PreMaster CD PQ Error Codes?

[DEXTERITY]

I would appreciate anyone's help. I'm still learning the ins and outs of PreMaster CD (first time using it) and I'm stumped. Reading the manual doesn't help much.

I keep getting an error stating "Minimum 4 Seconds Between Start and End Marks."

I have roughly 54 tracks of continuous music. The start point is no where near my end point (unless I'm not getting it). I'm also not so clear on how my off sets should be set.

I would appreciate any help as I don't think tech support is open until Monday. Thank u

[taturana]

Originally Posted by DEXTERITY

I would appreciate anyone's help. I'm still learning the ins and outs of PreMaster CD (first time using it) and I'm stumped. Reading the manual doesn't help much.

I keep getting an error stating "Minimum 4 Seconds Between Start and End Marks."

I have roughly 54 tracks of continuous music. The start point is no where near my end point (unless I'm not getting it). I'm also not so clear on how my off sets should be set.

I would appreciate any help as I don't think tech support is open until Monday. Thank u

while i have never worked with this software... the error probably means you don't have any tracks defined even though the audio is there... hope that helps... audio should always start after 2 secs...

[Rick Sutton]

IIRC that refers to one (or more) of the tracks being less than 4 seconds in length, which is the minimum allowed in the Red Book standard.

[DEXTERITY]

thanks for the feedback. I have 54 tracks defined. At least I think so. I used start track (which I think means you have a track defined) and it shows 54 tracks. Also, I can't find a single track that has less then 4 seconds between it. there is no duration that is less then seven seconds (the intro)..any other suggestions or things to look at? thank u

[Rick Sutton]

Hopefully a current premaster CD user will chime in with the solution.

[Jerry Tubb]

Originally Posted by DEXTERITY

I keep getting an error stating "Minimum 4 Seconds Between Start and End Marks."

Before changing anything it's a good idea to make a backup of the session document, so you can get back to zero if needed.

Minimum Track length spec for CD is 4 seconds, so that error message normally tells you that some of your Marks are too close together, OR there's an extra Mark hidden in there somewhere.

On the "Mark Info" window, try checking the "Total Tracks" box, examine the track info to see if you have any accidental track markers... delete any duplicates.

On the "Mark Info" window, try checking the "Disable Offsets" box, see if that helps.

Redo your Track 1 start mark, and last track end mark if needed.

Other than that, the usual Delete Prefs might help in troubleshooting.

Also when you're posting a question it might help to mention which version of PMCD.

Maybe someone else can help as well?

JT

[finetuner]

Try deleting marks in your SOURCE panel.

hope this helps.

[DEXTERITY]

Originally Posted by Jerry Tubb

Before changing anything it's a good idea to make a backup of the session document, so you can get back to zero if needed.

Minimum Track length spec for CD is 4 seconds, so that error message normally tells you that some of your Marks are too close together, OR there's an extra Mark hidden in there somewhere.

On the "Mark Info" window, try checking the "Total Tracks" box, examine the track info to see if you have any accidental track markers... delete any duplicates.

On the "Mark Info" window, try checking the "Disable Offsets" box, see if that helps.

Redo your Track 1 start mark, and last track end mark if needed.

Other than that, the usual Delete Prefs might help in troubleshooting.

Also when you're posting a question it might help to mention which version of PMCD.

Maybe someone else can help as well?

JT

Thank you for the help (that goes for everyone). I'm using PreMaster CD 3.0.

I double checked everything which suggested. The only thing I can possibly find wrong is that while looking at all my tracks the last one in my list says "end" however it has a start time listed with no end time. This makes me believe it is a new track although I did use the end track option when creating it. Yet, If I delete it I still get the same error message. Is there a incorrect way of using the end track feature?

I scrolled through my entire track list and that is the only thing that looks odd. I assume that I am supposed to use the track end command at the end of the music on the cd?

[Jerry Tubb]

Originally Posted by DEXTERITY

Thank you for the help (that goes for everyone). I'm using PreMaster CD 3.0.

Last suggestions before I sign off for the day:

Update to Version 3.0.1

Try assembling an easier shorter project (3-5tracks), see if all goes well.

Go back to your big project, Make sure there's no Audio or Track Mark before 2:00 sec.

Delete Marks one-at-a-time, check after each one to see if the error message disappears on the Mark Info window.

Call Sonic support tomorrow, and of course RTM.

That about it - JT

[DEXTERITY]

Thanks Jerry, Going to try that now.. definitely calling tech support tomorrow appreciate your time!

Edit.. I think I fixed it. I hit select all, copy, cut and pasted everything at the two second mark. Now it works. Does that sound like it was the problem? I assumed the two seconds would be inserted prior to my music. I didn't know I had to physically move everything back?

[Rick Sutton]

Originally Posted by DEXTERITY

I think I fixed it. I hit select all, copy, cut and pasted everything at the two second mark. Now it works. Does that sound like it was the problem? I assumed the two seconds would be inserted prior to my music. I didn't know I had to physically move everything back?

Since your intro was 7 seconds and it was inside the 2 sec point it may have been trimmed down to under 4 sec when offsets were applied. In the old system you should have received a message warning that you were inside the 2 sec point but maybe the new one is different. You might want to take one track that is say 2 minutes long put it at the zero point of an EDL and apply PQ codes to see what error message you get. Then take your 7 sec track and do the same and see if it flags you for the 2 sec issue or the 4 sec issue....it would be interesting.
Anyway, when I was taught to use my old Sonic system I was told to always start the first entry in the EDL at 10 seconds so these problems don't occur. As a habit I now do it with any DAW including the Sadie I currently use.

