Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5

htchien · Post by **htchien** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 6:34 pm

Ulead PhotoImpact - DVD Menu Design Plug-in:
http://www.ulead.com/pi/plugin.htm

Hope this helps.

H.T.

neumannu47 · Post by **neumannu47** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:30 pm

So if I understand correctly, I have to purchase PhotoImpact ($89) and install the free plug-in to make custom menus for MovieFactory ($49)?

jcc · Post by **jcc** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 10:56 pm

In fairness to Ulead, Moviefactory seems to be intended as a wizard based simple to use DVD authoring tool, providing a fair degree of customisation of the supplied templates. (the extra content supplied with the full version provides up to 12 thumbnails per screen)

You could take advantage of PhotoImpact's 30 day trial to satisfy your short term requirements.

neumannu47 · Post by **neumannu47** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 11:16 pm

I am not being critical or even complaining, but I am trying to make sure I understand the plan. That being said, I do think that the inability of MF to edit templates is short-sighted. It would at least be nice to be able to delete unwanted thumbnails.

htchien · Post by **htchien** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 2:21 am

You can customize DVD menu templates in DVDMF, however you might not edit them as you wish. IMHO, the DVD menu template customization in DVDMF is suitable for the needs of most users, but if you want to edit the DVD menu templates with more freedom, Ulead PhotoImpact is the way to go. (As an actual user of Ulead PhotoImpact, I think it's great for my image editing requirements and easy to use)

If you need some people to help you, Keith the administrator of Amatuer Video Editing Group is very good in creating DVD menu templates for Ulead DVD products, maybe you can join the group and let him help you.

Hope this helps.

H.T.

ploggy · Post by **ploggy** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 10:25 am

they offer DVD workshop 2 for those who wants to make their own DVD menus from scratch.

keithm:
the fix for the import DVD is around 1mb and its a dll file.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 11:20 am

Everything is down to user choice.
The vast majority of users are ordinary people who want to get their camcorder recordings onto a DVD disc with as little fuss as possible.

For those users Movie Factory offers the ideal solution, simple and quick without too many complicated tools.

Some people like to dig a bit deeper and edit their work, cutting bits out, moving things around, throwing in a few titles perhaps a picture in picture effect. for those users Video Studio.

Now we get the serious hobbyist or the professional who needs something with more pazzaz and dazzle. Someone who needs or wants to create videos comparable to television broadcasts and films (example:- 24 with Kiefer Sutherland) For these users we have Media Studio Pro with multiple video and audio tracks, multiple timelines and a whole array of extras.
The more extras you get the more difficult the program becomes to operate.

Finally, the serious hobbyist or professional may want to compliment his/her brand new shining full of dazzle video with a DVD Menu to match.
First impressions count and when a user puts a DVD into their player and the opening sequence/menu appears they have already made up their mind whether or not the video that will follow is going to be any good.
For these users we have DVD Workshop 2.

Now that we have looked at the "Big 4" do you think they should all be the same price or would you not consider it reasonable to expect the programs that do more to cost more? I certainly do, Video Editing is my hobby and I am willing to pay the extra which is why I have so many different products.

Now about your DVD Menu question and customisation.
You have the following choices.

1. Make alterations to the menus supplied with Movie Factory using the limited tools supplied in the Movie Factory Program.
2. Purchase extra ready made Menu Templates http://www.ulead.com/dmf/plugin.htm
3. Upgrade to DVD Workshop 2 where you can make a DVD Menu from scratch. Some may consider this a bit expensive for their needs and so we have option 4.
4. Use PhotoImpact to create a DVD Menu from scratch as described in my tutorial http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic. ... 5114#55114
This offers a cheaper alternative to DVD Workshop 2 plus the added benefit of owning a piece of photo editing software in the bargain.

Everything boils down to a users needs, how much they wish to pay and choice.

Regards
Steve J

keithm · Post by **keithm** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 12:57 pm

are there any links for the 1mb dll to fix the import problem?

neumannu47 · Post by **neumannu47** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 1:24 pm

sjj1805 wrote:Now that we have looked at the "Big 4" do you think they should all be the same price or would you not consider it reasonable to expect the programs that do more to cost more?

Steve, I think that when the competition is offering certain functionality at a comparable price, you'd better have the same or more functionality to remain competitive. The ability to delete or add thumbnails is not a difficult editing task for a company that has the ability to create the products you mention.

For what it's worth, because of the thumbnail issue for my particular needs, I purchased Tsunami DVD Author yesterday. However, when MF5 is out for a while, if the user reports are positive (unlike many of the reports I'm reading on MF4 versus MF3) I will probably buy it, too, because I like the user interface better, and the price is reasonable at $49.95. Then again, if I get used to TDA, I may just stick with it. You are absolultely correct. Everything is a matter of choice. Because of Ulead's decision to exclude thumbnail editing, they have at least for now lost one sale. Granted. one sale is nothing; but I am one person who reports the lost sale. Others just go on their merry ways and do so.

