TechNote

Error "Unknown...DVD Error -1" when you build a DVD (Adobe Encore DVD 1.0)

Issue

When you build a DVD, Adobe Encore DVD 1.0 returns the error "Unknown Error" (DVD Error -1)."

Solutions:

Do one or more of the following:

Solution 1: Update to Adobe Encore 1.01.

Download the Adobe Encore DVD 1.01 update from the Adobe Web site at: www.adobe.com/support/downloads/main.html .

Solution 2: Move the loop point timecode to exactly match an I-Frame in the timeline of the linked video.

If you are building a project using a motion menu with a loop point, try moving the loop point timecode to exactly match an I-Frame in the timeline of the linked video. You can set a marker to find an I-Frame; Adobe Encore DVD will only let you set a marker at the end of a group of pictures (GOP), which is the I-Frame. If you set a marker anywhere else, the marker will actually be moved to the closest I-Frame. If you are using AVI files and the error has already occurred, you should still be able to find GOPs in the timeline(s), because the AVI has been transcoded, it is not actually in the MPEG file.
Find the timecode of the I-Frame and enter it in the Loop Point in the Menu properties.

Solution 3: Ensure that you don't have Animate Buttons selected.

Check to ensure that you don't have Animate Buttons selected on a menu that doesn't have thumbnails buttons.

Solution 4: Check for multiple chapter points on the same frame.

Check that you don't have multiple chapter points on the same frame in any of your timelines.

Solution 5: Ensure that the audio track is longer that the video.

Zoom in on the clip ends of your timelines to see if the audio track is longer than the video. If the audio track is longer that the actual video, trim the audio a to make it a bit shorter than the video.

Solution 6: Troubleshoot file types.

Certain file types may return errors in Adobe Encore DVD 1.0. The following procedures will help you isolate possible conflicts with specific file types.

Note: The following procedures involve testing multiple builds of a project. To avoid wasting DVD discs while you perform the tests described in this document, select Test before writing in the Make DVD Disc dialog box before exporting your project to disc, and Adobe Encore DVD will perform a test before burning your project to DVD. If the test fails, you may get an error message that provides information about why the build was not successful. (If Test before writing is not selected and the build fails, the DVD will not be usable.)

To troubleshoot file types:

1. Create a new project.

2. Import a DVD-compliant AVI file, and then add the file to a new timeline.

3. Build the project to DVD.

-- If the build fails, import the same AVI file to the tutorial project included on your Adobe Encore DVD 1.0 disc, and build the project to disc. If the build fails again, the problem may be the AVI files. If you've used a third-party capture card with a proprietary digital video codec, re-export the file as a standard Microsoft DV AVI.

-- If the build is successful, import additional file types to your new project from your original (problem) project, and then build to DVD with each new type. Import files from different locations on your computer until you can verify whether a certain file type or disc location causes the build to fail. Problem file types may include:

-- MPEG2: These files need to be re-created if the datarate is too low .

-- WAV: If these files are labelled N/A for transcode, transcode them.

-- MP3: Convert these files to WAV files.

-- Audio loops: Add one second to the loop.

-- Multiplexed files: Demultiplex the files, or export them again from your video-editing application as two separate files (elementary streams M2V and WAV).

Solution 7: Troubleshoot assets in the project.

Certain assets may return errors in Adobe Encore DVD 1.0. The following procedures will help you isolate possible conflicts with specific assets.

To troubleshoot assets:

1. Create a copy of the project that returns an error:

a. Close the project.

b. Locate the saved project file on your computer, and then copy the project file to a new location.

c. Copy the project folder to a new location. Record the name and location of the original files.

d. Rename the original project and project folder.

e. Move the new copy to the same location as the original file.

2. Remove individual assets to determine if one is causing errors. Problem files may include:

-- MPEG2: These files need to be re-created if the datarate is too low.

-- WAV: If these files are labelled N/A for transcode, transcode them.

-- MP3: Convert these files to WAV files.

-- Audio loops: Add one second to the loop.

-- Multiplexed files: Demultiplex the files, or export them again from your video-editing application as two separate files (elementary streams M2V and WAV).

a. Open the new copy of the project.

b. Remove animation from the menu(s), and then build to DVD. If the build is successful, the animation may be causing the error. Relink or retranscode the video background or buttons.

c. Remove links to audio files from the menu(s), and then build to DVD. If the build is successful, audio files may be causing the error. Rewrite the audio files.

d. Remove the timeline(s), and then build to DVD. If the build is successful, timelines may be causing the error. Delete and re-create the problem timeline or, if there is a chapter marker at the end, remove it.

3. Once you find the problem element, replace it in the original project:

a. Delete the copy of the project.

b. Rename the original project file and project folder to its original name you recorded in step 1.

c. Open the project and remove/replace the problem element.

Background information

Some file types or corrupt elements in specific files may cause errors, including conflicts among device drivers, software, and hardware. Although the error may occur only when you work with Adobe Encore DVD, the application may not necessarily be the cause.

The Adobe Encore DVD 1.0.1 update addresses several issues identified in Adobe Encore DVD 1.0.