I'm using DVD Lab Pro to do some basic authoring and the majority of it, although not as easy to use as some authoring suites, is more functional than some I've used, but one problem I'm having is with a mutiple title DVD. When reaching the end of a particular title it automatically skips to the next title as per the connections I've set up but the question I have is regarding the "previous" button. On other authoring suites that I have toyed with I've found ways to skip from the beginning of one title to the end of a previous title by pressing the previous chapter button on the remote. On DVD Lab Pro when you're at the first chapter of title two (labelled movie 2) and you press the "previous" button on the remote it takes you to the First chapter of movie 1. I need to set it up in some way that will allow that action to take me to the last chapter on title/movie 1. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.
I'm a DVDLab newbie also but here is how I did this. In the connections display right click on the title and select UOP & Settings. Uncheck the 'strictly adhere to DVD....' box and you should be able to specify where to go on the next/previous button.
The only options I'm seeing are for specific titles, when these are selected it seems to still be going to the beginning of a specified title, not to the end (when selecting previous at the beginning of the next title)
First, try quickly pressing previous twice rather than one time. Usually after playback of a chapter begins, pressing previous once will only take you to the beginning of that chapter. The same is true for titles. Tthe episodes have to be in 1 VTS. However, do not do this unless you are certain that the VTS will play correctly. I am not sure, but I think every episode has to have identical average bitrate and max/min bitrates otherwise playback will be choppy. If you are concerned, and want to put them on different VTS and still have previous work, it may be possible, but I have never tried to do it. Next, check the previous link commands of the PGCs. You can do this in PGCEdit. Make them point to the previous PGC. Always test the DVD prior to burning. You can use Media Player Classic or a DVD software player to test the DVD. Also IFOEdit has a "DVD Play" function that will test the DVD.
Basically, I have four chapters per per episode and four episodes per disc. I'm not sure what you mean by putting them all on the same vts. I have each episode as a title, and when I'm in the second episode/title on the first chapter, if I hit previous, it goes to the first chapter of the first episode/title, instead of the last chapter of the first episode/title. Secondly I'm not sure what you mean by editing the PCG's. Also, regarding bitrates resolution and all that all episodes were batch encoded in tmpgenc using the same settings so that's all good. Once again, thanks for the help and sorry if I seem too "noob"ish
By having each episode as a title seems like you have all of them in one VTS. You have to manually add a VTS by clicking on the "add VTS" button. Otherwise, you are only dealing with 1 VTS. A VTS stand for Video Title Set or set of titles. Having more than one is usefull if you have movies that are different aspect ration, different bitrates, different audio bitrates, etc... In DVDLab, you can create I think upto 99 VTS. You do not have to worry about this until you make more advanced DVDs. I am working on a general DVD making (not only authoring) guide that will include some info on DVDLab pro and it involves using 2 VTS. However, I do not get technical in the guide, because being technical intimidates most users. I do not think your problem is in this area. I think that the problem lies in the previous PGC command. It is probably disabled. I will check into how you can control this in DVDLab.
It seems it is just as I thought. It is the previous next PGC link commands!! I checked out DVDLab and found that there is an option to make the previous button go back to a different PGC. However, I am not sure if it will go to the final chapter or first chapter of the previous PGC> After you are finished with everything in DVDLab, go to the connections window. Now, right click on the PGC you want to go to the previous one. You will see "UOPs & Settings". Select this option. Now, look for the option that reads something like "strickly adhere to DVD 3.4.2...". Untick this box. You can now set the destinations for the previous and next buttons. You would have to do it for every movie you want to go back to the previous PGC though.
I appreciate the info, unfortunately, it does go to the first chapter in the previous title, but if that's the only problem I have with it I can accept that because otherwise I really do like the programs amount of features and ease of use. Beyond that, is there anywhere where I could go for a basic tutorial on how to use VM commands?
There should be guides on mediachance's main page about the VM commands. The problem is that they are using their own terms for this. I am not sure why, but every authoring software has different terminology. I like to use PGCEdit for changing/fixing those commands. What are you trying to do? Maybe I can give you a brief explanation on how to do it. I wrote an example of a random play done through DVD (VM) commands. Here is the topic: http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/399709 I did not explain the DVD Commands, but it will give you an idea of the thinking involved in using them.
I understand their fundamentals, but not the syntax, usage and all that... I've looked for guides but not found any. Do you think I'd be best emailing mediachance and asking them if they have anything?
You can try e-mailing them. PGCEdit will help a ton in learning this. If you make a mistake, it will highlight it in red/pink. Here is an unofficial guide I came across: http://www.dvd-replica.com/DVD/vmjmplnk.php It saved me tons of time because I was close to writing a mini-guide post.
