Hi
Routinely I save my project regularly as a .vpj file and when editing is completed I save to my PC as an avi file. (This step takes the time as you have seen). I never use .wmv format BTW.
To avoid wasting DVD discs if you encounter problems it's a good idea to use a DVD-RW disc as if it cocks up you haven't wasted anything except your time and the disc can be wiped and re-used. In general I test all my videos on a rewritable disc first. Once you have your project saved in .avi format re-rendering is not required and saving it to DVD is fairly quick by comparison.
When satisfied that the .avi runs Ok (I use the free VLC player,) I create my DVD (using the .avi) with another free program DVDStyler. Unlike VP's "Create DVD" option DVDStyler enables the user to create fully customisable menus. The completed DVD plays OK.
The settings and steps I use to create the .avi are as follows...
Once you have your edited clips finished on the sequence line, save your project. This creates a .vpj file.
Click Save Movie on the taskbar
Select Computer/Data
Enter destination for the resulting rendered video.
Preset......Click down arrow and choose HD 720 If you have used the larger format select HD 1080 (The default is Custom)
File format .avi This is a common container and will open and play in most programs. But if you are creating a DVD, the DVD creating program you use for this will convert it into another format anyway. (VIDEO VOB, BUP etc.) This file, once created (and working) can be used over and over again for further DVDs
Resolution Use 1280 x 720 HD 720p
Framerate Set this to 25 (TV PAL) or 29.97 (TV NTSC) depending on your TV system
The top box will have reverted back to "Custom" but you can ignore it.
Now click the button below the boxes marked "Encoder Options"
For Video compressor select the MPEG4 (Native) option from the down arrow drop down menu.
Ignore the Video compressor settings button. (Should be 4096 for the bitrate and 8192 for the maximum bitrate as defaults)
Note that if you select H246 then you can use a slider to alter the video compressor settings and although changing the default can produce a slightly better image the time for rendering may become exceptionally long.
For the Sound compressor option select MP3 (Native)
and Sound format to 44100 Hz at 128 Kbs Stereo
Click OK
Click OK
Depending on the length of your film, rendering may take a while.
As mentioned above, although you can save your work straight to a DVD with VP it doesn't allow the creation of a menu or an interim saved rendered file in case of problems and you can only save one project per DVD so I prefer to use a free third party program such as DVD Styler.
Using the above steps I have always had a usable DVD.
and..
Providing I haven't deleted or moved the files used in the project I can re-enable it using the .vpj file (even if the cache has been emptied) and re-edit if required. The saved .avi can be re-used repeatedly on further DVDs along with others films made the same way and also , of course, be stored long-term on a data CD.
Hope this helps
Nat
