Need Help With DVD Maestro

[marvel2020]

Hi Guys,

I've posted the following in the www.dvdrhelp.com Forum so i thought i'd post here as well to double my chance's of getting some help.



So....



I really need help here using DVD Maestro, what i'm planning on doing is Capturing the series 24 Season 2 from TV.

Then i want to Author 4 Episode's to DVD-r with one Menu using DVD Maestro then burn using any of the various Burning Software.

So i've created my Menu .Bmp with the 4 Episode's and a PLAYALL button.

The PLAYALL button is where i'm having the problems, you see i know how to assign each individual episode to the proper button and how to return it to the Main Menu once the Episode has finshed playing, because i've tried it using the Navigation Simulator In Maestro and everything works fine there.

But like i said the PLAYALL button is where my problem is, if i assign it to start with movie 1 then at the end of it, it will return to the main Menu Screen because it has been setup like that in the Individual episode part.

I Can't figure out how to make the PLAYALL continue on to the the next movie, without messing up the Individual settings.

I know this has been discuss before, and there was mention of adding the movies to the same timeline, but i don't think that apply's to me.

So if any one know's and are a bit more advance in Using DVD Maestro than me could please point me the right direction.

Also a Detailed explanation would welcomed(With pics if possible).

And know the version of DVD Maestro i have did not come with a manuel got it of some Webpage i can't remember.


Thx in advance

[oddyseus]

I understand that u have each episode in its own timeline. This approach posses some difficulties that u could have avoided if u had all of them in the same timeline.

However there is a solution to this situation also.

U have to use command sequences.

1st of all u need a pointer to indicate what u r doing. Lets use gprm0.

Make a command sequence (cs) and use it for your 1st play item.
In it initialize the gprm0 to 0. This would mean normal playback one episode at the time.

Make a 2nd cs and make it the return point of all episodes.
In it test the value of gprm0.
if gprm0=0 then return to main menu, else read sprm4. It states the vts playing, move it to gprm1, increase it by one and jump to the movie indicated by gprm1.

If u select playall then a new cs would set grpm0 to 1 and jump to the 1st episode.

However it may work on Maestro simulation but it could fail in PowerDVD. If u can make it work on Maestro simulation it will also work on PS2, Philips standalones, but not on cheap Taiwanian DVD such as Afreey, Sampo, etc. that dont implement DVDscript to the full.

I am sure it is a bit complicated but you could try and report back.

[marvel2020]

Thx m8 for replying :D:)

First of all let clear up that as of yet i've only captured and converted 1 Episode so far of 24 sorry for misleading you in this.

Now what doe's gprm0. mean ??.

I can also seee the command sequence when i right on the buttons but i cannot do anything with it.

Sorry for asking but i'm not entirely sure what you mean.

[oddyseus]

Better still look up this thread to find an example project in Maestro that u can use, and/or study, that implements what I have wriiten above

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=46768

[marvel2020]

mmm Can't see anything on that page, if there was a link it's not there now

[oddyseus]

Its up now. Check it out

[auenf]

or if you don't want to mess with command sequences, simply put the 4 eps one after the other in a single title, with a chapterpoint in between them, then create 4 playlists, 1 for each episode.

now for each individual episode button, link to the respective playlist, and for the play all button, link to the main title.

Enf...

[oddyseus]

Marvel, did u have your problem solved?

[marvel2020]

No m8 still stuck even on the Playlists bit :(

I'm a total dumb Noob ;)

Anyway i did some serching on the forum and i discovered the version i have of DVD Maestro is the one with bug's in it, I think, Not sure though.

Anyway i've decided to go for the easy route and use Ulead DVD Movie Factory 2 :)

It doe's pretty much want i wanted to do with Maestro etc..., and it's user friendly.

Untill some doe's a rather detailed DVD Maestro guide explaining the in's and out's of Command Sequence's and Playlist's, i'll stick with Move Factory 2.

Thx for replying anyway m8's, nice to know that someone is still willing to help even a complete and utter Noob like me ;).

[oddyseus]

Too bad u decided to turn to Movie factory cause I wrote the project specially for u. U could at least study it a bit. If u can move around in Maestro u r not a utter noob.

All u have to do is replace the bmps I have used with your video streams and audio and burn.

[marvel2020]

Sorry m8, when i downloaded that zipfile the other day, it show up as a .VOB strange or what.

Anyway i see what you mean now, just look at the connections of the little template.

Gonna take a cold shower and wake myself up a bit :)

I will use that template as soon as i've got all 4 episode's captured and converted.

Thx m8 that sure make's life a little easier.

[auenf]

ok, import the episode m2v's into Maestro, and double click on Movie1 to see the timeline.

drag the episodes one by one into the timeline, so they are sequentially on the timeline.

create a chapter point at the start of each (the first one is already there, just rename it), then in the audio track, right click->Create Sync Audio Track.

after you have created the audio track, right click on Movie1 in the tree, and select 'Create Playlist', and do it 4 times (for the 4 episodes).

double click on the first playlist, and you should see the 4 chapter points at the top, and an empty list at the bottom (just below the dropdown listbox).

drag the first chapter down to the bottom part, then select the 2nd playlist from the dropbox, and drag the 2nd chapter down, rinse & repeat.

now you should have your Movie1 which is all 4 episodes in a row, and 4 playlists, which should play each movie by itself. goto the connections view and fix up the end actions, and fix the menu links.

that should be it, altho thats off the top of my head, so the things you click on may not be exactly as i have written ;)

Enjoy

Enf...

[marvel2020]

Thx for replying auenf.

I been trying to your method that you described in your last post but was not having much success.

I finaly figured out to do it last night using Playlists, the way i decribed in my orignal post, 4 movies each on there own timeline and a playall button.

I Authored a DVD and burnt it and it played perfectly in my DVD player. even played using PowerDVD on my PC.

Also oddyseus made a template that i can use for the same purpose, but your info wil be helpfull as well.

Thx for all your Help guys :D:)

Much Appreciated ;)