Back to DVD Workshop Home
Technical FAQs
Capturing
  • Why does Ulead DVD Workshop 2 stop responding during capture?
  • When capturing video from a PC Webcam using a USB interface, why are there dropped frames in the resulting clip?
    • It may be caused by USB's relatively low transfer rate. Closing other running applications can free up memory and may prevent frame dropping during capture.
  •  I bought the ADS Tech Instant DVD capture device bundled with Ulead DVD Workshop, what changes do I need to make, so that DVD Workshop 2 will support this device?
    • Please add the settings below to the specific configuration files:
      1. Please update the following in DSWPLUG.ini, which is located under the Windows system drive:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Ulead Systems\Ulead DVD Workshop\2.0 [DriverSec]
        AviDisableDriverName=Microsoft-Adaptec DV 1394 capture, Stream Machine USB
        Video Source
        MpegDisableDriverName=Microsoft-Adaptec DV 1394 capture, Stream Machine USB Video Source
      2. Please update the following in DVDWSCap.ini, which is located under the Windows system drive:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Ulead Systems\Ulead DVD Workshop\2.0
        [Capture_plugin]
        CurrentPlugin=0
        CurrentDriver=0
        CapturePluginPath1=VfwUleadMpegCap.dll CapturePluginPath2=dswUleadMpegCap.dll CapturePluginPath3=StrMach.dll
        DefaultPlugin=
      3. Please update settings in StrMach.ini, which is located under the System drive:\Windows\
        [MainSec]
        UseSMAudioPin=1
      4. Copy strmach.dll from the DWS1.3 program folder to the DWS2.0 program folder.
Editing/Encoding
  • Can I use menu pages that I'm currently authoring in future projects?
    • Yes, you can. You can achieve this by saving them as templates. To save a menu page as a template, right-click the menu page in the Menu List and from the context menu select 'Add to Library.' You can also drag and drop it directly into the Menu Library.If you place menus or other assets in the Library, then they are available for all future projects.
  • If I want to use some images as menu backgrounds, what are the ideal dimensions?
    • To avoid squeezing or stretching images, you should resize all background menu images to 768 by 576 pixels.
  • How can I import multi-layer image files (e.g. PSD or UFO files) and retain multiple layers?
    • From the Menu step, you can import multi-layer image files into the "Object - General” Library. To retain the multi-layer images properties of the file, simply drag it onto the Preview Window.
  • How can I set the loop point in a motion menu?
      To set the loop point in a motion menu, use the following steps:
      1. In the Edit step, first import the background video into the Video Library. Then select the video clip by double clicking on it. Next, find the frame that you want to set as the loop point.
      2. Click Capture frame to image to save it as an image file in the Image library, and then use any image editing tool to reset the frame size to 768 by 576 pixels.
      3. In the Menu step, create a Blank menu, and then drag the image onto the workspace as a menu background. Next arrange and design button layout based on the new still menu.
      4. Choose the Menu sub-tab, and switch to the Video Library, then drag the background video onto the main workspace to replace the still background. Finally set the menu duration, the loop point, and the loop count.
  • Does Ulead DVD Workshop 2 always re-encode my MPEG files?
    • DVD Workshop2 includes SmartRender™ technology, so it will not re-encode your MPEG compliant assets.

      SmartRender™ and the Convert to Disc Template Feature

      SmartRender™ refers to Ulead DVD Workshop 2' s ability to distinguish between media types and determine which ones need to be converted based on the disc template settings. This is important in order to create a project that complies with the project preferences, and to avoid unnecessary re-encoding. In this manner, you can author a DVD that includes multiple formats of audio and video clips all on one disc.

      To determine if a video clip is compliant with the current project preferences, i.e. NTSC DVD, PAL DVD, etc., select the video clip by double clicking on it in the chapter list, the content window, or the Library.

