DVD menu creator software ... which one?

[No1Joker]

Hi all,

I have a Sony DV camera, a Dazzle capture card and power director 7 & nero 6 to edit this stuff.

But i can't find a decent program which allows me to create the DVD with menus, chapter selection, background music etc.

I've got about 6 short videos which i transfered (memories from childhood off VHS) and i want to put them on a DVD with a nice background and a picture slideshow option.

Anyone know a good piece of software??

[bsuttie]

DVD lab is very good. I use the pro version which can do very advanced stuff including multiple VTSs. They do a demo version if you want to give it a go.

regards

Brian

[senu]

You say you cant find a decent program .. which have you tried?

Uleads DVD MovieFactory is very affordable , and does what it says on the tin
I dont use it for slideshows , preffering to create them elswhere and import the slideshow as mpeg2 but it does have a slideshow facility
Movie Workshop is better but has been consigned to ver2 for the last 3 years . I dont think Corel ( new owners of Ulead) intend to ressurect it but even at that it is great
Sonys Vegas Family have standalone DVD Architect Studio also affordable and good if needing a little familiarity
It can be got alone or as part of a Vegas Movie Studio Platinum pack ( although it seems some folk who got it very affordably cant seem to find thiers)
Nero Vision is rather more basic but Ver 4 and 5 ( From Nero 7 and 8) are worth a look if you happen to have Nero on your system

[No1Joker]

Originally Posted by senu

You say you cant find a decent program .. which have you tried?

Only the ones on my PC and some freeware which i found basic and restrictive. I have been so impressed with other freeware options i was hoping for more than was available.

Originally Posted by senu

Sonys Vegas Family have standalone DVD Architect Studio also affordable and good if needing a little familiarity

I am giving this trial a bash, from the screen shots and write-up it looks like what i am after. I'll let you know how i found it after the weekend.

Many thanks for your replys, i know firms do trials etc but when i was after a specific aspect i just didn't want another editting package on my HD.

Cheers again for the help.

[No1Joker]

I am finding the design and layout options of Sony great, but i have hit a small snag...

When i burn my DVD it doesn't include the MPEG audio. What sort of problems should i be looking at?

Other point to note, the audio track when the DVD loads plays no probs.

Did anyone else have this problem? and how did they fix it...

[senu]

It may be the trial version doesn't not allow mpeg audio encoding
(find out what its limitations are)
If you refer to the full version it is probably that mpeg need to be selected in as it may not be the default audio format

[Salveeno]

Originally Posted by No1Joker

Hi all,

I have a Sony DV camera, a Dazzle capture card and power director 7 & nero 6 to edit this stuff.

But i can't find a decent program which allows me to create the DVD with menus, chapter selection, background music etc.

I've got about 6 short videos which i transfered (memories from childhood off VHS) and i want to put them on a DVD with a nice background and a picture slideshow option.

Anyone know a good piece of software??

Have you tried Pinnacle Studio 12? it has some very good features and plugins for menu's and is very flexable.

Regards
Salveeno

[senu]

Originally Posted by Salveeno

Have you tried Pinnacle Studio 12? it has some very good features and plugins for menu's and is very flexable.

Regards
Salveeno

But it isnt a DVD creating software, as such and would need to import the already made video and may reencode ( and degrade it) it
Dedicated DVD making software should just take video and use it
Pinnacle Studios DVD making is best for if you are doing the videos from within it.
Ive been using it since ver 7-8 and Im familiar with it but dont think it would be the right software for turning already captured ( and maybe edited ) video into DVD

[No1Joker]

I'm having a real nightmare at the moment with my computer having a complete hissy fit and acting like a spoilt brat by not letting me access the internet.

I can't believe i'm finding it so difficult to edit three old movie clips and put them onto a disc so i can chuck away some old VHS.