting the burn w/o a disc, probably that's what you meant. I'll see how it comes out and then, Next Step.

siegbrunn wrote on 6/12/2018, 8:18 AM

OK guys! I created a mini DVD of about 2 minutes with menu of 2 chapters. "Burned" only to the Magix Temp folder as recommended, which seemed to work as you all explained it. An attempt to start it in VLC brought a "flash" of menu (about half a second) and then it went directly to the main film, At least VLC didn't just vanish again this time. But an attempt to advance to the 2nd chapter only returned me to the starting point, (chapter 1).

I am now loading the zipped dvd to Drop Box and perhaps you can take a look? Sorry, it's large of course. (147MB, even tho it's only 2 1/2 minutes)

Here's the Link:
http://www.dropbox.com/s/kbsy8ummr8uvodg/DVD%20Image%202018-Ulli_Demo_test.zip?dl=0

wongck wrote on 6/12/2018, 8:22 AM

Sorry about that, on the burn menu it is actually called "Image recorder" on mine. Not sure if it was put in by some other software or by MEP itself. But it was there for as long as I used MEP

siegbrunn wrote on 6/12/2018, 8:31 AM

@terrypin
Gulp! I see that perhaps I have not uploaded what you wanted to dropbox. I see that you wanted
File > Backup copy > Copy project and media into a folder,
and not a copy of the DVD files. OK, I'm running the command that now and the folder is enormous. (7GB) I think I'm going to have to find a tiny piece of film and create a new project from scratch, right?
Let me know.

browj2 wrote on 6/12/2018, 8:46 AM

@wongck

I click on the Encode button and select or create the destination folder, then the process runs for me without burning a DVD or even asking to put a DVD in the burner. I haven't ever created an image (iso).

John CB

siegbrunn wrote on 6/12/2018, 8:48 AM

OK. I've done an itty bitty. Lets see how it goes.

It's in the DropBox. PS. the behavior is the same. Opening it as a folder in VLC flashes the menu for a half a second and then direct to the film. No chapters available. And now this is the saved "project and media" as Terry requested.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/o79tcq3j54llw2s/TEST%20project.zip?dl=0

johnebaker wrote on 6/12/2018, 9:10 AM

@siegbrunn

Thanks for the project download.

I can see that you have modified the menu template, disabling the main movie menu and adding a link on the chapter page to the main movie.

AFAIK this is not allowed the player is expecting a main movie menu which does not exist or play a movie immediately. It hangs on the chapter menu, chapters should have their own page and it is best to allow MEP to generate the required page(s) and links.

To create the pages correctly for the current project:

in the Burn menu enable the Film menu option
remove the chapters from the project timeline
return to the Burn menu this should create the correct menu
on the timeline, add the chapters again
return to the burn menu, you should now have the menus created correctly.
Burn the project - it should now play correctly

Added: the cats reactions are hilarious 😂😂😂😂😂😆😆😆😆😆

HTH

John EB

siegbrunn wrote on 6/12/2018, 9:31 AM

@johnebaker

Very strange. I've used MEP for years (since 2009 at least) and I almost always leave the "Film Menu" off and have only the chapter menu. That was never a problem before.The chapter page is not actually the "main movie", but the 2 (in this case) individual chapters.
I'm willing to try to burn it again with the Film Page in, but I can't believe that's the problem. As I said, this began after all that mess with the loss of audio in MTS files after the Windows update 1083. In the course of that catastrophe I reinstalled my MEP plus 2017 and it could be I should do that again. Dunno.
Anyway, I'll try the cat movie with full menu, see if that works.

siegbrunn wrote on 6/12/2018, 9:46 AM

@johnebaker

And schwoopdiwoop! (they say that here in Germany) it jumps through the film and then the chapter menu just like the cats in the film!
I've Uploaded this to the dropbox as well
https://www.dropbox.com/s/7nfg0vkqg826ohp/Test%20enc%20BU.zip?dl=0

siegbrunn wrote on 6/12/2018, 11:51 AM

I should ask at this point (unless one of you gets a different result when viewing this tiny masterpiece), is it time to reinstall MEP (over the old? or clean out everything and start again?) ort dump it and lay out the $$$ (or in my case €€€) and buy the 2018 version?

johnebaker wrote on 6/12/2018, 12:43 PM

@siegbrunn

The last project upload works fine here using MEP 2018 and MEP 2016 - my 2017 was updated to 2018. I have uploaded the finished dvd iso image here.

