Advice on dummy pgc's in Scenarist

[mickrick]

I'm using scenarist to author a disc. The layout is as follows:

first pgc = short intro movie > main menu

main menu button 1 > thx trailer > dummy pgc1 > main movie > thx wow movie > main menu

main menu button 2 > sub menu (trailers)

sub menu button 1 > trailer 1 4:3 > sub menu

sub menu button 2 > trailer 2 4:3 > sub menu

sub menu button 3 > dummy pgc2 > trailer 3 16:9 > dummy pgc3 > sub menu

sub menu button 4 > main menu

The disc authors okay without any problems in scenarist, plays back exactly as laid out in powerdvd and burns fine with Primo.

The problems start when replaying the burned disc. The layout is all over the place. This appears to be because of the dummy pgc's.

When the disc is supposed to jump through the first dummy pgc to the movie, it actually jumps to the last dummy and then the rest of the disc is skew wiff. I think it's because I have more than one dummy and I don't really know how to use dummy pgc's properly


Where am I going wrong? Can anyone point me in the direction of a guide that explains using dummy pgc's properly?

[Crazyjoe]

A few important questions!

1. Are you using multiple language domains (e.g. language folder in the video manager and the video title sets), or only one?

2. Are the THX trailer before the main movie and the main movie itself in the same vts?

The way your DVD plays I think, that they both are in different video title sets.

At the present time I've only created dvds with only one language domain, and there shouldn't be any problem with dummy pgc's. But multiple pgcs can cause MANY problems, because dummys, to jump from one vts to the next need to be in the video manager and therefore in a language domain.

If you are using only one domain (and i think it would also be the same with multiple), be careful to which pgcs the link commands point! Scenarist recognizes each pgc not by the name you've given it, but by a number, which results of the order you are importing the pgcs into the scenario editor!

One last tip: I strongly advise you to use the simulation function scenarist offers! Or at least do first export only into a dvd structure, not a disc image, so you can test the dvd with a software dvd player! :)

[mickrick]

1. I'm using multiple languages, one in the video manager, the other in the submenu

2. The THX trailer is before the main movie, but is 4:3 and the main movie is 16:9, hence the dummy pgc.

The pgcs all work correctly in PowerDVD, jumping to all the right clips and back again. I'm aware that the dummys need to be in the video manager and in a language, but it appears to be the fact that I've 3 dummys that is causing the problem.

[Crazyjoe]

I didn't mean how many language folders you are using, but what different languages you are using. When I misunderstood you, than please explain me, why you are using one language for the video manager and a completely different for the vts??

You only need different language domains if you intend using different menu languages. These domains take only effect hence to the language preferences the user has set in his dvd player for the menu language.

But either way it's really weired that the disc does play correctly with power dvd, but not with a set top player... :rolleyes:


Normally I use only ONE language domain, which is normally "English", and for my last 5 projects I used about 20 dummy pgcs for each dvd, which work perfectly well on my pc and on my set top player.

Try to explain me your project a little more detailed. Maybe you accidentally didn't mention an important fact...

[mickrick]

Firstly, both language domains are "English".

The files created by Scenarist play correctly in PowerDVD but when recorded on to disc by Primo DVD they start to mess up, in PowerDVD and on a standalone player.

I think it's because I'm using 2 separate menus, one for the main movie and another for the special features, but I'm not sure. Again, I do not see any reason why this would play okay from authored files but not from the burned disc.

My original posting explains the layout as detailed as possible. If there is anyway I can post a screenshot of my Scenarist project, let me know and I'll do it.

[mickrick]

Firstly, both language domains are "English".

The files created by Scenarist play correctly in PowerDVD but when recorded on to disc by Primo DVD they start to mess up, in PowerDVD and on a standalone player.

I think it's because I'm using 2 separate menus, one for the main movie and another for the special features, but I'm not sure. Again, I do not see any reason why this would play okay from authored files but not from the burned disc.

My original posting explains the layout as detailed as possible. If there is anyway I can post a screenshot of my Scenarist project, let me know and I'll do it.

Oh and for the record, it's Daikin's Scenarist I'm using not the Sonic version (the Sonic one had no mpeg encoder).

[Crazyjoe]

No, I don't think, that your problem are the 2 menus. Due to the dvd specs, every pgc within a language domain is a "menu" for the dvd player. So there shouldn't be any problem resulting of the number of menus you have.

Here's my suggestion for the disc layout:

First PGC: pre command link to VTS 1/Title 1

VTS 1/Title 1: short intro movie -> post command link to title menu, which is your main menu

VTS 2/Title 2: THX trailer -> post command link to first dummy pgc in video manager (link from dummy to Title 4)
VTS 2/Title 3: THX wow (if it has the same attributes, as the first thx trailer(aspect ratio, audio bitrate, number of channels). otherwise put it in a different VTS)

VTS 3/Title 4: main movie -> second dummy pgc in video manager (link from dummy to Title 3)

VTS 4/Title 5: trailer 1
VTS 4/Title 6: trailer 2

main menu should be "title menu"/sub menu for trailers should be "root menu" of VTS 4.

This structure should playback without errors.

If you can't follow my layout, tell me and I will make an example project in scenarist 2.6 using place holders, and mail it to you. :)

[mickrick]

Crazyjoe, you are my best mate.

I would dearly love for you to send me an example project, I just cannot see where I'm going wrong. I've made up several discs to date using dummies and they've all worked fine. But so far they've only contained at the most 2 dummies, one to jump to and another to jump back. But now nothing seems to work when it's been burned.

Do you think it might be something to do with the Prassi burning software, although this has worked fine in the past as well.

[mickrick]

Crazyjoe, PM sent.

[Crazyjoe]

That was also my first thought, after your last posting. Also because of the fact, that the disc structure plays fine with power dvd...

Send me your e-mail, and i will see, what i can do. One last thing!

Please tell me:

Aspect Ratio and audio bitrate/number of channels of main movie, the 2 thx trailers, and the other 2 trailers. That would make it a lot easier ;)

Greets

Joe

[mickrick]

Crazyjoe

No email received yet. But wait to you hear this. I burned the folders with Nero and the bugger worked first time. Obviously Primo was to blame. I know which software I'll be burning with in future.