I know this problem has been discussed, but I couldn't remember for sure if anyone posted a recipe to duplicate the problem.

 

THE SITUATION:

I have a 45-minute project.  It should easily fit a DVD with 100% quality.  But when I try to create the DVD, I get this error:

• The project size is larger than the chosen media size.
  Do you want to truncate the project to fit the media size?

 

THE CAUSE AND SOLUTION:

I wanted to have a DVD that auto-played, so I put the menu at the end of the project.

The problem occurs when the project STARTS with a CHAPTER POINT.

If I put the menu first, it worked fine.  When I moved the menu to the end, it failed again.

 

EVEN MORE INTERESTING:

I added a still "Title" before Chapter 1 (with the menu at the end of the project).  Then it worked.

Remove the Title, it fails.  Add the title again, and it works again.

 

ONE MORE EXPERIMENT:

It wondered if it was only a problem when the Chapter point was on "frame number 1".  So with no leading Title or Menu, I moved the Chapter 1 marker from "zero" to about "20 seconds."  It still failed.  Then I put the scrubber at 5 seconds and cut it with the razor.  Now I had a little video clip before my clip with the chapter marker.  Then it worked again.

 

CONCLUSION AND BOTTOM LINE:

Your DVD project cannot begin with a segment containing a chapter mark (even if the chapter mark is not at the beginning of that clip).

I've also seen this when a Return to Menu marker is present in your project.  Any RTMs in your sample?

And good detective work with that "project cannot begin with a segment containing a chapter mark" observation, Dennis... 

bittmann:

Any RTMs in your sample?

Nope.

 

And good detective work with that "project cannot begin with a segment containing a chapter mark" observation, Dennis... 

Thanks. 

justaviking:

CONCLUSION AND BOTTOM LINE: Your DVD project cannot begin with a segment containing a chapter mark (even if the chapter mark is not at the beginning of that clip).

Is this your final answer ???? 

Just for the fun of it, I tried a sample just guessing at the settings you used. I couldn't get an error screen. Menu at end, best quality, multi page menu with the first chapter at the beginning. I put 45 minutes of "our fun vacation" on the timeline for my video. On my computer, the file played from the beginning, and the menu showed up at the end.

If you can get the test clip to throw the error, post up the settings, # chapters, what menu ect, if you want a second opinion.  

 

 

Towbar (or "Herman" per your latest avatar),

You made me nervous, but I just did it again, from scratch.  I exited Studio and started a new project.  I did, however, use the same source footage and the same "Pinnacle" menu as before.

 

Here is more detail of what I did (it took only 1 or 2 minutes to duplicate it):

• Started with a 61-minute AVI (captured in Studio from my VCR)
• Deleted about a 15-minute chunk in the middle, so final video size is about 45 minutes
  (In my original project, I carefully cut out the commercials)
• Used the razor to cut the remaining video into 6 segments of about equal size
• Added a NON-motion multi-page "thumbnail" menu to the END of the project
  - From the "Medley" group, it is the "Medley - Corporate 1 sub" menu (sort of rusty-golden with a large round spot)
• Set the six chapters
  - I dragged from the timeline onto the menu
  - I did that four times, then clicked the "Next chapter arrow" to get from chapter 4 to chapter 5 ("next page") and then added the set the last two chapters
  - I did NOT set the thumbnails (I did on the original project, but not this time)
  - I did NOT change the chapter titles (not now, and not on the original project)
• Go to Make Movie
• Disk type DVD, Automatic Quality
  - Disk-O-Meter says "5.70 GB"
• Try to "Create Image..." and I get my same error again

 

I can make the problem go away in two ways:

1. While still in Make Movie mode (you can do some light editing in this mode, which always strikes me as a bit odd, but oh well)
   - Drag the "C1" chapter marker over a few minutes, to 3 or minutes for example (Problem still exists if you try and Create Image...)
   - Move scrubber to the 1 or 2 minute mark, do a RAZOR cut
   - Now it will work
2. Or you can simply drag the menu to the BEGINNING of the movie
   - Now it will work

 

One other setting to be aware of...

• I am using the "Create Disk Content But Don't Burn" option

 

Lastly:

• This is on v11.1

 

justaviking:

I know this problem has been discussed, but I couldn't remember for sure if anyone posted a recipe to duplicate the problem.

 

THE SITUATION:

I have a 45-minute project.  It should easily fit a DVD with 100% quality.  But when I try to create the DVD, I get this error:

• The project size is larger than the chosen media size.
  Do you want to truncate the project to fit the media size?

 

THE CAUSE AND SOLUTION:

I wanted to have a DVD that auto-played, so I put the menu at the end of the project.

The problem occurs when the project STARTS with a CHAPTER POINT.

If I put the menu first, it worked fine.  When I moved the menu to the end, it failed again.

 

EVEN MORE INTERESTING:

I added a still "Title" before Chapter 1 (with the menu at the end of the project).  Then it worked.

Remove the Title, it fails.  Add the title again, and it works again.

 

ONE MORE EXPERIMENT:

It wondered if it was only a problem when the Chapter point was on "frame number 1".  So with no leading Title or Menu, I moved the Chapter 1 marker from "zero" to about "20 seconds."  It still failed.  Then I put the scrubber at 5 seconds and cut it with the razor.  Now I had a little video clip before my clip with the chapter marker.  Then it worked again.

 

CONCLUSION AND BOTTOM LINE:

Your DVD project cannot begin with a segment containing a chapter mark (even if the chapter mark is not at the beginning of that clip).

Hi Dennis,

Thanks you for posting. I'll be sure to try it out.

Regards,
Marc P.