. . . . ort dump it and lay out the $$$ (or in my case €€€) and buy the 2018 version? . . . .

The program does not need dumping, if you upgrade to 2018 you have the option to replace 2017.

I would suggest you contact Magix sales and enquire about the upgrade price.

. . . . schwoopdiwoop! (they say that here in Germany) . . . .

That must a local dialect/version of 'schwuppdiwupp' ie. 'in a flash'.

HTH

John EB

terrypin wrote on 6/12/2018, 2:38 PM

@johnebaker

And schwoopdiwoop! (they say that here in Germany) it jumps through the film and then the chapter menu just like the cats in the film!
I've Uploaded this to the dropbox as well
https://www.dropbox.com/s/7nfg0vkqg826ohp/Test%20enc%20BU.zip?dl=0

@siegbrunn

I successfully previewed 2018-06-12 TEST. But it took me a long time to get to the Burn stage as I was doubled up - haven't laughed so much in a long time, brilliant video! Hilarious that a cat (kitten?) could mistake a cucumber for, what, a snake?

I'd assumed this was for a DVD, so perhaps that's why MEPP 2016 (15.0.0.114) reported this error during the burn stage:

I switched to a Blu-ray burn and that was OK. I didn't burn a physical disc but the file 00000.m2ts played OK and anyway I see John EB has made an ISO. Please remind me what your issue is with this example?

I then looked at the earlier 'two button menu' project (identically named 2018-06-12 TEST.MVP, which gave me an initial problem). That 'burned' with no error to D:\Videos+Projects\MEP VOBs\DVD Image 2018-06-12_TEST and I played that OK with VLC. I haven't time right now to burn to a physical disc but will do so asap. As before, can you spell out exactly what unexpected behaviour you get with this project. Ideally while it's still relatively fresh in my mind!

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

siegbrunn wrote on 6/12/2018, 5:30 PM

The issue I have with the previous DVDs as well as the little cat video (not mine, BTW, it came from somewhere in the Net, maybe youTube), is that, it seems to go smoothly during the creation of the DVD Folder or Disc, but playback - on VLC or any other player - either crashes the player program silently, i.e.: it just closes after a few seconds without any "comment", or it flashes a fast picture of the menu - film menu and then chapter menu - for about a half a second and then springs over to the main film, which in this tiny video is entirely contained in the one file VTS_01_1.VOB.

This means the menu is useless and I may as well export an MP4 film clip to send out, which is what I have done now. This film (not the cat video I assure you) is a demo to send to agents for one of our students and we were under time pressure.

@terrypin
The second test folder was named Test enc BU. But I didn't think to change the project name after I had done the menu changes suggested by @johnebaker. I assume that you found Test enc BU at the end of the second DropBox link? (Or did I post the wrong link?)

However, now I have another complete concert from other students from a couple of weeks ago and another agent is waiting for it. This is far too long to make without chapter markings in DVD form, and now I am feeling somewhat lost. I think that perhaps I should uninstall MEP, really clean out all traces and then install new. I know that my PC isn't the most powerful, but till now I seldom had a problem with defective burned DVDs, and until after the resolution of the audio problem that arose last month (I think you all know what I'm talking about) this problem didn't occur. As I said, somewhere in there I re-installed and maybe something got messed up.

terrypin wrote on 6/12/2018, 11:02 PM

Before you go through the hassle of re-installing, repairing, upgrading or whatever, I’d suggest we spend a little more time discussing the issue. Focusing on a single, small project that you have created and which exhibits the unacceptable behaviour. And which you can describe in detail so that little work is involved for those of us trying to replicate it.

I gather there’s a pressing deadline. And you have after all lost four days in getting to this stage. So maybe for you there is a commercial justification for upgrading and starting afresh. But for me that would be a potential trauma!

Sending this from my iPad having woken early but expect to get some time on my PC later today. On which project should I focus and which, if any, previous threads are of relevance?

(BTW, was there meant to be audio on the track?)

--------------------

EDIT: Now back on PC, testing your first project, 2018-06-12 TEST#1.MVP, as I believe from your latest post that you want to use that menu approach rather than the conventional one John stepped you through?

I 'burned' it without a problem to a folder I'd called Siegbrunn-TwoButtonTest. It plays OK from there in both VLC and MPC-HC. I then burned it with ImgBurn to disc which plays OK in VLC, MPC-HC and on my inexpensive DVD player to the lounge TV.