[DEXTERITY]

Thanks.. as simple as this sounds. I simply changed my start point to one second. now it only took me playing around to figure that out. I don't get why I just cant start at o seconds, but maybe I'm missing something else. I did disable offsets as previously suggested. I guess as long as the CD burns then I'm ok?

on another note, is there a way to delete all the blank space after my end track. It isn't from my import it just looks like there is another 10 minutes of space for music (hope that makes sense).. I hate bugging people with questions thanks again

[Rick Sutton]

Originally Posted by DEXTERITY

Thanks.. as simple as this sounds. I simply changed my start point to one second. now it only took me playing around to figure that out. I don't get why I just cant start at o seconds, but maybe I'm missing something else. I did disable offsets as previously suggested. I guess as long as the CD burns then I'm ok?

on another note, is there a way to delete all the blank space after my end track. It isn't from my import it just looks like there is another 10 minutes of space for music (hope that makes sense).. I hate bugging people with questions thanks again

The 2 sec thing has to do with how the original specs were set up for CD's. Don't try to fight it , always start your work in at least 10 seconds which allows for a few seconds of wiggle room that can save your bacon when adjusting edits etc.
Is the extra space at the end of your EDL just EDL area without content? If so it is probably just a default that is based on the overall length of the audio in the EDL. If that's the case it's nothing to be concerned about.

[DEXTERITY]

Thanks, learned something new I definitely will be doing that from now on. I'm used to burning in peak which does check for red book specs. I would have saved myself half of day of headaches lol..

In regards to the extra space, yes it is after my final track and imported audio. I couldn't cut, delete or do anything with it. thanks for clearing that up.

[jayfrigo]

I sometimes see new users get the 4 second min. error message when they accidentally hit end ID (F10) or start ID (F9) when intending the other (e.g. two ends in a row rather than an end followed by a start for the next track), or put 2 start marks right next to each other without realizing (e.g. accidentally double hitting F9 key). Unless you zoom way in, or check the mark info window, it will look like a single mark in the EDL. Sometimes the seemingly simple stuff can bite you.

[DEXTERITY]

pushing my start track a little bit seemed to do the trick. Now if tech support would only answer the phone to help me with my other 15 questions.. Does anyone know why the burn at 2x option is unavailable? Also, while I select burn at 1x it always defaults back to 4x or 8x. How can I make sure my master is writing at 1x, I don't trust burning masters at a faster speed.. As always, thank u

[Rick Sutton]

Originally Posted by DEXTERITY

while I select burn at 1x it always defaults back to 4x or 8x. How can I make sure my master is writing at 1x, I don't trust burning masters at a faster speed.. As always, thank u

The drive you are using probably doesn't support 1x or 2x writing. Very few, if any, modern drives do. Also the discs available today are formulated for the higher speeds.
I went from 1x/2x writing with my old Sonic system and now use 4x/8x with Sadie and find the same quality with a lot less wait time.

[jdg]

yah, please dont burn at 1x unless you have a very old burner and old CDRs

with modern drives and media, 16x is often better then 8x and lower.
16x is the sweet spot with new CDRs and burners

[DEXTERITY]

thanks for the input. interesting, I never had that problem in Jam (very reliable program) (I have a 2 X 2.66 intel mac with 10gb ram).. either way.. if faster is ok, then I won't stress it..

[DEXTERITY]

here I am again.. Has anyone experienced pre master CD constantly crashing? everytime I try to execute and save a DDP image so I can burn a cd, it crashes half way through. I didn't have this problem yesterday and the only thing I did differently was turn off dither. Does anyone have any suggestions? I tried deleting preferences.. thank you.

[+6/185]

Originally Posted by DEXTERITY

here I am again.. Has anyone experienced pre master CD constantly crashing? everytime I try to execute and save a DDP image so I can burn a cd, it crashes half way through. I didn't have this problem yesterday and the only thing I did differently was turn off dither. Does anyone have any suggestions? I tried deleting preferences.. thank you.

I have a real love-hate relationship with PMCD 3.0.1. It gets the job done but it is very buggy IMHO. I use their Delete Prefs app before I start or open a project. I to have had the same problem you describe. It also prevents you from rejecting the coster you just made forcing a restart - really nice. Use the Delete Prefs app that they offer anytime you want to do ANYTHING and you will stay out of trouble most of the time.

[DEXTERITY]

thanks for the tid bit.. quite annoying huh. I half way figured it out.. if I try to burn without dither it crashes and I can't even complete the process of making the ddp image. If I take the same file and use dither it works.. so much for comparing the two. Please tell me there is a way around this.. the time I saved in indexing I just wasted trying to burn an image for the past 2 hours

[+6/185]

Originally Posted by DEXTERITY

thanks for the tid bit.. quite annoying huh. I half way figured it out.. if I try to burn without dither it crashes and I can't even complete the process of making the ddp image. If I take the same file and use dither it works.. so much for comparing the two. Please tell me there is a way around this.. the time I saved in indexing I just wasted trying to burn an image for the past 2 hours

You can't play a 24 bit file in a CD player. To make a CD it must be 16 bit. It has the option to be turned off because sometimes you might be importing files that are already 16 bit. Having said that, it would be nice if it just wouldn't let you start the process rather than crashing half way through.