DVDA 4.5 Simple question

Click on the "button", and on the right side are tabs -- select the ACTION tab, and change the destination to the media.

You can also drag the media onto a blank menu -- that should create a thumbnail button.

Regards,
George

Thanks George. Will there be chapters listed there as well? Creating chapters in DVDA looks a lot easier than DVDWS with the timeline approach.

if you inserted markers in the original file before you rendered out to mpeg2, these will be used as chapter markers.
if not, can add them manually by double clicking the media in DVDA, which brings up a timeline, to which you can add markers

once you have markers (either method), just right click the media and choose INSERT SCENE SELECTION or something like that. Easy peasy.

Arthur. what do you think of DVDA?. I accidently hit on a forum about this programme and 56 out of 60 subscribers are of the opinion that it is naff. One went on to say DVDA should be given away with crackers. I presume he must be American. They all say it should be used with other authoring programmes to get any decent burning. Vegas was mentioned by a few. I wonder if you are getting decent results? Roy

WOW -- 56 out of 60???

I'm quite shocked at that, because on the PC there's not many other SD-DVD Authoring programs that have the feature set that DVDA4.5 offers (the PRO version that is). I'd agree that there does seem to be a burning issue with some burners -- but there's plenty of burning software available for that task.

What were some of the other issues that those 56 users faced -- or what features are missing that they needed?

Regards,
George

I am frankly astonished by that statistic. I've tried the DVDWS and Encore as well as DVDA. DVDWS seems too simple for my needs and generally annoying and I've had all sorts of issues with Encore. Meanwhile DVDA Pro just keeps on trucking (with Pioneer and Sony burners if that's relevant)

I'd be interested in having a look at the relevant forum just to see what's going on if you feel like posting a link.

Too soon for an opinion Roy. I haven't even burnt my first disc yet! It's a learning curve - just as DVDWS2 was. To be honest, if Ulead had gone to a V3 with 16:9 menus I'd have stuck with that. It covers pretty much everything you need - and it's been stable.

Sorry, I have no idea where to find the forum I refer to, as I was not particularly interested in the subject. I only remembered it after reading the post by Arthur. I beleive that they were referring to the quality of the finished DVDV. They mentioned burning the DVD thru Nero for a better result. I have to agree That DVDWS is a stable programme, I use it sometimes but for simplicity of use I use the downmarket (in some eyes) MYDVD. I make hundreds of DVD's with it complete with chapters and never had a complaint. It's horses for courses. or one man's meat etc. I never decry a product because someone else is happy with it. Roy

Good reply! Though I don't see why burning through a different package should make any difference to image or audio quality. As you say, it's horses for courses. For example, I never use DVDA or Vegas to convert to MPEG2 because I think Pro-Coder does a better job. But if I try using ProCoder output in Encore I get big problems.

If a particular workflow works for you, that's great.

Hi Arthur, which version of DVDA are you running (Studio or Pro)?

Also, did you get it with Sony Vegas, or are you using something different for editing?

I ask because regarding chaptering, I'd agree it is much easier than DVDWS with the timeline. And as fuddam mentioned, if you used Vegas to render the editing timeline with the chapter marks, then bringing that render into DVDA will automatically pick up those chapter marks for you.

p.s. I also agree that DVDWS 3.x would have been great -- too bad Ulead decided to shelve that project (it was in beta, but they pulled it)

Regards,
George

What ever editing or authoring programme I use I never use that programmes system of making an mpeg 2. I always use a stand alone Main Concept programme and I never burn a DVD more than 4X speed. I was told by a pro expert that a lot of programmes use Main concept for converting to Mpeg2 but they doctor it to suit their programmes so the standalone programme is purer. I took that advice and have never regretted it. Don't forget I'm only the messenger so no shooting please. Roy

Roy, I have heard similar stories. Not sure how much truth there is in them but it would make commercial sense for the OEM versions to be less brilliant than the separate product which is, if I remember correctly, not exactly cheap. Rumour has it that better performance can be had from the Rhozet products but just make sure you are sitting down when you check the price...

It's the Pro version which came with Vegas 8 Pro. I'm also on a learning curve with Vegas (getting a lot of help from Fuddam & Cheema) from MSP 8. You can also mark your chapters with MSP 8.

I'm using MSP8 and Vegas7 (never upgraded to version 8, but should have when I had a chance to do it for only $99). Agreed that MSP8 can also set the chapters to be recognized in DVDWS2.x, so that's a similar feature. DVDA does have more SD-DVD features/options than DVDWS2.x -- so you've certainly got a great package in that Vegas8/DVDA4.5 bundle :)

Regards,
George

Roy, do you frame-serve from the edit timeline to your standalone encoder, or do you render to a video file first, then encode that file?

If rendering to a file first, any concerns over the "added" render for any compositing, transitions and/or titling from the edit timeline?

Regards,
George

Is there any way to feather the edge of a photo, (frames in DVDWS) or have I got to use photoshop etc for that?

Do you mean for a Button? If so, highlight the button, then highlight one of the button frames (lower left corner, there's one that looks a little feathered, but is a rectangle instead of an oval), and hit the "Replace Button" icon (above the buttons library, 2nd to the left)

Regards,
George

Not quite. I've inserted a photo of my kids on to the menu background, and I just want to feather the edges. In DVDWS2, you select one of the feathered frames to do this.