Please describe again what happens when you take those same steps.

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

johnebaker wrote on 6/13/2018, 3:07 AM

@siegbrunn

Does the ISO I uploaded play OK on your PC/player?

John EB

terrypin wrote on 6/13/2018, 3:54 AM

Morning John,

On my PC it plays OK here in VLC, but in MPC-HC the menu appers only very briefly and then the video plays.

Edit: That’s a flaw in MPC-HC, as I found it the same with other ISOs I tried.

As you see from my previous post, the 'two button' (chapters only) version plays OK here in both programs and from disc.

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

siegbrunn wrote on 6/13/2018, 4:23 AM

@terrypin
@johnebaker

Good morning! I had at the beginning of this discussion uploaded a disc image to DropBox (not realizing that I should be creating and uploading a "backup media folder" which I then did with a mini video of cats). I then deleted the disc image folder from my DropBox, but I have now restored it. I would like to know how this disc image behaves for you. I'm talking about this link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/kbsy8ummr8uvodg/DVD%20Image%202018-Ulli_Demo_test.zip?dl=0

When I try to play this folder

in VLC, I get the result I always get: it starts with a flash of menu and then goes straight to the start of the film.
In 5K I get nada, just a pause and then a silent Aufwiedersehen.
Windows Media Player I can't get to work at all so I can't say.

In the meantime, in VLC, the cat video (with or without the Film Menu) now jumps over the Menu completely (no "flash" as it goes by) and begins immediately with the film.
Now I'm going to muddy the waters even further. I've downloaded Media Player Classic 123, which I previously had but had somehow lost.
With MPC, playing from the Magix temp DVD Image folder:

1) The Cat video springs over the menu without showing anything and plays the film.
2) The above link Disc Image folder WORKS. Menu responsive and normal!!!!!!!!!
3.)BUT the Disc Image of the original film from which the "Ulli demo test" comes - a full concert - OPENS the menu, but that's it. It will go back and forth between page one and two of the "chapters" but nothing more. The menu itself is otherwise unresponsive and I cannot start the film.

@johnebaker

What ISO did you upload? Where do I find it?

Does the ISO I uploaded play OK on your PC/player?

terrypin wrote on 6/13/2018, 4:46 AM

@Siegbrunn: Could you reply to my question please?

"Please describe again what happens when you take those same steps."

johnebaker wrote on 6/13/2018, 7:07 AM

@siegbrunn

. . . . What ISO did you upload? Where do I find it? . . . .

The link is in my comment, 8 posts above this one.

John EB

siegbrunn wrote on 6/13/2018, 9:30 AM

@johnebaker
@terrypin

Sorry. I'll try to follow directions now. :). It's better anyway, I'm starting to get confused myself.
First, there IS an audio! But the iso has none. Oooh myyyyy, G. . .
You mean, there was no audio on your tracks? The cat vid is an MP4 and works directly in all players. I see in my MEP now that the audio is flat!

OK Wait - first, answer to John about sein ISO.
In VLC - your ISO works. Menu functions correctly, but no Audio.
In 5K - works as above, no Audio.
Media Player Classic 321 - no menu, goes straight to film, no Audio
So , the sound aside, we made progress, maybe.

OK as far as this clip goes. I went to the 2 Test Folders I uploaded to DropBox. I tested the MP4 file that is in them and they BOTH have audio. So now it seems there are TWO problems with my MEP.
Before I go further, John, what about the format? Are you in USA? You realize I'm in Germany and my DVDs will be PAL format. ?????? Is that what's involved with the missing audio?

And Terry, because I realized I really messed up with the second Test Folder with the same project name, I'm ready with another mini project - with audio this time - and I'll upload it in a project folder as soon as I have it ready. I'm dumping everything else.

siegbrunn wrote on 6/13/2018, 10:17 AM

Back again. I've uploaded another very small backup project folder. The quality of the video is awful (it's an old WMV file) but I was looking for the smallest I could find on my PC)
To answer perhaps a first question:

Playing back from the Disc Image folder (the new project)

I tried on Media Player Classic and it works. everything OK.
On VLC it springs directly over the menu straight to the film.

OK, here is the new mini-project.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/11mwjrzfhajip8r/Magix%20test%201.zip?dl=0