iDVD Multiplex error

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Level 1

10 points

iDVD Multiplex error

I've read a number of discussions about this. I don't have any disc space, file name, TV safe area, strange file type, disc type, chaper markers, etc, etc issue; ALL checked OK. I used iDVD version 7.1.2.

Three files totalling 101 mins converted by Toast to .mov and .mp4 formats had the same error when using iDVD Encoding: High Quality or Professional Quality settings. Error message pointed me to the web version of iDVD help regarding these settings. After many, many hours of testing, my conclusion is that these settings are CRAP. All the while taking at least eight hours before the error! Each of the three settings displayed the progress through Rendering Slides, Encoding Slides, Rendering Audio, to the fateful Multiplexing & Burning.

Proof. Same three .mov files Save to Disc using dual layer (DL) disc setting and Encoding: Best Performance worked fine. Burn to an actual DL disc worked fine. Less than two hours of video on a DL disc!

I can't believe I'm saying this. Don't use iDVD in this situation. Buy Toast. My version is Toast 10 and the same three .mov files were burned onto a single layer DVD in at least a quarter of the time and the quality was only very slightly less than the four times more expensive dual layered disc produced by iDVD.

iDVD Encoding: Best Performance seem to work OK; reduced time. The other two settings are CRAP with error after error after error.

iMovie '11, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on May 5, 2012 8:24 AM

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Answer 1

May 5, 2012 11:14 PM in response to macpomaus

Hi

Just a few simple questions.

What brand and type of DVD were used ?

What Audio and Photo file format and Video-codec was on Raw-material (all of it) ?

Any strange Text font's used ?

Yours very interested Bengt W

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Answer 2

May 6, 2012 2:58 PM in response to Bengt Wärleby

Hi...same problem. Burned one DVD, turned out fine. Made a few minor changes, but major change was to go from Best Performance to Professional Quality. Once I made this change, I got the same error message over and over, even though I changed back to Best Performance. Map is OK. No chapter markers, no submenus, just wanted a quick burn. I'm using Playo DVD-R, but since one burned just fine, I didn't think the disc brand was the problem.

So, after wasting a lot of time trying over and over to burn the disc, I saved the project and quit iDVD to see if that would clear the error (duh). If that didn't work, I was going to restart the Mac. But it did work and the disc burned.

While it works, this may not be the best fix for everyone. My movie is only 38 minutes, and not complicated. All I had to do was insert the photos into the drop zones again. It took more time to keep trying to burn discs without getting the error message than it did for me to start over. If you try this, BE SURE TO SAVE THE PROJECT FIRST!

I have been using a Mac since 1986—you'd think I'd learn...

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Answer 3

macpomaus Author

Level 1

10 points

May 6, 2012 6:31 PM in response to Saundra Curry

Hi Sundra

I'm just doing a few tests using my three files to see if I can narrow my problem down. I've found that quitting iDVD and restarting, it defaulted to Best Performance.

You should have no problem with 38 mins. I've burned almost 60 mins of Hi Def holiday photos & videos that iDVD converted to Standard Def with no problems at all. I copied all 403 of them into iPhoto to preserve their order and then Shared with iDVD. No special effect, music etc, just one drop zone. All onto one single layer disc, which was almost full. This was not my first one.

I had no idea about changing Encoding until now, so I must have been using the default Best Performance each time. I suggest that this is why it worked for you.

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Answer 4

macpomaus Author

Level 1

10 points

May 7, 2012 4:08 AM in response to Bengt Wärleby

Hi Bengt W

As for the original video file format, I don’t think it matters as the burn using Best Performance worked OK and I think we can trust Toast’s conversion to .MOV.

Error also occurred whilst using Save as Disc Image so it’s not DVD disc manufacturer related. Just for your info. Actual burns used TDK DVD+R Double Layer for iDVD and Verbatim DVD-R Single Layer for Toast.

“Any strange Text fonts used?” No. File name: whatever font Apple uses in the form of file001. Title: letters only in Times New Roman. Project name: Alpha only with one dash (-).

This error appears to be similar to Toast 10 error code 18771 (see Toast forum) that was solved by someone using different Ave & Max bit-rates via Custom setting, which iDVD seems not to have.

