Ulead releases DVD Movie Factory 4

[phd]

Here's a link for more info:
http://www.ulead.com/dmf/runme.htm

Haven't tried it. Don't know how well it works. A few interesting new features.
AC3 support in standard and Disk Creator versions.
Record from DVB-T card in Europe.
16:9 widescreen video project support
On-screen drag & drop DVD menu creation
Full 16:9 menu templates
Resizable free-moving scene and text Buttons
Title/audio/subtitle/angle selection

[Harry]

thank phd,

i'm curious how results are. maybe someone tries it?

i'm not gonna try it, as i've lost my faith in ulead's dvd authoring software. they shouldn't make 4 versions, they should make one version that keeps my audio in sync. i think that's not too much requested.

i'm wondering if they ever heard that VRD can keep audio in sync?

:mrgreen:

[phd]

i'm wondering if they ever heard that VRD can keep audio in sync?
With the number of posts by other people at the Ulead forum to stop wasting their time trying to edit with Ulead products and use VRD, I'm sure they have!

I think I'm one of the few lucky ones who uses DMF and doesn't have A/V sync problems (after using VRD to edit of course!)

[Clay]

at $65 for an upgrade of a product, what -- barely a year old? -- they can keep it -- sight unseen.

[Harry]

has anyone tested this for synchronity problems?

[phd]

Not yet. No demo available. No box available yet either. Strictly download. I'm not in a huge hurry.

They're promising some kind of file indexing in this version that fixes all AV sync problems. We'll see.

[eswrite]

Unless you absolutely need a 4.0 feature, like I needed AC-3 support(!), stay away from this version until ULead fixes the audio sync problem with re-encoded material. I have a feeling that unless people stop buying their DVD authoring software in droves, ULead won't fix this.

[DanR]

FYI: Ulead announced this week that they will be acquired by InterVideo (the WinDVD folks).

[phd]

Well, so much for their file indexing.

Also I have seen a lot of posts on the Ulead forum that DMF4 can't burn. Another application is using the burner.

Does not sound like they're off to a good start.

[eswrite]

I discovered last night that I can bring the Xtream output into MF3.5. The reason I got--and paid for--MF4 was to get AC-3 support, which I needed when importing HDTVtoMPEG2 or VRD output into MF. I will definitely be demanding a refund for MF4.

[phd]

Good luck. I hope you're successful at getting a refund from Ulead.

Post either way. I'm sure others will be interested in the outcome as well being that I notice a lot of posts on the Ulead forum about DMF4 being unable to burn a DVD also.

[phd]

Trial of DMF4 is now available. File is 97 MB.
http://www.ulead.com/dmf/trial.htm

Be aware though there have been a great number of complaints on their forum about inability to burn DVDs. It appears to be related to other packet writing software that you have installed on your computer.

[eswrite]

Any word on when the first service pack will be out? ;)

I think I have talked myself out of requesting a refund. Someone (wink, wink) has taken up my case and submitted the details of my down-convert-loses-audio-sync problem to the ULead folks.

[phd]

Generally Ulead does not announce when then will have a patch coming. All of a sudden it appears and someone will mention it at the forum.

I hope "Mr. X" can actually accomplish something because generally Ulead doesn't seem to hear the paying public..

[Harry]

so did anyone test this program successfully and is it worth buying? with successfully i don't mean animated menus n such, i only mean: is the final product in sync?

[phd]

I haven't tried the demo yet.

I noticed the main issue with DMF4 on the Ulead forum seems to be not being able to burn to DVD if another packet writing software is installed. The solution is to either remove the other packet writing software (e.g. Nero) or remove the "Data Add" component from the Ulead Disk Creator package. The "Standard" package does not contain this component.

I have noticed some posts on the DMF forum regarding audio OOS and DMF4 though. Doen't appear to be the volume of previous releases.

Since I don't have the AV sync problem with using VRD and passing the files through to DMF2 or DMF3 now, I'm probably not the best judge of the sync issue.

Anyone else?

[phd]

Figured I'd pass on this information.

I picked up DMF4 standard edition (not the disk creator. I didn't need the extra features it had.)

I must say I like it so far. I've created a few DVDs and do not have audio sync issues with either the DVD folder or the burned DVD. I always check "Output Stream for Movie Factory" in VRD.

I also did a custom installation of DMF4. I passed on installing the "Data Add" component due to the issues listed on the Ulead forum.

Custom menu creation is nice with resizing and moving thumbnails around the screen. You can also move the text as well. Very easy to create custom templates from the presets that are included. You can also customize your current menus without saving templates. I also imported my custom templates from DMF2 without any problem.

It is also surprisingly fast. Time to author to a hard drive folder has dropped from about 25 minutes down to 10 minutes! This is with "Do not convert compliant files..." checked in DMF. I always use a different program to burn to disk based upon prior difficulties with DMF2 and 3.

Since it is new, I applied no patches nor did I have to modify the INI either.

This info applies to the retail box version as I am leery of the upgrade and download versions based upon Ulead forum threads.

Be aware though, this is my results. I have seen posts on the Ulead forum regarding audio sync issues and difficulties authoring and burning.

[Anonymous]

MF 4 locks up on my new Dell 8400. I like the MF 4 editing controls, easy to move frame by frame or quickly scan through a 1 hour clip. But it will not burn DVDs, gets to 66% progress and locks up. Every time. Ulead tech support, on my two calls, have suggested trying writing to a video file first then copying the rendered file to DVD. That locks up too!
I hope to return this unusable software for a full refund.

[phd]

Can you tell what it is doing when it locks up?

Do you have write to folder checked and write to disk unchecked?

Do you have "Do not convert compliant..." checked?

[Quindel]

I have been using DMF4 with Video Redo. No problems burning out a quick edited video. I like DMF4 for its ease of use.