Hi George, I first select the shots I need and edit them as a Adobe 6.5 project. Placing all credits , transisitions commentary and music in place so then as a finished film I make it into a AVI file. This file is then converted into an Mpeg using the stand alone Main concept converter. This Mpeg file is then transfered to MYDVD or DVDWS for burning to a DVD. Never had any problems and the finished DVD is excellent quality using a top rate DVD blank. Regards Roy

Well, looks like the only way to do this is to create a .PSD with a transparent background. Bit of a bummer. Are there any frames that can be used with a graphic?

So...no frames for graphics then? Having completed my first project, what do I think of DVDA? - as asked. Some good things - 16:9 menus, timeline based, real TV preview. Bad things; Bit of a quirky interface. Don't seem to be able to use any graphic as a button. No frames for graphics? Not much in the way of drag and drop, can't make an iso at the same time as burning. To be honest, disapointed. Early days though - I'm sure at least some of these things will be me! ;)

to use any graphic as a button:

1) insert a button, either from the buttons catalog thingy, or INSERT/EMPTY BUTTON
2) click on the graphic part of it only
3) under MEDIA tab of Button Properties (top right), click the THUMBNAIL MEDIA drop down, and REPLACE the button with your graphic of choice
4) can remove the existing frame via FRAME MEDIA dropdown if you want
5) change the ACTION to whatver yuo want the button to do

the same logic applies if you drop a video into your project. It automatically creates a button - just change the graphic part of it

also, to FRAME a button:
1) select your funky graphic button from above
2) right click any of the existing framed buttons in the catalog
3) choose REPLACE BUTTON
4) voila!

you can also drop layered PSD files in as buttons, in order to use different layers for ON/OFF states (like hollywood dvds), but is quite a black art, in that the layers need specific names. More info if nec.

HTH

Ahh ha, well I just knew it'd be down to me.

You've got to admit though, that's pretty convoluted compared to DVDWS2's method of just drag any graphic onto the menu. Especially when you realise that DVDWS2 is a dinosaur by comparison!

Thanks for the help though Fuddam - it's much appreciated. :)

agreed, DVDA could be more accommodating. Would like the PSD stuff to be simpler

will be curious what v5 will bring - hopefully more graphics ease generally

I've created some buttons in text format as above, but under actions, I don't have the option to link them to a particular chapter (or marker) Only to other pages or the whole video file. Any clues please?

ACTION
Command: Link
Destination: Play
Destination Chapter: (eg) chapter 6

works for me :)

Cheers for that Fuddam. Mine (4.5) is slightly different in that the first 'destination' doesn't show 'play'. But if I choose the whole video file, the second 'destination' then shows the chapters in the drop down. I think the word for it is "Laborious". Haven't Sony ever heard of 'drag n drop'?

Thanks again.

not getting you.

mine's also 4.5

drag n drop of........?

I drop a button on to the background. then follow the steps I outlined above......

Definitely don't have 'play' under Destination. Choosing the video file there, then the chapter under Destination chapter works for me. :)
Drag n drop. As in DVDWS2 where you just drag the chapter onto the button to create the link.
Something else you may be able to help me with. I want to fade in some text. I notice this can be done with a button, but I can't get it to work with text - even text that's being used as a button.

Hmmm...just burnt the disc. For some reason DVDA rendered the video file even though it was created in Vegas as DVDA PAL widescreen video stream. The problem is I now have a bad case of the 'jaggies'. It's particularly evident on text titles. Seems to look OK on the original MPEG2. :(

it would only do that if

1) your DVDA properties were set to something other than the template used for the render in Vegas, eg 4:3 vs 16:9, or (quite common) progressive vs interlaced or PAL vs NTSC etc

or

2) your mpeg2 was too large for the DVD, so DVDA had to rerender to reduce the size.

no other reason

Wherabouts can I find the progressive/interlaced info Fuddam? In DVDA the file's media properties show PAL DV widescreen, Lower field first. Nothing about progressive etc.
Would reduce interlace flicker affect it?

lower field first = interlaced. Progressive should be in the same drop down

reduce interlace flicker = yes, if applied to the main video.
I usually use that on menus, or stills but then apply it to stills inside vegas itself.

Can't find that info in DVDA.
Just looking around the net, there seems to be an issue with lower field first looking crap on an LCD/Plasma - which is what I'm watching on.

One thing I do know is that selecting reduced interlace flicker forces a re-render. (It's in the help file)

Thanks Rob, that's what caused the re-render then.

;)

Unticking that also got rid of the jaggies. :) Thanks again.

I've found the same in the past. I inadvertently ticked it and wondered why it took so long and then didn't like the finished product. On the other hand, when I've used a still on a menu, it's been useful to stop the image bouncing up and down.

Well, I can answer this now I think. Can't see anything to complain about regarding the results, they look pretty decent to me. But getting there...phew! It can best be described as "why do something with one click, when ten will do" :eek: I would guestimate that it takes 2 to 3 times longer to produce a decent looking custom menu system than with DVDWS2. There are some things I like though. The timeline for one. Much better than DVDWS2. Also, the preview out to TV is very helpful. Oh, and not forgetting 16:9 menus - my reason for trying DVDA in the first place.

If you use a similar formula for most of your DVDs, once you've gone through the pain once, it's really quick and easy to produce others.

Can't see anything wrong with the burning here.