Your response prompted me to try something.

Video mode: PAL. Encoding: High Quality. Aspect: 16:9. Disc: single layer. Save as Disc Image.

File 1 only 40 min 2.18G – OK.

File 1 & 2 80 min 2.53G – OK.

File 1, 2 & 3 101 min 3.19G – Fail.

Note: found I had to select Best Performance before selecting High Quality for it to actually be selected on subsequent tests.

As nothing else was changed, the problem must be in the amount of ‘Compression’ iDVD has to do.

I’ve spent more than enough time on this and as Apple no longer supports iDVD, I’ll just use Toast in the future for this situation.

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Answer 5

May 7, 2012 5:12 AM in response to macpomaus

All info that can help tracking this problem down is of value. So

What

• Audio and

• Photo file format and

• Video-codec was on Raw-material (all of it) ?

Especially codec for

• Film 1

• Film 2

• Film 3 (as adding this set off the problem)

As to encoding method - I always use - Pro. Quality - long time since I got Multiplex error - so I doubt the encoding process to be the culprit.

iDVD 08, 09 & 11 has three levels of qualities. (version 7.0.1, 7,0.4 & 7.1.1) and iDVD 6 has the two last ones

• Professional Quality

(movies + menus up to 120 min.) - BEST (but not always for short movies e.g. up to 45 minutes in total)

• Best Performances

(movies + menus less than 60 min.) - High quality on final DVD (Can be best for short movies)

• High Quality (in iDVD08 or 09) / Best Quality (in iDVD6)

(movies + menus up to 120 min.) - slightly lower quality than above

Menu can take 15 minutes or even more - I use a very simple one with no audio or animation like ”Brushed Metal” in old Themes.

About double on DL DVDs.

Yes I use Roxio Toast™ too - especially for back-convert old DVDs and when needing to squees in more onto a DVD as iDVD can do.

Yours Bengt W

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Answer 6

macpomaus Author

Level 1

10 points

May 7, 2012 9:07 AM in response to Bengt Wärleby

Bengt W

1. You give a very good impression of an Apple employee.

2. I've already said that the three iDVD input files were .MOV converted via Toast. Are you saying Toast doesn't convert correctly?

3. All three .MOV file contained both video and audio.

4. I've already said that the error occured when processing all three files using both iDVD Encoding: High Quality or Professional Quality settings.

5. I've already said that the three .mov files Save to Disc using dual layer (DL) disc setting and Encoding: Best Performance worked fine. Burn to an actual DL disc worked fine.

6. So, all three files must be OK. So why should I process these any further?

7. Just for you I processed the third file on its own. It worked fine.

8. Who gives a stuff about a poxy 15 min processing of a Menu compared to the 8 - 10+ hours of computer processing before failure occurs?

Maybe you don't get a Multiplex error because you use a different version of iDVD. Or the size of file(s) you used is/are much smaller. Or you think you're using Pro. Quality where you're not? I've since found out that using the High Qualtiy setting for the second time actually gives you Best Performance and you have to first select Best Performance before selecting High Quality.

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Answer 7

May 7, 2012 11:57 AM in response to macpomaus

1. I never worked for any computer business - ever.

2. .mov is no codec - it is a container and can hold a variety of codecs - some working in iDVD others do not.

3. Your tone don't inspire me to cont. this tread.

Sorry

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Answer 8

macpomaus Author

Level 1

10 points

May 8, 2012 2:12 AM in response to Bengt Wärleby

Sadly Bengt I think you've got it all wrong. I never asked for help as I had clearly found a solution in my first post.

I spent considerable time attempting to help a fellow forum member, YOU. I did this because you was very interested in what happend.

I didn't know that .mov wasn't a codec, I thought it was. However, the evidence is that the original codec was not the problem as if it was, nothing would've worked. But all three files Best Performance DL, the two largest files (1 & 2) and flie 3 on its own High Quality SL all worked.

There are only three selections (I've tried them all) with no Custom setting (like Toast), so the only way I can see you influencing this is if you worked for Apple.

Perhaps you could give me a detailed explaination of how an original codec converted by Toast to .mov con be burned to DVD/disc in some cases, but not all.

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