Again, nothing in this message is critical or complaining. I try to make my purchasing decisions carefully, and this forum has provided me with an opportunity to do so with regard to authoring software. Ulead has the ability to take the market by storm by creating a product that overcomes many complaints and limitations of its own products and its competitors' products. Just read the complaints about DVD authoring software. ("They're all buggy." "You have to own several programs to get what you want." "They're designed for the novice." "It has a steep learning curve." And on and on.)

While I'm not much of a futurist, I predict that someone is going to come along and create a DVD authoring program, like VideoReDo did for MPEG editing, with excellent tech support, like VideoReDo provides for its product, and make a significant dent in the consumer DVD authoring market. You may remember that when Nero started, they were fighting the Roxio and other giants. They were great. Never a coaster was burned. Now Nero is a giant whose software has endless bugs, is extremely bloated, and is not backed with any technical support of note. (It is what I refer to as CorpRot when companies grow so large that they become concerned only about themselves and not their fungible customers. Is Ulead there, too? No corporation ever recovers from CorpRot. It is fatal. The only variable is time.)

Again, thanks for the information. As I said, I will probably buy MF5, but it will not be until I get to read some user feedback. No guinea pig here.

jdw · Post by **jdw** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 8:03 pm

jcc wrote:jdw,

If you bought it online, I would be chasing a free upgrade with Customer Support.

Yeah. That's what I thought too. I've emailed their customer support department two times now in the last 72 hours or so, and not a single reply. I guess they don't want to talk about it...

Jim

htchien · Post by **htchien** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 4:14 am

Somethings to check:

1. Make sure you are using an non-free e-mail account to send the request.
2. Check the Junk Mail folder in your e-mail program, some e-mail programs will recognize Ulead service mails as junk mails.

If you are using the tech support form to send the request and did not recieve the auto-reply e-mail from Ulead after you send it, then there is something wrong so Ulead cannot get your mail, not to mention to reply. Please make sure you have followed the instructions when you fill the tech support form.

Hope this helps.

H.T.

jdw · Post by **jdw** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 11:46 am

htchien wrote:Somethings to check:

1. Make sure you are using an non-free e-mail account to send the request.
2. Check the Junk Mail folder in your e-mail program, some e-mail programs will recognize Ulead service mails as junk mails.

If you are using the tech support form to send the request and did not recieve the auto-reply e-mail from Ulead after you send it, then there is something wrong so Ulead cannot get your mail, not to mention to reply. Please make sure you have followed the instructions when you fill the tech support form.

Hope this helps.

H.T.

Thanks for the suggestions. I used my primary ISP email account, but they have a server level spam filter on the account, so if the email from Ulead typically gets stopped by spam filters then that might be what happened.

I have re-submitted the request using another account from one of my websites that isn't a free account and has no spam filter on it. I got the auto reply this time, so maybe I'm in luck

ploggy · Post by **ploggy** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 6:02 am

keithm wrote:are there any links for the 1mb dll to fix the import problem?

ftp://ts4user:testfile@private.ulead.co ... Parser.dll

Copy and paste it inside this folder: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ulead Systems\DVD

Note: Make sure you have installed the latest patch for MovieFactory 4.

ploggy · Post by **ploggy** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 6:19 am

Just a little info about Ulead tech support email system...

they are using a third party system to handle their email sorting (explorecommerce.com). if your email can receive and send messages in HTML format, you should be able to see the reply box (with the radio button Yes/No and submit button) which is where you will send your replies.

You wont be able to reply directly to support@ulead.com because it is a dummy address used by the thirdparty system to show on the "from" field in your tech support cases.

however, there are some cases where the reply box and submit button is not available or does not work and this happens to HOTMAIL and MSN accounts (and some other i think). So the only way to reply if your on hotmail and Msn is to submit another case and put your previous case number in the subject field.

another issue that they have is with the earthlink accounts. Most earthlink accounts have spam blockers that requires you to click a link so you can be added in the list. Since a direct reply to support@ulead.com will not work, so does the sending of this spam notification to support@ulead.com. my suggestion, add support@ulead.com to your "safe list".

if you were able to see the reply box at the bottom of your Ulead email case, you should also turn off your POPUP blocker because clicking on the submit button will open a new window displaying a message box: "email has been sent" or something to that effect.

for those who are using an email client program like Outlook, Eudora, etc., dont reply while in the PREVIEW PANE because the "space bar" function on most of them is used for navigating email messages. You can lose the focus on the email message or you wont be able to add spaces in between your words. Open the message in its own window by double clicking it.

2log · Post by **2log** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 6:46 am

You cannot just send a question directly to support@ulead.com. That's why there's a technical support form on the website. You have to fill it up and provide all the required information (system specs, product versions, OS, etc.) and get a case #. There has to be order and it has to be sorted out.

Can you imagine hundreds and thousands of emails comming in everyday on one same inbox. There will be confusion among the tech support people... who will answer what... which ones have had replies and need following up... what is the support history of this person... Moreover, the details to these queries will then be mostly incomplete and the support representatives will have to ask you back these details... a total waste of time!

So next time you complain about the technical support, make sure to read the policies first! When you get a warning telling you not to reply directly to "support@ulead.com", please comply.

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Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5

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