Ahhh...S11.1, eh?

Actually, that was a "known bug" in S11 (at least, it was known by those of us who reported it to Pinnacle...whether THEY "know" about it remains to be seen, I suppose).

Just checked...the (grumble grumble) old posts that we discussed this in were evidently deleted when the webboard was doing its "delete old posts" thing.  I found a reference to this post, but it doesn't help a whole lot... 

If my memory is right, what it'd do is end up with the total length of the project+menu, plus the length of the 2nd-thru-last chapters.

Interesting if not having a chapter marker on the first asset on the timeline may make it work differently as well...

BittMann

bittmann:

 I found a reference to this post, but it doesn't help a whole lot... 

Ah, the old message # 9.

justaviking:

This is on v11.1

So, I guess you're not crazy after all...........

My previous test was with S12, and I couldn't throw the error. So I tried it with S11.1.  I didn't have that exact menu, so I tried the first one that would need multi pages. The truncate message showed up.  Looking the devil in the face, I said "Yes, truncate the darn project". I'm not sure what the outcome will be, but maybe it will render OK.

It's late here, and got a busy day tomorrow. I'll play around with it some more.  

Letting the program truncate the project wasn't the brightest idea. The menu gets rendered twice, and shows up as the last part of the video, right before the hidden menu apppears. The program thinks the menu is part of the video clip.

I did however add a RTM in the last chapter, and the error screen doesn't show up. The final ts file plays properly. The final ts folder is larger than it needs to be, and it's because the last chapters gets rendered twice.(but shows only once) **ADDED** I'm not sure, but I think Bittmann is entitled to insert a free "I told you so" remark somewhere in this thread.  

Dennis, try adding a RTM in the last chapter and see what your findings are. I'm off to the Panthers/Cardinals game right now. Look for me on Fox Network, I'm sure to be soaked.   

**ADDED** Just thought of the "blank title" trick. Lay out your video, and add a black, full screen title to the beginning. Add your menu to the end and add your first chapter marker to the first clip. I'm thinking that the little title might go unnoticed, and the rest will work OK. I tested this quickly, but they are in the car blowing the horn.

towbar:

 Just thought of the "blank title" trick. Lay out your video, and add a black, full screen title to the beginning. Add your menu to the end and add your first chapter marker to the first clip. I'm thinking that the little title might go unnoticed, and the rest will work OK. 

Out of curiosity, did you try this Dennis ? Or should I just "let a sleeping dog lie".

 

Towbar,

What you described (the "blank title" trick) is basically the "solution" I mentioned in my original entry.  You must learn to read more carefully... every word I type is important. 

I haven't experimented with the RTMs yet.

Thanks for sharing what happened when you let Studio "truncate" the project.  I didn't want to sit through a few renders to see what happened.  I just wanted to make a little DVD.

My almost-4-year old loves car washes, so I was making a DVD of History Channel's "Modern Marvels" show on "Car Washes" before I accidentally recorded over the VHS tape recording.  I thought I'd cut out the commercials, add a few chapters, and place the menu at the end so it'd "auto-play.  That's how I stepped into this situation.

Meanwhile, installing S12 remains on my ToDo list...

justaviking:

What you described (the "blank title" trick) is basically the "solution" I mentioned in my original entry.  You must learn to read more carefully... every word I type is important. 

Hmm, musta missed it somehow. I was just firing away, and the "trick" popped into my mind. I'll make note to read.....every.......word........next......time.

justaviking:

I haven't experimented with the RTMs yet.

I've got a page of notes, and plan on finishing my test as soon as I get a round tuit.

justaviking:

Thanks for sharing what happened when you let Studio "truncate" the project.

Yup, it's not something that I will suggest mention again.

justaviking:

Meanwhile, installing S12 remains on my ToDo list..

There are three things that I really like in S12,

1. The program works for me straight out of the box with no patches
2. The program will auto-shutdown after rendering a file
3. The program allows me to directly create a .mp3 file

Otherwise, S11 seems to drive just as good.

3. The program allows me to directly create a .mp3 file

Although you *may* need to pad that project out a bit before generating that mp3 in order to keep the last bit of it from being cut off...

Me?  I like S12 because of how Stabilize works....  

Anyhow -- this "wrong duration" issue that Dennis has raised has been a "feature" of Studio since S10 was released.  It's definitely better in S12, but it isn't fixed yet (obviously).  Maybe someday there will be a User FAQ on this problem that we've had since 2005. 

BittMann

bittmann:

Although you *may* need to pad that project out a bit before generating that mp3 in order to keep the last bit of it from being cut off...

Thanks for the information. I'll check and see if I'm cutting the tails off. Funny,  I was fixing to cut the heads off as well.

bittmann:

3. The program allows me to directly create a .mp3 file

Although you *may* need to pad that project out a bit before generating that mp3 in order to keep the last bit of it from being cut off...

Me?  I like S12 because of how Stabilize works....  

Anyhow -- this "wrong duration" issue that Dennis has raised has been a "feature" of Studio since S10 was released.  It's definitely better in S12, but it isn't fixed yet (obviously).  Maybe someday there will be a User FAQ on this problem that we've had since 2005. 

BittMann

I have yet to see this myself, I have rendered a few music tracks I've edited to MP3 but I have not noticed anything being cut off. Thanks for pointing this one out too Bitt.

justaviking:

I haven't experimented with the RTMs yet.

The RTM on the last chapter isn't the answer either, the resultant video_ts folder is way too big to fit on the disc.  Imagine that ? 

Thanks for allowing me to do my own detective work. Studio isn't calculating things properly, as stated by the OP.