      Once the video clip is selected, you can check its status by looking at the "Convert to Disc Template” located under the "Edit” main tab, in the "Video ”sub tab. There are three possible states for this check box:

      1. Grayed out. The video clip is not compliant and will be re-encoded based on the disc template settings.
      2. Checked. The video clip is compliant and will be re-encoded based on the disc template settings.
      3. Unchecked. The video clip is compliant and will not be re-encoded.
  • How do I make the imported TXT file display the correct language characters in DVD Workshop 2? There are many questions marks after I imported the new text.
    • Sorry for the inconvenience. DVD Workshop 2.2 or later versions support Unicode for subtitles, so it's necessary to input the correct CS ID in the subtitle attribute to display other translated languages correctly after they have been imported. You may refer to the procedure below:
      1. Export the TXT file after you finish one language subtitle in DVD Workshop 2.
      2. Open the exported TXT file and paste the translated characters to replace the original ones.
      3. Locate the last section with the #Subtitle text attribute begin and #Subtitle text attribute end.
      4. Between the #Subtitle text attribute begin and end, there are three settings which you will need to be aware of:
        (1) /FN: means font name. Please check the font type list in DVD Workshop 2 and fill out the font name you need. For example, Arial.
        (2) /CS: means character set. Please enter the appropriate code in the ID (CS) field which stands for different languages from the following table. For example, to create Hebrew subtitles, you need to change the CS ID to 177.
        (3) /FS: means font size. This defines the font size you need. For example, 30.
      5. After you replace the translated characters and change the proper settings for FN, CS and FS, save as the TXT file to the other file name.
      6. Import the saved as file to DVD Workshop 2 to complete other language subtitle editing.
        Definition ID (CS) Description
        ANSI_CHARSET 0 West Europe
        SHIFTJIS_CHARSET 128 Japanese
        HANGEUL_CHARSET 129 West Europe
        JOHAB_CHARSET 130 Korean
        GB2312_CHARSET 134 Simplified Chinese
        CHINESEBIG5_CHARSET 136 Traditional Chinese
        HEBREW_CHARSET 177 Hebrew
        ARABIC_CHARSET 178 Arabic
        GREEK_CHARSET 161 Greek
        TURKISH_CHARSET 162 Turkish
        VIETNAMESE_CHARSET 163 Vietnamese
        THAI_CHARSET 222 Thai
        EASTEUROPE_CHARSET 238 East Europe
        RUSSIAN_CHARSET 204 Russian
        BALTIC_CHARSET 186 Baltic
        DEFAULT_CHARSET 1 Default
        SYMBOL_CHARSET 2 Symbol
        SYMBOL_CHARSET 3 Symbol

        NOTE: If the language you want to create is not listed here, please send feedback to Ulead Technical Support.
  • I saved a project and copied the whole package to another computer to burn as a DVD. When I click "Burn Project to Disc", DVD Workshop 2 closes immediately.
    • Sorry for the inconvenience. Some folders became "read only" which caused the problem. Please delete the copied "DWS_TS", "Video_TS" and "Audio_TS" folders to avoid the problem from occurring.
Burning CD/DVD
  •  I still have the problem in DLT output with the commercial production house, after I upgrade to DVD Workshop 2.231. How can I get rid of the problem?
  • What kind of copy protection does DVD Workshop 2 support?
    • In the DVD industry, there are currently three forms of copy protection:
      • Content Scrambling System (CSS)
      • Copy Generation Management System (CGMS)
      • Macrovision's Analog Copy Protection system (ACP)
      DVD Workshop 2 supports two of these three forms, including:
      1. Macrovision ACP:
      ACP is a proprietary protection system developed and patented by Macrovision. There are two elements: Automatic Gain Control (AGC) and Colorstripe™. Macrovision's ACP technology is embedded in virtually all DVD players, and is best known for making VCRs create grossly distorted copies. Macrovision's ACP technology must be licensed, but IC and DVD hardware manufacturers do not have to pay royalties. However, Macrovision does require that chips and DVD devices be tested for proper implementation of their technology. This ensures that all content owners are actually benefiting from the ACP copy protection. Please visit their website www.macrovision.com for more information.
      2. CSS:
      CSS uses data encryption techniques to scramble video on DVD media, thus preventing playback on DVD devices that do not have decryption capabilities. To be authorized to decrypt CSS-protected content, hardware manufacturers must apply to the DVD Copy Control Association (DVD CCA) for a license and decryption key (refer to www.dvdcca.org for details). DVD Workshop 2 does not scramble the content, but only sets a flag in the DDP header. The DVD mastering company then reads the flag and requests the encryption data from the producer. The producer must apply separately for the encryption data.
      Relevant Websites:
      http://www.macrovision.com
      http://www.dvdcca.org
      http://www.dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html
  • DVD Workshop allows me to put Macrovision in my ISO disc image and send the ISO file to either a DLT for replication or to burn as a disc. Is it OK to place Macrovision on burned discs?
    • The reliability of Macrovision on burned discs is less than on discs that have been pressed by replication. During replication, an encryption flag is set within the first 6 bytes of a sector, letting the DVD playing device know to search for Macrovision flags in the DVD content itself. Burned discs have no control over those first 6 bytes, so only DVD playing devices that continue to search for encryption flags, even though they did not see an encryption indicator in those first bits, will recognize the Macrovision copy protection.
      Relevant Website:
      http://www.macrovision.com
  • What is DLT and what can the Ulead DLT Writer achieve for me?
    • As a DVD Workshop feature, Ulead DLT Writer is used to output DVD content for DVD mastering purposes. DLT (Digital Linear Tape) has been a popular data backup method for decades. The main reasons for its popularity are its large capacity and its reliability. Today it is used in both CD (audio CD/data CD/VCD/SVCD) and DVD (DVD-Video/DVD-Audio) mastering. There are two protocols used to write CD and DVD content to DLT for mastering. One is DDP (Disc Description Protocol) v2.0 and the other is DVD_CMF (DVD Cutting Master Format) v1.2. DDP is the most popular and is supported by most DVD/CD mastering companies. DVD_CMF is based on DDP with extra considerations for CSS encryption. For DVD-Audio mastering, DVD_CMF is the only option because DDP cannot support encryption. This version of the DLT Writer only supports DDP v2.0.
      There are many ways to write data to DLT. According to DDP and some disc mastering companies, it is better to use the ANSI X3.27 standard to write to DLT. The DLT Writer also supports this standard. A DVD disc can contain multiple sides and multiple layers. For mastering purposes every layer should have an individual DLT tape with the proper information recorded in the DDP header. To explain further: if you want to master a 2-sided DVD with 2 layers on each side, you will need four DLT tapes.
      DVD mastering has the following variations:
      DVD-5: a single side with one layer
      DVD-9: a single side with two layers
      DVD-10: two sides with one layer each side
      DVD-18: two sides with two layers each side
      Ulead DLT Writer supports output to DVD-5 and DVD-9 discs. For DVD content which will be divided into multiple layers, the split point must be set and it must be on the ECC block boundary. One ECC block is equal to 16 DVD blocks (a block is equal to 2048 bytes). For multi-layered discs, the addressing method for a block in each layer may be different and is dependent on how you organize the data on the final DVD disc.
  • After I edit my DVD disc which was made by my DVD recorder, I experienced an out of sync problem. How do I get rid of this problem?
    • Please check on the option "Convert to disc template" on the option panel of "Audio" tab. This is because we found that DVD discs made from DVD recorders mostly have the audio gap problem. If the audio is re-rendered by Ulead Mpeg.Now encoder, then it will be fine.
  • When I burn DVDs with the 'Do not close disc' option selected, why can't I play the disc using my home DVD player?
    • Some DVD players do not recognize and play "open" DVDs.
  • Why does the file size counted twice when I make a DVD Disc image file in DVD Workshop 2?
    • This is because the program needs to produce a DVD folder (VIDEO_TS) first and then compress the folder into an ISO image file, so the size is double the size as compared to the actual ISO image file.
  • When I preview Videos or Motion Menus on my PC, the real-time playback performance is poor. Why?
    • To achieve the smoothest real-time preview performance, we recommend DVD Workshop 2 is installed on a PC with a Pentium IV 2GHz processor or equivalent and at least 512MB of DDR RAM. The real-time playback performance may be also improved with the use of a high-end VGA display card.
  • How can I burn DVD-9 discs using Ulead DVD Workshop 2?
    • Please download the latest DVD Workshop 2 Update Pack ( Build Number: 2.231, Release Date: 2004/10/06 ). After you install the latest update pack, DVD Workshop 2 will be able to burn DVD-9 discs.
Other
  • After I updated to DVD Workshop 2.21, the subtitle editing didn't seem to work normally.